What do you think of this motorcycle?

[Audi Junkie]

I had a few older sport bikes a long time ago, they were all beat though. Now I want something cheap, but a bit nicer. This Interceptor is older, but apparently super-clean. For $2000, is it a hit? It is not as off-the-hook as some newer bikes, but it's Honda and quite nice...enough. Yes?

http://ssbikes.com/bike.aspx?intBikeID=148

 

[drive it forever]

Nice bike, but Honda had a few problems with the very early VFR engines if I remember right. I used to buy and sell bikes for extra income. There isint one of the four japanese brands that is better then another, but of all the bikes I've had, Suzuki has had the smoothest shifting trannys. I would check out a honda VFR forum about the bike before I would buy it. A 750cc water-cooled bike of that era does low 11 second 1/4 mile times.

 

[drive it forever]

I searched the web out of intrest what the VFR engine problems I've heard about may have been. The First generation VFR (V4) engines were inadequately lubed in the top end, coupled with soft cams in the early years, it led to cam lobes going flat. Dont know what year(s) it effects. Thats one of the few mid-eighties sport bikes I've never owned, dang now I want one.

 

[keith]

A friend of mine had that bike in the tourer style - same engine. He had a lot of warranty work done on the bike. I don't recall the exact nature of the problem, after all it was nearly 20 years ago, but there were some common problems with that engine. Do a little research and I'm sure you will find out the common problems. I think it was weak oiling to the top of the heads.

Otherwise it was a nice bike, although the exhaust note was pretty lame with the stock pipes. It's still a nice looking bike.

 

[FowVay]

I worked for several years at the local Honda dealership during the Freddie Spencer era. You may remember the television commercial of PeeWee Gleason doing the huge burnout on the V65 and being about as politically incorrect as could be at the time.

I would buy this motorcycle with no worries about mechanical problems. The V30 and V45 did very well and the V65 did have a few cylinder head lubrication and cooling issues but these issues didn't affect every engine.

There was a service bulletin which specified the replacement of a external oil line on both the V45 and V65 which addressed inadequate camshaft lubrication. This has been years ago so I honestly don't remember whether it was a recall or simply a optional fix for the people that needed it.

Regardless, this is a vintage piece of motorcycle history. I have always preferred the in-line 4's to the V-4's though and one of these days I'm going to find that museum quality CBX to put in my garage. That thing is a mechanical nightmare that you simply can't resist.

 

[Shannow]

Fowvay,
a guy at work has two CBXs, one that he races, and one for the road. And a guy in town has one also.

Ferarri exhaust note from a bike.

(I've an article in an Oz turbo magazine with a heavily turboed CBX)

 

[shortyb]

AJ-Neat bike, I had the 700cc "tariff" version of the same bike. Never had any problems and it was very fun to ride. As drive it forever mentions, there were issues about top end oiling, cam lobe flattening, as well as some casses of cam chain tensioners and guide wear. None of them were very serious and a quick UOA could spot unusual wear related to the lack of top-end oiling. As I remember, owners with this problem remarked about the large amount of "sparkly stuff" in the bottom of their drain pans. Only real issue I had with mine was the absolute PITA it was to do anything carb related. I replaced the pipes so had to do re-jetting. Took me literally hours to get to carbs off, disassembled, reassembled, adjusted and then finally re-install. I added quite a few colorful words to my vocabulary whenever I had to do a carb sync too. Oh well, trade-offs were worth it, it proved to be a great first sport bike for me.

My next bike was truly a breeze to work on when the rare occasion arose, Suzuki GS1000. I could take the carbs off, adjust and then re-install in about 20 minutes. All without removing the gas tank. That became my first track bike and gave me quite a lesson in bike racing

Good luck and have fun with whatever bike you get

 

[Audi Junkie]

Thanks a lot guys. It's looking like The One. I'll let you know.

 

[Al]

There have been so many improvements in bikes in the last 10 years..I wouldn't touch a 20 year old bike with a 10 ft, pole.

 

[Jay]

Like shortyb, I also had an '86 VFR 700F Interceptor, but it was newer than the bike pictured. I don't think the bike pictured is an '86. I think it's a year older. '86 was the 2nd generation VFR. The pictured bike is first generation.

I put 51,000 miles on my bike in 7 years and loved it! It was reliable as a rock. I once rode it 990 miles in one day.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Interesting.

 

[tweeker43]

the price seems reasonable.

if you can get to it, look at brakes and brake lines, fuel lines, any other tubes and hoses for cracking or dry rot. see if it needs new tire immediately. fire it up and listen to it at least.

pretty cool if it checks out though.

 

[medic]

Personally, I wouldn't touch a 20 year old Japanese built bike for more than $1 per cc, unless it was mint. I would dare to say that there are better deals out there.