VF 750 F owner from the UK

Discussion in 'Introductions' started by Millietant, Jan 4, 2021.

  1. Millietant

    Millietant New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Good afternoon to all on here. I've been a long time Honda owner, since my CB 650 Z in 1981 and then a VF 750 F (1984 model) which I bought in 1992 for my wife to ride and also a CRF 230 F that gets used for the occasional trail ride and occasionally at a small local MX practice track.

    Now for a bit of history, to give the background to where we are today..........to start with I'm a 60 year old married man, retired and with 2 grown sons. I love riding motorcycles, bicycles, Hiking, DIY and flying (qualified helicopter pilot PPL (H)). I also love modernising 70's and 80's bikes.

    In mid 1986, after finally being able to afford a new bike to replace my beloved CB 650, and being determined to buy a VF 1000 F Bol D'Or (after falling in love with the VF 750 F when it was launched)........I went and bought a FJ 1200 instead. I did 25,000 miles on the FJ in 3 years then replaced it with a new one 1989, which I still own and use today. The CB 650 stayed with me for many years after I bought the FJ, mostly being used by my father, while I waited for my brother (12 years younger than me) to pass his test so that I could give it to him as a "congratulations" present. You can imagine my surprise and annoyance when, on passing his test he said "thank you, but I really want a VFR 400, so I hope you don't mind if I part exchange it for one" :-(

    So, moving on to the middle of 1991, I bought my wife-to-be a Suzuki GSX 250 after she passed her test which she buzzed around on for while, accompanying my mates and I on our big bikes, for Sunday rides across the Pennines and around the Lake District. As you can imagine, she got pretty frustrated with this and when I asked her to marry me, she agreed......as long as I got her a big bike before our wedding..............this was chance to buy her (me) a Honda VF.......so I trawled the bike ads and found a VF 750 F in a pretty sorry state cosmetically, but sound mechanically, down near Kings Lynn. A 4 hour car journey there and we shared the ride back up to Durham, doing a couple of hours each on the bike (it was Feb '92 and pretty chilly).

    Once I got the bike back home, I gave it a thorough cleaning up and a good going over, lubricating and adjusting everything, changing fluids and filters and putting a new set of tyres on it. My wife was very happy and set about riding it and despite her initial resistance (thinking it was too big) she soon got to love the torque, performance and comfort it gave and she also fell in love with the way it looked - This was great news for me, as I could now choose to ride either the FJ or the VF whenever I went riding and she did the babysitting !!

    Between 1992 and 2004 the VF got used regularly for Sunday runs, European touring holidays and general pottering about - it also got a repaint in original colours (to get rid of the fairing road rash and the tank dent which had been hastily and poorly repaired by a previous owner), it had a couple of different exhaust systems and a few changes of tyres (I ended up with Dunlop Sportmax's, with a 140/70 on the back, much better than the skinny 110 it had when we bought it and the 120's I'd been running before the 140), but was otherwise left alone for 12 years, just running reliably and sweetly. It became a well known machine up in our biking community, passing and embarrassing many "sports" bikes in the corners up in the Pennines, with my wife riding, but when it came to our first "Family" tour.....2 weeks touring Europe on the bikes with our two sons (aged 9 and 14) as pillions, my wife decided she needed a bike that wasn't 20 years old and with nearly 40,000 miles on it - who was I to argue.

    Thankfully, she agreed to let me keep the VF when she got her Fazer 1000 and since then, the VF has been sat in the garage, waiting for me to give it the love and attention it deserves and to bring it back to life and a bit more up to date.

    Life has moved on..........many projects/bikes have come and gone...........and now I'm ready to tackle my restomod of the VF - I'm planning 17" wheels at each end, to fit modern radial tyres, better suspension and brakes, a mechanical refresh (the bike had had a full service at Armstrong racing in Newcastle less than 100 miles before it was parked up, including new exhaust collector box) and a cosmetic upgrade (clean, polish, refurbish, repaint etc) to everything except the bodywork, which still seems in mostly mint condition.

    I've recently bought a FJ 1200 rolling chassis to get a load of other parts that I want, so I'm going to graft the FJ front end onto the VF, somehow. I'll also be using a Fazer/Thundercat 600 rear wheel to keep them matching and thinking at the moment of painting them either gold, close to original colour, or black with polished rim edges (like the later type (US?) VF wheels) - not sure yet. I'll be running 120/70x17 and 170/60x17 tyres - my initial measurement seem to show that rear will fit without rubbing on the chain. Suspension will be standard FJ springs up front to start with and a Hagon/YSS shock at the rear, with a slightly increased shock length to keep the rear ride-height somewhere close to standard.

    Now for a few photo's.

    Firstly, the VF after I'd gotten it home and given it a clean up and some mechanical TLC

    VF 1.jpg

    Secondly, the VF "on tour" in the mid 1990's, with my wife (in the red jumper) and 3 friends who were touring with us.

