help ( going to look at a bike to buy today)

[pprider]

Im going to look at a bike today and i saw a pic and i am almost 100% positive it has a very large dent on the tank, im wondering how important this can be? anything else i should specifically look for?

its a 1987 honda vf500 that im looking at and the guy is selling for $750 he said he was using it for a project bike but deceide he has to many projects, im just a little worried i guess. he says it runs fine and always starts right up.

on e last question how hard would it be to put the fairing back on?

THANKS!

[The Buddha]

Yea dont buy the interceptor... its too high and too heavy and grossly under powered for a sport bike, buy that other V 30 magna instead. Sounds a lot better from his description and its lower to the ground...
Cool.
Srinath.

[raylarrabee]

everything I saw say the VF500's v-4 churns out 70 hp.  Shouldn't that be more than enough power for a bike that size?  I actually almost bought one before I got my GS, an everything I read about it said that it was a great handling bike, too.  Obviously, as a new rider who's never been on one, I cannot comment from personal experience, but everything I read sai they're great bikes.

[pprider]

ya i read it has like 70HP too... and it weighs like 350 seems pretty decent to me for a noob like myself..

anyways...

well i went and looked at it and i can tell you its uglier then sin. all the fairing is off and the chan seemed loose, the tank he said was coated so i should have no worries of rust... but i really couldnt tell. he said if i were to buy it he would be willing to bleed the rear brakes because he says they stick and he would be willing to put all the fairing back on and tighten the chain also. i just dont know i know for 750 i cant expect much i just want a safe ride i could care less how ugly the thing is.

i cant really tell if the frame is bent doesnt seem to have any major bends in it or anything... he says it is but again who knows. also the clutch lever would need replaced he said when he bought it after like a month he dropped in parking lot and the clutch handle snapped... i figure if he fixes all he said he would ill tell him ill buy it after i take a test ride to see if it rides straight. bah decisions!

o and the chain seems kinda stiff from link to link does that mean it needs replaced?

finally it has 48k miles on it

any input would be awesome!

[raylarrabee]

when I was looking for a VF, I noticed thatthey pop up almost daily on ebay.  There were a lot with pretty low milage for such a lat model year and in much better condition than the one you describe.  86-87's seemed to go for 1500 - 2200 on ebay.  Kind of steeep IMHO for a 20 year-old bike.

good luck shopping!

[pprider]

i think im gonna buy all i need to do is replace the clutch lever really i guess bah, im gonna go for it, live and learn right? lets hope this is a good lesson, ill go to buy it tomorow wish me luck!

[crash]

you could always ask if you can take it by a mechanic for a look-see

[JLKasper]

Avoid '84s like the plague, but no year of the VF500s have a sterling reputation for reliability; 48K  mi should be enough to pretty well wear it out.  Pay close attention for potential electrical troubles; not uncommon on these bikes.  Good luck.

[pprider]

thanks for all the information guys! i couldnt bring myself to buying the bike after a lot of thought. I'm just gonna try and be patient and find a better deal. i think had i known for a fact the frame was straight and that he wasnt lying about the tank being coated i would of got it. and btw the plastics were in horrid condition. anyways thanks again! and one more question, can you tell a tank has been coated by looking in it?

and of course you guys see any deals around 1k in Northern Va let me know:P