vf500f project

maddaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Karma :

started new job so hopefully get some work done on bike

27cows · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Karma :

Nice

Is it a runner?

maddaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Karma :

not running front top needs sorted on it

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Meant to be good bikes to ride. Good handling and one of the few anti dive systems that worked reasonably.

From memory the cranks were the weak point in the engine. I almost bought one from a friend but decided not to and the crank failed about a month later.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

27cows · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Karma :

I rode one years ago, belonged to a mate. Great fun, as I recall. Much nicer than the VF750.

maddaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Karma :

is vf750 parts fit the 500? anyone know were i can find a 4 into 1 exhaust

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Yeah, i can certainely see the potential for a nice looking and decent bike in that lot somewhere!

The old school fairings and styling can stay!
I'd be looking for a modern USD front end, a Better rear end/decent shock and some light weight 17" rims to take modern tyres.

The 500cc V4 should be knocking out what 60-70bhp? especially with a bit of careful tuning and a decent s/s exhaust system, and re-build/re-jetting of the carbs.

I'd probably finish her off with a Rothmans paint job, and some smart colour coded wheels and decals.

warped one · Banned Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Karma :

My dad has got the 400. Cost him £250 of ebay as a winter hack.

We spent 18month rebuilding it from the ground up, absolute bugger to get into, i.e The rear headers need to be installed on the engine before it goes in, otherwise you'll have to drop it again.

The saddest point of rebuilding this amazing bike was that after all our sweat and toil of basically turning this rust box into a show bike. It got stolen a month after, then thrown in a ditch at the top of the road. And just to add insult to injury the recovery nob, tried picking it up by the grab rail, and ripped the rear end off, then when he unstroped it, he just whiped the strop off and scratched the tank. Que another 6months in the garage rebuilding.

Dispite all my hard work put in this thing (including a few broken fingers after the engine dropped on it) I have only ridden it once and it scared the absolute crap out of me. The only way I can describe it is 'It's like taking the god fathers daughter out, you know if your fvck it, you are dead.'

They are rather powerful bikes for there age and even out run me on my GT round the roads round here until I came off Mr. Green

I think my dad is currnetly trying to sell his for a Laverda. I can say that this was the most enjoyable and forgiving bike i've ever ridden, and loved every second of it, even if my dad didn't.

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

maddaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Karma :

nice bike warped, that was terrible wot that guy did to ya bike, anyhows ya hard work has paid of the bike is a credit to ya

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

The 400s were pretty common at one time, and quite a few came from Japan as cheap grey imports. There was also a faired 400 which looked like the VF500 we got in the UK.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

warped one · Banned Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Karma :

Cheers mad, there was a slight bit of retrobution in it though, the kid that did it got rammed through a gate by the police a broke his legs. Karma ay, what a bitch?

But I must say I do like been behind it, smells nice and sounds even better.

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Warped

What is the exhaust off? As that is nothing like any VF400 exhaust I have seen (possibly a VT500 one?).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

maddaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Karma :

that will teach him lol i need throttle twist grip and carbs before i can take her to my mate to sort out the engine thats if i can be fixed

warped one · Banned Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Karma :

IIRC, the exhausts had a little work done on them by my dad for some reason when we stripped it, so for all I know they could be a hand built jobby by him.

If you can get me a picture of what they should look like then i'll see if I can remember what they used to be like.

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Sales brochure pic from Bikepics.

https://www.bikepics.com/pictures/083932/

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

warped one · Banned Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Karma :

Must be something he bought or made. Finding pieces for this bike are seriously rare. I personally think it looks alot better with the crome ones on. Sort of cleans it up.

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

maddaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Karma :

am trying to find a 4 into 1

hmmmnz · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

good luck, Very Happy

its the little brother of my beasty,
they handle... well like shit Very Happy

but they are pretty damn fast for there time
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maddaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Karma :

am needing an engine can anyone help Sad

hmmmnz · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

1016.5 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

Nice bike maddaz.

If you still need engine, exhaust, twist grip, carbs, etc. I've got a complete stripped VF500F in boxes, so let me know what you want.

I guess that your's is an imported Interceptor; looks kinda cool with that top fairing/bellypan/AMA-look thing going on, but I do have a set of full fairing lowers as well if you'd like,

Anyhow, PM me or summat...
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warped one · Banned Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Karma :

If you want any stainless bolts drop me a PM and i'll send them out for you if you want.

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

maddaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Karma :

thats great guys ave jus started to strip the bike down

maddaz · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Karma :

nearly ready to start cleaning frame for painting

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Good work so far mate! Thumbs Up

Can see a really nice project in your bike tbh! I really like the styling of the VF500 with it's semi sportsbike looks, that is halfway between say a VFR and a CBX styling wise. The model name is about as cool as they get too! Very mad max sounding and an awesome name for a bike, a bit like some older Suzuki's and Kawasaki's that had names like Katana and Samurai! Laughing

Are you having the frame enamelled or poweder coated?