Found This VF1000R Last Week...

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 10:31 pm

Although it has less than 13K on the clock, it's unfortunately in rough shape - almost heartbreaking. The asking price is $500, but after you factor in what it will cost to restore, is it worth even that? No title, which would make registering it in MA a challenge.

http://s745.photobucket.com/user/tomk1960/slideshow/VF1000R%20For%20Sale

I told the owner that I was going to pass. I think I'd be better off finding one in decent shape that might just need a little freshening up. Then I posted a message similar to this on the VFR discussion group and the majority urged me to grab it. So now I'm having second thoughts. Although I can do most of the mechanical work myself, painting the bodywork to look stock would be a hefty expense. Unless I painted it some other color (black, deep burgandy, etc.) to keep it simple and not so expensive?

There are decent ones out there that can be had for less than what this will cost to restore. So what to do, what to do... Neutral

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 10:53 pm

Parts bike?

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 10:53 pm

tomk1960 wrote:

Although it has less than 13K on the clock, it's unfortunately in rough shape - almost heartbreaking. The asking price is $500, but after you factor in what it will cost to restore, is it worth even that? No title, which would make registering it in MA a challenge.

http://s745.photobucket.com/user/tomk1960/slideshow/VF1000R%20For%20Sale

I told the owner that I was going to pass. I think I'd be better off finding one in decent shape that might just need a little freshening up. Then I posted a message similar to this on the VFR discussion group and the majority urged me to grab it. So now I'm having second thoughts. Although I can do most of the mechanical work myself, painting the bodywork to look stock would be a hefty expense. Unless I painted it some other color (black, deep burgandy, etc.) to keep it simple and not so expensive?

There are decent ones out there that can be had for less than what this will cost to restore. So what to do, what to do... Neutral

Buy it, buy it, buy it, buy it ...

Do you know why it was parked? If there's no indication that it broke, them the rest is just time. At least this one is complete. The one I'm doing has quite a few bits missing, was left open to the weather with cases off and stuff. With what you can do, sorting most of it will be business as usual ...

Regarding paint, this is one I've always liked ...

Did I say buy it?

Regards and best wishes for a Happy Christmas,

Max

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 11:02 pm

Just another thought ... yes there will be other, better VF1000Rs out there that would cost less than it would take to restore this one (allegedly), however would you be able to spend that amount of money all in one go? If you get this, you spend $500, strip it and then its a year or so before you need to spend seriously on it. You do the cleaning, blasting and PCing alongside your normal stuff, and it doesn't become a burden. Then in a year or so, you turn around and you are 60% of the way to a rebuild.

Regards,

Max

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 11:39 pm

+1 on what Hondamax said last.
Buy it.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 12:42 am

It would be nice if it had the title, how do people lose such things Confused

I like the black paint job as well. What I always wonder about with the vfours is the exhausts. what's the aftermarket like for their exhausts, and is the original one worth the 500 by itself?

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:16 am

That black one is sweet.
The title is kind of the deal breaker. If it had one I would buy it in a second, even if I just stashed it for now. You dont get much any more for $500 .
When I bought my bike for $300 with a title I figured the frame and title is worth the 300 , the rest is just a bonus.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:16 am

Hi tom:
If you have a lot of extra time and need another project then I'd recommend you buy this poor bike. Knowing that you have a lot of balls in the air and a day job, plus no title, my inclination is to either part it out so that others can benefit from a donor bike or pass on it.

Chico

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:26 am

Pass on it Tom, unless the motor is running and strong, walk away, that will become a money pit

Twinstar Joined: Nov 25, 2015 Posts: 152 Location: Phoenix

Can you do an abandoned title process in MA? In Arizona it is pretty easy. The MVD just checks the tri-state area for anyone that may have the title in the past. If no one answers back, the bike becomes your's.

