A great day for me is when one of my projects returns to the road, and last week Project 28 did just that. Owner Joe M. sidelined this 1987 VFR700 F2 ten years ago when a botched carburetor rebuild resulted in leaking seals...and it never moved since. With just over 12,000 miles, this one was certainly worth rescuing.

Joe's instructions to me were simple; "do it like it were yours." Beginning with a complete carburetor rebuild and the usual checks and tuning, I progressed to the hydraulic systems, where some sticky problems were lurking, requiring new seals in the brake and clutch master and slave cylinders, along with the front calipers. The fuel tank needed attention, as well, with interior rust removal, a new OEM petcock and fresh lines. Other tasks included fresh Bridgestone BT-45 tires, fork rebuild, Wesmoto stainless brake lines and sourcing several OEM bits and pieces.

As the bike came back together it was obvious that this low-mileage survivor would shine again. The original mufflers are near-perfect, as are the wheels, seat, seat cowl and tank. The bike had suffered garage tip-overs in the past to both sides, resulting a few battle scars to the side fairings, but with some touch-up and a thorough buff & polish, the original Candy Wave Blue and gray is looking sharp, and this will be an Interceptor to make its rider proud for many years and many miles.

I stumbled upon this eBay gem a few days ago. It may be the definition of "barn find" — melting into the dirt in a corner of a Midwestern barn, covered in a patina of farm dust, not moved since 1994. It's a 1985 VF700 Interceptor with only 11,358 miles showing on the odometer. Is it salvageable? Hard to tell from the marginal quality photos. There's no shortage of aluminum corrosion, but the bike looks to be very complete and, despite some trauma to the front fender, it doesn't appear to have been wrapped around a tree or broadsided into a stray cow. Even the battery is intact; probably due for a charge. I shudder envisioning the fuel tank interior.
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This kind of project is not for the faint of heart, but what a great story it would make if this bike could find its way back on the alphabet highways of rural Wisconsin. Opening bid is $500.

The second of my old riding buddy's bikes is ready for its next rider. I've brought the bike's maintenance up-to-date with a fresh battery, spark plugs, compression check, flushed hydraulics and new K&N air filter. The 100-mile test ride went well — this is a smooth operator. These bikes have held their value well for the past few decades and are a genuine bargain in the used bike world. Only $2800.
C-list link:
https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/mcy/d/antioch-honda-pacific-coast-pc-nice/7127862467.html
Photos:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmNkcFe3
Video:

I'm in the final stages of finishing a mechanical rescue of Project 28, a 1987 VFR700 F2, but when it came time to flush the hydraulic systems, I found a horrifying mess in the front brake and clutch master cylinders. This is what long-neglected maintenance looks like, and we're now facing a rebuild of both masters and the clutch slave cylinder. In addition, the caliper seals have gone bad and need replacement, due to a decade of non-use.

Seeing this should serve as a grim reminder of the results of neglecting this maintenance chore. And, in the case of hydraulic flushing, it's not a difficult or time-consuming effort. An 8mm wrench, a length of hose, and some fresh DOT4 brake fluid will keep your hydraulics clean and functioning for years.

One of my go-to websites with my morning coffee is Silodrome (.com). It was founded ten years ago by Ben Branch and is "dedicated to Gasoline Culture and all it entails." It's an on-going feast of bite-sized articles on anything and everything that drives, floats, flies, etc. Well-written and informative, it's one of those virtual places a gearhead could while away an entire morning — I know this from personal experience.

Some time back, Ben featured the VF1000R in an article entitled "The Honda VF1000R - The Fastest Motorcycle In The World (in 1984)." He provides some model history, explaining that the big-block VF was first available in Europe in 1984 ('85 in the U.S.) and showcased some of Honda's tech might, with modern brakes, suspension and. of course, gear-driven cams.

He also notes that Honda claimed the title of the world's fastest production motorcycle, at least for a short time, with a recorded top speed of 150 MPH. In the end, the world market wouldn't support this V4 superbike and the VF1000R left the showroom after 1986.

Reader Blair M. recently sent a photo of his garage projects.

On the left is a 2008 Ducati 800SS, a rescue he picked up last year, is bringing back to life, and will sell on to finance a future VF1000R.

The middle bike looks like a track bike with its temporarily-mounted race slicks, but is actually a personal street bike project with 21,000 miles. Having sat for several years, Blair has lavished the VFR with lots of upgrades, including a modified swingarm, Ohlins shock, VTR1000 rear wheel and Hindle high-mount exhaust. On the front, a set of CBR600 forks grab a Ducati wheel with Brembo brakes.

On the lift is a VFR that Blair's had for ten years. Mostly stock with a nice Kerker pipe, it's due for a general mechanical refurbishment.

If that's not enough to keep him busy, Blair also has a bare, titled VFR750 frame waiting in the wings to be resurrected. My kind of guy.

SOLD: $4200

The significance of this recent eBay auction sale is this bike's excellent, original condition and exceptionally low miles, showing just 1700 on the odometer. The auction garnered just one bid, and our buyer got the bike for the opening price of $4200.

I think those two factors give a good indication of current values and current market interest in these uncertain times. 

Last week I went to retrieve the second bike that my late friend's family is selling. It's a 1994 Honda PC800 Pacific Coast in original black over silver and showing 26,600 miles. If you're not familiar with this unique moto, here's an informative article from RideApart.

The back story is that I had originally purchased this bike back in 2009 as a refurbishment project. In the middle of the project Butch was visiting the shop and we began talking about riding a MotoMarathon event in New England, to take place in May of 2010. Lacking a suitable bike, he tried the PC on for size and decided on the spot that it would work just fine. We did that ride, me on my CBX and Butch on the Pacific Coast. That's how it became his bike and he enjoyed it for several years.

Knowing of the clan of mice over-wintering in his shop, I thought it prudent to look over the bike before attempting a startup. Good thing, as this is what I found in the airbox.

​And the battery didn't look much better.

While awaiting the new parts I'm busying myself with some maintenance chores, like fluid changes and spark plugs.




​I'm sure it'll run just as well as it did on our ride together in the lush mountains of New England.

NO SALE: Bid to $40,000
Offered on Bring A Trailer (.com), this U.S.-spec 1990 VFR750R failed to meet reserve.

With only 1600 miles showing and represented as being in excellent, original condition, I'm not surprised that $40K wouldn't buy it, but at the same time I'm left wondering why the bidding didn't take off. Is it the uncertain personal and financial times we're living in these days?