What: Maddox Cordless Hot Stapler
Where: Harbor Freight
Price: $99.99

I have done what seems like 1000 hours of plastics repairs. Using my trusty Polyvance Mini-Weld Model 6, I've melted a mound of ABS welding rod, saving countless fairings and brackets. It's not technically difficult but between the prep, welding and finishing for paint, there's a time commitment. But the results are very satisfying, giving new life to an original part that hasn't been available for 20+ years.

I've relied on heating/melting, very much like metal welding, but there's a newer technology using metal staples that not only joins a gap but provides a mechanical support (the staple) between the parts — seems like a great solution. I've improvised a similar approach using thin nails or stiff wire for added support, but the staples would have been more elegant and effective.

​Here, Harbor Freight is offering their version, which seems very complete and has the bonus of being cordless. This kit does both staples and traditional heat welding, which you'll want to complete the repair; the staples would be applied to the backside of a crack and then the crack heat welded, finishing with a heat weld to the front side. If I were just getting into plastics repair, I'd certainly want this technology.

For much less money Harbor Freight also offers the alternative kits shown below, suitable for small or occasional jobs. Amazon and eBay also offer many name- and off-brand kits.

I have one freshly rebuilt & tuned carb set for the 1990-93 VFR750. These are tuned to run well with both stock and mildly modified engines (air filter and/or slip-ons).

Price is $530 with shipping to the U.S. An exchange credit is available; contact me for details or questions.

​These carbs are ready to bolt on, add gas and go.

Motorcyclists, and the world in general, lost a friend, visionary and generous benefactor this past week.

Best known to most of us as the founder and inspiration for Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, George's influence actually spread far and wide throughout Alabama and the southeast U.S., funding hundreds of scholarships, promoting conservation and benefiting the lives of countless people and organizations, all with consummate humility and compassion. He will be missed on a personal and professional level but his work will live on for generations. Click on the image above for his impressive life story. Well done, George, rest in peace.

In the fall of 2007, I took a memorable 4000-mile tour to the 2d-annual Barber Vintage Festival near Birmingham, Alabama. I had Project #1 in the garage but for this ride I chose the Suzuki V-Strom 1000. My route began in Madison, WI, traced northeast along the Ohio River, breaking east at Parkersburg, WV where I worked my way through the Shenandoah Valley to Waynesboro, VA and milepost 0 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I rode in the autumn tranquility for the Parkway's full 469 miles to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then the many famous and infamous roads of the southern Blue Ridge, Including my first sampling of the Dragon and Cherohala. Right on schedule, I rolled into the Barber complex for the beginning of the festival, including leisurely tours of the awesome museum.

​(Below) The museum offered this very cool Interceptor exhibit, displaying the VF1000R, VFR750F and VF500F. If you click on the image of the display plaque you'll see in the lower right corner "BMC-002," which indicates that the VFR was the second bike George acquired for his collection, the bike's odometer showing .9 miles. I don't have a photo, but I think that the VF1000R was BMC-001. He obviously thought highly of the V4s.

The annual kickoff to the motorcycle auction season was held in Las Vegas, January 26-30. Mecum Auctions (sign-in required to view results) is considered the benchmark player in this arena so I went through the results for Honda V4s and came up with the following nine sales. Unfortunately, Mecum provides minimal details for the bikes so any value generalizations are just that, generalizations. But, a cursory look at selling prices seem to show values continuing to dip. In no particular order….

$7150 - 1985 VF1000R

Showing only 6488 miles, this square headlight example presents beautifully. From the Mitzel collection, it's likely original condition but does have an aftermarket muffler.

In recent years, nice "R" models typically fetched $10,000 all day long so this seems like a relative bargain. 

$5500 - 1984 VF1000F

A second 1000 offered by Lee Mitzel, this "F" model also presents beautifully and shows 10,600 miles. This is either an exceptionally well-preserved survivor or a full restoration; it's that nice.

I have a soft spot for the "F" version but even so, this selling price seems more than fair.

$5225 - 1985 VF700F

Also from the Mitzel collection, this pristine final-year tariff-buster VF700 shows only 6281 miles. Probably my favorite of this year's V4 sales, this thing is just stunning up close. While the 750 version may be preferable, I would be proud to have this in my stable, and excited for every Sunday morning ride.

The values for the VF700/750 series are all over the board, but, again, this seems very well bought.

$1375 - 1985 V65 Sabre

The bargain of the V4 sales, this big-block VF1100S Sabre shows 23,393 miles and lists as "highly original stock condition." These were 122 HP tire-smokin' street bruisers in their day, shaft drive and all. This one looks like a nice rider-grade example with good paint — even the impossible-to-find black chrome mufflers look to be in great shape. Again, well bought.

$6600 - 1987 VFR400R NC24

The VFR400 models were well-represented this year including this 2d-gen NC24 version. With 23,888 kilometers this has a rider-grade patina and sports later model wheels.

NC24 values depend largely on condition, and this one seems to fall mid-range.

$4950 - 1987 VFR400R NC21

Also an '87 model, but this example is the final year of the Gen-1 NC21. This example is from the David Silvers collection and shows 20,040 kilometers. Looking very much like a scaled-down VFR750 this one is a little rough around the edges, which the selling price reflects.

$2200 - 1986 VFR400R NC21

Also from David Silver, this represents the first year of the revamped 400 V4s, replacing the VF400F. Showing 27,835 kilometers this example is cosmetically rough, even dirty, and the selling price seems right in line with the condition.

