I came across this, ahh, interesting custom build last year on VFRdiscussion.com. It's in the Netherlands, and someone has gone to some trouble to put together their vision of a streetfighter/ADV Interceptor.

Beginning with an '86 or '87 VFR, the builder has grafted on a different fork, wheel and fender combination, along with some bodacious headlights and an aftermarket windscreen. The side bags show some real imagination while the tiger appliqué on the tank is just, well, a bit visually confusing. Finished off in babys**t brown and we're good to go!

I'm a fan of individualism and this guy's got it in spades.

What: 1992 VFR750F
Where: Seattle, Washington
Why: Clean & ready to ride
Price: $2750

I often preach the point that classic VFRs make for the best used bike choices out there, and here's another example. This 3d-generation model appears to be a well-preserved original VFR. Yes, it shows 36,600 miles but in the right hands that's not a concern to the next owner. Our seller claims "fully serviced" and fresh tires.

Finished in Granite Blue Metallic, the 92's appear as black till you get the sun just right wherein the blueish/purple metallic comes through. Very 90's. You can't go wrong here.

People magazine dubbed him "the Japanese Henry Ford ." They were referring to Soichiro Honda, and he was that and more. An engineer first, and a world-class visionary and industrialist, he founded Honda Motor Company in 1948. As president, Soichiro Honda turned the company into a billion-dollar multinational that produced the best-selling motorcycles in the world. Honda's engineering and marketing skills resulted in Honda motorcycles outselling Triumph and Harley-Davidson in their respective home markets.

Mr. Honda passed away in 1991 at the age of 84. Some of his philosophy:

"In the long run, there is no waste in life."

"Since I found pleasure in the fact that a thing of my own contrivance was proving useful and was appreciated by people, I was not paying much attention to profits."

"To me, success can be achieved only through repeated failure and introspection."

"Looking back, in my work, I feel that I have made nothing but mistakes, a series of regrets. But I also am proof of an accomplishment. Although I made one mistake after another,...I never made the same mistake and I always tried my hardest and succeeded in improving my efforts."

" What insures the future...is the philosophy of manufacturing things in the interest of people."

After further contemplation, and a few beers, I've decided on a different direction for Project 14. I think the bike will have a better shot at getting the look I'm after if it's finished in the original Pearl Crescent White. To accomplish that I would need to raid the parts hoard to put together a full set of clothes — tank and body panels. That makes this a bitsa bike, bits o' this and bits o' that. All of these bits will need reconstructive surgery, some more than others. Below is the bike with all of the parts repaired and test fitted prior to sending off for paint. Better to get everything plumb and square at this stage.

Here we have a left-side turn signal port which had a chunk missing from the lower left side of the opening. I cut out a section from another fairing that I have on hand just for pieces like this.

A combination of bonding, plastic welding, shaping and sanding and we have a successful repair. Next I dribble liquid Plast-aid into the factory seam surrounding the factory plug — this filler plug was Honda's solution to fitting the DOT-mandated turn signals for U.S. market bikes. I want that seam to disappear, and my painter will finish the job by bondo-ing the seam.

This is the tail light cowl and it was a mess — lots of cracks and both upper mounting tabs missing, which had to be fabricated with scrap ABS. These seams are all plastic welded with ABS rod.

Plastic welding is approached very much the same as metal welding: V-groove both sides of the crack and melt welding rod into the grooves. Then the weld is filed and sanded smooth, followed by filler, primer and paint.

Right side mid-fairing.

These cracks tell the tale of a crash sometime in the past. The upper duct was all but separated from the fairing due to the impact.

Many of these panels are salvageable. But it requires patience and the right tools — and professional painting is very expensive these days.

These parts will now go to the paint shop where the repairs will get a final finishing and the color coat applied. Then they will come back to me, be temporarily mounted on the bike so I can apply the decals, and then given back to the painter for the clear coat application.

Lots of time, effort and money involved in the final stage of bringing this Interceptor back to life.

At last weekend's Las Vegas auctions, Bonhams featured this 1985 VF1000R. Looking very straight, if a bit disheveled, this example shows an incredible four miles on the odometer. No ownership or other history is provided. What would you do with a no-mile 32-year old motorcycle? My guess is that it's most likely headed for another museum.

This model typically trades for around $10,000 but the big VF sold for a whopping $33,225 including the auction premium.

What: 1984 VF1000F Restomod
Where: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Why: Nice bits, well-done, looks like fun
Price: Auction, with reserve

The first-gen VF1000F, produced for the U.S. market for 1984, was not a sales success for Honda, and was replaced with the "R" for '85-86. That left the F as the orphaned step child, and orphaned bikes tend to go one of three directions — thrashed till they're trashed, well-maintained daily drivers or transformed into an owner's personal vision of what the bike should have been all along. That's what we have here.

