Need Description/Confirmation/Advice on steering before buy VF700F

Hi folks. I've poked around for a good hour or so and haven't found something in the forums yet that inspires me with confidence so i will ask:

I have not ridden in over a decade (except here and there on friends bikes and some I've been looking at buying recently) and my last bike I had for a good 5 years or so was a 1984 Honda Nighthawk 700SC.

So here's my question: there is a decent priced VF700F for about $750 with 38,800 miles. I know that it's been down but how hard I'm not sure. This is the third owner. He hasn't done much but bought a new front fairing and painted everything by hand in hot rod black. Cosmetically it's okay...most of it I can fix up easy enough. There is a loose hanging vacuum/egr valve that I'm sure I can tie up better, a bent rear brake pedal, etc. The gauge cluster is cracked on the left side, the clutch resevoir has a big chip out of the lid, the lower fairing appears to have been in contact with the tire and lost a piece or two.

However, I looked very carefullly and couldn't see any wrinkles on the steering head area of the frame, the clamps both seem okay. The forks do seem straight. I suspect the first or second owner rebuilt this bike. it does not have a salvage on the title so I'm sure it was down behind the scenes or done recently.

When I test drove it I had to align the front a bit. In doing so the top clamp/handlebars will move ever so slightly while holding the wheel but not so much I think there's anything loose or screwey about it.

But when I drive it (in an area with some wet roads and some slush) it FEELS like the front is slipping out to the right just a little. I didn't actually slide. Nothing major happened. It may be my perception that it's only to the left too...the wheel looks in-line with frame, the forks seem fine. I believe that my concern is more from the fact that it's a very steep rake and very touchy, especially compared to my Nighthawk S or cruisers (of course) that I've driven.

What do you all think since you have a lot of experience with 1st Gen Interceptors...are they quite quirky steering? Is it just me or do I need to consider the frame is bent where/how I can't see/feel? Are there any non-home-grown steering stabilizers I can adopt to control the quirkiness at all?

I do like the bike a lot, it's a little noisy and I think I'll likely need to replace cam chains/sprockets and maybe cams before much longer at nearly 40,000 miles. But ont he other hand this same week a local Nighthawk S with 8,000 miles has come available for only 50$ more. It needs tires and fork seals but has had other mechanical items repaired/rebuilt this Summer...I'm a little nervous on this one with so few miles any potential items just fatiguing in the sun...tank has been acid cleansed and sealed on the inside.

Before I jump at the Interceptor (because this was my dream bike when I was a kid and is quite a bit more sporty but more maintenance intensive than a Nighthawk S) do I just need some ride time on it and it's naturally quirky/fast steering or should I go for more the old-man motorcycle instead?

 

If you have not purchased it yet I would pass unless it is a great deal. Beyond that I would advise inspecting the front end from head to toe, without being able to see or work on it myself the description is to vague and could be anything from bearings to a tire.

 

It sounds like there is something wrong with the front. At best the forks are just twisted (common after an accident), at worst the forks are bent. It sounds like it also needs some new steering stem bearings. Either way I'm sure it could be fixed relatively easily providing you are willing to tinker with it. That's what bikes are all about I think.

Good luck and let us know if you buy it!

 

Thank you both for replies. I need to give this kid an answer tomorrow night or Tuesday day.

The more I'm thinking about it the more I think it may be tire or fork. The bearings seem okay---part of the reason I made the alignment change and tried moving back and forth so much...it did seem okay, but I'm definitely not opposed to replacing them...honestly, I think tinkering's what cars are for too...hence my collection of awesome cars my wife calls "clunkers".

I did the one-hand test around 15 MPH to as much as 35 and there was no wobble and nothing too unstable in it...it just didn't feel quite right at times. The only thing remaining that has me a little concerned is that to me, compared to old photos (and 26 year-old memories) is the tire seems a little too close to the lower fairing. However, he's got a 130/90 tire on there and if I'm not mistaken that's a size or two too wide and 10% too tall a profile...I dunno...I'm 90% sure at some point forks have been bent and the tire's been into the lower fairing. The question is (since they've clearly been replaced) was there any frame damage, and I'm afraid I couldn't know that until I've stripped the bike and taken some measurements. It may just bee the taller/wider tire alone is making it feel weird.

Well...I'll let you know what I decide later this week I guess. BTW---think I'll strip his paint and paint it candy apple red. (I want the '87 VFR Pearl White but my wife says that's a girl color...)

 

That tire is way too big for that rim. The rim is squeezing the tire and making it tall which makes it "fall over" faster in a turn and changes the profile of the edge of the tread to a dangerous point. Chances are a new tire or better yet, a 17" CBR front wheel will make a difference, but like with any used bike, swap the bearings and fluids and seals, you get the idea.

 

Awesome--thanks for strong confirmation...I don't know why I didn't think about the tire size before because I knew it must be a little big.

I've just told my wife I'm definitely buying it.

P.

 

If your wife puts you on the couch, don't blame me!!:biggrin:

 

I'm assuming you typed that yourself which means you still have most of your fingers left - that's a good sign!

 

ANY OTHER bike would be a better choice, as that model has some serious flaws, and it hasn't been well cared for. Any engine noise is a no-no unless you have unlimited funds and time. The market is flooded with cheap VF-series bikes that are non-runners or have suspicious noises, and most can't be or won't be fixed by the new owners. And shops don't want to work on them either.

Did anyone mention that the handling quirks you noted could be the result of a bent frame ??

You knew nothing as a kid when that bike was in fashon; you've grown up, and a VF should to a wiser man look like the model Honda wanted to forget....if you have good sense.