My First Project - VF500

[Scootaloo]

Hello All

So after owning 6 bikes I have started doing my own shit and long story short, ended up buying a restore project! - "Would you like to see?" the sarcastic child's TV show presenter said.

Well here it is, on the day I bought it:

https://s7.postimg.org/z50bsnlvv/VF_front.jpg

https://s8.postimg.org/idi4kb09h/VF_side.jpg

MMM - That purple.

To be continued...
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Scootaloo]

Started doing the basic stripping... bolts and nuts all coming off a breeze with GT85!

Already we've got a few parts that will never go back again...

https://s15.postimg.org/ecgvyvqmj/old_parts.jpg

The radiator is missing several fins and the clocks are broken..
Most of the wiring loom is butchered.

Well.. maybe the tank isn't that ba... oh my! - https://s15.postimg.org/h7tz5qumj/old_tank.jpg

https://s15.postimg.org/kow18ptor/oldtankdent.jpg

Um.. well... forwards then...
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Scootaloo]

Continued braking down... getting it completely separated.

https://s24.postimg.org/8lo9roxlx/oldframe.jpg

https://s24.postimg.org/8zplrahph/oldmainstand.jpg

After seeing so much rust and shitty paintwork I flipped out at this point and did this:

https://s8.postimg.org/hqblhrlt1/Shiney_Tank.jpg

I counted 7... 7! Layers of paint... FFS

https://s8.postimg.org/l8j00exb9/tanktankshiney.jpg

After seeing some metal beyond the rust... I was happy to remove these: https://s24.postimg.org/aoyozcxet/oldexhaust.jpg
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Scootaloo]

and then I was down to just the frame

https://s23.postimg.org/x3cp4rgff/undersideoldframe.jpg

Now... commence the grind!

https://s23.postimg.org/rqnuqmsiz/underside_of_frame_clean.jpg

https://s23.postimg.org/7ylorcgyz/top_side_of_frame_clean.jpg

I was grinding it... so to speak.

More on the way.
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Scootaloo]

Got help from a friend. Using the latest CGI I have managed to conceal their identity from this forum:

https://s11.postimg.org/e8jw8iqeb/assistant.jpg

Remember those shitty old exhausts? Well behold! Cleaned up old exhausts... https://s11.postimg.org/igeoh9rtv/shiney_exhaust.jpg
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[pompousporcup...]

looks like progress

I hate the cleaning part. Thats why i've had a frame sat for ages waiting.. the strip down is the best bit

[Scootaloo]

Time to take a look at the wheels and main stand whilst I'm waiting for the paint to dry.

https://s9.postimg.org/8wlu6ldjz/main_stand_cleaned.jpg

https://s9.postimg.org/6pd04xivz/main_stand_black.jpg

And then... argh... purple... (go back to the 90's faggot)

https://s9.postimg.org/l7a7cxa73/wheel_purple.jpg

After stripping the wheel I discovered this anodized black! very sharp. No need to paint at the moment!

https://s9.postimg.org/azw9e9dcv/wheels_black.jpg
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Scootaloo]

We break from the progress here to remind ourselves why this needed a rebuild: https://s18.postimg.org/brpddsdih/headstock_bearings.jpg

https://s18.postimg.org/w0cqzictl/old_air_filter.jpg
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Scootaloo]

Now for the forks.. frame nearly done..

https://s10.postimg.org/p00bsc54p/forks_red.jpg

https://s10.postimg.org/544ccso3d/forks_stripped.jpg

I did then paint them black but for some reason forgot photo.. oh well.
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Just_James]

Looks like you're doing a good thorough job with this

Keep the posts and pics coming!
____________________
Current Bikes / Projects: 1999 Rieju RS1 50
Previous bikes - 1986 DT125R (field bike), 1989 KX250, 1980 KX420 (with 500cc big bore), 1992 YZ250, 1988 KX500, 1989 XR250R, 1988 VFR400R NC24, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 2008 Rieju RS2 50 , 1993 Honda NSR 125

[.Chris.]

Looks like you're cracking on nicely. An interesting and rare model, too. The only snag, I would have thought, is going to be parts availability. It's good to see that you've got the downpipes and collector box, but do you have things like the fairings? Do you know what sort of condition the engine is in?

Keep up the good work.
____________________
Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Kickstart]

Hi

Many years ago I seriously considered one of these (a friend was selling one) as a first big bike.

They had a very good reputation for handling. Few crank problems though. Look great in red, white and blue

All the best

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

[hmmmnz]

i had one of these in my late teens. (well the 400 version)
my mate was so pissed that it could eat his zxr400 with out any problems even though the old vf was atleast 10 years older
great bikes
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Scootaloo]

Part availability has been Ok so far. A lot of these bikes are Granadering themselves at this point so there's always plenty of parts. The most rare part by far is the tank...

Paint dry: https://s30.postimg.org/6o21rrd69/frame_top.jpg

https://s30.postimg.org/5khxfssj5/frame_middle.jpg
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Pete.]

Simoniz Wheel Silver comes out an almost perfect match for those Honda frames. I used it on my VF1000 after getting a tip and you couldn't tell where the old paint met the new.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Scootaloo]

Got my shock back from HM racing, excellent service top recommendations there.

https://s18.postimg.org/3wf77qlop/Fixedshock.jpg

When installing my headrace bearings I accident-ed them and ended up exploding them all over the garage... oops!... New £20 set on the way.. expensive learning curve.

Decided to take a look at the engine timing for cams and valves, this is my first time doing this so I hope I've set them correctly! The feeler gauges don't seem to give you a create deal of accuracy just "oh its about that much there you go..." anyhow I think it should make a big difference as all the valves were all rammed shut at TDC.. the engine has covered 40,000 miles so far.

https://s18.postimg.org/6p3cunfpl/engine_timing.jpg

https://s18.postimg.org/3wa5amfd5/cam_timing.jpg
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Scootaloo]

Disaster Strike - it seems what I though was the bottom layer of paint was actually covering up some plastic... not a problem until I tried to plug a small hole with some brass. The plastic caught fire and then the solder underneath melted!!!

https://s9.postimg.org/62vs5n87z/engine_brassing.jpg
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[Scootaloo]

Whilst I figure out what to do with that. My headstock bearings arrived... and then this happened: https://s9.postimg.org/fl2nhpjsf/frame.jpg

Spot the mistake....
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)

[delsol]

Left fork protector, I take it you still have it somewhere.

[andym]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Impressively quick progress so far. Good job

Sure I read an article a year or two ago (maybe in BIKE magazine) where they do these up with new cycle parts and race them, primarily in Japan.

New swing arms and forks etc off of CBR and VFR 400's etc. Ever considered doing that or after a standard restoration?
____________________
Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[Scootaloo]

[Scootaloo]

[MarJay]

[Scootaloo]

Then the engine fell off the bench into the frame...

https://s7.postimg.org/a98cvyvzf/engine_in.jpg
____________________
(CBF125 - 09) (CBF125 - 11) (CB-1 - 89) (CBF500 - 06) (Push Bike) (CB-1 - 90) (XL125 - 01) (VF500 - 83) (GPZ500 - 94) (GPZ500 - 95) (GPZ500 - 87) (XV535 - 94) (XV535 - 94) (GPZ500 - 87)