Vfr?

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

no, not visual flight rules, but Honda VFR. The Duc is in the shop again...this time for worn valve guides (at 4400 miles). Covered under warranty, but in 4 months it has had two major service issues (leaking gas tank and now this). Doesn't give me a warm fuzzy, and I'm not happy about being down for 3 weeks. Anyone have experience with the VFR800? I need to sit on it for width and leg room, but seems like a good commute/2-up/sportish bike that will require less service visits than the Duc.

Yeah, I know. It's Japanese. But I'd rather be riding than sitting...

RPKESQ · 07-24-2006, 12:52 AM

I have owned two VFRs. Both stone cold reliable and built like a Swiss watch. You may not fit or may not like the look, but you can't fault the engineering or quality.

singpilot · 08:51 AM

+1

I have had two as well. First one was a '93. Rock solid. Sold it to a friend (who was tired of running up the commute miles on his Aprilia). I found a second one, a '97. To tell you the truth, I liked the '93 better. Lots of aftermarket goodies, and all in, I had all of $3K in each.

Rot 911 · 05:28 AM

Are you kidding? I mentioned that the VFR is THE bike for serious sport touring in your original "what motorcycle should I get" post. I have owned two (presently have a 2001 VFR 800i). The only real problem the VFR had in its present form is the early 1998-1999 a few bikes had a faulty voltage regulator/rectifier. Easy fix and the post 1999 bikes don't have this problem. Valve adjust every 16k miles and other than chains and tires they are pretty much maintenance free.

Oh and did I mention that there is a VFR forum that has the same flavor as the Pelican board? A bunch of do it yourself guys that love to ride. Even have meet ups just like on Pelican. You will find me over there under the same screen name. Check it out: http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php?act=portal

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__________________
Kurt V
Gruppe B #000 ("Before there was one, there was zero")
'86 Carrera Coupe - modified
'58 Austin Healey Sprite
'60 Willys 4WD Wagon
'04 Mazda RX8
'01 Honda VFR 800i

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
no, not visual flight rules,

Hell, I thought you had taken up flying, too!

On the bike stuff.... I have not messed with bikes in a long time but I would guess you couldn't go wrong with a Honda.

.02

GDSOB · GDSOB's Garage

My first street bike was a VFR500. Probably still my favorite. Sporty & comfortable.

GDSOB · GDSOB's Garage

kaisen · 07-24-2006, 07:09 AM

My colleague has had three VFR's and took delivery of his 2006 this Spring. He loves them and has never had any trouble, but only rides 3-4K per year because of our seasons.

E

deathpunk dan · 07-24-2006, 07:50 AM

My 96 VFR750 was the best motorcycle I've ever owned. The V4 engine is incredible.

You will not regret it.

BlueSkyJaunte · 07-24-2006, 07:54 AM

Damn fine bikes.

Like any 4-cyl-4-carb bikes, don't do anything stupid, like letting un-stabilized gas sit in the carbs for a long time. Carb rebuilds are a major PITA (read: $$$) on these things.

Ask how I know....

Rot 911 · 07-24-2006, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
Damn fine bikes.
Like any 4-cyl-4-carb bikes, don't do anything stupid, like letting un-stabilized gas sit in the carbs for a long time. Carb rebuilds are a major PITA (read: $$$) on these things.

Since 1998 the VFR is fuel injected.

BlueSkyJaunte · 07-24-2006, 08:15 AM

Hey, I have an '86 (tarriff-beater). What the hell do I know?

singpilot · 10:41 AM

As many of you know, I have quite a few bikes. There are three of them that the sound of alone makes it all worthwhile. The Dyna Softail. The CBR1000F. The VFR.

Yes, 23 of them. But this one is special.....Has an Erion pipe and can. Will lift the front tire or spin the back one at will. Michelin radials. Awesome brakes.

Todd. Buy a used one and put $10K back in the bank.

deathpunk dan · 07-24-2006, 08:48 AM

The 800cc VFRs are nice and all, but I prefer the character of the carb'd bikes.

The newer ones have a lot of 'stuff' going on, like linked brakes, VTECH etc.

Plus, everyone knows the 94-97 is the best looking

vash · vash's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by GDSOB
My first street bike was a VFR500. Probably still my favorite. Sporty & comfortable.

vfr 500? that the interceptor 500? if so, it was my first bike too!

the VFR800 is fantastic! your bike mechanic will hate it tho, with Christmas only half a year away. i had one briefly (a 750), bought it with credit i didnt have. (young, dumb, and full of..........). ran smooth as hell. single side swingarm,...yada yada yada..loved it.

BlueSkyJaunte · 10:02 AM

I have a Kerker 4-into-1 on my VFR700 and it just HOWLS. Sounds like 1/2 a rumbly V8 (which is what it is, I guess...). The exhaust note as I merge onto I10 (0-75 mph) still gives me chills after years of ownership.

Singpilot--NICE Viffer! I couldn't find one of that vintage in decent shape when I was shopping. Maybe I should've held out a little longer.

singpilot · 07-24-2006, 10:33 AM

Thanks. For those of you afraid of salvage titles, this was one of those. It had been vandalized. The plastics had been stolen without the bike having been moved, and the bike was totalled by the insurance company. I bought it for $1450. from the insurance company. The disc lock was still on it.

I took me 6 months on EvilBay and a couple of trips to the dealer for the attach hardware to get it back to perfect. Total costs to get it there was $890. It is still one of my fav bikes, and yes, that howl, most notably around town, is great. I don't get to listen to it on the onramps. Am paying too much attention to where I am going to be in 6 seconds (100MPH).

arcsine · 07-24-2006, 10:35 AM

I owned a '93 VFR that I sold and bought back a year later as I could not stand to be without it. In the six or so bikes I have owned and the couple of dozen other ones I have ridden, the best bike of them all. You simply cannot go wrong with one in my opinion.

But as others have done, dump the stock can and get something else that lets it sing a little. A very evocative exhaust note.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

I'd also checkout the FZ1. The '06 has fueling issues but that can be corrected with a PCIII and custom map. Or how about staying with a twin and pick up a used BMW?

What about the priller I linked in the 'summertime' thread?

My Mille has been at Lee's for over a week now. The headstock bearings needed replacement and the front forks seals were leaking. Does not look like the PO babied it...

The parts guy at Lee's got zero love from GP Cycles so I hooked them up with FP1 from the Aprillia forums. Hope to be riding again later this week. The weather has been too hot to ride anyhow...

JeffO · 07-24-2006, 12:33 PM

One of the greatest engine sounds going is the vfr's v4 with those fantastic gear driven cams. I bought mine because i liked the engine so much......great bike!