Thanks for help - and should I. or shouldn't I?

Hi all,

Thanks for all the help last week - rang about the VF1000 FII Bol d'Or on
Ebay and, although he had the panel I was after - Lower R/H fairing - it was
damaged and missing the oil inspection/filler cover - so decided not to
bid...

So - still looking...

But - I have started to strip her down...

Now - thoughts/comments please...

I'm torn between two routes - strip off bodywork, good clean and service -
replace with new/resprayed bodywork.... Tart up frame where I can get to
it...

Or - strip completely, engine out - frame to powder coaters etc, replace all
fixings with new and generally 'go for it' - frame has a few surface rust
spots. Mechanically she's a good'un - but 42k on clock - so could get the
engine checked over @ TTS... Have already invested large £££s with Dave
Silver on new bits...

If I go latter, I'm happy to invest some time and money - + plus have the
other toyz to play with in the mean-time - but, I'd hate to strip her and
lose interest...

Anyone else out there done the complete 'resto' bit (I know TOG has) and
would you recommend it?

Me thinks I wont be satisfied with a quick 'tart-up' and I intend keeping
the old gall. Like the thought of complete re-build - very satisfying - but
want to go in aware of pitfalls - and others experience...

Oh, and having spoken to Baines Racing - me thinks the Duke may be heading
for an imminent makeover too!

Thoughts?

I know, I'm sad... I know I'd never get back what I've invested, but I'd end
up with an immaculate machine that's rare, comfy, I like and still cheaper
than a newer sprots tourer...

Iain
Honda VF1000-FII Bol D'Or (The Bol?) Duke 851 (The Duke), FZR1K (Jenny),
GPz750 (the pile of bits!), RD125LC (Elsie), Lotus Esprit Turbo (Lottie),
Lotus Elise (Liz)
ANORAK#02 http://www.ogilvie.org/bikes.htm http://www.ogilvie.org/lotus.htm

 

I would suggest getting the frame, bodywork and ancillaries decently
refurbished, and taking it from there. Apart from anything else, this
would give you the opportunity to put a smart complete new aftermarket
exhaust on it, which is really an engine-out job anyway on one of those.

I really wouldn't go the full restoration route on a VF1000 - it will be
ridiculously, ferociously expensive.

If the engine is fine and runs OK, then leave it alone. Getting it
"checked over" will land you with a bloody big bill, quite probably, for
nothing except maybe a precautionary camchain replacement.

Just clean up the engine and run it until it breaks, if it does - a
friend has done over 100k on his. The 1000 was the strongest of the old
vee-fours, by some margin.