Someone talk me out of buying a VF750 Interceptor

noexit

noexit

Been Around the Block
I've just decided that I need a bike to ride while I work on my other bikes, and that that bike should be an 80-something VF750 Interceptor. All that red white and blue just makes me feel like a 'Merican. Plus a V4 just seems sexy. Please tell my why this is a bad idea.
 
I used to have a VF 700 Magna, the VF engine is probably one of the best engines to come out of Japan, smooth, powerful and reliable, I don't know the Interceptor but the Magna was grin inducing, especially when giving sports bike rider some dust at the lights, with a screen on, cruising at 90+ was a doddle.
 
the newest Motorcycle Classics (May-June 2012) has a great write-up on the '83 calling it the First True Sportbike. Serious good looks on that one.
Sorry Bud can't talk you out of it... ;)
 
There were recalls on the first models for cam pitting - I guess if it's still running it's either fixed or not in that batch (that totally ruined the bikes' reputation here in Oz).


The carbs are bastards to get to from what I've heard too.


There's far more of them sitting forlorn in the wrecking yards over here than actually running nowadays. Make of that what you will.


Other than all that they were pretty good bikes - although if the budget can stretch to an early VFR they are far better bikes all round ;)
 
I had an 85 500 interceptor, my good friend had a 750. I loved my red white and blue paint- it would turn heads everywhere. The 500 had a 6 speed, the 750 a 5 speed. I am pretty skinny so i could keep up with the 750 off the line till about 60 mph. It was dead reliable, fairly quick, comfortable, my 500 handled pretty good, and was easy to work on. Bad points- heavy, long (more of a sport tourer), bad brakes, and the 750 felt real top heavy. Other big problem was it was hard to find aftermarket parts to fit (jet kits, exhaust, sprokets, tires). Another friend at the time had a new CBR 600. One ride on that was like a different world. At that point we actually tried to "cafe" the 750- cut off the subframe and put on low clipons, ended up giving it to a bartender friend for a couple of rounds. If i had a choice between the interceptor and a next generation sportbike- i would go for a ninja, cbr, or gsxr. FWIW Tony
 
I love those bikes. I think mid 80's and later are fine just the early ones had some issues but by this point if they are still running and on the road they are probably fine. The next bike on my to-buy list is a 86 VFR750 in white with the blue seat, great looking bike.
 
Mid 80's all the rage was cheap ass aftermarket exhausts. On these bikes it made them sound like an outboard out of water.
 
Carbs are the biggest issue.
They are CVs and have rubber diaphragms that are $$$ and just a general pain to work on.

From my understanding the 750 was a much better bike then the 700, but maybe that was just some BS bench racing
 
88blkiroc said:
I love those bikes. I think mid 80's and later are fine just the early ones had some issues but by this point if they are still running and on the road they are probably fine. The next bike on my to-buy list is a 86 VFR750 in white with the blue seat, great looking bike.
Click to expand...

They were the nicest looking Honda models of all time I think. The shape was right and colors just worked. Did I mention I used to have one and I'm just a teensie bit biased.
 
Seeing a rough but 'all there' VF750 abandoned in a backyard 12+ ago is what got me started obsessing about motorcycles ...

Should be pretty reliable as long as still running OK. VFRs had improved cam oiling that VFs were known to have issues with.

I pulled the trigger on my '85 ZX900 instead but would still like to find a VF(R) someday - just something about the square headlights that I like. IMO we need more classic sportbikes on the road so go for it ... never fails to get a 'thumbs up' from the cagers when out on a ride.
 
I've got an '85 VF700 and I really do love it. Like the others have said, look out for cam oiling problems. I just turned over 30K miles on mine. Had the rear valve cover off to fix an oil leak not long ago and the cams looked good so the problem is obviously not universal. Hope the forwards are the same.

Also look out for the rear shock. Once they die there's no fixing them and the "tested good" one you get off ebay probably isn't going to last long either (I know).

As I understand it the 700 is the exact same bike as the 750 with a different crankshaft and connecting rods to shorten the stroke and reduce the displacement to get by the 750cc and greater tariff thanks to H-D in the mid 80's.

They say the VFR's are a much better bike but sorry, I'm not going to talk you out of a 1st gen V4 either.

CC
 
That's not me. They're friend's of mine. She just bought a Suzuki DR650 for an around the world trip that she and her husband are doing. I think he's selling his KLR for a new bike too.
 
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