Who knows 80-s vintage Honda interceptors?

[Eric 951]

Specificaly the 84 750? Most of my knwoledge is in the earlier SOHC CB arena. I have always like the "classic" look of the uncluttered red white and blue scheme 80's interceptors and know of a local one for sale. It is in decent shape for the year--a few scratches on the fairings, a small tank dent, some road rash on one of the aftermarket pipes, but it seems to be a loved machine--not loaded up with aftermarket aprts--excpet the pipes and not beat to h#ll. It runs very well--no stumbles, minor oil seepage from oil cooler--bad front fork seals (visible cracks), newer tires, recent chain/sprockets, needs a new rear rotor--but all else is good--the biggest downside is it has 50K on it...

So, any major issues to watch out for with this particular model besides the standard old-bike stuff for something of this vintage and with these miles?

Ballpark on value? I have a number in mind, but am asking for any input from those familiar with these.

[71T Targa]

The '84 was a 700, not a 750. This was due at least in part to help Harley get back in the game. There were high import taxes on bikes over 700cc's

I owned one for a few years and sold it to my brother. This was a great bike, but I wanted more so I got a CBR to take it's place. Great bike for the time. I bit heavy by today's standards.

There is one for sale local to me with 22k that I keep thinking about. He wants $1000 now I believe.



Edit: I think Tim Hancock still has one...

[nostatic]

I think fingpilot may have one or two as well.

[Garp]

I used to have one, same as in the picture but with gold colored wheels, very enjoyable bike. There was an issue with the tensioners if I remember correctly. Good luck.

[Eric 951]

Targa,

Then it may be an 85. The 85 was a 750 correct?

[Garp]

Originally Posted by Eric 951

Targa,

Then it may be an 85. The 85 was a 750 correct?

Never heard of a 700 Interceptor, here's a good and brief article. The issues are described.

The interceptors were very popular , but most are gone now. When they first came out we had about an 80% return rate on them into our shop for repairing crash damage. People did't know how to ride that new radical design and with the V-4 incredible Torque and HP they had, people jsut got into trouble with them all the time. Most were lay downs from going into corners way too hot, and the rest were crashes with cars that got in their way. We reccomended lot of sfty modifications at the time, like headlight modulators and 130/150 watt H4 bulbs we got from Canada(both illeagal at the time), along with louder 4 into 1 pipes. Anything to make the basic White bike be more visble. Unfortuanely, I see very few of them these days in any size. The Early V-4 egines has some serious problems in head oiling, and repeated cam chain issues. These issues were resolved in 86 When the bikes became VF"R"'s Revised is what we liked to call them because Honda solved the oiling problems, and went to gear driven cams instead of chain, which resolved all of the problems they were having with them. if your bike has not had any of the aftermarket, Mod Article oiling modification done to it, and you want to keeo it, make sure you have those mods done. The oil supply orifices in the unmodified engine are too small to supply enough oil to the top end, causing premature cam wear (and lot of it, especially ion the front two cylinders). Most of the mods add an adapter that installs beneath the oil filter with two oil lines coming off ot it which are routed drectly to the head. Other kits ran new lines from other high presure points on the block up to the heads as well. Either way, You'll want to get it done. Seriously though, if you like the style, get a VFR and have worry free riding..

[71T Targa]

I can't remember when they made the change, but I think all the interceptors that looked like the one I posted were 700's. I believe that the 750's came later, and got the full body work, and then turned in to the VFR800 we have today.

It's pretty common for people to call the 700 a 750.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I believe the 83 at least was a 750. A guy I race with bought one back in the day and is on a quest to repurchase one of every bike he's ever owned and found an 83 750 in CA and jumped on it. I'm not sure when the Harley tax came into effect but the first Interceptors were 750's according to Brian.

[javadog]

Honda made both sizes, 700 and 750, for the US. The issue with the early engines was related to the way that Honda chose to make the bores for the cam bearings. They weren't line-bored, so they had some with the wrong clearances. Those with large clearances had problems. There were several "fixes" from increasing the top end oiling to changes in the cam shafts, to changes in the valve adjustment tools, changes in the oils used and oil change intervals, etc. It supposedly helps to warm them fully before riding.

