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RC30 Carb Set On eBay

5/13/2023

Click on image for the eBay listing

Located in Tochigi, Japan, here's a set of used carburetors to fit the VFR750R. The Buy-It-Now price of $2999.95 includes shipping to the U.S. For such an expensive item, the seller is amazingly sparse with his description: “{Excellent+++++}Pre-owned, There are a few scratches by use.”

While looking very similar externally to the street Interceptor carbs, one thing that caught my eye are the huge bolts in the middle of the float bowls (arrow). Quick jet access?

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Mini-'Ceptor On Bring-A-Trailer

5/12/2023

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Click on image for the BaT link

What: 1984 VF500F Interceptor
Why: Low-mileage survivor
Where: Wilmington, Delaware
Price: No reserve auction
UPDATE: SOLD for $6800

VF500 fans will be very interested in this 1700-mile original-condition Interceptor. Judging by the photos, this appears to be the real deal, with just enough wear indicators to indicate complete originality, as represented. Notably, the irreplaceable black chrome mufflers look to be in excellent condition. Maintenance has been brought up-to-date with carburetor, fork, brake and shock service performed. Bidding hit $4000 on day one, so this has plenty of room to move. Happy times ahead for the lucky high bidder.

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A 13-year Old, 6-mile V4 Sells For $15k

5/8/2023

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I don't know how or why a high-end sport touring motorbike is purchased new, then left parked for 13 years. But that's what has happened to this black beauty — a V4-powered 2010 ST1300 with only 6 miles. Last month it sold via eBay auction for $15,000 after 12 bids.

There's no explanation for the original owner's lack of use, but our seller states that he commissioned a "certified Honda mechanic and asked him to thoroughly go over the bike and be sure it is in perfect running order." No further word on what work was accomplished but the photos show what appears to be a perfectly-kept time capsule, resplendent in Graphite Black with silver wheels.

They're still out there, guys….

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Tail Tidying

5/6/2023

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Project 39, a 1993 VFR750, was recently treated to fitting of the tail cowl, seat and fuel tank, so it could be said I'm progressing from rear to front on this project.

The tank and cowl were recently repainted, matched to the original Pearl Crystal White — the tank was sourced from a '92 so it had to be changed from its original black, but the tail cowl had extensive damage to the right side panel, which required lots of plastic repair and final paint prep. Sharp-eyed 3d-gen owners will also note that the rear brake reservoir peephole has disappeared. I did this just for aesthetics, accomplished by welding in a small patch cut from scrap ABS plastic and finished with the rest of the panel.

With that beautiful new paint, the tail light and turn signals would also need freshening from decades of damage in the Florida sun. Note the wooden brace attached at the mid-point of the fairing. The brace allows me to handle the 3-piece fairing without fear of damaging the fragile assembly.

The process of bringing these pieces back to their showroom sparkle begins with degreasing, followed by wet-sanding with 400-grit, progressing to 5000. I finish with machine buffing, using a medium, then fine compound. The difference is amazing. The turn signals each took about 20 minutes but the tail light put up a fight — at some point in the past someone had put deep scratches in the plastic, which I laboriously sanded smooth.

The bottom photo shows the finished fairing. I think this effort really paid off. I also trimmed the OEM fender, eliminating the bulky license light and lower reflector (I don't ride my VFRs at night). Finally, the fender was painted gloss black.

Yesterday I removed the forks, triple clamps and handlebars for a complete front end mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment. More on that later. The seat is also off to Marty, my master upholsterer.

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Project 40 To Be Featured On Bring-A-Trailer

4/30/2023

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My recently completed 1986 VFR700F has just been accepted on Bring-A-Trailer's auction site. This is a first for me, so I'm excited to see what degree of interest the bike generates in a no reserve auction.

It should go live in two or three weeks.

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"Quotable"

4/26/2023

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Earlier this week RareSportBikesForSale posted about a 1994 VFR750 for sale on Bring-A-Trailer. What caught my attention was contributor Norm's write-up on the VFR in general. There's a couple of details askew in his account, but overall he does a good job of capturing a bit of the VFR's appeal.

UPDATE: This VFR sold for $7000

"These VFRs just look better and better every time I look at them. Age is making these finer and finer and I always say Honda has left some of the most remarkable bikes and engines in its wake through time. There’s just something so romantic about winding out a gear-driven V4 and feeling the power come through at 10k RPMs through a windy, empty road. Ten to 20 years from now when rocketpods are the new school buses and time travel capsules are the new rocketpods, bikes like the VFR are going to be the artifacts that best recall what exceptional and classic mechanical engineering looked like.

From an engineering standpoint, the VFR had been considered a success ever since it came out. Executing a single-sided swingarm and V4 in a streetable platform is no joke but Honda got it pretty right when the VFR first came out in 1990. In 1994, they came with some upgrades to further fine tune the VFR as an excellent multi-purpose street machine. In regards to the powerplant, Honda had tinkered with the cam timing, reshaped ports, and switched to a 34mm carb setup. They also opted to go with a 4-1 exhaust system that shed 5 pounds. Shedding weight was really the name of the game with the 1994 VFR as the exhaust combined with other various improvements resulted in a 20 lb weight loss. Weight is a sport bike’s worst enemy so the leaner profile certainly earned the VFR more credibility on the road and as a true swiss-army knife."

