An introduction from Scotland!

Hello all,

Thought I'd introduced myself as I've just joined. I'm new to the VF/VFR and indeed Honda world (I've been a Yamaha man), but I'm fast appreciating these machines!

I'm Scott and I'm from Glasgow, Scotland. I used to have an '84 Yamaha FJ1100 that I spent last winter doing up. I MOT'd (yearly inspection in the UK) it and fitted two new tyres. I went out on it to grain the tyres in one Saturday. The sky was relatively clear although it was a bit chilly the roads were dry. 5 miles in and the heavens opened in a sudden downpour that came from nowhere. Tried to gingerly get home but I dropped it going round a roundabout. Knackered the fairing, indicator, broke the engine casing and the rear brake pedal bought it. I was gutted. I spent so much time and effort on it I couldn't face it all over again, so with her indoors not best pleased (she came to my rescue and followed me home, she didn't like seeing me battered and bruised) I decided to get shot…

Went to Florida in October, hired a Harley (always do when I go) and had a great time. Came back to the hotel after dropping it off and the good lady took one look and me and said, "You're buying a bike when we get home, aren't you?" I couldn't lie!

I made her a deal, something small and light, under 600cc that wasn't a Supersport.

Short while later I found this little gem on Gumtree (Craigslist equivalent)…


She's an '86 VF500, with long MOT and 46000 on the clock. She's been resprayed red, it's not a bad job but I'll be sorting that out (I'm thinking Old English White with a matt black stripe). The frame, brakes etc. have all been lovingly tidied/restored by the previous owner. She's great fun, goes well (although the clutch slips a little when cold, suspect the springs need replaced) and she's just what I need. Not bad for £500 (about $750)!




Anyway, I'll be updating progress as I go, obviously the weather is rotten just now as it's Scotland in the winter, but that gives me plenty of time to get her all sorted for next year!

Cheers for now,

Scott.

 

Welcome Scott. Over the years, I have owned 4 different 1986 VF500Fs like yours. I love the bike and have never had any real problems. I know they are prone to dropping valves, but keep up with the valve checks and I bet you'll be fine. Like you, winter has started here in NY and it is a perfect time to get the bike in shape for spring. Bummer about your FJ, but it sounds like you've picked yourself up and moved on.

 

Welcome, good looking bike. :thumb:

 

Welcome VFScott. I didn't recognize the bike at first until I looked closer. Here in the USA the VF500F's were always Red, white and blue with either black wheels with machined rims, or black wheels altogether. So yours is very unusual indeed. Also your VF500F has the side mirrors on the fairing. I remember my '86 VF500F had the side mirrors were mounted on the clip on handlebars.

 

Welcome aboard and safe riding.

 

Hi OCL, thanks for the welcome! Yeah, you're very correct! The bike has been repainted in a past life in a metallic red and the mirrors were removed from the handlebars and new ones fitted to the fairing. The mirrors are the first thing I'll be changing… their positioning means that they are very narrow on the bike. The only way to see behind is to move your elbows up or slide over to one side! I think I'll be fitting some bar end mirrors onto it. It will take some filling and some care to make the nose cone look right again but it will be worth it. I had thought that if it can't be saved (it is quite cracked in the underside from having the mirrors fitted there) I might go for the single round headlamp with a harley style headlamp fairing look, much like what's on the new HD Street 500 and 750's. A new fairing is too expansive to buy over here!

Thanks all for the warm welcome!

Scott.

 

Bargain.you can get mirror extenders.

 

Welcome ,

Have a soft place in my heart for Scotland - lived there almost two years thanx to Uncle Sam - r u old enough to remember the Apollo ? Saw Lynyrd Skinner there circa '76. Kinda envy the roads you guys get to ride.

 

Welcome to the world laddie. Glasgow. Ahhh. My ancestrial home. I was over to Scotland for my first time a few years ago but unfortunately my tour did not take me to Glascow. But Enborough was a nice stop for a couple days. A few fine drams here and there along with some tasty haggis. Really. Like that stuff in proportion amounts.