I think given the condition of the bike and your passion, the owner should just give it to you for free to get it off their property.

ben

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 2:01 am

There's this one on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161922351232?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I'd buy it but I just picked up that CX500TC. The VF1000R is on my to own list. I want to do a proper themed Rothmans Honda paint scheme.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 2:24 am

norm wrote:

Pass on it Tom, unless the motor is running and strong, walk away, that will become a money pit

We talked about this and we've brought a few back from the dead together...but...it looks like a huge amount of time and money for not a whole lot of return. You sure could "part" it out and then when you've sold all the desirable parts you can use the rest as an environmentally unfriendly boat anchor. Just because it was at one time it was a decent machine doesn't mean it isn't a pile of shit right now. Emotional attachment aside.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 6:21 am

I say buy it Tom you can always sell it later when you don,t want it anymore.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 6:21 am

It looks like a perfect example for a custom without having to molest a nice one. Or strip it down, clean it, refinish it, get the mechanicals in shape, throw some F2 wheels on it, and enjoy riding a unique machine that you won't see on every corner. If you want a perfect example then the cost of new parts would certainly exceed the cost of a nice bike, but I think it's worth saving and could be made into a very presentable rider for far less. In Georgia a bike of that age can be registered with just a bill of sale. A title is not required. There are other states with similar regulations. You don't see enough of them on the road, in fact I don't think I have ever seen one outside of a dealership. Ever example should be saved if not too far gone.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 6:59 am

How do they determine if bike is stolen with a policy like that? Here no way can you do that. The original owner if wanted to can come back to claim it was stolen, it's happened and been in the news.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 7:37 am

Why would somebody have a bike without a title? Smells funny to me....fixing it up? It's all there...doesn't appear to be missing anything....so it's just time and hard work for a real nice bike if the motors ok.....I see potential to have a great bike...but no title, no way in Florida anyways....I would think they could run the VIN and find out where it came from however and if it was listed as stolen....lots of time spent just sorting that all out though....

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 1:11 pm

Wayne750F wrote:

Why would somebody have a bike without a title? Smells funny to me....fixing it up? It's all there...doesn't appear to be missing anything....so it's just time and hard work for a real nice bike if the motors ok.....I see potential to have a great bike...but no title, no way in Florida anyways....I would think they could run the VIN and find out where it came from however and if it was listed as stolen....lots of time spent just sorting that all out though....

The seller ran a motorcycle repair and restoration shop in Cambridge for years. Customers would often bring bikes in for custom paint or mechanical work, drop off some cash, and tell him to have at it. He had a few change their minds early on in the process and they ended up abandoning the bikes with him. This was one of those, which is why he has no title. After 20 years, he finally decided to unload this and a few others. I just need to get the VIN from him and have my agent run it on the RMV web site. I can then attempt to contact the owner (last one on record with the RMV) by registered mail. Best case, I hear back and convince the owner to let me pay for a duplicate title. Worst case, the person is long gone, there's no response, and I keep the "no response" paperwork as proof that the bike has been abandoned.
'
I agree with Towerguy that this is a good candidate for customization should I decide to buy it. I also agree with Chico that I have a lot on my plate and that my efforts are best used in other areas.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Tom

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 10:17 pm

Wayne750F wrote:

Why would somebody have a bike without a title? Smells funny to me...

It actually happens a lot with old bikes and cars and frequently happens due to laziness and poor record keeping. They get bought as a project and abandoned at relatives houses or shops. Or they get stuffed into a corner of a garage or storage unit with good intentions of getting to it one day. A couple decades pass and paperwork can't be found or an old boyfriend is long gone and left it behind. What surprised me is that Georgia doesn't really do anything to encourage keeping a vehicle titled if one is available. I bought my first CBX while working in Illinois about 15 years ago. I came home a few weeks later and headed to the tag office with the bike on a trailer and title in hand. I was expecting someone to inspect the bike so I could transfer the title. Not only did they not inspect it, the lady at the counter asked if I wanted a title. Well of course I want a title!!! It was then that I found out about Georgia not requiring bikes over a certain age to be titled. I could have just registered the bike with no title transfer involved, nothing in my name to show ownership. You also see a lot of rusted out old cars advertised on craigslist without a title. 50's and 60's model cars that look like someone dragged them out of a field where they have been rotting for several decades.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 10:28 pm

towerguy wrote:

Wayne750F wrote:

Why would somebody have a bike without a title? Smells funny to me...

