Ex Divvy Viffer

[Shaft]

Some of you may have seen this........

https://img41.imageshack.us/img41/3315/gwph.jpg

Here..........

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=277336

Well, Divvy took me up on my kind offer and now it's mine, for better or worse.

Many thanks to Mr & Mrs Dumbass for assistance with loading (and tea and introducing me to their collection of pets, including the extraordinarily bad tempered Chinese Crested) and also to Robby, for short notice helping out with unloading.

After talking to Robby for a while, it was starting to get dark and Autumnal rain had set in, so no more pictures at this point, but some observations were made:

It looks like it's been stored with the back end in a pond; virtually all the corrosion is confined to the rear wheel/swingarm area, with crusty brake pipe connectors, furry fasteners and a particularly rusty disc.

Robby and I reached the conclusion that this last must be a replacement aftermarket part, as the front discs are absolutely fine; owners of old Guzzis will be familiar with rusty discs, but I don't like them, so if this keeps trying to return to nature, I'll be looking for a new one.

The chain isn't the best I've seen, with it's rusty side plates and lack of recent adjustment (it's dragging along the main stand at present) but I'm hoping I can reclaim that, because the sprockets are reasonable, so I don't want to put a C&S set on before I need to.

It seems to have had some time and money spent on it, in the not too distant past, with some new gaskets and brake pads in evidence.

Other than that, it seems to be largely original, it doesn't overheat, it's got a stainless Motad and yet another bloody Avon front tyre (why does every bike I ever buy have an Avon front, they're shit and I hate them!)

Anyway, no doubt there will be more to come, unless I'm asked not to bother.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Frost]

The exhaust tends to rot through and start blowing under the bike. Check it, treat any rust and paint it.

[Casper]

[Robby]

[Shaft]

[Robby]

Those ones could be ok. The lizard special was knackered and about 15 years old.

[Shaft]

We shall see.

It's got a Battlax on the back, which I've heard good things about, but who knows how old either tyre is.

As always with new bikes though, I'm more concerned about potential major mechanical issues.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Frost]

[garth]

Just to disagree, I thought BT45's were very good - much moreso than Avon Roadriders, especially in the damp.

[motad_uk]

is a motad stainless system- the bike looks just like mine!

we make a collector box that will fit onto the pipes once the silencer is removed and allow you to fit twin silencers

am keen to keep this model in our range- I have one- but currently we are considering discontinuing it- the bikes are not getting any younger and keeping stuff on shelf for years is expensive

so try us on sales@motad.co.uk

[motad_uk]

but then again you may just have our silencer on original pipes - would be surprised - the stock pipes did not last well

[Shaft]

For the moment, I'm quite happy with the exhaust, it's gas tight, obviously it's not rotten and I think it sounds quite good; twin cans would look more original, but cost would be the major deciding factor.

One thing though, should it have a rubber fillet on the inside of the clamp?
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Pol Anorl]

Glad youre happy with it, no idea whats going on with the back end, it was/is surface rust on the discs but they seem to rust up bloody quick even after id cleaned em so change would probably do it the world of good.

Pleasure to meet you and show off the vast array of strange pets.
____________________
GOOD GAME BODYGUARD: https://i.imgur.com/8WePGgf.jpg
20:30:37 Pyro.: I don't sort of like men, I take every advantage to choke on dick.
Jewlio Iglesias: You live in Liverpool - Chances are, the front door has already been kicked off the hinges

[Shaft]

Yeah, got it back in one piece and it all seems good.

I'm going to attack the rear disc with Scotchbrite and brake cleaner and see what happens; if I can't get a half sensible surface on it, a new one will probably be the only option, it doesn't look like there's much scope for a skim.

Other than that, a few stainless fasteners and a new brake line should sort everything, assuming I can't clean it all up acceptably.

And it was good to meet you and yours too, it's a good job I'm not able to look after a dog properly, or I would've kidnapped that poodle!
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Pol Anorl]

Look forward to seeing it on this thread when you tidy it up.

The poodles now gone home so im stuck with a cat and a very angry bald dog lol.
____________________
GOOD GAME BODYGUARD: https://i.imgur.com/8WePGgf.jpg
20:30:37 Pyro.: I don't sort of like men, I take every advantage to choke on dick.
Jewlio Iglesias: You live in Liverpool - Chances are, the front door has already been kicked off the hinges

[UnspeedySam]

Cool thread. I love these old VFRs; they're on my list of bikes to own in the near future. Quite like the slightly later twin headlight version though.

[_Iain_]

[Shaft]

[motad_uk]

[motad_uk]

have has a few people contact me about these pipes- and we have decided to make one more (could be the last) batch

contact me on ianmcdonald@motad.co.uk if you are interested

the "could be the last " lot will be complete end of October

Ian McDonald

[Shaft]

To continue...................

Not had much of a chance to do anything since I picked it up, mainly due to the fact that it's at home, so now it's getting dark earlier, I rarely get out of work before the light's gone.

However, the cunning plan was finish work early and get my chain and rear brake sorted, in preparation for a trip to the Kop Hill hillclimb tomorrow.

First thing was to try and get a surface on the disc; seems to be a high iron content replacement and it's not in great shape

https://img543.imageshack.us/img543/3648/1z2q.jpg

Looks like it's been buried in someone's garden and the rust is thick enough that's it's not going to disappear by dabbing the brake a few times.

Make sure the back wheel isn't going to touch, stick it in first and attack with a softish wire brush, lubricated with brake cleaner; after 20 minutes, stand back and admire your handywork

https://img834.imageshack.us/img834/9454/ry6w.jpg


Acceptable surface, but it's substantially out of true; there's a chance I can sort it out by cleaning up the mating faces, but if I'm going to that much trouble, I might as well bung on a new one.....ho hum.

Then I was going to do the chain, but it turns out my dear old dementia ridden Dad left me with another legacy, when he hid half my tools, including my spanners, so it's a trip to work in the morning.

So much for an early start
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Robby]

There's a fair chance that the mating surfaces are the only problem, and the reason is was replaced in the first place was corrosion on the mating surfaces pushing the original out of true - making someone think it was warped.

Worth the back wheel off anyway so you can strip and grease the monoshock linkage. The bike is of the age and mileage where the original thin smear of factory grease will be gone, but you should be able to save the parts by stripping and greasing now.

If you're in a pinch for tools at the weekend give me a call, most of mine live at the inlaws' house on Church Road.

[Shaft]

Thanks for the offer Robby.

Got it down to work today and had a general faff about, sorted the chain, tightened a few fasteners, touch of lube here and there, however, I have a slightly bigger issue............I don't like it.

Nothing wrong with it, silky smooth, turbine like engine (as always) nice gearbox, decent suspension, I don't even mind the Avon tyre, but it's just too small and cramped, it feels like a moped to me.

I'm going to persevere with it for a while, in case it grows on me, but my initial reaction is that it wouldn't take too much effort to persuade me to part with it.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[groovylee]

Give me a shout if you do decide to get rid mate, I have a soft spot for old Hondas, and I could do with something with a little more grunt than my gpz500
____________________
Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[Shaft]

I might just do that Lee.

It's a shame, because I really wanted to like it and that engine is an absolute jewel, but the riding position is a bit too sports orientated.

What I should probably do is get a Sabre with a blown engine (there must be hundreds of those) and do a VFR transplant, but this bike is really too good to hack about.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035