JR

[David]

I owned a few. I really liked the flat crank sound with a nice exhaust. They had great torque. The few times I had it on the track it could out pull a GSXR out of a turn of course then the GSXR would walk away.

There were some chain tensioner and rod bearing issues, but you could usually hear it pretty clearly.

And they push pretty bad which seemed weird on a motorcycle but nothing too dramatic. I did get more life out of a race compound front tire though.

I've seen a few with 25,000 miles but never seen one with 50,000 so who knows on reliability.

I don't know that I ever saw an '84 or '85 750, but I did hear about them. I bet it's a 700 unless it's an '83.

[vash]

i had an 84!! a wee 500 interceptor. it was my first bike and i loved that thing. i am racking my brain, and i cannot remember a single mechanical issue. i bought it used for $2000, and rode it exclusively (no car) in san francisco. i bought a brandnew honda F4, and sold it to a tennis player at USF. he crashed it within the week.

i wish kept it. it was narrow with the V-motor..and i could split any traffic lane.

[syncroid]

Great timing on this thread! I just saw one go down my street today. This thing looked like it was show room condition. It brought back alot of memories for me.
My last street bike was a 1984 Honda 1000 Interceptor. The only thing at the time that could keep up with it was the 900cc Kawasaki Ninja. I sold it before I killed myself.

[McLovin]

I had an 85 500 in the late 80s. Was a nice little bike. I also ended up having an 86 Ninja 600, which I like a lot more, though! I thought the Ninja was a lot smoother and quicker.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by 71T Targa

Edit: I think Tim Hancock still has one...

Nope... mine is an '86 "baby" Interceptor 500. It is a decent running/riding bike for it's age but is by no means fast. For an old 500, I guess it does have a bit of deceptive torque, but it just does have much in the way of top end power. It makes for a fun ride to work bike however and it was free.

[vash]

mine was the white and maroon version. i used to love the radically different front and rear tire sizes. the thing was anemic. with two people it was slow. i love that damn thing.

would i get another? no way. i need faster, better..whatever.

[Rot 911]

I had an '85 that I sold for a 2002. I really liked the bike, but it was also really dated. If you decide to get one the most important thing is that the body work and decals are in good condition as those are the most expensive things to replace on the bike!

[williecoyote]

I had an '83. It was called a V45 Interceptor, and it was a 750. It looked just like the one in 71T's picture.
I put Vance & Hines pipes on it, and that baby would wail! You could hear me coming from 2 miles away. She would do about 135 at wot with stock gearing.
The only trouble I had was an intermittent starter switch. I learned to park it so that I could "bump" start it.
The V configuration was torquey, responsive, and narrow, compared to the inline CB750. My brother, and a friend both had those, and I could run away from them.
At the time, the front wheel was considered small, but it made it steer better on a windy road.
I think they were reduced to 700 cc for a few years. There was a tariff on imported bikes over 700 cc to help Harley Davidson compete in the market.

[VincentVega]

Great bikes. Dead reliable, fun to ride yet not a torture rack.

I have a 94 vfr750 I'll let go of, I dont make time to ride anymore.

[yel911]

I have owned 3 VFR's, an 86' 700, 2000' 800 and a 2002' 800. All great bikes, but.... for your "bang for buck" value, you really need to check out the Honde VTR1000 "Superhawk"!!! For around 3K you can get a 996cc V-twin torque, that the VFR lacked. I recently purchased a 2002 with 2975 miles for $3200!!! Take a look...

[Eric 951]

Thanks for the input everyone. This particular bike was for sale about 2 years ago and I looked at it then. Late last week I was driving by the same location and saw it sitting out front--he deceided to pull it off the market back then and now has it back up for sale. He is asking 1,000--but I think I can get it for a bit less--riding season is almost done and he doesn't want to store it over another winter. I really don't need another bike, but I have always loved these, and for under a grand...it may be too tempting to pass. I am going to contemplate and make a decision by the end of the week.

If I buy, I will post pics.