Cliff's new VF500

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by maduncle, Aug 27, 2019.

  1. maduncle

    maduncle New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2012
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Map
    Hi all,

    I have been looking around for a while but I have finally got myself a VF500.

    This one came up for sale in Perth at a good price so I jumped on it and then worked out how to get it shipped to me in Victoria.

    The bike is very original, only 38,000km on the clock and in great condition.

    I have ridden it a few times and now I am playing with it - first thing was to fit Tarrozi rear sets to try and give my 6' 2" frame some more room to tuck the knees into the tank. It is a better fit now.

    Next step is to try out some 1987 CBR600 clip ons to see how that changes the ride position for me - nice thing is all the mods are easy to flip back to stock if need be.

    Given I live in the hills east of Melbourne, I will have plenty of windy places to test out the handling.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2019
  2. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

    Country:
    Ireland
    Joined:
    May 14, 2011
    Messages:
    609
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Limerick, Ireland
    Map
    That's very nice. I like the black. I never knew about those rearsets. I am 6ft 4in and managed OK. However as I get older more room would be nice. Do they make much of a difference?
     
  3. maduncle

    maduncle New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2012
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Map
    The Tarozzi rearsets make a little difference, and that is all I needed really.
     
  4. maduncle

    maduncle New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2012
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Map
    Next step - fitting 1987 CBR600 clip ons.

    They arrived in the mail and fortunately still have the bar weights inside.

    Which is just as well as it looks like I need to add some bar ends to get a bit of length on the clip ons to be able to take all the gear off the stock VF500 bars.
    Photos soon.
     
  5. straycat

    straycat Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    Messages:
    1,443
    Likes Received:
    539
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Canada
    Map
    do the clip-ons clear the fairings ok? typically putting clip-on's on a vf500 Interceptor means cutting the upper fairing to clear them. I put clip-ons on my 85 Rothmans tribute Interceptor, had to cut a lot of plastic out. Had to trim the black plastic cover from around the gages too.



    P1100013.jpg P1100012.jpg P1100597.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2019
    maduncle likes this.
  6. maduncle

    maduncle New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2012
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Map
    Thanks Straycat, I am unsure if the fairing will need trimming and if it does - then I will keep the stock bars on.

    It looks like the levers may hit the fairing on full lock - I will experiment and see...

    (Nice Rothmans look there too).
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
  7. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    910
    Likes Received:
    198
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map
    Nice bike, will be watching how yours turns out. Unfortunately I have been able to ride my VF500 about 1 mile before the engine gave up.
     
  8. sixdog

    sixdog Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2010
    Messages:
    1,353
    Likes Received:
    471
    Trophy Points:
    98
    Location:
    So California
    Map
    Wow , I love the look of your 500!
     
  9. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2006
    Messages:
    9,838
    Likes Received:
    743
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Buffalo, NY
    Map
    CLASSIC !
     
    Jim McCulloch likes this.
  10. maduncle

    maduncle New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2012
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Map
    Slow times here in the Yarra Valley. I got out on the bike a few times and with the weather warming up I should get out a few times more soon.

    I have ditched the clip on idea as I don't want to hurt the bodywork to make things fit.

    But I will be replacing the oversize indicators with much smaller ones and wrapping the originals up to be put away in case I ever do sell this bike and the next owner wants it original.

    Apart from that - I think maybe I need to work on the suspension. It is ROCK HARD!
     
  11. RS125

    RS125 New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2019
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Gastonia North Carolina
    Map
    Wow great looking bike. Just looking at one locally

    Congrats
     
  12. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2006
    Messages:
    9,838
    Likes Received:
    743
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Buffalo, NY
    Map
    unless you can hear it run and do a short test ride and have made a compression test it's only a parts bike, nothing more.
     
  13. RS125

    RS125 New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2019
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Gastonia North Carolina
    Map
    thanks you just busted my bubble Squirrelman.... It was $300 minus carbs. Bike looked clean and almost complete... minus carbs..... yea I know
     
  14. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2006
    Messages:
    9,838
    Likes Received:
    743
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Buffalo, NY
    Map
    what that suggests is that the guy had severe engine problems and knew it wouldn't run again so he sold the carbs ?
     
  15. maduncle

    maduncle New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2012
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Map
    Well - looks like my stock old rear shock has gone the way most VF500 shocks eventually go.

    My VF500 is now a pogo stick.

    One bump on the road turns the seat into a bouncy castle.

    I am already onto Jamie and he has come back to me promptly with some options, but the current conversation rate $US to $AUD plus the high postage cost may unfortunately put his good gear out of my reach.

    I also see there is a Hagon replacement unit, is there a Penske (??) as well?
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2019
  16. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    5,815
    Likes Received:
    2,351
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Hagon, YSS, Bitubu, Wilbers all good options. I've recently installed a couple YSS on my Vf1000s and I like them a lot. Great bang for the buck.
     
    maduncle likes this.
  17. maduncle

    maduncle New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2012
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Map
    Thanks Cap,

    Looks like either Hagon or YSS in my budget range, the Bitubu and Wilburs are an expensive choice.
     
  18. GreginDenver

    GreginDenver New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2016
    Messages:
    503
    Likes Received:
    194
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Map
    I've had very good experience with Hagon rear shocks on two smaller bikes: a 2005 Kawasaki EX250 and a 1993 Suzuki GSF400. No problems with the shock in 9 years of use on the EX250 and 5 years on the GSF400. Plenty of adjustability for "sport" riding (I don't do anything track related).
     
  19. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    5,815
    Likes Received:
    2,351
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Hagon is a solid choice, I agree. Lots of satisfied riders in the U.K.
     
  20. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

    Country:
    Ireland
    Joined:
    May 14, 2011
    Messages:
    609
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Limerick, Ireland
    Map
    Hagon have been around for donkey's years. Definite mid table offering but OK. I had one on a VF500 and it was a lot better than the tired OE.
    They will service the later ones too. I have heard they wont service older shocks with red springs but not sure if this is the case or not.
    Don't think servicing will be an option from Australia anyway.
    I had a modified CBR600 shock from DMr and I sprung for a Wilburs too. Of all of them I think the DMr one was the best on my VF500.
     
Related Topics

Share This Page