BlueSkyJaunte's gifted motorcycle to Baz!

[Baz]

Hello Pelicans....

I wanted to share with you today yet another story of generosity by a fellow Pelican.

Aaron, who's Pelican handle is "BlueSkyJaunte", is that gentleman.

A week or so ago, I was contacted by Jim, (aka "Superman") who said "Call Aaron - he has some parts for you." And gives me Aaron's number.

Aaron ran into some password issues years ago but still peeks in from time to time and apparently had seen some of my posts in the Motorcycle thread regarding the Honda Interceptors I collect and work on.

So, I call Aaron and he tells me he has a whole motorcycle he wants to give me, if I will get it going again. The only expense on my end would be the transport from Arizona to Florida. It's an '86 Honda VFR700 Interceptor. The bike hadn't run in a while - partly due to Aaron picking up another bike (a Triump), which he started riding more - plus he also has a Ducatti. So this one sat for a while and Aaron said reality set in that he just didn't have the time to do anything for it anymore.

I told him I was "in" - so he sent me a photo of the bike. Well....it's a Blue & Silver Interceptor - Honda didn't make those until '87. Hmmm......

So I asked for more photos and then saw something that helped me figure it out. It had the round gauges. So that plus the Vin plate and Color code sticker verified this was indeed an '86 - but it was an EARLY '86 before they changed the gauges from round to square shaped. And that model only had one livery...Red, White, and Blue. Apparently a previous owner had removed all the factory plastics plus fuel tank and replaced them with the '87 Blue/Silver versions. Even down to the front fender! This was a first for me!

Long story short, I arranged for transport and the bike was dropped off to me last Wednesday afternoon. I didn't do much that day but returned on Thursday to strip everything off it that would either be replaced or restored.

And then on Friday I removed the carbs, clutch slave, and 1 front brake caliper. I will get the other next time (stubborn allen head fastener I didn't want to bugger up).

I already have in my spares all the pieces needed to return the bike to factory specs, which as a purist is what I intend to do.

But Aaron also gave me a bunch of new rebuild kits for most of the hydraulic & fuel components plus 4 brand new turn signal stalks. I've already replaced those and the original turn signals and mirrors will be re-installed on the bike. I cleaned everything else I removed because they are all re-usable for other bikes. The Blue fuel tank is sitting in my clean out space right now filled with EvapoRust.

I wanted to start this thread apart from the Motorcycle thread because it's more a story of one Pelican doing something for another Pelican than anything about motorcycles.

I will have more to post going forward as I continue the restoration work, for those interested, including Aaron and Jim. I think this is what Aaron had in mind. That the bike go to someone who will give it the proper respect and care it deserves. And I can say without a doubt he succeeded.

Now one last thing that I think is important. This isn't the first time Aaron has reached out to a Pelican to gift them one of his machines. Some may remember Superman's thread from 16 years ago:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/530651-70s-honda-cb-750-a.html

Jim wanted me to remind you of that ^^^ thread and Aaron's generousity.

Here is a photo of the bike as it arrived, one of it taken Friday after removal of said components, and a stock photo showing what it looked like from the factory. Which is what it will look like when I am finished.

Thank you Aaron....thank you Jim......and thank you Pelican! More to come......

[Baz]

Some of the body components I pulled to use on her once the mechanicals are finished....

Red fender replaces the Blue one:




This headlight cowl is near perfect and has the same aftermarket windscreen as the one that came on the bike:






Two nice battery covers with zero repairs and all tabs and posts intact!




Two lower fairings with some graphic damage but otherwise perfect! I have new decals so could change them out but for now will leave as it.




The tail cowl or fairing which is almost perfect and has never had repairs done. An absolute unicorn!






And the fuel tank - almost perfect and original - and also a virtual unicorn:




All of these components were acquired long before I ever knew I would be getting this bike. I have 4 other Interceptors with the same livery, except 3 of those are the 750, not the 700 like this one. So having spares is super helpful with restoration and repair work. In this case it really paid off having these in my spares inventory!