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Project 40 Completed!

4/21/2023

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With all the finishing details attended to, Project 40, a 1986 VFR700F, is finished. I acquired this project in Michigan in April, 2022 from a seller who had begun his own project, but lost steam. The bike had a transplanted 750cc engine installed but much of the rest was in boxes, which filled the bed of my truck. After much consideration, I decided to take the bike back to its 700 roots and swapped back the original engine (which was included in the sale). Also included were "750" side fairings, which I decided to keep on the bike.

Most of the bodywork was in excellent original condition, needing only cosmetic attention, with the exception of a faded and dinged fuel tank and some plastic cracks to the large right side fairing, which were both repaired and professionally repainted. The mirrors and front turn signal housings were also repainted, while reproduction LED CBR/VFR 400 rear signals were sourced to tidy up the rear.

Other modifications include a set of restored Kerker dual slip-on mufflers with polished header pipes, a reproduction windscreen and 19mm bar risers from MOTO-CNC. The rear shock is an OEM unit from a low-mileage bike while the rebuilt forks have an extra 1/2" preload spacer installed.

Here's a summary of this VFR:

33,333 miles
Optional passenger seat cowl & center stand
Completely refurbished, mechanically & cosmetically
All hydraulic components rebuilt
Fuel tank & right-side main fairing professionally repainted
Powder coated engine & valve covers
Rebuilt forks
Steering bearings updated
Restored period-correct Kerker dual muffler slip-on
EBC clutch
Silicone coolant hose upgrade
Stainless brake lines upgrade
Carburetors rebuilt w/ VITON seals, jetted & tuned
K&N air filter
Valve adjustment, compression checked
Reproduction windscreen
Reproduction VFR/CBR rear LED turn signals
19mm bar risers
Chain & sprockets replaced
Fresh fuel lines, filter & OEM petcock
New OEM handgrips
Fresh Pirelli Sport Demon tires

For a look at the full photo gallery, click here.

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Market Watch - V4s on BaT

4/20/2023

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Three recent V4 auction sales on Bring-A-Trailer help give an insight into current values. These include a Sabre and two 1st-gen Interceptors; 750 and 500 versions. The sales prices seem to signal an uptick in early V4 values.

SOLD: $8100
1983 VF750 Interceptor

Here's an example of a first-year V45 with an unclear history. Showing only 9 miles on the odometer, the comments generally suggest that is unlikely. Curiously, this bike has not been run for an unknown period and there's been no investigation done to determine if the bike is affected by the infamous "soft" cam issue. And, there's two right hand mirrors mounted (?). Surprisingly well-sold.

SOLD: $8200
1986 VF500 Interceptor

This mini-ceptor is presented as a 6000-mile survivor with assorted scuffs and dings to support that. The bike shows well enough, is above average cosmetically and has low miles. The selling price is impressive, all things considered.

SOLD: $4400
1985 VF700S Sabre

Another 6000-mile survivor, this very well-kept Sabre will make a great classic motorbike, and I hope the new owner puts some fair-weather miles on her. Looking closely at the photos, it's evident that this is, in fact, a low-mile example, with clean engine cases and fine paint. The Sabres don't have the same appeal as the sportier Interceptors, especially the 700cc version, and the the sales price reflects that. There's still plenty of performance to be had, though, and the Sabre will always cut a handsome profile. Well bought.

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Nick's '91 VFR Is For Sale

4/19/2023

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What: 1991 VFR750
Where: Merrillville, Indiana
Why: Low miles, clean, rare-ish
Price: $3500

Reader Nick recently contacted me about his 1991 VFR750 for sale. Whenever I see a 3d-gen with the kickstand fairing still in place I know we've got a potential winner. This bike shows 15,677 miles and is very complete, but has had at least a partial repaint in the past. The '91 version is wrapped in Italian Red with one-year only muted gold wheels and gray seat — prettier in the flesh than photos can show.
Contact Nick for details: (219) 678-3156
(I have no affiliation with this sale)

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Project 40 Gets Dressed

4/15/2023

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Test ride complete, the time has come for final assembly of Project 40, a 1986 VFR700F. Below is a short slideshow which belies the many hours of fitting, tweaking, refitting, polishing fasteners, getting the turn signals straight, rubbing out the seat vinyl and buffing paint. A final polishing will have this one ready for its next caretaker. A beautiful example of the classic second-gen red/white/blue Interceptor. I'll have a more in-depth review of this bike when I have the final photos available.

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RC30 Carb Set On eBay

Mini-'Ceptor On Bring-A-Trailer

A 13-year Old, 6-mile V4 Sells For $15k

Tail Tidying

Project 40 To Be Featured On Bring-A-Trailer

"Quotable"

Project 40 Completed!

Market Watch - V4s on BaT

Nick's '91 VFR Is For Sale

Project 40 Gets Dressed

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