Alright, let’s talk about this VFR Honda 1000 I’ve been messing with. It wasn’t exactly planned, you know? Just sort of happened. Saw one looking a bit sorry for itself, gathering dust. Thought, why not? Always had a soft spot for these older Hondas.
Getting Started – The Initial Once-Over
First thing I did was just walk around it. A lot. You gotta get a feel for a machine before you even touch it. Looked pretty complete, which was a good sign. Paint was faded, sure, and there was some grime built up in the usual spots. Sat on it. Felt heavy, solid. That V4 engine makes ’em chunky.
Checked the basics visually. Tires were old, cracked. Chain looked rusty and stiff. Brakes? Felt spongy. Okay, knew I had some work cut out for me. That’s usually how these things go. You buy the project, not the finished bike.
Digging In – Grease and Grime
Rolled it into my workspace. First real job was fluids. Drained the old oil. Looked like coffee mixed with mud. Typical. Filter was on there tighter than a drum lid, had to wrestle with that for a bit. Finally got it off. Flushed the coolant too, that wasn’t much better. Brake fluid looked nasty, dark. Bled the front and rear brakes, put fresh fluid in. Felt a bit better at the lever after that.
Then, tackled the chain. Took it off completely. Let it soak in cleaner for ages. Scrubbed it down link by link. Lot of elbow grease involved. Lubed it up real good before putting it back on. Adjusted the tension. Much smoother turning the wheel now.
Pulled the spark plugs next. They told a story, alright. Running a bit rich, maybe? Cleaned them up, checked the gaps. Put ’em back in. Checked the air filter – surprisingly clean, just gave it a quick blow-out.
Making it Run Right
Battery was dead, obviously. Hooked up a charger overnight. Next day, crossed my fingers and hit the starter. It turned over slow at first. Coughed a bit. Gave it a little throttle encouragement. And then, boom, it fired up! That V4 rumble, even rough, is something else.
Let it warm up. Sounded okay, maybe a bit uneven. Probably need to sync the carbs down the line, but wanted to see if it would move first. Put some fresh gas in the tank. Checked for leaks. None. Good.
The First Ride (Around the Block)
Okay, wasn’t going far with those old tires, but had to try it. Geared up. Eased out the clutch. It rolled! Felt incredibly heavy at walking pace, steering like a boat. But once I got moving, maybe 15-20 mph down the street, it smoothed right out. That engine has torque, even low down. Brakes worked, sort of. Shifted through the gears, felt clunky but positive. Just went around the block a few times. Big grin on my face. It’s alive!
What’s Next
So, that’s where I’m at. It runs, it moves, it stops (mostly). Still lots to do:
- New tires are a must. Non-negotiable.
- Carb sync for sure. Get it running smoother.
- Maybe rebuild the brake calipers later.
- Give it a proper deep clean and polish.
But yeah, progress. It’s a journey with these old bikes. You fix one thing, find two more. But getting your hands dirty, bringing something back bit by bit, there’s a real satisfaction in that. It’s a solid old beast, this VFR 1000. Looking forward to getting it properly sorted.