It actually happens a lot with old bikes and cars and frequently happens due to laziness and poor record keeping. They get bought as a project and abandoned at relatives houses or shops. Or they get stuffed into a corner of a garage or storage unit with good intentions of getting to it one day. A couple decades pass and paperwork can't be found or an old boyfriend is long gone and left it behind. What surprised me is that Georgia doesn't really do anything to encourage keeping a vehicle titled if one is available. I bought my first CBX while working in Illinois about 15 years ago. I came home a few weeks later and headed to the tag office with the bike on a trailer and title in hand. I was expecting someone to inspect the bike so I could transfer the title. Not only did they not inspect it, the lady at the counter asked if I wanted a title. Well of course I want a title!!! It was then that I found out about Georgia not requiring bikes over a certain age to be titled. I could have just registered the bike with no title transfer involved, nothing in my name to show ownership. You also see a lot of rusted out old cars advertised on craigslist without a title. 50's and 60's model cars that look like someone dragged them out of a field where they have been rotting for several decades.

Yea I kinda figured something like that but I would think with a VIN number you could at least track it to the last registered owner and eventually get it sorted out....and you're right, this one looks like it was drug out of the woods!!! In one of our hands though it could be brought back!!!

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 10:44 pm

I'm going to agree with Tom. It looks like too much to restore or save

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 10:51 pm

The problem with tracking old VIN #'s is that a lot of records from decades ago have been discarded. A lot of old records never got transferred to digital making tracking down an owner for a vehicle that hasn't been registered in ages a tricky proposition. I was actually trying to find my first car and was hoping the tag office might be able to help. My high school ride was a 1969 Mach 1, bought in in early 1986 and sold it a little over a year later at my parent's insistence that I get something newer and more reliable. Not that I minded wrenching on it. We were living in a small town in Kentucky where my step-father was from and my little brother still lives there. He's friends with the neighbors across the street and the wife works at the tag office. I kinda figured getting the VIN would be a slam dunk, that I could take the VIN and find the car through the Mustang registries online. Unfortunately those old records were discarded long ago.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:02 pm

Ahhhhh that sucks you can't find the 69....I loved that year for them....DMV agencies then should be a little more understanding about re-registering one that's a basket case. They are getting fees again on something long written off....

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:19 pm

Georgia does allow registering bikes and motorcycles without a title if they are older than a certain model year, I don't recall what year it is off the top of my head. There may even be a process to getting something that doesn't have a title. I looked into it briefly about a year ago. I had put my XR650R up for sale and most of the people who responded asked about a title. Georgia doesn't title dirt bikes and most callers wanted to get it titled and tagged so they could ride it on the street. At least one caller asked about the tag because he lived in Tennessee and the state required a title to ride on public trails. One caller I spoke with had titled and tagged an XR previously told me that getting one titled required applying for a bonded title. After a period of time had passed it was eligible to transfer to a regular title. I'm sure that every state is different and some will be easier than others. There are companies who specialize in getting titles for a fee. They probably are intimately aware with state regs and apply for a title in an easy state. You would then only need to transfer the title to your state. The first step of course would be a call to the local sheriff's office to run the VIN before purchasing a vehicle. Getting a title appears doable though.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:23 pm

"Georgia does allow registering bikes and motorcycles without a title if they are older than a certain model year, I don't recall what year it is off the top of my head."----1985 and OLDER. Smile

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:26 pm

CBX1260cc wrote:

"Georgia does allow registering bikes and motorcycles without a title if they are older than a certain model year, I don't recall what year it is off the top of my head."----1985 and OLDER. Smile

Thanks for pointing out my error Ricardo! I meant to say CARS and motorcycles. Merry Christmas to you too!!

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:36 pm

David,

I only know this as I was at tag office a week or so ago and was given that info while there to TRANSFER a tag from out of state to my name.

No error on your part---just a helpful bit of info from my end. Smile

.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you as well.

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:42 pm

I was referring to my goof where I said "bikes and motorcycles" instead of "cars and motorcycles". I didn't realize it until you highlighted it......LOL. Sooooo........spill the beans. What have you bought now?

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:44 pm

"What have you bought now?"--one you don't care much for because of Honda neutering it:

1995 CB1000F "Big One"

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:47 pm

I'm not in the market by any means but this is all helpful info regardless of the state involved so if it were to come up, guys have some point of departure.....

Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:48 pm

CBX1260cc wrote:

"What have you bought now?"--one you don't care much for because of Honda neutering it:

1995 CB1000F "Big One"

Oh that is sooooooo not true! I dig them, I'd like to find me a nice one. And then undo neutering. Very Happy