V4 powered Race rep! ...it's alive!!!!! With idling issues that is

[ABCanuck]

So my xs650 build over on specials has stalled :-( A combination of cost and time which will prevent it from being a runner by spring. However, a suitable, running replacement has been found! And in my opinion, a fairly exciting one! It has suffered from a lack of pampering and some hacking as well, but oh does she purr That is, when she is hooked up to a charger, and a fuel I.V. Enter my new love interest, a stripped down '84 vf1000!

She is a little rough around the edges. Needs some guages, some serious bodywork, a battery and the electrical sorted out, and the fuel tank cleaned out for starters. Im not thinking a complete strip although that is really what she needs. I'm thinking, get her road worthy to be able to ride this coming summer, then when things slow down next fall, strip her down and repaint the frame, wheels everything. Suggestions are more than welcome, even some inspiration pics.

The xs650 was going to be more of a vintage race rep but with this addition to the stable, the xs will take on the role of a two-up machine and this vf will become the street legal vintage race rep. Some ideas I had were........

PARTICULARLY THE RCB!

 

[two-smoker]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

The last one! The last one!

 

[reds]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Top or bottom.

 

[teazer]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Bottom one is a straight 4 TZ750 two stroke, top one is an RCB100 in line DOHC four based loosely on a CB750/900 DOHC and the middle one looks like an RCB replica/homage.

How about

or

or

 

[JEC]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Oh ho ho I'm watching this one. I have a ratty VF750F sitting in my parent's garage that I've been thinking of tinkering with (rode it for a season as a city beater then sold it to my dad, he still uses it. Looks godawful but runs and drives fine.). I've always liked the idea of an early 80s AMA Superbike replica.

 

[JEC]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

PS check this guy out for upgrades like suspension bits and F2 wheel adaptors. http://www.daughertymotorsports.com/

 

[ABCanuck]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Appreciate all the input! I'm am in the midst of talking to Pat (pacomotor) about a tail piece. I'm still thinking something towards the RCB or the TZ. Teazer, thanks for the old photos, thought you might chime in and am grateful for it! I'm thinking something more rounded in nature, at least as far as the front goes. Perhaps the airtech hammer? I really just have to decide if I'm going full or half fairing. Anyone have any thoughts on an inexpensive dual headlight option that I could incorporate into something like that? Also, I would love to come up with an easy attach/detach for the seat so I can switch between solo seat and two-up. RCB seat might be a little cramped

 

[ABCanuck]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

I also have a cbr f4i for parts at my disposal. any upgrades to be had here?

 

[JEC]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Honda Ruckus headlight assembly. Dual lights and a mount for cheap.

 

[teazer]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Airtech race tail for a VF750 would give the solo/dual combo. The way the tank is supposed to meld into the fairing, I'd be tempted to find a stock one and modify that yo a new shape with twin lights. Ruckus light bar is a good suggestion. Or if you want to go smaller, there are good HID projector kits on ebay but you have to fabricate a mount.

I'd fit a belly pan and top half fairing and show off the motor.

 

[Drewski]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

I'd fit a belly pan and top half fairing and show off the motor.

Ya, great idea!! That's what I'd do here!! 8)



I have a secret, deep yearning to build a Hammer Endurance Replica!! Ya, ya... Suzuki... I know!! I just love the lines!! 8)

Can't find very many pics of the bike, but here's one:

Love the concept!! I'm gonna keep an eye on this one!!

 

[50gary]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Gear driven cams,(perhaps not on this model) vee-four. What's not to like? Probably my favorite engine configuration, for me easily the best sounding. I'll be watching this effort. The 98/99 VFR800 has the gear drive on the right, outer side of the engine thus easier to hear the gear whine, sweetness.
Cheers, 50gary

 

[ABCanuck]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

That Hammer replica pic is kinda what I'm wanting. Although a belly pan might be sick, I like a more open look along the bottom. My brother has a '98 vfr and it sounds lovely. Wonderful bike to ride and comfortable. Ran it from seattle-home in one shot(1300kms). Not as far as some of you maybe but still decent for a sportier bike. I did the same trip in one day on my thruxton. Little higher on the soreness scale on that one. Hopefully cleaning the tank out this weekend. Tore a couple things off tonight just to see what I'm dealing with electrically. Bit of a mess.

