Hi Guys,

I have an opportunity to pick up a 1985 Honda Interceptor VFR 500 motorcycle from a friend for next to nothing. It only has 5000km (really!) on the engine, but has been sitting for an extremely long time (7 years I think, and stored out of the elements) and has had very little to no maintenance done during the time ... My intent is to work on it bit by bit until it's roadsafe... As far as I know everything is in tact and it looks good.

Just wondering what types of things I should look for, or does sitting this long turn a bike into a lemon? (In which case it will be avoided.)

Clean the tank out.

Anywhere fuel has touched during that time needs to be cleaned throughly.

1: Drain the Fuel - put in new fresh gas.

2: Buy new battery and Install.

3: Press START button and be amazed that the bike started (because it WILL start)

4: Let it run for a little bit and then drain the oil, install new oil filter & oil and enjoy.

You'll have to replace brake fluid since it will be old

Did those have hydraulic clutches?

Watch out for furry critters living in small places. 

Woo thanks guys... Anything else?

I'll check it out a little bit better soon. Yeah, it's been to the mechanic and he refused to work on it saying that any bike that has sat that long is basically garbage. The thing is liquid cooled too!

I'll repeat most of what they said, as well as a few more of my own. This should get it in pretty damn good condition:

-- Flush the cooing system and replace all the coolant, too.
-- Drain the gas tank and replace with fresh fuel
-- Buy a new battery and charge it
-- Buy new tires for the bike (the old ones are likely dry rotted, etc..)
-- Replace the oil and filter
-- Change the brake fluid front and rear
-- Change the fork oil
-- Check to see the airbox is unclogged
-- Clean or replace the air filter
-- Replace the chain (the old one is likely rusted and the o-rings have probably dried up)
-- Remove the carbs and rebuild them (carb rebuild kits are easy).
-- While you're in the process of replacing parts, you might as well remove all the other rubber pieces and clean the carbs really well.
-- Wash the bike meticulously and try to get every little piece of dirt or gas off the paint
-- Wax it afterwards

The low mileage counts for nothing in this case, what gives me the shivers is the fact its liquid cooled. If the coolant didnt contain enough anti-freeze/corrosion inhibitor before it was laid-up, the internal aluminium and iron parts well now be suffering from severe corrosion and the coolant- galleries and radiator will have become clogged up and the pump will most likely be siezed. Other things to consider in addition to the above list are, siezed control cables, corroded electrical connectors, and rusty wheel bearings. You also need to know if parts availability will be a problem as the bike is over 20yrs old. I wouldnt pay a bean for the bike, its worth nothing as it stands and you are doing your pal a fave` by taking it off his hands.

Let's see some photos.

I'd look for the following:

1)  Critters.  Mouse piss is very corrosive.  If there is a nest in the airbox expect that the cylinders are full of piss.  Not good.

2)  Where is it stored?  Back of the garage under a cover?  Cool.  Back of the barn covered in cow shaZam!?  Not cool.

3)  Test the antifreeze.  Is it still protecting to a temperature lower than you have experienced up there?

4)  General condition.  Did he back his tractor into it?  The engine in a box next to the bike?

5)  Parts availability?  While not related to the condition of the bike, not being able to get OEM parts makes things more difficult.

I could very easily tell you whether *I* would take it on as a project, but I'm not you.  Evaluate it in terms of what you're willing to do.  Generally speaking, when I evaluate a project like that (which I do all the time) I expect that every possible thing could be wrong with it and decide accordingly.  If you're willing to tear apart the carbs, clean the tank, replace ALL the rubber, and possible tear into the engine then it might be worth your time.  If you think that you're going to clean the tank, wax it, then go flying down the road you might want to reconsider.

One thing I will say is that if you're not an experienced mechanic this bike might teach you a few things.  With the right tools and equipment bikes like this are weekend projects.

Price?  Well, that depends.  If it's sitting in the back of a barn covered in cow shaZam! I *might* offer to haul it off.  If it's under a cover in the garage I might offer several hundred, but then I'm one of those crazy guys that enjoys repairing machinery.   

Quote from: sledge on July 28, 2006, 02:02:07 PM
The low mileage counts for nothing in this case, what gives me the shivers is the fact its liquid cooled. If the coolant didnt contain enough anti-freeze/corrosion inhibitor before it was laid-up, the internal aluminium and iron parts well now be suffering from severe corrosion and the coolant- galleries and radiator will have become clogged up and the pump will most likely be siezed. Other things to consider in addition to the above list are, siezed control cables, corroded electrical connectors, and rusty wheel bearings. You also need to know if parts availability will be a problem as the bike is over 20yrs old. I wouldnt pay a bean for the bike, its worth nothing as it stands and you are doing your pal a fave` by taking it off his hands.

OK mr. negative  

my friend from work just put his 84 Interceptor 500 back on the road- It's a beautiful bike. Ideally; all you'll have to do is change all the fluids & battery and it'll fire up. When he bought his bike two years ago for $500 it ran great. He rode it for a week; lowsided & hadn't touched it since. Getting it running earlier this summer revealed a few snags...
He was having problems with the bike dying on him right after it started up. Another $500 later It runs and warms up like a champ, but the bike will die at a stoplight if he doesnt give it a little gas while standing still. He told me this update today. It may just need a turning of the idle screw & it'll run great again.

