UPDATE: Bike has sold.
Shown here in her new digs, Project 42 looks right at home in Bill's 7-car garage with his eclectic collection. Bill also drives for a Porsche race team and I think he'll be the bike's perfect caretaker.
Shown here in her new digs, Project 42 looks right at home in Bill's 7-car garage with his eclectic collection. Bill also drives for a Porsche race team and I think he'll be the bike's perfect caretaker.
$7800
After ten months of effort, Project 42, a 1986 VFR750, is available for sale! For regular readers, this bike's story will be a familiar tale, but for those who haven't heard....
After ten months of effort, Project 42, a 1986 VFR750, is available for sale! For regular readers, this bike's story will be a familiar tale, but for those who haven't heard....
Detailed photo gallery (cut & paste this link):
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBv3u8
This bike has a unique history — originally supplied by Honda UK as one of three Press Fleet bikes for the 1986 British introduction of the new VFR Interceptor. Accompanied by a white and a red example, these three bikes were used for road tests, magazine shoots, etc. When that assignment was completed, a staff member of "Motor" magazine, Rex, requested to purchase one of the bikes. Honda agreed, and Rex chose the blue — this very bike. The following year Rex accepted a position with Ford in Detroit and shipped the VFR to Michigan. After lots of bureaucratic haggling the bike was successfully imported with a Michigan title. Rex kept the bike for the next 37 years and 18,000 miles till he offered it to me last year with the promise that I would refurbish it for its next 37 years and find its next caretaker.
With 18,161 miles, this bike has had a full mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment. My goal is always to retain as much originality as possible while bringing the bike as a whole up to whatever standard I can achieve — in this case I would put it at a 9 out of 10. ALL of the mechanical systems are inspected, repaired, replaced, rebuilt; whatever was needed (a partial list is below). Cosmetically, I chose to professionally repaint the wheels and both large side fairings along with a selection of small parts. The rest of the paintwork is original, to my knowledge; color-sanded, buffed and polished. The bike has a few small flaws, which I photographed as well as I could and are included in a detailed photo album (see link below). The seat vinyl had begun to fade so it was professionally recovered in the correct color and texture. The electrical system is inspected, cleaned and works flawlessly. This bike has the European handlebar switchgear with a few extra features, compared to US models, and there are several more differences.
The only necessary modification are the aftermarket SuperTrapp slip-on mufflers. To import the bike, Rex needed to replace the mufflers with US-spec mufflers and in the ensuing years the originals were lost. These SuperTrapps are in near-perfect condition with hi-heat powder coat on the black pipes and many hours spent refurbishing the aluminum mufflers. They are tunable and I have the additional discs to allow future changes. And they highlight that unique V4 music — they sound great.
Included are all the importation documentation, my work and parts receipts, original UK owners manual, tool kit, Clymer service manual, two keys and a license plate bracket and reflector to mount a US plate. The Illinois title is clear and clean, in my name.
Some of the service items:
Carburetors rebuilt/tuned/synced
Spark plugs
Valve adjustment
Compression check
Oil/filter change w/Honda oil
Hardwired stator connector
Full silicone coolant hose replacement w/Honda coolant
New tires; Bridgestone BT46, original sizes
Rebuild forks with Progressive brand springs
Upgraded steering head bearings
All hydraulics fully rebuilt; brakes, clutch
Venhill stainless brake lines, in black
OEM fuel petcock replaced, new fuel lines/filter
Polished exhaust pipes
Many misc. fairing fasteners replaced
Disassembly to frame & engine, full detailing
No disappointments, contact me with questions.
As an aside, this will be one of my final full-bike projects.
Thanks for your interest. Joe
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBv3u8
This bike has a unique history — originally supplied by Honda UK as one of three Press Fleet bikes for the 1986 British introduction of the new VFR Interceptor. Accompanied by a white and a red example, these three bikes were used for road tests, magazine shoots, etc. When that assignment was completed, a staff member of "Motor" magazine, Rex, requested to purchase one of the bikes. Honda agreed, and Rex chose the blue — this very bike. The following year Rex accepted a position with Ford in Detroit and shipped the VFR to Michigan. After lots of bureaucratic haggling the bike was successfully imported with a Michigan title. Rex kept the bike for the next 37 years and 18,000 miles till he offered it to me last year with the promise that I would refurbish it for its next 37 years and find its next caretaker.
With 18,161 miles, this bike has had a full mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment. My goal is always to retain as much originality as possible while bringing the bike as a whole up to whatever standard I can achieve — in this case I would put it at a 9 out of 10. ALL of the mechanical systems are inspected, repaired, replaced, rebuilt; whatever was needed (a partial list is below). Cosmetically, I chose to professionally repaint the wheels and both large side fairings along with a selection of small parts. The rest of the paintwork is original, to my knowledge; color-sanded, buffed and polished. The bike has a few small flaws, which I photographed as well as I could and are included in a detailed photo album (see link below). The seat vinyl had begun to fade so it was professionally recovered in the correct color and texture. The electrical system is inspected, cleaned and works flawlessly. This bike has the European handlebar switchgear with a few extra features, compared to US models, and there are several more differences.
The only necessary modification are the aftermarket SuperTrapp slip-on mufflers. To import the bike, Rex needed to replace the mufflers with US-spec mufflers and in the ensuing years the originals were lost. These SuperTrapps are in near-perfect condition with hi-heat powder coat on the black pipes and many hours spent refurbishing the aluminum mufflers. They are tunable and I have the additional discs to allow future changes. And they highlight that unique V4 music — they sound great.
Included are all the importation documentation, my work and parts receipts, original UK owners manual, tool kit, Clymer service manual, two keys and a license plate bracket and reflector to mount a US plate. The Illinois title is clear and clean, in my name.
Some of the service items:
Carburetors rebuilt/tuned/synced
Spark plugs
Valve adjustment
Compression check
Oil/filter change w/Honda oil
Hardwired stator connector
Full silicone coolant hose replacement w/Honda coolant
New tires; Bridgestone BT46, original sizes
Rebuild forks with Progressive brand springs
Upgraded steering head bearings
All hydraulics fully rebuilt; brakes, clutch
Venhill stainless brake lines, in black
OEM fuel petcock replaced, new fuel lines/filter
Polished exhaust pipes
Many misc. fairing fasteners replaced
Disassembly to frame & engine, full detailing
No disappointments, contact me with questions.
As an aside, this will be one of my final full-bike projects.
Thanks for your interest. Joe
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