I've recently taken on an '82 Magna 750 project for new friend Charles. He located a 16,000-mile example of the first-year VF750C which he'd like to bring back to life as a weekend rider via a "sympathetic restoration."

The Magna series shares it's engine with the first-gen VF700/750 Interceptor but beyond that they're different animals.

The mechanical checks are well underway and as part of the valve clearance procedure the alternator cover is removed. Good time to refurbish it.

As was common back in the day, these covers were polished aluminum which was clear-coated at the factory. Over the years the clear-coat would deteriorate and corrosion would eat away at the aluminum underneath resulting in a mottled mess of ugly metal. The treatment is to remove the clear paint, sand away the corrosion, file and sand any gouges, scratches or other rash, buff the finish, and finally repaint logos and accents.

This is labor intensive work but time and effort will leave you with a very presentable piece. Machine buffing will give these polished aluminum bits a shine to rival chrome, but the original finish wasn't quite that dramatic. To achieve the right sheen, I wet sand the buffed piece with 2000-grit paper followed by a single hand polish with Mother's aluminum polish. Next up, valve covers.

What: 1986 VFR700F
Where: Stoughton WI
Why: A low-mile salvage bargain?
Price: Opening bid $1675, no reserve

Once upon a time I was selling a like-new, '05 VFR800 in pearl white. It turned into the most difficult sale I've ever experienced. Why? It had a salvage title. 

Without a known damage history, salvage or rebuilt vehicles can be a real gamble. Or they can be the buy of the year.

Insurance companies use a pretty basic formula to determine whether or not to total a vehicle: cost to repair versus cost to buy out the owner and dispose of the vehicle. Cosmetic damage can be very costly to fix, at least the way insurance companies do it, which is to replace parts with new OEM. I once had an insurance company total a five year-old Ducati ST2 because the fairings got scraped up when pushed over in a parking garage. I could have had the damage repaired for under $1000 but their parts replacement estimate was $6300!

We don't know the history of this repainted '86 Interceptor so no telling if there's hidden issues. The seller states that it was "completely refurbished by an authorized/licensed re-builder a few years ago." Not sure what that means, so I'd want some more details. The alternator cover is not original and the right muffler shows some rash. The bike indicates only 15,200 miles and the red with white wheels looks sharp.

So when does buying salvage make sense? Here's my guidelines:
1. When it's the bike you want and will keep it long term.
2. When it checks out mechanically and cosmetically.
3. When it's priced accordingly.
4. And you realize that its value will remain low come time to sell.

What: 2014 VFR800 (standard)
Where: Waukesha, WI (dealer)
Why: Super price
Price: $6887

Prices continue to fall on leftover eighth-generation Interceptors and here's another example. Offered on Craigslist from Action Powersports in Waukesha, Wisconsin, this 2014 standard model is priced at $6887 from an original MSRP of $12,500. The standard won't have some desirable goodies found on the Deluxe model, like ABS, traction control and heated grips, but this is still a great new motorcycle at a used bike price.
              http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcd/5630511603.html

We all know there's good carbs and there's bad carbs. And in the world of vintage motorbikes there's good carbs gone bad, like this set. This is what a few years of hosting mice in your air plenum can produce. First the rodents ate and peed their way through the air filter element and eventually through the metal screening, which allowed the little beasts entry into the four condos of the plenum itself. This is the result. 

This lower air box is bound for the dumpster.

But this isn't the worst of it. These creatures urinate where they live, and gravity moves the toxic mess downward into the carbs, freezing the butterfly valves and sticking the plastic slides in place.

This carb set is currently enjoying a long soak in a tub of PineSol, followed by a bath in the ultrasonic cleaner.

The crud even found its way into the intake runners. This quickly dissolved with a spray of PB Blaster.

And here's an example of what alcohol-laced fuel can do when left to marinate inside our carbs. This photo shows hardened varnish deposits on the plastic slide and jet needle.

And here's a shot of the slide's bore. These slides were all but glued in place.

Too often, issues like these are the beginning of the end for otherwise healthy bikes. The low-speed jets get gummed up, the bike runs worse and worse, gets ridden less and less, and ends up parked in the corner of the garage behind that '84 Camaro project that you're never going to get to.

What can we do?
- Recycle fuel by riding our bikes regularly!
- If you can't keep fresh fuel in your system, then be sure there's a fuel stabilizer added at all times, like Sta-Bil or    my favorite, Star Tron (stupid name, good product).
- Drain your carb bowls when stored.
- Keep your fuel tank full when stored.
- Ride your bike! (did I already list that?)

What: 1985 VF1000R
Where: Kansas City, KS
Why: Good-looking rider grade collectible
Price: $7495 opening bid

There never seems to be a shortage of the big VF's on the market. Trouble is, they often live at one end of the spectrum or the other; low-mileage museum pieces or hi-mile projects. This '85 "R" model sits in the sweet spot — not too perfect but one you could be proud to own and actually ride.

Showing 11,700 miles this one sports later model dual headlights, F1 slip-ons (originals included!), period Arai helmet and a matching Honda dust cover. Maintenance seems to be up-to-date and the bike appears ready to ride. And there's just enough survivor patina to assuage any guilt you may have about putting some miles on it.

These bikes run the gamut from $1500 projects to $12000 living room queens. The seller has set the value somewhere in the middle... much like this bike.

