It's official. I'm a VF500 addict.

Damn this V-4 sickness.

Just came home with another VF500F. This one's an 84 model. One owner. 2300 miles. Flawless. Untouched, really. Bone stock and clean.

What's that song lyric..."If there's a cure, I don't want it?"

 

Next up: Some Super Trapp Slip-ons for this one perhaps, just to mix it up (I've got some V&H on the 85 model.)

Anyone got a set they wanna sell?

 

Congrats!

I'm glad that this bike has found a good home.

Keep us posted on the upgrades and have fun!

 

Good on ya! That thing looks great. There are worse addictions. Have fun!

 

Beautiful! I used to fantasize about that bike when I was a young boy and I thought there was a VF500 at the end of every rainbow I saw. I almost bought one just like it a few of years ago but pulled the trigger on my Pearl White 93 instead. Congrats on a great looking classic cherry!!!


Rollin

 

Nice find. It's rare to find one in that shape with low miles. I found my '86 500 with just 600+ miles. I'm an addict too and I don't want to be cured.

 

Congrats! Let us know how it runs, etc.

 

What a sweet bike! It sure is nice to see one in such good condition.

 

of all the bikes i've had over the years, i miss my vf500 (86) the most. now i hate you! (j/k)

 

Thanks Jamie. I'm not approaching your collection of VF500s, but it's a start. Good news is thanks to you and others on this list, I feel confident handling whatever this new one needs in order to get it running right. It still has gas in the tank from the Clinton Administration, so although I'd like to hope I could drain the tank and float bowls, add some Seafoam (thoughts on this?) to the carbs somehow (I think I remember reading how to do this somewhere...not sure), and get it running, in my heart I know that's just a pipe dream and the carb bank will have to come off for a cleaning. Ugh.

Fluids in the sight glasses on the bars look clear and perfect, but I should change them anyhow. The oil/filter has...um...never been changed since 84. Good times, yes?

Radiator fluid too. Good news is that it wasn't abused, it was basically mothballed and unused.

I'll keep everyone posted. I'll start in on it tomorrow.

 

Man, a lot of people aren't liking you much right now, lol.

I say the voice in your head is worth listening too. Do it the thorough way. Go over everything.

For the life of me I don't understand how bikes get bought and sit. I put that much mileage on my 919 and I just got it about a month ago. On the other hand, I'm glad some people did because it sure is nice to see one as it was new.

 

Me too. This VF500 works out to about 90 miles per year. In SoCal. Astounding.

 

That 500 looks amazing. Good find! :jaw:

 

Is that what the OEM tires looked like? E-gads. You've got to save that license plate!

 

Yep. OEM tires. Plenty of tread, but hard as a brick. The plate shows it was last registered in 94, which is when he last put gas in it, I think.

 

Oh, I thought it said 1984. That would have been a sweet plate to have.

 

Yeah, but it'd be short lived. In CA the plates stay with the vehicle, not the person. Which means when I register it that '84/'94 decal will be covered up with a '10 decal.

 

That's a mystery to me as well. I think that some people get the itch and buy a bike, but quickly lose interest. Rather than sell the bike, they keep it thinking that they'll regain the interest at some point down the road. Also, if they had to talk the wife into getting the bike in the first place, they're not going to sell it and go through that again in a year to two when that itch returns. Before you know it, the years have rolled by. Also, if money is not an issue, then the need to sell the bike is not an issue either.

I found my '86 1000R almost 3 years ago. I bought it from the original owner and it only had 3300 miles on it. As stated earlier, I found my '86 500 with 600 miles. Both of these bikes, along with wgregt's, are perfect examples of people hanging on to bikes that they hardly used, but did not want to part with.

 

Removed the tank yesterday and started draining it. Gas looks like black coffee. The fuel tap on the bottom of the tank now for sure has issues. There is no hose on it at all, the side tap on the tank is switched to reserve, there's gas in the tank, and still nothing comes out. Clogged filter screen?

Turned the float bowl screws on all 4 carbs while still on the bike, and not a single drop came out of any of them. Hmmm....

So, either they are bone dry and the gas didn’t get to them at all (since maybe the petcock is clogged, etc?) OR gas did get to them and the inside of each carb is solidified with old fuel. Have not seen any rust particles in the gas that came out of the tank yet.

PIcked up some super small funnels today so I can fill the carbs via the fuel line with Seafoam. Gonna let it sit for 2 days at least to see which one it is while I jump on the other fluids.

 

Sounds like a good plan, though may be best to pull the carburetors and inspect the circuits. Also, I would think it is a good time to change out the carburetor boots to a new set.

On a side note - I've read that you can take a disposable syringe and fill the carbs from the drain nipple by opening the float bowl screw and injecting the Sea Foam - or similar - cleaner. Let it set for a few days and then drain. I haven't tried this method but have read that it works like a charm. One thing I would be concerned about - with any type of carburetor cleaner is whether this can cause damage to the plastic floats - though someone here will most likely know the answer...

How does the tank look inside - any surface rust?