    FJ VF Euro Tour 3.jpg

    And finally..... the VF in the garage as it is now, awaiting its restomod.

    Hopefully, I'll be seeking advice from here and where possible responding with advice when requested and will keep posting up any progress or issue photo's as I go through the resto process.

    All the best to everyone on here - oh, and please feel free to give any comments as to my plans/thoughts. :thumbs:
     
    Diving Pete and Thumbs like this.
  2. Millietant

    Millietant New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    VF 750 F.JPG
     
    Thumbs likes this.
  3. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    5,815
    Likes Received:
    2,351
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Nice. And Welcome!! Plenty of old-schoolers around here.
     
  4. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

    Country:
    Belgium
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    Messages:
    4,019
    Likes Received:
    137
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    South FL
    Map
    Welcome aboard
     
  5. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    5,815
    Likes Received:
    2,351
    Trophy Points:
    158
    What width is the rear? 5.5" is doable with a 170/60-17 without running off-set sprockets. But it is close. My final spacers which I managed to maintain factory wheel and sprocket center got down to about 1mm clearance on the hub and chain adjuster. I had to run the slimmest seal I could find on that side (5mm? I think) and bring the bearing lip down to match.
    [​IMG]

    Stick with Pirelli (if you like them) as they run the closest to actual. I also have a 5.5" and a 170/60 on a VF1000R with a Avon. The Avon "170" measured 178 actual. That made the chain clearance close, but still doable. A 170 on a 5" would allow just about any tire make.
     
    ridervfr likes this.
  6. Millietant

    Millietant New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Thanks for the welcome and the info guys.

    Captain - the wheel is a 5" and from what I can see, the sprocket inner face sits within a couple of mm of the distance from the centre line of that of the VF wheel. I haven't taken the VF wheel off yet to measure exactly, but its going to be very close.

    I already have matched Bridgestone BT 023's on my FJ 1200 with the Thundercat 600 back wheel and love them, so will probably give them another go.

    Your 1000 F looks awesome with the white wheels, what did they come from?
     
  7. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    5,815
    Likes Received:
    2,351
    Trophy Points:
    158
    That 5" wheel should be no prob then, depending how the cush drive interacts with everything. I really would have preferred a 5", but I didn't want to do ANOTHER set of F2 or F3 six-spoke wheels. Don't get me wrong, I love the look and I have them on other wheel swap VFRs, but they SUCK to keep clean. And I just wanted to do something different. I'm OCD about Honda parts on Honda bikes, so I picked these 1991 CBR1000F wheels (3.5x17 & 5.5x17) Nice style, somewhat period correct looking and accept the non-floating brake rotors that I have a bunch of from other projects that kept overall budget down a bit. Wide radials, updated suspension that results in more aggressive geometry... it's a completely different bike.

    Can't wait to see your mods. Cheers!
     
  8. Millietant

    Millietant New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    I usually try to keep all my updates using parts fom the same manufacturer wherever I can, but in this instance, the FJ front end is effectively free, and complete, so I can't really not use it. I always like to think that the bikes I end up building are the bikes the manufacturers should have built - this bike, although not a VF, was my first proper restomod, built with a friend who fabricated the conversion pieces and altered the fame to my design drawings, to turn his 73 CB 500 F into a monoshock bike (in 1982). Eventually, only the side panels were "untouched" (apart from re-painting).

    This was the first incarnation in 82.

    Phase1 Slide3.JPG
    and this was the second incarnation in 84 (including the crease in the tank from when the finished bike hit the door frame as we pushed the bike up the stairs out of our cellar workshop - the only parts that came from a bike that wasn't a Honda are the seat and tailpiece (which came from a Z 650

    Phase2 Slide3.JPG

    In more recent times, I upgraded my FJ 1200 - again with parts from other Yamaha's, which has made it ride, stop and turn, like a completely different bike.

    2020 Lickey Hills.jpg

    Now I have the time, space and most of the parts, it's the turn of the VF - and I hope it turns out at least as well as my others - but it wont be as gorgeous as your 1000 F
     
    Laker and Captain 80s like this.
  9. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    5,815
    Likes Received:
    2,351
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Nice job on the old Honda and Sweet FJ. The lines always reminded me of a large VF500F. Similar philosophies, I like to make my builds look like Honda could have done it, or like you stated, should have done it. Looking forward to seeing more.

    Cheers!
     
  10. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

    Country:
    Belgium
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    Messages:
    4,019
    Likes Received:
    137
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    South FL
    Map
    I got fond memories of seeing those old FJs cool looking bikes, never rode one mind you.
     
  11. Millietant

    Millietant New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Must admit that after riding my first FJ, I never wanted a VFR again (but still wanted a VF :)). I rode one in 88 and really missed the torque and responsiveness of the FJ, but still loved the relaxed feel of the VFR engine. A lot of my riding has always been done with a passenger and the FJ was just more roomy and comfortable for my passenger, and carried the weight much better. The riding position of the later VFR 750's was just too leaned forward for my liking, for longer journeys (but better for playing about with sports bikes on back roads).