My suggestion for you is to change the fluids and start the Buddha Loves You up!!! Take it for a test ride & see how it runs. only then will you really know if you're getting a good deal, a money pit, or something that just needs a little fixin'. If I were you I would seriously consider the deal, but try to get it running before any money is exchanged. Or you and your friend can go $half$ on the fluids or something... It'll be worth it if you can get it running. I hear that V4 is a little torquey.

He just got his Interceptor on the road this week & I'll be taking him for a ride probably mid-next week. He is a total newb so I linked him to some info & gear sites & I'm giving him some time to practice in his driveway before I throw him in the deep-end (J/K!). When I hop on his bike I'll let you know exactly how it compares to the GS. So far all I know is it's old as hell, steel-framed, a 500cc V4, liquid cooled, and has a WAAAY more agressive seating position. Just from a glance the tire size looks likt the stock GS 110f/130r; I could be wrong though.

anyways, good luck with the bike!

P.S: I've heard first-hand storied of people starting up 20 year old bikes that have been sitting for more than just a few. Maybe that makes me very optomistic about your case, but noone will know the state of the bike until you try to get it running and (hopefully) take it for a ride.

mid 80's hondas had 16F / 18R

good thing is F-1/F-2 stuff converts pretty easily

spend a couple of bucks trying to get it to run

after you hear it run....then determine if you want to spend more

Start with cracking the crank cover and make sure the bike turns...   That would be the first thing I would do before I even buy the bike Pistons could be seased up in the block....

In reply to Buddhas earlier "Mr Negative" comments.
How you can guarantee a bike will fire and start up after being stood for 7 years...it beats me, particularly as you havent even seen it. True to say it might, but then again it probably wont and given that a mechanic has already looked at it and decided its scrap its got to be in poor overall condition. You are passing on unrealistic information to the guy and giving him false hopes my friend.

i purchased a honda crotch rocket once that had been stored for 5+ years in the northern climate (year round temp cycles),, it scared the death out of the kid who owned it so it sat. after draining all the ransid fuel from tank/float bowls and a good battery added, gave her a a fill-up of 110 octane race fuel from sunoco. that stuff eats paint.....bike fired and ran abit rough. but smoothed right out in no time. worked so well i add 110 to all my bikes in the spring now to clean them out from the winter storage, and whenever i drag something like that home.

Hey all,

Thanks for the info to all, much appreciated.

Sledge, you are right - I have to think about the other side of this too... I'm not looking to spend a whole lot to get it running maybe bits here and there. I'll let you all know what happens  

Quote from: sledge on July 29, 2006, 01:05:45 AM
In reply to Buddhas earlier "Mr Negative" comments.
How you can guarantee a bike will fire and start up after being stood for 7 years...it beats me, particularly as you havent even seen it. True to say it might, but then again it probably wont and given that a mechanic has already looked at it and decided its scrap its got to be in poor overall condition. You are passing on unrealistic information to the guy and giving him false hopes my friend.

you havent seen the bike either. all we're going on here is speculation and assumptions. that's why the point of my post was to "try" to get it started before purchasing it or throwing money into it. maybe try reading it a little bit slower next time

...when did I "guarantee" anything?

If you've ever taken an old bike to a mechanic you'd know how easily they raise their nose in the air. Another guy I work with (not the one with the Interceptor 500) took his 12 year old Honda to a local dealership to get it serviced after getting it running. The mechanics at the dealership turned him away saying it was too old (liability?). he went to a small shop & had the routein stuff done no problem.

seriously; how hard is it to change the fluids to "try" to get it running and see what kind of condition it is in. It could be a p.o.s.... it could fire right up. My guess is that it falls somewhere in between and might need a little bit of work. Throwing a few hundred into getting it into good shape is very worth it in my opinion (especially if you can get the bike & title dirt cheap!).  To others... it's not

Yea, 7 years isn't that long. Clean the carbs, new battery, new gas and see if she goes. You might want to check the compression too.

I doubt you have ever seen the internals of a liquid cooled bike thats been poorly laid up. Come back when you have and tell me I am still wrong to assume it could be a major issue with this bike.

holy crap sledge calm down; you're acting like I just insulted your mother. 

Quote from: sledge on July 30, 2006, 12:46:52 AM
...tell me I am still wrong to assume it could be a major issue with this bike.

I never said you were wrong... I never said I was right. neither of us have seen the bike; that's why I said to try to get it running (and hopefully ride it) to get an idea of how much damage has been done.

It's not wrong to assume the bike is crap, but it IS wrong to say the same if you havent seen the bike at all.
Just the same, it's not wrong to assume he can get the bike running, but it IS wrong to say he WILL get it running.

I never said he WILL get it running...

honestly; I shouldnt keep having to repeat myself. I think you're completly missing the point of my posts and are jumping to the conclusion that I'm trying to prove you wrong. For the second time: maybe you should read the posts again. 

Before you crank the bike, be sure to change the plugs and while you have them off, check out the cylinders.  It's not totally unknown for a cylinder to rust significantly.  I had that happen on an engine once.  Just started it up after sitting for a couple of years.  Ran somewhat for a few minutes, then broke a rod.  A handful of rust came out of the top of that cylinder.

Buddha?
I will be blunt. Your giving out false and dangerous advice to an inexperienced person. This engine hasnt run for 7 years and you are saying drain the fluids and try to start it. You havent suggested and I doubt you have even considered the possibilty of stuck valves, a seized waterpump, a seized camchain tensioner, rusty cylinder bores etc etc. I am sure you know as well as I do what will happen if you try to start an engine with just one of those conditions. Even putting a new battery in without checking the condition of the electrical system could see it go up in flames.......and you call me "Negative" Geez!