Hello, new VT500 owner - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

CiDirkona · 03-07-2012, 12:36 AM

Hello all,

I picked up a VT500 off craigslist today that could use a bit of rehab. I've had a VLX600 before many moons ago, but my other current ride is a cafe'd CM200T. I hope to cafe-ish this bike a little bit, but nothing too drastic. First is stage zero, then working on cosmetic and/or performance bits.

Thanks in advance for putting up with my questions. I have a feeling I'll make the 'search' function worn out by the end of the week.

-Colin

JP50515 · 03-07-2012, 08:40 AM

Ha I bobbed mine out but you may be interested in this 1988 Honda Shadow custom.

I definitely wore out the search bar by the end of the week when I first joined. Welcome aboard.

CiDirkona · 03-07-2012, 11:49 AM

Wow, that bike is beautiful -- probably a lot more work than I have the skillset to do myself though...

Stage zero is first though -- definitely gotta get her up to goo running order. Gotta get the key wired back in (dude lost the key, then found the key, in the mean time, put a ignition killswitch on it instead,) replace the back tire and tube, put a new battery in it, and make sure all the other mechanical bits are in good working order.

Stage 0.1 will be cafe bars, non-duct taped turn signals and some matte black paint though!

When I get her over 7000rpm though, she starts to stumble a bit if I'm on the throttle, not sure what's going on there yet. The stock pipes look like they've been hacksaw'd right behind the foot pegs. Definitely better to be heard than hit, but wow... holy loud. I can't imagine the lack of backpressure is helping with that high-rpm stumbling...

SuperboyX · 03-07-2012, 06:05 PM

Welcome to the forum.

CiDirkona · 03-08-2012, 10:45 AM

Thanks!

I'm pretty sure the carbs need to be tuned or cleaned too. Full throttle she seems to run pretty fine, but she tends to skip and stutter a lot if trying to just cruise in the 2-5k range. After about 20 miles last night (in 45 degree weather,) she was popping little flames out of the exhaust pipe on decel. I was trying not to engine brake at all, but if I were to just blip the throttle while stopped, I get a little blue jet or two and loud pops. Am I running too rich then? Should I get a new set of carb jets so I know where I'm starting? How hard is it to remove and clean these carbs? Will just spraying some carb cleaner spray into the intake do the trick?

Also, I discovered that the coolant tank overflow hose was cracked right at the top of the cap. Not a big deal really, I'm hoping...?

Thanks in advance!

-Colin

ExTex · 03-08-2012, 01:57 PM

Many owners don't know that there 2 sparkplug per cylinder, so it is always good to replace all 4 plugs.

Ride Safely,

JP50515 · 03-08-2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CiDirkona

Wow, that bike is beautiful -- probably a lot more work than I have the skillset to do myself though...

Stage zero is first though -- definitely gotta get her up to goo running order. Gotta get the key wired back in (dude lost the key, then found the key, in the mean time, put a ignition killswitch on it instead,) replace the back tire and tube, put a new battery in it, and make sure all the other mechanical bits are in good working order.

Stage 0.1 will be cafe bars, non-duct taped turn signals and some matte black paint though!

When I get her over 7000rpm though, she starts to stumble a bit if I'm on the throttle, not sure what's going on there yet. The stock pipes look like they've been hacksaw'd right behind the foot pegs. Definitely better to be heard than hit, but wow... holy loud. I can't imagine the lack of backpressure is helping with that high-rpm stumbling...

That is an awesome bike. Sounds like you got a similar list to what I had when I bought mine. Make sure to go through all the fluids too, Don't forget the fork oil either (actually tranny fluid). And yeah I had my bike running with just headers for a while and experienced the same lug at high rpms. If you can get some real exhaust or even baffles and mufflers it will do a whole lot to help that problem.

Tamra Dolin · 03-08-2012, 08:00 PM

welcome

Badoshadow · 03-08-2012, 09:17 PM

Welcome

still.southern · 03-08-2012, 09:44 PM

Welcome fellow VT500 owner! They are fun versatile bikes. I'm just about done turning mine into a blacked out long distance cruiser. There's lots of great how-to's on this sight...enjoy!

BTW...let's see some pics!

03-07-2012, 12:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
CiDirkona Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 24	Hello, new VT500 owner Hello all, I picked up a VT500 off craigslist today that could use a bit of rehab. I've had a VLX600 before many moons ago, but my other current ride is a cafe'd CM200T. I hope to cafe-ish this bike a little bit, but nothing too drastic. First is stage zero, then working on cosmetic and/or performance bits. Thanks in advance for putting up with my questions. I have a feeling I'll make the 'search' function worn out by the end of the week. -Colin

03-07-2012, 08:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
JP50515 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 440	Ha I bobbed mine out but you may be interested in this 1988 Honda Shadow custom. I definitely wore out the search bar by the end of the week when I first joined. Welcome aboard. __________________ Black Max - 1983 Honda Shadow VT500 - Gone but Never Forgotten

03-08-2012, 01:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
ExTex Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southeast Arkansas Posts: 462	Many owners don't know that there 2 sparkplug per cylinder, so it is always good to replace all 4 plugs. Ride Safely, __________________ 1983 Nighthawk 650 1989 VTR250 1985 Sabre 700 - - Sold 1983 Shadow 500 - - Sold 2006 Ninja 500- - - - Sold

03-08-2012, 08:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tamra Dolin Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 45	welcome __________________ Tamra Dolin Made in the USA

03-08-2012, 09:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
Badoshadow Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: North Dakota Posts: 617	Welcome __________________ 2010 Shadow RS - gone but not forgotten 2012 Kawasaki KLR 650 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic LT 900 I always knew this would be fun!

03-07-2012, 11:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
CiDirkona Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 24	Wow, that bike is beautiful -- probably a lot more work than I have the skillset to do myself though... Stage zero is first though -- definitely gotta get her up to goo running order. Gotta get the key wired back in (dude lost the key, then found the key, in the mean time, put a ignition killswitch on it instead,) replace the back tire and tube, put a new battery in it, and make sure all the other mechanical bits are in good working order. Stage 0.1 will be cafe bars, non-duct taped turn signals and some matte black paint though! When I get her over 7000rpm though, she starts to stumble a bit if I'm on the throttle, not sure what's going on there yet. The stock pipes look like they've been hacksaw'd right behind the foot pegs. Definitely better to be heard than hit, but wow... holy loud. I can't imagine the lack of backpressure is helping with that high-rpm stumbling...

03-08-2012, 10:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
CiDirkona Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 24	Thanks! I'm pretty sure the carbs need to be tuned or cleaned too. Full throttle she seems to run pretty fine, but she tends to skip and stutter a lot if trying to just cruise in the 2-5k range. After about 20 miles last night (in 45 degree weather,) she was popping little flames out of the exhaust pipe on decel. I was trying not to engine brake at all, but if I were to just blip the throttle while stopped, I get a little blue jet or two and loud pops. Am I running too rich then? Should I get a new set of carb jets so I know where I'm starting? How hard is it to remove and clean these carbs? Will just spraying some carb cleaner spray into the intake do the trick? Also, I discovered that the coolant tank overflow hose was cracked right at the top of the cap. Not a big deal really, I'm hoping...? Thanks in advance! -Colin

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