Restoring classic motorcycles requires a great deal of time, effort, and expertise. Depending on the condition of the bike, a complete restoration can take months, or even years. Most people who restore bikes also juggle other responsibilities and may be working on multiple projects simultaneously.
RRC Restoration recently embarked on a restoration project involving a Honda VFR400 NC30. In a previous video, shared by Janaki in July, the bike was shown in its unrestored state. Now, RRC Restoration has posted an update on the project, revealing significant progress. The bike has been completely disassembled, leaving only the bare frame, subframe, and swingarm. The focus is now on restoring these essential components.
The video begins with the removal of the swingarm and wheel bearings. The VFR400 features a single-sided swingarm, which houses the rear wheel bearings. RRC Restoration employed a unique makeshift vapor blasting method to clean and restore the swingarm and frame. Although he has a vapor blaster in his workshop, it is too small to accommodate these large parts. Instead, he used glass beads, a siphon, and a pressure washer to eliminate all the grime and corrosion.
Once the swingarm and frame are completely clean, RRC Restoration proceeds to polish the parts and replicate the brushed aluminum finish. He achieves this by lightly scuffing the surface with a red Scotch-Brite pad, ensuring to move in one fluid motion and maintain a consistent direction. The parts are then painted with a matte ceramic clear coat to preserve their new appearance for an extended period.
In the following steps, RRC Restoration meticulously cleans and resprays the subframe. While waiting for the subframe to cure, he restores all the hardware by replating the bolts, screws, and fasteners. With all the components looking brand new, the swingarm is reassembled. A fresh set of wheel bearings, a new rear sprocket, and a chain guide are installed. The video concludes with an extremely satisfying before-and-after montage.
It is clear that there is still much work to be done before the bike reaches showroom quality. Nonetheless, the level of detail shown in RRC Restoration’s video sets high expectations for the upcoming restoration videos documenting this project. Motorcycle enthusiasts eagerly anticipate seeing the progress of this meticulous restoration.
