Restoring a (second) BLUE '87 VFR700F2H

Thread title says (second) because I have two of them. And this thread is for a 2nd Blue '87 RC26 I acquired a year before the first one.

The thread I started November 2023 for the other one:

https://vfrworld.com/threads/restoring-a-blue-87-vfr700f2h.61337/

That bike, acquired in September 2019, is in running condition.

Now it's time to get started on the second one - acquired in April 2018. I bought it in non-running condition with a gas cap that didn't open due to a drilled out key lock. Back then I didn't know as much as I do now so after some unsuccessful attempts at resolving the gas cap issue, I just parked the bike under a tarp in my side yard under a covered storage area.

Didn't mean to let her sit so long but as we all know time has a way of getting away from us, so today I finally pulled her back out and am going to move forward on restoration.

Didn't come with the side fairings but does have the upper infills. Came with owner's manual and tool kit. Has those front blinkers that are flush with the fairing and rears are crappy aftermarkets. Bike was in running condition when the fuel tank cap got messed up, according to the seller. Bike shows 67,931 miles and I paid $900.

A few pics back when I acquired her:

 

This morning I pulled her out from storage. Wasn't too bad. Tires needed air of course and had to remove both front brake calipers. Took the rear caliper off after I rolled her out on the driveway. This is after rinsing off the dust and dirt with a hose.....

 

That little gold thing is a small butane torch - invaluable to help free up fasteners that haven't been turned in a while. I used it along with WD-40 and tapping on the fasteners with a small hammer to get them freed up.

 

Now....how do I get this fuel cap off? I'd like to be able to reuse the tank. TIA for any help!

 

I just did this a couple months ago.

1/2" drill bit. Drill in until you get to (past) the two tabs that engage the filler opening. They will then be able to slide inward and the cap will release.

I did this upside down with the cap hanging over the edge of my outside work bench so debris fell to the ground, not potentially into my tank.

It was way easier than I was expecting.

 

AWESOME!!! Thank you SO MUCH! I can do this and will report back with results. Can't wait to get a whiff of that nasty stale fuel! (green sarcastic font)

 

OK - well that worked out pretty good. The clasps were not moving after drilling even with liberal dousing of WD-40 and lots of tip-tapping and twisting. So I ended up breaking off one side of the housing with a screwdriver acting like a chisel, which allowed removal of the cap assembly.

The tank is in great condition - didn't really have much liquid inside. Think I can clean it out with some Evaporust.

Stoked!

 

Whatever works that doesn't damage the inside lip.

 

I could make a joke but will restrain myself......

 

Good morning and happy Saturday all!

Spent the morning cleaning up the service bay and will get her up on my lift later. Lot of accumulated "stuff" that needed going through. Will be so much nicer now that this is done.

A rare August front moved through Thursday so we caught a little break in the temps and humidity. Along with a slight breeze it hasn't been too bad. I have 3 oscillating fans that help and also of course listen to some tasty classic rock tunes while working.

Wanted to throw this question out.......any idea what kind of muffler I have?

No markings that I can see on it except for this on the very end.



Thanks for any help!

 

Yoshimura.

 

most of us a few years older would know that easily

 

I'm sure. Funny thing is after I posted my question I Googled "Aftermarket muffle sport bike" and a bunch of ads for Yoshimura came up and I saw that logo, so guess I could have found out on my own. Then after getting the bike up on my lift, I noticed where the original label came off on the muffler......

 

So yeah....bike up on lift.

Tomorrow I will start removing stuff.

 

can u buy those ? anyway, keep collectin, restorin, and riden and help carryin on the fanbase of this model.

 

Thanks - owning one of these and not trying to restore or care for it makes me feel guilty...

Just checked and yes the replacement labels are on eBay. Not a priority right now.....

 

preservin them for whom ?? will they be ridden by another generation in 20 years ?

like this fzx750 fazer i usta ride, for example ? 5-valve, baby, glad i never needed adjustment. engine rates a #10 but chassis only about #6 or #7.

 

Thats why you would put that engine in a twin spar frame... Oh wait, they did.

 

View attachment 99967



like this.... engine is a 10 and so is the frame

 

I really thought those got an early version of the delta box. Such a cool bike.

I guess 88 was when the delta box came on to the scene.