Mid-1980’s Honda covered the flanks of their bigger VF-series sportbikes with the sharp-handling VF-500F. This example had low miles before an unplanned break in the action, but has had inside storage and is looking for a new home.
1986 Honda VF500F for sale on eBay
While Honda’s double cradle of square tubing might not be futuristic, it provides a stable platform for the DOHC V-4 which is pretty state of the art. The very oversquare 498cc engine makes 70 hp and revs to almost 12,000 rpm. Showa forks are air-adjustable and incorporate Honda’s TRAC anti-dive system. Under the seat an adjustable Kayaba monoshock limits the aluminum swingarm. Brakes are triple 255 mm disks, with four piston calipers up front. Livery for 1986 involved a red seat and fork, but the blue and red were more HRC than earlier models.
This VF500F is garaged but it sounds like higher priorities have gotten in the way. The left rear turn signal could use a new mount, and the right front fairing has a scrape, but otherwise it’s all there. Low miles for the age and along with a little re-commissioning maintenance, it just needs a shining up here and there. Notes from the eBay auction:
Clear title. Nice bike. Well maintained and owned by a certified Honda mechanic. 15,549 miles. Unfortunately my hubby Mr. Hondaholic, is incapacitated at the moment so I (his wife) am selling this for us. Been garaged and kept on trickle charger (Gets fired up routinely). Only thing I can see wrong with it is the right rear blinker is taped up and there is an abrasion on the left side of fairing.
1986 was the last year for the V-4 500, replaced by the CBR600 in 1987. Reviewed as a nice handling roadster, the compact riding position and finicky cold running were the only squawks. While not perfect, the scrape on the fairing is limited to the blue area and as re-finishable as it could get. Good chance to get into a great V-4 and help out a fellow rider.
-donn
Sold for $1900. I think someone got a potential bargain.
That was a great buy.notice the lack of corrosion,which says to me it was probably stored inside like it’s sitting.
Truely rare these days as complete as it is. Stock exhastswith that deep blued shineevenmore so. It is a heavy but attractive design. Brushedaluminum is nicebut blued steel is lost to the past unfortunately. Really nice in my opinion.
The one I hadin the day I would certainly say had “soft” power. I made for a very manageable new rider bike. Kudos to the new owner. Enjoy the centerstand! When you change those tires. If this is your firstbike, you made a great choice.