Here's something that doesn't come along every day. This is a Supertrapp slip-on system for the '86-87 VFR 700/750. Not just another old roached out set of aftermarket mufflers, this set is New Old Stock complete with baffle plates and mid-pipes. Instant sound, performance and period look for only..... ah, $617.52 delivered to your door.

That's all the money, but this system is NLA from Supertrapp and I've searched long and hard for a replacement right side Supertrapp (which I just recently found for $150 — NOS, muffler only). And, the seller's asking price is right in line with Supertrapp's current offering for a Yamaha V-Max, for example. Does it work for you? 

While cruising the Illinois Tollway yesterday en route to pick up my latest project, Patti and I came upon this impressive rig. Proudly flying the Honda winged foot and signature company color, the young driver was pegged right at the speed limit and there was not a finger smudge to be seen on the transport, not even on the mirrored stainless edges of the trailer loading ramp.

This pristine symbol of Honda Motor Company reminded me of what Honda represents in the manufacturing world. Just last week I'd read something Editor Mark Hoyer of Cycle World magazine had written in a review of the new Africa Twin (September 2016). He wrote:

"Honda's systemic approach to the motorcycle has always been impressive. It's like its engineers spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on how the whole motorcycle works between each and every component, with "balance" only ever outshined by "polish."

How true. My first motorcycle was a new 1971 Honda 500-4, a jewel of a machine if ever there was, and part of the modern motorcycle revolution led by Honda. Soichiro Honda was a visionary, a marketer, a leader, and even a racer. He was all of this, but at his core he was an engineer. He never let go his passion for innovation and production based on leading-edge engineering. Like Apple, Honda is an engineering company first and a manufacturer second. And, like Apple, successful products are borne of innovative engineering. Both companies have had their failures along the way but only due to their drive to exercise their technical chops and show the world what might be. From the 3RC-164 inline 6-cylinder of 1964 to the present day RC213V V4, and everything in-between, Honda Motor Company has always helped show the way.

You'll note that the beautiful rig we came upon yesterday only displays the Honda logo and name — no other marketing. And for those of us who have ridden and wrenched on these machines, there's none required.

I recently met a new "virtual" buddy via the interwebs, and Joe was kind enough to share some photos of his impossibly clean collection which is mostly made up of V4s. In his own words:

"I have also been bitten by the Honda V4 bug. My love for Hondas started back in the 70s when my uncle taught me how to ride on his '73 CB750. From 1980-1983 I worked at a local Honda dealer. In 1982 I bought my first new bike, a 1982 Honda CB900F which I still own. Over the next 20 years I collected misfit 70s CBs and CL scramblers, fixed them up and moved them down the road. As the "wheel money" account grew I started to focus on the mid 80s to early 90s bikes I lusted after while my 900 was still my "new" bike. Over the last 10 years I've acquired and sold a bunch of the V4s, each time looking for a better example of what I was letting go. So I too have the same desire to “save” many of these bikes and keep them on the road."

I would camp in the shop if these three lived there. From left to right;
RC51 with 3000 miles
RVF750R (RC45)
VFR750R (RC30)

A pair of 1984 1000s
VF1000R (Euro model - France)
VF1000F

Joe has more interesting bikes and manages to get them all some road time. He obviously has excellent taste. Thanks for sharing!

Last Fall I bought a pair of bikes which, according to the seller, have been sitting undisturbed in a pole barn for seven years. Call me cynical, but my experience tells me that you can usually double whatever number a seller provides.

While this tank needs some paint attention the real problems lay inside, where bad gas and time had turned the fuel to varnish and metal to iron oxide.

I began the tank rescue by soaking for two days with Liquid Plumber. What came out is shown at left. The acrid smell could be sensed throughout the 'hood, or so it seemed. But that was only the first round. Next up was a four-day soak in Evapo-Rust ($25 per gallon at Harbor Freight). Instead of dark roast coffee, what came out was more of a tea color...and more rust. This tank was in such bad shape that the fuel supply tubes feeding the petcock were clogged solid. I spent an hour with a stiff wire carefully clearing them.

After a thorough garden hose rinse, I dry out the interior with a heat gun (on low heat) rigged up to blow into the tank for about 20 minutes. The low fuel sensor in the bottom of the tank is removed during this step.

Finally, I thoroughly coat the interior with WD-40 (a water dispersant) by spraying through both tank openings, sloshing around inside, and draining out the bottom. Reassemble all the hardware and the tank is ready for use.

What: 2003 VFR800
Where: Rolling Meadows, IL (Chicago)
Why: Low miles, bags, fair price
Price: $3300

Another great example of why the VFR represents just about the best used bike alternative out there. Here we have a fine looking 800 with only 14,000 miles from a seller with an honest description for an honest bike. He states the it runs perfectly and everything works. It will need a fresh front tire soon, and, unless it's already been done, probably a chain & sprocket set, based upon the miles. Sorry, no ABS on this one.

The sixth-gen Interceptors look great in this bright silver with gloss black wheels, and the factory saddlebags are just a bonus, whether you use them or put them up on a shelf for the next owner. And, until you've twisted the throttle on the VTEC engine, don't give the whiners any undue credit — running this motor up through the revs is a blast. Fair warning; it can be addictive.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/mcy/5685782945.html