There’s still a thrill to picking out a bike from the classified small ads. Before the invention of eBay, they were the first port of call when you were looking for a bike, and they still contain an aura of excitement and mystery. From supermarket noticeboards to free papers and the motorcycle press, the thrill of phoning to find out if a bike is even still for sale doesn’t go away.
And unlike eBay, the small ad was a reverse auction, as the printed price is merely a starting point for negotiations to begin. And with a bit of time on my hands, I ended up spotting this Honda VF500F. The advert read OK; the MOT was for 12 months, the bike was local, and it was described as a good runner but a bit tatty, which indicated there was room to haggle before I’d even seen it.
So I popped by for a look.
Luckily my expectations weren’t too high to begin with, so they didn’t have far to fall. More of a munter than a minter, the horrendous paintwork was the first thing to catch my eye. At the same time, my ears were full of the owner running me through the list of things he knew needed some attention. Which took 10 minutes as he achieved the role of the world’s worst salesman.
The busted clutch lever bothered him more than it did me. And luckily the puddle of water under the bellypan was from where it had recently been hosed down.
My main concern was the engine. We had to bump start it due to a lazy battery, but I was satisfied it was sound, so I turned it off and started the bidding. And my impulse purchase not only cost me 50% less than the advertised price, but he even threw in some tins of yellow spray paint!
Riding it home was interesting. I suspect he might have coated the bike in WD40 or possibly oil, because there was a certain amount of smoke billowing up from the fairing. At one point I pictured the bike bursting into flames, and part of me wouldn’t have been disappointed with that.
But actually the tatty VF500F rode OK. The brakes were fine and it even traveled straight and true. But now I’m left wondering what to do with it. The Honda VF500F isn’t a bike you ever wake up wanting to own, and in the line-up for the class of ’86 it always hovered in the shadows despite the handling being well-regarded. There’s a chance it might go back into the small ads sometime very soon.
For those interested, the Honda VF500F was actually regarded as one of the best handling motorcycles of the 1980s. It was part of the first generation of Honda V4 bikes, produced from 1984-1986, and badged as the Interceptor for the U.S and Canada.
The engine also served in the Honda Magna V30, while the tubular steel frame rested on a 16 inch front wheel and 18 inch rear. Us lucky Europeans not only got the half-faired VF500F, but also the fully faired VF500F2.
In some ways it was a bit unlucky, as it was replaced in 1987 by the legendary CBR600.
Should you want to experience it for yourself, check out the Honda VF500Fs for sale on eBay, including a an F2 which comes with a second bike for spares or restoration. Sadly all of them seem to be in original colours rather than what will now be known as Redmond Yellow.
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