$5500 - 1992 VFR400R NC30

Also from David Silver, this striking example, at 35,514 kilometers, showcases the final model and year of the VFR400R, and definitely the pinnacle of the series. The cosmetics and mechanicals were based heavily on the larger RC30, the little engine now revving to 14,500 RPM and rated at 65 HP (!). Two color schemes were offered in the UK, but I'm not sure this was one of them.

Here's something just about as rare as 30 days in February; a new-old-stock fuel tank for a 42-year old Honda V4.

This beauty is for the one-year only 1984 VF1000F. The seller notes, "...in original Honda plastic bag. Totally new. Mint." The listed price is $1500 and located in my hometown; Madison, WI. The seller is a long-established speed shop; Motorcycle Performance, a cool place with a well-earned reputation for competence and integrity; buy with confidence.

I had a NOS Gen-2 r/w/b tank that I hoarded for several years awaiting the perfect project. I put its value at $1200, so I don't consider this price out of line — after all, they're not making any more.

What: 2016 RC213V-S
Why: Honda's pinnacle sport bike
Where: Dublin, Ireland
Price: Reserve auction ends Feb. 14
UPDATE: No sale: bid to $250,000, reserve not met.

Back in 1992 Honda offered the most expensive production motorcycle available, the NR 750, priced at a cool $50,000. Fast forward to 2015 when Honda announced their new MotoGP contender, the RC213V (spoken R-C-twenty one-3-V), a 1000cc V4 with the potential to produce something over 200 HP in factory race tune. If you qualified for the exclusive buyers' list it would have cost you $184,000 in 2016, which converts to about $247,000 in today's U.S. dollars. Honda also offered a Sports Kit (-S option) which added several go-fast parts and an additional $12,000-$15,000. Auction sales of this model have exceeded $300,000. The factory planned to build 250 street bikes but the Fukushima tsunami cut that to about 125 actually produced that first year at the rate of one per day with as many as 300 eventually built.

This example, available through Iconic Motorbikes Auctions and located in Dublin, Ireland, is a collectors example of the highest order, even including the Sports Kit. The seller is the original owner, stating;  “When I got it I had to ride it just to experience the best motorcycle ever built. I rode it on quiet country roads on the outskirts of the city, then stored it in a temperature controlled garage with a few other iconic motorcycles.” Thus, the 33 miles showing on the odometer and in "immaculate condition." 

The RC213V remains Honda's MotoGP weapon, though with major changes, particularly in 2022. An upcoming rules change for the 2027 season will likely mean the end of the line for the model.

What's your guess for the final selling price, assuming it meets the seller's reserve?

(thanks to Bazza for the listing heads up)

What: 1989 VFR750R RC30
Why: Near perfect, low miles
​Where: Seattle, Washington area
Price: Auction ends Feb. 9
UPDATE: No sale; bid to $37,100 reserve not met.

This is the second RC30 I've featured in the past week. ​This one is selling on a reserve auction, currently at $25,100 with reserve not met.

This is a Canadian import (the U.S. got the RC30 in 1990 only) and shows just 1911 miles, the VIN indicating it was number seven off the line in 1989. The seller states that he's had it in his collection for 18 years and brought it to riding condition in 2024, adding that it's "all original paint…no accidents." Included are the Honda rear stand, tool kit, owners manual, keys and a clean US title.

The photos show a near perfect survivor of one of the most collectible modern production motorcycles. It will be interesting to see how the collector market values this in 2026.

This morning the Rock Auto monthly digital newsletter arrived in my inbox (a short but entertaining newsletter, BTW), and a feature dealing with torque wrench extensions caught my eye.

The issue discussed is that when your torque wrench can't reach or needs an adapter for a specific fastener, you may need to adjust the torque setting to compensate…if the adapter effectively lengthens the tool. However, if you can use the adapter at 90°, the torque remains unaffected. From the article:
"The torque setting on a torque wrench is based on the distance from the socket to a spot on the handle. If an adapter is put on so it lengthens the torque wrench (parallel with the torque wrench) then the tool becomes a longer lever that applies more torque than the setting on the wrench. For example, the torque wrench may be set to 30 ft-lbs but the crows foot sticking straight out the end of the wrench (see above illustration) may actually be applying closer to 35 ft/bs.

To avoid applying more torque than the wrench setting, put the crow foot on so it is perpendicular (90°) to the torque wrench. This will avoid changing the overall length of the torque wrench and maintain the accuracy of the torque setting."

However, the 90° tip isn't always possible. If not, here's a formula to help figure the compensated torque setting, shown below. As an example, if our normal length of the torque wrench (L1) is 15" (measured from the center point of your hand placement) and our extended length with the adapter (L2) is 20", we divide 15 by 20, giving .75. Then multiply our torque spec (M2), let's say 30 ft/lbs, by .75, resulting in our amended torque setting of 22.5 ft/lbs (M1), resulting in 30 ft/lbs at the fastener.

I don't often have the occasion to use adaptors, but this is the correct way to compensate if needed.

Speaking of adapters, here's a couple of examples I found on Amazon; click on the images for links.

I featured this 1990 U.S.-spec VFR750R last month (Jan. 2025 Shop Blog) when it was up for eBay auction, failing to meet reserve.

It's now offered as a featured listing with Rare Sport Bikes For Sale (.com). The ad copy appears to be taken from the eBay listing, so no new information that I noticed to be had there. Interestingly, there's no sale price provided, just a phone number. Ebay bidding ended at $59,600 so we should be able to extrapolate the asking will be north of that. Click on the image or visit my previous posting for a little more information.