 

Shame about the FJ. I always wanted one!

 

Thanks for the welcome!

I'm just a little too young to remember the Apollo, but Glasgow is still known for it's intimate music venues, a city I'm very proud of indeed. As for the roads, the've become more potholed over the years and it can be bit of a problem for some, but give me a nice sunny day and I'm off northwards, within 30 mins you're in some of the best scenery the world has to offer!

Thanks for the welcome, unfortunately I'm not at liberty to discuss Edinburgh because, as a Glasgwegian, they are our sworn enemy! :glee:

But Glasgow is a wonderful city, if you get the chance to come back definitely make a point of visiting. Glaswegians are renowned for many things, but top of the list should be our friendliness to visitors. We like to make you feel at home!

Well, it was a good old bike. The only thing I'd write it down on is the plastic second gear and the really top heavy handing. Feels like there is a 100lbs weight on the fuel cap!

 

I had an 86 VF500. It was hugely ugly and rescued from a college bound kid that tried to "fix" it and ended up messing it up quite a bit. I loved the bike but I was too big for it and, as I recall, it didn't like crosswinds much.


That's not me on the salt. That is me on my rock road and the magic of Photoshop.

Lots of us in the US and Canada trace family back to Scotland. My Great Grandfather Finley Clark was a Glasgwegian. He came to the states to seek his fortune. He promised the girl he left behind that once he was settled he would send for her. True to his word he sent for her at last. She got cold feet and refused but her sister said she would go. It's funny how things work out. This has nothing to do with motorcycles but we were handed down stories that kind of link us to the place.

Question: you stated "I decided to get shot…" I assume you meant that you decided to get rid of that bike?

 

I've always noticed whenever I've been in America that a lot of people have a soft spot for the Scots and the Irish. It's great knowing that there's a shared history so far away!

Ahhh, that is a British bit of slang for you. It means to "get rid of". In Glasgow it's usually used to refer to something that is useless, as in; "He was a drunk and a layabout so I got shot of the lanky streak of shite!"

 

In my world, getting a shot means a wee dram....actually a big one if it is over 18 years old.

 

7 generations, to John Campbell born in Argyleshire, 1742, and wife Ann Christy, from Ulster 1748, came to Pennsylvania, US around 1765. Family history goes way further back but info is less reliable imo.

And you can keep the haggis, send the Scottish women!

 

How's this for a family story. A great great grand dad on my dad's side came from Scotland to the US through the port of Galveston (the busiest port in Texas until the hurricane blew it off the map) and within three years was enlisted to fight for the Confederacy. We have the receipt where the army paid him rental for his horse and gear. He died of the flu in New Mexico just before the Battle of Glorieta Pass. I have often wondered what drives a man so far from home and what forces conspire to cause a man to fight and die in a war not of his making.

 

Been following this thread as I am Scottish, but now living in Devon, Find it interesting that some of you guys with Scottish ancestory can trace it so far back , very difficult to do over here, I wonder if its because your ancestral families wanted the following generations wanted to keep the connection alive so lot was passed down verbally. On slightly different tack I have visited the USA on 3 occasions , each time hired an RV and did 3000 to 4000 miles road trips in different parts of the country, each time I have been overwhelmed by the welcome we received on our travels, the spectacular scenery , and interesting places we visited, has to be my favourite destination, and I have travelled extensively during my 32 years in the British armed forces.

 

I think it was important to our parents to keep their roots and to know where they come from. In the UK to just stand on the soil is to stand on history. In America no so much. We can trace our known history back to the sixteen hundreds. In Europe that's almost the modern era.

I am glad you find our country a great place to visit. If you ignore the news and all the sensationalism that would paint us as gun happy killers you will find a country that is warm and welcoming, for the most part. I always thought it would be great if we could get together, you could come here and we could show you our favorite roads.

 

Cheers for that,yes you have some great roads,unfortunately only done them in a RV.

 

I was thinking that having a couple of VFR would be handy when having guests from out of town.