I agree that the gear driven valve systems have been the most powerful and reliable. Also the most expensive to manufacture.

Belt driven Honda valve trains all have a history of failure after so many miles. Mark your calendar - like I did when I squashed the valve-train on my 87 Prelude last fall. Oh, **** - I guess it's the 80k mile marker. News to me.

The CCT's on our engines is no less. And for those of you that lived through that -what is it - the chains themselves have to be changed at 30K?

It's crazy how fast the miles rack up when you're having fun. Who could convince me that I would drive two thousand miles for breakfast in one year. Another two thousand to the bank and over to see a couple favorite customers (elderly folk) every couple weeks.

The most important thing with these belt-driven or chain driven valve trains is their service ceilings are well published. I fucked up on the Prelude by being an idiot. I was more concerned about the 'Hawk. I got to 16K and just quit riding the bike because I was so worried about it.

 

And where did you hear the cam chains need to be replaced at 30K???
I have 70K on my SH and the cam chains are just fine......

 

My various thoughts;

Most car/truck timing belts are spec'd for replacement at 60k miles. I sold my timing chained '79 GMC and '88 Jeep 4.0 with over 200k each on vehicle and timing chain, both still running fine with original timing chains. My current '95 F-150 has nearly a quarter million miles on its timing chained motor, is running fine and I ain't worried about it.

I understand Honda went with gear driven cams on the '86 VFR as a PR move because of cam failures on the original V4 'Ceptors, Sabres and Magnas. But those failures were considered either cam material failures or oiling failures, not chain failures.

I don't know. I'm the original owner of an '83 VF750F Interceptor with well over 30k miles on it ( not sure exactly 'cause the speedo/odo cable broke at 16k). My cams look as pretty as the day the bike left the showroom.

I think the problem, to the extent it exists, lies with the Honda CCTs, not the fact that the cams are chain driven per se.

On the other hand, if you have a Honda with gear driven cams, you don't have to worry about Honda's CCT shortcomings, and besides, they make a cool sound.

Yep, that's why my next additional bike (I'm done selling bikes, I'll just add bikes from now on) is likely to be a 2000 'Ceptor. 45 lbs. lighter than the new ones. V4 exhaust note. Gear driven cam whine. Pearl yellow paint. Hard to beat!

 

There are other benefits aside from a lack of cct failure with gear driven cams... spot on cam timing at all rpm ranges under almost all conditions.

 

Yep Fuel Range - especially w/ a stage 1 jet kit

Someone finally mentioned that rock of a seat

But I took care of that w/ gel pad inserts.

Suspension - yep > due to my gut 225lbs here - Racetech & Ohlins fixed it - best mod

Erion cans sound Sooo nice

Just changed brake pads to EBC HH

Added those mirror spacers from the Canuck that was listed in a post here

CCT were changed - stock lasted until almost 30k.

I've done other mods that I can't remember (have memory loss to due many years of heavy drinkin)

Riding to Indy for MotoGP from Eastern Pa via West Va & will carry a spare gallon can of petrol - just in case

Be safe

 

Where did you get the gel inserts?

 

went to an upholstery joint that was for cagers - U could probably do itself. The guy just took off cover removed inside cushion (or lack there of) put gel pads in and re-stapled the cover back on. This was awhile back @ a place in Queens, NY

 

In my opinion, the VTR needed 115-120 HP (with an aftermarket pipe), better forks, better shock and bigger brakes. Maybe a bit more attention to chassis stiffness.

My goal when I was building mine was to build the bike that Honda should have built. It was my mantra.

I believe those are the main reasons the bike sat on showroom floors.

 

They built the ideal VTR with the RC51.
The main reason they sat on the showroom floor was because the TLS kicked it's ***.
That's why I didn't even consider a VTR back then.
I bought the Semi Gear driven, upside down fork, Fuel Injected, 135hspr, Stiff framed, TLS back in Y2K.
They would have flown out the door if it wasn't for bad rep and recall issues.

 

+1 on that! Still can't get out of my driveway, but the flats are clear, Pickup comes in handy.


Back to topic...

Fuel Range here.
I Wish I could go a good 150 miles.