[sc_rufctr]

Wow... I'm Jelly.

[A930Rocket]

Excellent! Way to go Aaron, Jim and Baz!

[billybek]

Pelican is an amazing place!
Good on you both, Aaron and Baz.

[rattlsnak]

Damn, that is some nostalgia for me right there!..

[berettafan]

Really like the blue/silver.

Happy to see someone with such a fresh, happy attitude benefit from generosity!

[herr_oberst]

Wow! A free Interceptor! That's fantastic. It reminds me a little of Jay Leno getting a free Muira.

[Superman]

Get in line for your free motorcycle from Aaron! Here is the motorcycle he gave me in the thread Baz linked above. In this condition. With a box of parts that included two spare banks of carburetors. All I did was put tires on it and tune it up.

[Baz]

Hey thanks for all the nice words, guys! I'm stoked for having this opportunity and hope you enjoy watching the progression of the restoration.

Today was carb day.

I actually had 2 carb banks to do! They are both done now so I can move on.

I tried something new today. I put the small carb parts into baggies along with some Simple Green. And used plain water in the Sonic Cleaner. Kept the SC nice and clean inside and concentrated the cleaning agent with the parts.

Here are a few pics.....

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Glad to see things are cookin', Baz! I'm excited to see you get her up and running again. She was a commuter for me for a short while and then kids happened. Only in the past few years have I gotten back onto two wheels. Like Superman said, as it turns out, riding a motorcycle is fun.

The CB750 and the VFR700 were stablemates in our barn for years. I don't know the history of the CB750. The guy I got it from in Florence AZ had a huge, beat-up Vedder fairing on it. I "deconverted" it and spent more time tinkering with it than riding. But the VFR made it to Phoenix all the way from VA, by way of Dallas. Somewhere along the way, she picked up all of the wrong bodywork. It's good to know she's back "home" on the east coast in the hands of someone who will show her the love she deserves.

Edit: In case anyone is wondering, I'll happily rebuild a carburetor. I'll even rebuild two. But four? Sorry, that's for masochists like Baz.

[rfuerst911sc]

Great story thanks for sharing .

[Baz]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

Edit: In case anyone is wondering, I'll happily rebuild a carburetor. I'll even rebuild two. But four? Sorry, that's for masochists like Baz.

Good to have you back, Aaron!

[Baz]

Swapped out a set of carbs on another bike of mine that is an exact duplicate of this one I got from Aaron's.

Not the greatest video but this is what it should sound like eventually.......

[Baz]

I took a little break to get some stuff done elsewhere.

I have 2 sets of rebuilt carbs left after installing another set on another today. One of these sets will be going on the Aaron bike.



From today......

[LakeCleElum]

Nice bike. Very generous of Aaron...

[Baz]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Nice bike. Very generous of Aaron...

Agree, Bob.....very generous!

This is what she should look like when I get finished, although not sure the lower fairings will look that perfect. Still working on those.

Also this one is a single Kerker muffler, unlike the double on the bike pictured. And mine will have the front blinkers on stalks...not flush mount.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I remember seeing some flush-mount turn signals somewhere in my garage, Baz. If I ever run across them I’ll be sure to send them your way!

[onewhippedpuppy]

What a cool story, and a great looking bike!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

I remember seeing some flush-mount turn signals somewhere in my garage, Baz. If I ever run across them I’ll be sure to send them your way!

Sounds good, Aaron - thanks. I will be using the rubber stalk versions on your bike though as that was how all US bikes came, per DOT regs. Non-US had some flush mounts, but I'm staying true with factory specs where possible.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

What a cool story, and a great looking bike!

Well here's how it looks right now, Matt, so not sure what you were referring to...ha ha. That said - even stripped down these Interceptors are sexy beasts!