This past weekend the Spring Stafford Sale took place at Stafford, England. Now in its 30th year, the sale is known for high-end motorcycles and well-heeled bidders. Bonhams is the auctioneer of choice, and one of the more interesting lots was this 1989 VFR750R, an ex-race bike campaigned by Brian Morrison and Steve Hislop back in the day. The bike has been restored to its 1989 Macau GP livery.
(click on the image below for the auction results)

From the Bonhams catalog:
"This particular RC30 comes with a letter of authentication dated 13th September 1990 from Honda dealership Hartwells of Abingdon Ltd stating that it was acquired 'by us direct from Honda Britain Race Shop and that it was campaigned very successfully in the 89 season by Brian Morrison as a full Honda Works Machine'. This letter goes on to state that Steve Hislop had ridden it to 3rd place in the 1989 Macau Grand Prix, and that it is believed to be the bike that Brian Morrison broke the absolute track record at the 1989 TT. Morison's results at the '89 TT were 2nd in the Formula 1 race, 5th in the Production 750, and 5th in the Supersport (600) event. 

Presented in first class condition, the RC30 is in the colours used by Steve Hislop at Macau in '89 and has his name on the screen. Since acquisition by the current vendor the Honda has been paraded many times at various events on the Continent and also at the Isle of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix, etc."

What: 2009 ST1300A
Where: China Grove, North Carolina
Why: Ready to cover many miles for many years
Price: Opening bid of $7000 with reserve

Here we have a late-model ST1300 showing only 2532 miles. The seller claims the condition is "pristine" and the photos back that up. Some desirable extras include Delkevic mufflers, bar risers, large aftermarket windscreen and driver & passenger backrests. This model also includes ABS and power windscreen. The tires are most likely original and due for replacement.

The auction has a $7000 opening bid, plus reserve, which will surely give bidders pause. That kind of money puts a buyer into the same territory as many of the ST's later model competitors; Yamaha FJ1300, Kawasaki Concours 1400 and BMW's RT and GT sport tourers. What you won't find in those other rides at this price are this bike's super low miles and the V4 experience. As a bonus, the bike is located near the southern Blue Ridge, making for a great fly-n-ride for the new owner.
(click on an image to enlarge)

Reader Cameron C. from Vancouver, WA sent along some photos and history on his 1995 VFR750F project. Three years ago Cameron purchased the 7000-mile bike from its second owner who had low-sided it, disassembled the bike...and promptly found a new love. The project sat in pieces for at least five years when Cameron set out to rescue it.

After acquiring a few needed parts and a careful reassembly the project was back on its feet and running beautifully. Cameron added a K&N air filter, jet kit and D&D muffler, and has put some 7000 miles on her. Nice work, Cameron!

SOLD: $9300
Grey market importer, Deftone Cycles, offered this third-generation VFR400R on eBay, where it generated 11 bids.

Often referred to as a "baby RC30," due to the distinct family resemblance to it's big brother, the NC30 was produced from 1986-92. This is the desirable later model with left-side exhaust showing off the 8-spoke wheel and single-sided swingarm. This one is all original with some signs of usage and shows 17,477 miles. 

As the token red-headed step child of the Honda VFR series, the VFR1200F betrays its market weakness through these three eBay auctions. All 2010 models, the average selling price comes to $4882. The VFR12 is a superb sport-touring choice which must make this model the bargain of the year.

SOLD: $5140
From Mississippi we have the lowest mileage example, complete with a Two Brothers slip-on, Power Commander and promises of up-to-date maintenance and excellent condition. Under 5000 miles. Some extras are included, just needs a new rear tire.

SOLD: $5000
​Also hailing from Mississippi and showing 11,300 miles, this beauty also sports an aftermarket slip-on, in this case a LeoVince, along with a Z-Bomb timing retarder. A bonus is the keyed Honda top trunk.

SOLD: $4506
The only one in the bunch with the optional electric shift DCT transmission, this Interceptor has the highest mileage at 14,500. It appears to have a Laminar Lip windscreen deflector and stock muffler. Not many other details provided. Located in the Dallas, TX area.

After mounting the SuperTrapp mufflers on Project 13, I found that the kickstand made contact with the connector pipe when retracted. My first fix was to add some JB Weld to the hinge area as a way to limit its travel, but I didn't like the awkward way it hung out from the bike. After gazing at it awhile I realized that it was the rubber foot and its mount that was causing the problem (#9 in the parts diagram). If the foot were simply removed the stand would operate normally with no contact.