    When we were looking to upgrade from our VF, Liz and I were convinced a VFR 800 would be ideal for her, but a test ride changed all that with the even more sporty riding position (I already had my Aprilia RSV as a sports bike so wouldn't be borrowing it for sportier riding) and she ended up with a Fazer 1000/FZ1 instead.

    BUT - pretty near the top of my dream list of bikes is a VF 1000R, right beside a CB 1100 R :) - I still have a tinge of regret tat I never did get a VF1000F (or the Bol D'Or) though.
     
  12. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    5,815
    Likes Received:
    2,351
    Trophy Points:
    158
    20200505_183632.jpg

    Though you'll never forget these are big, heavy bikes, with the suspension properly updated they "lose" quite a bit of weight once rolling. The one in the back I went for some wide wheels and radials as well. It's a completely different bike.

    20190701_182342.jpg

    There's just something about the 1000R, even with it's flaws.
     
    ridervfr likes this.
  13. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

    Country:
    Belgium
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    Messages:
    4,019
    Likes Received:
    137
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    South FL
    Map
    In 1986 all I could afford was $3000 dollars, that bought me a ZL600, shaft drive Kawasaki mini-muscle bike. 4 cylinder based on the Ninja motor, it sounded better on paper than it actually rode! LOL lived with it for 4 years and 40,000 miles then its gear box let go. It was warrantied but I ended up getting out of it. What a relief. Total turd. Live and Learn. Live to ride, Ride to live.
     
  14. Millietant

    Millietant New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    That's lovely - my VF will have 3 spoke wheels just like that, and it looks like my Kerker pipes are the same as those too.....I just love the way the end caps are finished :)
     
  15. Millietant

    Millietant New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Sometimes turds are great travelling devices !!!!!!
     
    ridervfr likes this.
  16. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

    Country:
    Belgium
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    Messages:
    4,019
    Likes Received:
    137
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    South FL
    Map
    Why do I feel like I am a poet working with "scat" The images that come to mind on your comment is that a turd must be flushed down the loo, the traveling would be in sewer pipes. Then something else came to mind as I was typing this, and of course might be interjectory. Traveling devices, I did alot of discovering on that motorcycle, became a better street rider and moved on to another more worthy motorcycle. So, in that regard, it was a traveling device beyond going from point A to point B. You have to read between the lines of life huh. PeacE
     
  17. Millietant

    Millietant New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    I went out into the garage this evening to try and motivate myself to get started on sorting stuff out..........one look at the pile of stuff to move so I can start on the VF...........and I gave up and went back in the house for some warmth and beer !!

    IMG_4354.JPG
     
  18. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    5,815
    Likes Received:
    2,351
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Sometimes shops get like these puzzles
    [​IMG]

    Gotta move this to be able to move that. But when I move that, I'll have to.... ahhh fuck it. {opens beer}

    It can really suck the motivation out of you.
     
  19. Millietant

    Millietant New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Well, I've actually made a start on the conversion........... Spacer made for the chain side and the brake caliper mount milled down to get the Yamaha Thundercat (YZF 600 R) wheel sitting nice and centrally in the swinging arm. I chose that wheel because it was the 3 spoke, 17" x 5" wheel, with the same diameter spindle as the VF. This means I can fit a 170 tyre if I also mill a bit from the inside edge of the VF torque arm ( or I could get/make another torque arm to fit - there are plenty of options here, but I really like the original torque arm and want to keep it if possible.

    1.JPG 5.JPG 2.JPG

    I'm normally very keen on using parts from the same manufacturer as the original bike when I do restomod's, but in this case I had the wheel available and I also have a spare FJ 1200 front end available ready to go in the VF, so at least the wheels will match each other on the finished bike - as the FJ front end was lying around left over from a spare parts donor bike for another project, there's no cost involved, hence I'm happy to give a little on my principles. I'm sure it'll look nice when it's done (the wheels will be gold in colour) and hopefully Captain 80's will forgive me.

    The one slight issue I have is getting the wheel sprocket to align perfectly with the gearbox sprocket. It's 3mm out at the moment and I can easily take 3mm off the sprocket mounting face on the cush drive unit, but I think I've heard that VF 1000's have a "shouldered" front sprocket that sits the chain run slightly further out than the 750. If that's true, it would be ideal, as I'd rather have the chain run a bit further out than it is now, to give more tyre clearance, should I eventually fit a 180 tyre.

    Anyway, that's the progress so far and hopefully over the next couple of days, the FJ front end will be in.

    One question for Captain 80's - did your VF 1000 F originally come with a 17" rear wheel, or an 18" one like the 750 ?
     
    Thumbs likes this.
Related Topics

Share This Page