Charles13

We are finally getting some better weather up here and the snow is melting so, while the sun was shining, I attempted to install the carbs after my rebuild, holy crap! I thought they where hard to get off, it took 3 hours of wrestling and sweating to get them properly seated! One of my brass fuel inlets (the one on the right or starboard side) was so loose I pulled it right out; that’s not good! I hope I don’t have to pull them back off to repair that and, I hope I can find something to replace it with. I noticed it when I decided to randomly pull the old super hard lines off, speaking of which where can I get 3 new fuel lines to replace this “T” setup? the 2 smaller ones that go to the carb should be easy to find but the large one that goes to the tank has a nice “S” bend in it.

I just put a YSS on mine and just received some upgraded fork springs from race tech to compliment the shock, it snowed last weekend and there is salt everywhere so I haven’t tested it yet but I will report back.

Well…. It didn’t go as planned: -the Pirelli’s where on back order so I got some bt46’s, but I managed to get the stock sizes which I’m pleased about -ordered a YSS shock and installed it along with the new back tire. -charged the battery and tried to start it; it leaked fuel everywhere, pulled the tank and carbs, ordered a rebuild kit and some new intake manifolds but couldn’t get the fuel line; if anyone has any ideas on replacing the fuel line please chime in. - rebuilt the carbs but haven’t installed them as my fingers and toes where frozen from working in the garage. -ordered some race tech fork springs for my weight to compliment the new shock and some new fork oil. -got a center stand off one of my parts bikes; the only one that had one, where did they all go? Got it powdercoated. That’s where I’m at, I plan on changing the brake fluid, maybe roughing up the pads and discs and regreasing the steering head bearings but first I have to install my new center stand. I was told the bike was mint and ready to go as I bought it from a certified motorcycle mechanic I believed him, but I guess it’s better that I have had to tear into it a little.

Update: I bought the Pirelli sport demon tires but I had to get the 110/90-16 and the 120/80-18 so I hope that won’t affect handling as they are both wider. I also bought some RaceTech fork springs and a YSS rear shock as the stock one is toast.

Hey Dutchy, your long thread was the reason I bought the 86, there is a front rocker box leak, so I will be having a look inside, the previous owners husband is a motorcycle mechanic and she said he checked the valves last year and adjusted one out of 16, she rode it once since then. I’ve used the bt45’s and liked them but the centers wore out very fast squaring up the profile. I really like the look of the Pirelli sport demons and I liked the phantoms that preceded them but I have just recently heard of them.

I just picked up another 500 (an 86) and it’s a really nice stock bike with 28,000 kms, I’m going to keep this one stock and ride it this summer, then restore it when my 85 restomod is done. I’d like to flush all the brake and clutch fluid, engine oil, put a new chain on it and some better tires; I’ve seen some new retro pirelli phantoms, does anyone have experience with these? and what sizes should I go with? I also need a new battery and maybe an air filter recommendation.

What is the difference between a 750 and 500 gas tank? 1st gen

She’s a beauty! and your local, they have certainly evolved from the first generation, I may be in for a bit of culture shock.

It’s my plan to keep it slow on the straights and push real hard in the corners with this little bike. My idea of a fun little commuter bike. I’m retired so it’s all about the cheap thrills at this point in my life.

I had a 750 before, this is my first 500. I actually got 2 more bikes with this deal: an 85 and an 86. I really like your bike and may just leave this one as is because, aside from the tank that needs fixing it’s in really good shape. The other 85 is also in really good shape so I could go through the 86 motor (valve job hone and rings), put it in the 85 along with the f3 forks, f2 wheels, VFR front calipers, a new shock, some bits and bobs then give it a nice 86 paint job like yours (I’m building a new paint booth in my new shop) and have 2 nice baby ceptors. I did go through your thread and many others on here before I bought the forks, wheels and brakes so I kind of had a plan, you just influenced it more in the 86 restomod direction, which is a good thing!

Wow, those period mods bring back fond memories; the Dymags (18”)? Building billet baskets with heavy springs, I grew up around the racing scene; my best friend was a 2 time Canadian Superbike champion. I certainly fall into the “not quite sport touring riders” category which is why I’m going from a r1m to a good handling vintage bike, the fines up here easily morph into the $40k range in an instant if your caught speeding 80mph on a back road. I plan on concentrating just on handling mods for this bike.

Thanks I lived in CT for a summer and rode every weekend from NY to MA to the southern tip of CT , fortunately a lot of those old roads where not built in a straight line, a lot of fun and good memories.

Unfortunately the tank leaks and has already been coated inside so I’m not sure I’ll be able to fix it

Hello from the north, I collect old bikes and have always had a soft spot for the 1st gen Interceptors, my friend who used to race for Honda, his brother and I bought the 1st 3 Interceptors brought into Canada via preorder. I got hit by a guy running a stop sign a year later and wrote mine off, it was by far one of my favourite bikes and 40 years later I finally found one I couldn’t pass up; it’s an 85 vf500 with 2 extra parts bikes Ive been avidly reading up on these little baby ceptors and already spent over $600 on eBay parts to upgrade the running gear. I plan on using it as my daily rider as that is what my 83 was. I will start a thread documenting my progress with the bike but it won’t start until next year as we are entering winter up here and, I’m building a house and, I’m homeless atm so the bike went straight into a storage unit.