So what is this thing Honda calls the side stand "bar assembly?" They've been on Honda side stands forever and as near as I can tell they're a lawyer add-on to keep the bike from sliding backward if parked on an incline. The rubber deforms to the front and provides an effective brake to the sliding side stand. Pretty ingenious...and kind of unnecessary for my purposes. And it adds a lot of visual bulk to the skinny kickstand.

Out with the cutoff tool and grinder. Black paint finishes off the project. This bike has several modifications and is not intended to look original, so I don't have an issue with the surgery.

It's a small detail but the look is just a bit lighter.
(click on an image to enlarge)

Last year, Mitch Boehm, long-time editor at Motorcyclist magazine wrote a Smart Money piece on Buying The Perfect Used Sportbike. He came up with four that define the term "Gentleman's Express." Included in the lineup are the BMW K1300S, the Ducati 900SS from the 90's (and the later ST series), and the Suzuki SV1000S. All great candidates to be sure. But the leader of this pack is a VFR. In Mitch's words....

Brakes.
One of the most critical but often most neglected systems on a motorcycle. When you add in old age and long periods of disuse, well, your brakes will pay the price. Such is the case with the calipers on Project 16. One of the brakes were dragging, indicating worn caliper seals, so a rebuild for all three calipers is in order.

The seals are small rubber o-rings, actually square section, two per piston and serve not only as a means to protect the precious brake fluid by sealing out the elements but also act as a mechanical spring, deforming as the piston is forced out during braking and then pulling back very slightly on the piston when pressure is released, allowing the brake pad to release its hold on the disc. The seals may look simple but are precision items and should be treated as such. They're still available from Honda and aftermarket suppliers, like K&S, for about $20 per caliper. 

The pistons themselves are also available but, unlike the seals, can often be reused — provided they're removed without damaging their polished surfaces. Two effective techniques are hydraulic pressure (pump the brake lever) and compressed air pressure. The trick in both cases is to do so in a controlled manner. One of the two pistons will want to come out more easily than the other, leaving one piston hopelessly caught in its bore. Here's what i do.

Using precision shims cut from the finest paint stir sticks, I begin removal with a full stack of shims, removing one at at time (alternating with pressure) till the the final shim has the pucks equally near their exit point. The final blast of air or hydraulic pressure will force out one of the pucks, leaving the second one to be removed manually. BE VERY CAREFUL DURING THIS FINAL PUSH. If you're using air pressure the piston can shoot out of the bore like a bullet, ricocheting off you or the shop walls, damaging itself or anything in its path, including you. If you're using hydraulic pressure the brake fluid will projection vomit the fluid everywhere. Just one of the many joys of playing with old bikes.

To work the second piston free, I gently rock it back and forth using finger pressure and a wrapped screwdriver blade. They can be stubborn, but persistence pays off.

Next I use a dental pick and carefully extract the seals. The next steps are cleaning, inspection and reassembly, but you're through the tough part.

Back in October of 2013 Patti and I found ourselves with a truckload of VFRs, plucked from a rural shed in Ohio. One of the two bikes is a R/W/B 1986 VFR700F, and its turn has finally come. It will be known as Project 16.

Showing only 18,600 miles, this was a running and riding bike when it came to me, so after the usual mechanical checks it was stripped of its clothes and prepped for storage. Last week I rolled it into the shop and the fun has begun.

It will get a sympathetic refurbishment and emerge in its original colors, with everything remaining as original as possible. So far, the front end has been removed revealing a Progressive brand fork spring already installed along with a recent Bridgestone tire. The head bearings check out fine and the brake calipers are on the bench for rebuilding. A new rear tire has been ordered, but other than that the bike will mostly require good old fashioned detailing.

Here it is in the foreground with Project 13 on the stand, anxiously awaiting some warmer weather for its shakedown runs.

The question of when the first real motorcycle rolled across a manicured lawn to the amusement of the gathered gentry is open to some degree of debate. The illustration below is claimed to be that of an actual event in Paris on April 3, 1818. Problem is, the event can't be collaborated by any other source, so it may have just been a joke or a 19th century version of a steam-powered concept vehicle envisioned by an imaginative inventor. If it's true, then the motorcycle is officially 200 years old.

A more likely scenario is something that was actually documented somewhat later, in 1869. Two distinct steam-powered two-wheeled vehicles appeared that same year, in Boston and Paris.

And the machine created by Louis-Guillame Perreaux still exists, shown at left.

Whether 200 years old or only 149 — we've come a long way, baby.

For more on the debate check out this article on The Vintagent (.com).