Color schemes :

Rothmans

lancia

and similar is a british racing green....

but with a yellow pinstripe and with the main colors being british green and a dark charcoal grey.

 

[ABCanuck]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Fuel tank is still in the process of being cleaned out. I was originally thinking of doing a Por-15 kit but unfortunately with these vf tanks they have three internal tubes with mesh filters on the ends. Thus, any sort of tank coating will also coat these filters. Rats! I just got my camera back so the next time i flush the tank I will take some pictures of the mess. I could not believe the crap that was coming out of it.

Moving on....... Has anyone ever retrofitted a bike with a koso guage? Wondering about how easy it was, if you were happy with the product etc. I'm looking specifically at the Koso Rx-1N. They look pretty trick....

http://www.kosonorthamerica.com/new/shop/motorcycle_gauges/rx-1n-speedometer-gp-style-black-face-4/

 

[hillsy]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Aaron Slight paint scheme......

 

[ABCanuck]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

Ah! I forgot about the castrol schemes. Something like that with more green would be excellent.

 

[ABCanuck]

Re: V4 power Cafe!!!

So after all of the color scheme talk and fairings and everything, I had a realization. Indeed, it was after reading a thread on here about a similar style bike that had stalled and was in a weird identity crisis. After reading this, I saw a little more clearly what I need to focus on and what I should be sharing and asking about on the build. I have a tendency to get caught up with the stuff I see as more exciting. More important though are the guts of the bike. Lights/electrics are a bit of a schmozzle right now. While I would love to get my fairings and dual lights, should I simply sort out my indicators and tail light so it is road worthy and then slowly modify from there?

The reason I ask is I would like to change to a lightweight gel battery, switch to led indicators and tail, hide much of the electrics, and obviously modify the bodywork dramatically(which would have integrated lighting). I hate just doing something that seems half-assed in my opinion but also do not want to bite off more than I can chew. As I am still very much a rookie at building, though I have rode for years, i would appreciate some helpful suggestions as to the order i should tackle things.

 

[ABCanuck]

Re: V4 powered Race rep! ...... A plan of attack desperately needed!

Gas tank is cleaned! Rinsed it a couple times and a fair bit of rust and sediment came out so I figured a thorough cleaning was in order. Filled it with vinegar for a few days, a shake now and again and woila! Crazy how much garbage came out.....

Ran a round of electrolysis to get a thorough clean. Rinsed it out and she is back on the bike and filled with fuel!

Made a purchase tonight but I will wait to throw it up here until it arrives. Should help sort out the electrical side of things

 

[teazer]

Re: V4 powered Race rep! ...... A plan of attack desperately needed!

Smartest plan for most of us is an Installment plan.

Get it running

Clean up indicators and tail lights

Change footrests if necessary for rear sets

Change bodywork and at that time install new headlights if required.

That way, you keep a running bike and it is only off road for a few days at a time while it's in for minor surgery.

An Installment plan allows for staged expenditures, work in smaller chunks and less probability that the bike will become another dead project missing parts.

 

[ABCanuck]

Re: V4 powered Race rep! ...... A plan of attack desperately needed!

Thanks for the input teazer!

Thankfully it is running! Indicators are being ordered, speedo is on its way, talking to Pat about bodywork but I have to get him some measurements. Rearsets are already installed but they seem to be very aggressive. I am positive they are stock because they match the pictures on bike bandit but maybe they have been modified? I was under the impression the vf1000f provided a pretty comfortable riding position in stock form. Might have to relocate them though because they are a bit tight for my frame. (I`m 6`5) . The seat might have something to do with this as well though.

Teazer, I read a build thread a while ago where you suggested a solution for mounting fairings. I can't seem to find it now. They were rubber mounted, looked like a very nice solution. Any light you could shed on this would be very much appreciated.