Hello everyone,
I’m a new member to the forum. I had decided last year that it would be fun to have an old project bike to work on. So I started to look for something interesting.
I used to have a 1984 V65 Sabre which I owned and ran for 11 years from 1991 to 2002. It was a very happy period of ownership, so when I saw a 1985 VF1000F described as a “none (sic) runner project” up for sale I was curious and after a short exchange of messages to the seller, a price was agreed and the bike duly delivered to Glasgow in August.
I should have perhaps done some more homework, as it turns out, it’s a German bike brought into the UK around 1997.
I didn’t think the unusual colour scheme and frame colour was a standard offering, even in Europe. I’m hoping to change it to a black and white colour scheme, that I have seen pictures of, that I prefer.
When I got the bike, closer examination showed it was in much worse condition than I anticipated. Although, I actually think it had been well cared for at one time, but not so recently. The last time it was Mot’d was in March 2021. Unfortunately, I was unable to get the bike started, and eventually decided to take the engine out, and go deeper than I originally intended.
Closer examination leads me to believe the engine has been taken apart previously, as there are signs of silicon/sealer between the crankcases, supported with a significant amount trapped in the oil pump filter screen. Anyway, during the strip down I found some unusual wear on the front cylinder’s camshaft sprockets and some damage to the top of one of the front cylinders cam chain tensioners. I’ll shortly post a question “In the Shed” with photos looking for comments and advice.
Anyway, I think that’s enough for now.
All the best.
Rory
However, I’m hopeful I can eventually change the frame and paintwork to something like this picture.