Smack

I agree with the manual crank turning and a spray of light oil into the cylinders prior wouldn't hurt. My 2005 Mini (also alum block) sat w/o coolant for 9 months and, yes, I found a bit of internal corrosion. One suggestion would be to use a bore scope to check the cylinders prior to turning the crank. Brian

Sorry, no answer here, but I want to also eventually put on a usd on my '97, so I am following with much interest. Good luck. Brian

Check with Joe at V4Dreams.com. He is a wizard at restoration. Brian

Interesting; maybe more pictures from other angles? The swingarm looks to have some non-stock bracing. The clutch reservoir is not stock. The windscreen doesn't look stock. Great-looking fairings and solo seat. Assume it is running; $2500 - $3000 would be my limited-knowledge-of-this-bike guess. Brian

Well Ken, I believe that you are very much mistaken then. Nope, I definitely mean "ethanol" (aka 'ethyl alcohol'). Methanol is a bit too poisonous for me, plus, I can distill my own fuel (eventually). Yes, less caloric value PER EQUAL MASS, but you have to use more ethanol than gasoline (air/fuel ratio), so ACTUALLY, you make MORE horsepower. Yeah, most people "wouldn't" because they don't really understand the benefits (cleaner burning, more power, environment, maybe less expensive, cooler burning, much higher octane), but yes, the mileage MAY decrease a small amount. I'm pursuing it for the POWER. We get an 85% ethanol blend here, so it is available (maybe add "availability" to the drawback list). Did you know that our Indy Car racing series uses E85? They certainly make plenty of power. Also drag racers like it. The high (14:1 maybe 15:1) compression pistons take advantage of the high octane and greatly increase the mechanical efficiency (power). Yes, there are certainly risks to excessive speed (shame you have such a repressive government, us too. ), but the extra power also translates to quicker acceleration. You understand all of that as you want to overbore and change camshafts for more power. On to fairings, yes, there are some European manufacturers and THOSE would probably be cost prohibitive for ME. Understood, we'll pick the best 'local' sources. Are you going to paint or use vinyl graphics? A while ago, I saw a French graphics company had made an RC45 fairing decal, but I can't locate that company now. Decals would be easier/cheaper/more accurate than paint for me. I need to find a spare engine to fool ('fuel'?) around with before I tear into mine, but the fairings s/b much sooner if I can find that decal. My timeframe is probably a year or 2 on the engine plans. Brian

Ken, I, too, have the urge to make a faux RC45 from my '97. Focusing on the graphics; got any leads on vinyl graphics? I'm leaning towards Beasley Composites for the fairings. Thanks for the Mohawk camshaft lead; I'm thinking of custom high-compression pistons and ethanol, so different cams are possible. Pictures when able? Brian

Excellent !! My '86 has been silent for 20 years, but I do remember its distinctive voice. I don't know why, but the '97 doesn't speak with the same accent. Yet. Does Hindle make a left side exhaust for the 4th Gen? I'll have to look them up. THANK YOU for the video AND audio ! Brian

Fastdruid, I'm curious about your special note of E85. Have you run such? If so, I realize this is a carburetion discussion, but did you make any other optimization changes (higher compression/boost)? VERY interesting topic (retrofitting FI to older VFR's) and I agree that it is probably the better way to go for those with increasingly complex modifications (E85). Please, keep this thread going ! -Smack-

I would like 2 sets, please. Anyone got an electronic manual for these Keihin carburetors that discusses jet sizes etc.? I have the '96 shop manual. Any idea if these diaphragms are the same size as used in the '86 750? Thanks for putting this idea together !