The VF boasts upgraded forks, swingarm and suspension along with performance header/muffler and many nice bits to complete the build. Most of the bodywork is original, which make this the definition of a restomod. Showing 27,000 miles, the bike was featured in the June, 2014 issue of Practical Sportsbikes magazine.

Bidding is up to $2300 with the reserve not met. Modified classic motorcycles in general won't have the market value of original-condition examples, so it will be interesting to see if this beauty fetches our seller's price.

Update: No sale. With 25 bids reaching $4050, the VF failed to meet reserve.

When Patti casually asks to make a quick stop at the Dollar General (or any one of the other "true" dollar stores) I don't moan too loudly 'cause I look at it as an opportunity to stock up on supplies. Here's a few examples...

Paper towel, hand towels, chamois...

This past weekend Las Vegas hosted the big motorcycle auction events of the year. At the Mecum auction six VF/VFR sales were recorded, including the highest price I've seen paid for a VF500. It's really difficult to gauge the value of an auction sale without having seen the bike in person and knowing relevant details. In any case, here's the results:

'85 VF1000R — $5250 — From the two photos provided this looked like a very presentable example with an aftermarket muffler. Mileage not listed.

'90 VFR750R (RC30) — $24,000 — This bike appears to be a beautiful, likely original, example and was displayed at a museum in California. "Low mileage."

'84 VF500 — $4500 — This very clean example is documented as the first VF500 imported to America. Mileage not listed.

'86 VFR700 — $3500 — Nice looking red/white/blue 700 with "HRC" stickers and some bluing on the left-side muffler, drooping turn signals — could have been better presented. 18,000 miles showing.

'86 VFR750 — $3000 — Very clean and well-preserved 750 in red/white/blue. Claimed to be all original. Drooping turn signals, excellent mufflers. 45,000 miles. Proving that miles do matter, this one sold for less than the less desirable 700 above.

'97 VFR750 — $3750 — Super clean, original, excellent condition, showing only 6.400 miles. Gorgeous final-year VFR and well-bought. I would have been bidding on this one.

The auction is scheduled to be broadcast on NBCSN January 31, 8pm - 2am.

What: RC30 Fuel Tank - Used
Where: California, USA
Why: When you really, really need a tank for your VFR750R daily rider
Price: $2239.26

Listed on eBay at a fixed price is this slightly blemished RC30 fuel tank. The seller does a good job of disclosing and showing the few sore spots, but no other history is offered. The price is somewhere around 10 percent of the value of an average RC30, so to ante up you must genuinely need this tank.

What: Tube handlebar conversion
Where: Germany
Why: Sweet kit
Price: ~$366 with options

From our friends at Gimbel in Germany comes this very nicely thought-out and finished kit to convert your 1986-87 VFR to tube handlebars. They have developed a pretty nifty but simple design which clamps on the forks in place of the OEM clipons and then uses basic handlebar clamps to fit the tube bar of your choice. The kit includes a single braided brake line or an optional two-line full replacement. An aluminum handlebar is included (in several colors) and even bar end weights are available. At the current exchange rate the whole kit with fixin's and shipping comes to around $366 USD, so it's not for the thin of wallet.

From their listing: Check out the cool Euro paint scheme on the VFR and the totally rad wheelie guy.

Today I began to fit bodywork to Project 14, a 1987 VFR700 F2. I was anxious to see the effect of the black accents applied to the otherwise stock red/white/blue look. Some of those accents include the wheels, front fender (still in red), mirrors (still in white) and mufflers. The wheels in particular give it a whole 'nother vibe compared to the OEM white. The front is also a larger 17-inch and the fender trimmed to a slimmer profile. The wheels have a single white pinstripe applied. The rear fender area has been cleaned up with a fender eliminator, tucked-in LED signals and the helmet lock tab eliminated along with the original turn signal mounts. The mufflers are shortened originals with one baffle chamber removed. So far I like the look and once the fender is blacked-out it should flow pretty well.

I've been asked about the work stand. I picked this up from AeroStich several years ago when it was on sale for only $100. It utilizes a pair of heavy-duty milk crates (I see the latest version uses a third in the center span) and is rated at 500 pounds. There's a ramp included, it's made of lightweight aluminum and it all breaks down to store against a wall or under a work bench. The bike is raised 11 inches off the ground, which doesn't sound like much but makes a noticeable difference. I don't have the room for a full-size motorcycle lift, so this is the next best thing. I wouldn't be without one.
Here's the Aerostich link.