According to As far as 80s sportbikes go, the Honda VF1000F Interceptor is often overshadowed. Following the success of the VF750F, Honda introduced the VF1000F to expand their V-four lineup and provide a sport-touring option for riders craving more power and range. But the VF1000F never matched the 750’s popularity and was beaten by rivals such as the Kawasaki GPz900R Ninja.
However, the VF1000F still holds a special place in Honda’s history, as it served as an important stepping stone to the legendary VFR series. It’s hard to look back at the old Interceptor after 40 years and not feel a wave of nostalgia for this underrated machine.
This strangely restored Honda VF1000F Interceptor is the work of ICON Motosports in Portland, Oregon, USA. ICON’s motorcycle gear has one foot in the past and one foot in the future, so it’s no surprise that the team was enamored with the Interceptor in its heyday—especially with its timeless HRC livery its space.
With a 1984 Interceptor on the bench, ICON had the difficult task of upgrading the old Honda’s engine before moving on to the fun stuff. It took nearly a decade to find all the parts needed to revive the tired old V-4, most of which came from three additional VF1000F donors. (Appropriately, this bike was quickly dubbed ‘New Found Hope’).
With the Interceptor’s engine once again ready to accelerate beyond reason, ICON turned its attention to the bike’s running gear. The fork has been replaced with a higher-spec Honda CBR900RR fork set, chosen for its stiffer struts and traditional right-hand configuration. CBR also donated a pair of Nissin disc brakes.
At the rear, the team massaged the Honda VFR400’s single-sided swingarm and rear wheel into position. The Nitron rear shock absorber is hidden underneath the VF1000F body, connected via a separate conversion plate. Finally, a Ducati Diavel front wheel was fitted, if for no other reason than to match the number of spokes on the rear wheel.
Moving on to the body, ICON decided to focus entirely on the rear of the Interceptor. Their reasoning was that “the mid-80s special bodywork was a beauty in the mid-80s and still is.” So the VF1000F’s fairing, windshield, fuel tank and belly pan are all original parts.
At the rear, the crew tore off the OEM tail section, shortened it, and decorated it with fiberglass-reinforced 3D printed parts. The subframe under the body has been trimmed, the taillights have been pushed deeper into the body and the passenger accommodation has been replaced by a covered tail hump. Special license plates hang on one side, paying homage to Interceptor’s founding year.
Other modifications include a rugged style fuel tank cap, updated oil passages and a custom aluminum radiator shroud. Handcrafted stainless steel exhaust tips terminate in a pair of salvaged Leo Vince cans, which have been modified with billet aluminum baffles.
The VF1000F’s original clock remains behind the overhead air dam; beaten and bruised but still alive. The handlebars are slim carbon fiber numbers that ICON rescued from their parts bin. The upper swingarm has been modified to accommodate a set of MX-style bar calipers, and the bars are equipped with Brembo brake and clutch controls.
Wrapping the Interceptor are new graphics that pay tribute to HRC’s tried-and-true red, white and blue colors. Being an American company, that particular color scheme is appealing…
“When we were young, we admired the patriotic outfits of Interceptor products,” ICON praised the esteemed VF. “That was the period when Honda seized the opportunity – when red, white and blue dominated both technology and design. That was the dawn of sports cars and there will never be another.”
“For 40 years, we have chased the feeling that 1984 gave us—40 years of yearning for the same youthful yearning. And at New Found Hope, we found it.”
ICON Motosports | Facebook | Instagram
