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Clean '92 For Sale In Seattle

2/9/2017

Click on image for the Craigslist ad.

What: 1992 VFR750F
Where: Seattle, Washington
Why: Clean & ready to ride
Price: $2750

I often preach the point that classic VFRs make for the best used bike choices out there, and here's another example. This 3d-generation model appears to be a well-preserved original VFR. Yes, it shows 36,600 miles but in the right hands that's not a concern to the next owner. Our seller claims "fully serviced" and fresh tires.

Finished in Granite Blue Metallic, the 92's appear as black till you get the sun just right wherein the blueish/purple metallic comes through. Very 90's. You can't go wrong here.

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"Quotable"

2/8/2017

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People magazine dubbed him "the Japanese Henry Ford ." They were referring to Soichiro Honda, and he was that and more. An engineer first, and a world-class visionary and industrialist, he founded Honda Motor Company in 1948. As president, Soichiro Honda turned the company into a billion-dollar multinational that produced the best-selling motorcycles in the world. Honda's engineering and marketing skills resulted in Honda motorcycles outselling Triumph and Harley-Davidson in their respective home markets.

Mr. Honda passed away in 1991 at the age of 84. Some of his philosophy:

"In the long run, there is no waste in life."

"Since I found pleasure in the fact that a thing of my own contrivance was proving useful and was appreciated by people, I was not paying much attention to profits."

"To me, success can be achieved only through repeated failure and introspection."

"Looking back, in my work, I feel that I have made nothing but mistakes, a series of regrets. But I also am proof of an accomplishment. Although I made one mistake after another,...I never made the same mistake and I always tried my hardest and succeeded in improving my efforts."

" What insures the future...is the philosophy of manufacturing things in the interest of people."

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Prepping

2/5/2017

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After further contemplation, and a few beers, I've decided on a different direction for Project 14. I think the bike will have a better shot at getting the look I'm after if it's finished in the original Pearl Crescent White. To accomplish that I would need to raid the parts hoard to put together a full set of clothes — tank and body panels. That makes this a bitsa bike, bits o' this and bits o' that. All of these bits will need reconstructive surgery, some more than others. Below is the bike with all of the parts repaired and test fitted prior to sending off for paint. Better to get everything plumb and square at this stage.

Here we have a left-side turn signal port which had a chunk missing from the lower left side of the opening. I cut out a section from another fairing that I have on hand just for pieces like this.

A combination of bonding, plastic welding, shaping and sanding and we have a successful repair. Next I dribble liquid Plast-aid into the factory seam surrounding the factory plug — this filler plug was Honda's solution to fitting the DOT-mandated turn signals for U.S. market bikes. I want that seam to disappear, and my painter will finish the job by bondo-ing the seam.

This is the tail light cowl and it was a mess — lots of cracks and both upper mounting tabs missing, which had to be fabricated with scrap ABS. These seams are all plastic welded with ABS rod.

Plastic welding is approached very much the same as metal welding: V-groove both sides of the crack and melt welding rod into the grooves. Then the weld is filed and sanded smooth, followed by filler, primer and paint.

Right side mid-fairing.

These cracks tell the tale of a crash sometime in the past. The upper duct was all but separated from the fairing due to the impact.

Many of these panels are salvageable. But it requires patience and the right tools — and professional painting is very expensive these days.

These parts will now go to the paint shop where the repairs will get a final finishing and the color coat applied. Then they will come back to me, be temporarily mounted on the bike so I can apply the decals, and then given back to the painter for the clear coat application.

Lots of time, effort and money involved in the final stage of bringing this Interceptor back to life.

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4-mile VF1000R At Bonhams

2/2/2017

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Click on image for the Bonham's link

At last weekend's Las Vegas auctions, Bonhams featured this 1985 VF1000R. Looking very straight, if a bit disheveled, this example shows an incredible four miles on the odometer. No ownership or other history is provided. What would you do with a no-mile 32-year old motorcycle? My guess is that it's most likely headed for another museum.

This model typically trades for around $10,000 but the big VF sold for a whopping $33,225 including the auction premium.

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Clean '92 For Sale In Seattle

"Quotable"

Prepping

4-mile VF1000R At Bonhams

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Clean '92 For Sale In Seattle

"Quotable"

Prepping

4-mile VF1000R At Bonhams

THE SHOP BLOG•••

Archives

Categories

THE SHOP BLOG
•••