Motorcycle Repair: Honda VLX 400 Steed, reputable exporter, v twin

Question
Hi Chris,
Not sure if you can help me but here goes.

I have brought my wife a Honda VLX 400 Steed (Honda Harley look alike)which was an import in to NZ.Bike needs to be Vinned but all papers were lost by the importer.
I have no information as to what year this is. Frame S/N is NC26-1301286
Engine S/N NC25E-1501434. Can you identify or tell me how I can find out what year this might be?
Also the bike ( V Twin) was sitting for some years.
I finally got it running nicely on both cylinders, but when you start to rev it to about 4000rpm you can feel quite a vibration,. The fuel was bad and gummed up the fuel system. The engine runs sweet from idle to low RPM, but lacks power and the vibration comes in at higher RPM.
I am suspecting one cylinder is not getting the fuel to it properly at the higher RPM, and with one cylinder doing most of the work, it is causing the vibration and lack of power. Any thoughts? I am very familiar with most bike carbs but this V twin has a type I am not familiar with. Any pointers ?

Cheers

Alan

Answer
Hi Alan.

A few things;

1) The vin# is always 16 digits and digit # 10 is the year of the bike.  The fact that the bike is missing #'s could mean that the bike is stolen.  Many stolen machines end up overseas sold to unsuspecting buyers.  See if the identiplate area, on the frame where the VIN# is, happens to be a lot longer than the number itself is.  That would indicate a stolen bike.

1a)  No reputable exporter would lose the documentation on the bike since it would be impossible to stay in business that way.  They also wouldn't sell you a bike that is in that bad a shape.  A call to the police may be in order.

2) The Honda VLX is a 600cc bike, not a 400.

3) There could be a few things wrong with the bike.  The valves may need adjustment, the timing may need doing, the carbs quite likely need synchronizing and a thorough cleaning.  In addition, the tank will need to be drained and resealed as well as the fuel line replaced.

Check those things out and let me know what you find.
Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON