thinking about getting a VFR

[ST Guy]

Why "pre-vtec"? Nothing wrong with the 02 forward. I have been riding mine for a couple of years with no significatn problems. Except the wiring recall that was done by honda for free
lots of good 03 and 04's for sale even the 07's can be had for a reallly good price if you know where to look
http://www.vfrdiscussion.comCan give you ALL the info you ever wanted on VFR's

Good luck

I've heard that the VTEC VFR's valves are complicated to adjust and if you have a shop do it, it's expensive. What's your experience?

 

[Alexey]

Same deal for me. Wanting to replace my old K100 which is heavy so anything would be an improvement.

Love the v4 (race an rvf400 and love the sound and power delivery) and they are sporty enough. I have also looked at the Sprint and have thought about the new gen. Tiger which looks to be a good touring platform and I bet would hustle around corners with any of the above bikes.

My dealbreaker is hardbags. Once I've had em I can't go back as I ride all year round everyday and carry lots of crap.

Also the Duc ST2 and Aprilia Futura are cool and have a bit more soul. Maintenance shouldn't be more than a vtec VFR and can be had pretty cheap these days with goodies already on em.

I was really really thinking about an ST2, but I just don't have a lot of confidence in the Ducati dealer network in the US. It's hard enough to get a decent dealer for a Japanese bike in my neck of the woods (upstate NY), it'll be a nightmare if I need anything I can't handle at home or on a trip. Plus all the stories of waiting for parts from Italy and my ex-mechanic friend's advice to stay away from them for reliability reasons.

In 1999 I went cross country on an F3. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, I realized I had a dying radiator hose. I went to the closest dealer I could find and they didn't have the part in stock, nor did any of the close-by dealers. Instead, they estimated how long it would take for the shipment and got it to go to a dealer on our way to intercept us. When we got there, the hose was waiting, right on schedule, and they let me pull the bike in and do the work myself. I just don't know that I'd have the same kind of experience with a less common marque, such as Duc or Triumph and wouldn't instead get to know the local Denny's real well waiting for the part. I could be wrong of course.

 

[V4]

for years on BARF, I've always defended the criticism the 2002 and up VTEC VFR gets...

sure , at 530 wet weight, it's heavy on paper but once rolling beyond 5mph, you don't notice it...I had to do the DMV m/c test due to court orders....no problem..the extra heft does help isolate the road making long distance riding easier and it feels planted in the corners...

link brakes..? I never even noticed it and because of it, it prevents any fork dive during hard braking compared to standard brakes...also, the link brakes help a 500+ on technical goat trails..

suspension is ideal for anyone above 175lb, IMO...I weighed 200lbs and never even thought about doing any suspension work....I even replaced the rear shock with an Ohlin and quite honestly liked the OEM shock better...

the forks only have preload adjustment and the rear has preload and rebound but I thought it was dampened very well from Honda and loved the simplicity of it...

maintenance - you can skip the 16,000 miles and do it every 32,000 and even then at 46,000, none of the valves were outta sync...some places are pricey though since not too many shops/dealers have experience with the VTEC even 6 years later but there are a few shops that can do it under 6 hours...yes, the VTEC does require time consuming procedures...

Required spark plugs and battery are expensive and due to the linked brakes , you will end up replacing both front and rear at the same time ....I recommend just using Honda pads rather than any other pads since they almost cost the same and the Honda pads wear evenly...Ive never used synthetic motor oil for the VFR and just use regular unleaded....

I had several bikes during and after my VFR and even rode all the latest by BMW and because of that, I have a deposit on a 2008 VFR IF Honda doesn't have the long awaited 1000cc VFR for 2009...

YMMV, but I still can't find the perfect bike that gives me all the versatlity the VFR did...

 

[ST Guy]

Sometime next year (maybe this fall), I'd like to get myself something that will do the following:

1. not be a constant project (like my EX's)
2. not weigh more than an Abrams M1 tank (like the BMW GS's)
3. not cost $200,000 (like the Ducs)
4. be good at long distance highway rides, as well as capable and enjoyable in the more fun roads
5. have a decent supply of parts
6. be good two-up and with luggage

The more I think about it, the more a pre-VTEC VFR seems to fit the bill. I looked around eBay to see what kind of prices they command nowadays and it seems they can be had for not a whole lot, though there weren't very many listed. Thoughts, experiences, alternative opinions?

Well, except for the weight, you might seriously consider a Honda ST1300 or a Yamaha FJR 1300. Both are stone reliable, almost maintainence free, shaft drive, have hard luggage and good fairings, perfect two up, don't require repair so parts aren't an issue, have a good supply of aftermarket accessories, made for the long haul but are very competent and exciting in the twisties, and you can get them used for very decent prices. Plus, you can also get them with ABS which is always a plus.

 

[PorradaVFR]

I've heard that the VTEC VFR's valves are complicated to adjust and if you have a shop do it, it's expensive. What's your experience?

They are not complicated per se, but they require checking twice - once for the two-valve (sub-VTEC) and again for four-valve VTEC operation. Basically a ~6 hour job at a shop so not cheap.

The intervals are 16k miles, but *all* of the folks I've known to have had the job done report inspections within spec at 16k. With that in mind, I'm still holding off with under 22k on my bike. I intend to get it done closer to the 32k mark.

It's not a job I intend to take on myself, but from what I gather it's about the same labor as Ducati valve adjustments on the older engines.

 

[cheesepuff]

I personal like the older RC-24, RC-30, RC-36 750s.. the gear driven goodness.. and they're lighter / can be lightened. The thing i think the VFR is known for is its mechanical reliablilty, my 85 VF-500FII has 35k miles, and my 90 VFR-750FL has 44k miles, only major problem Ive had with the 750 is the stator fried (because of a damaged coil from install)... and the 500s fuel pump died (common problem switch to the 1986 model gravity feed)

that and they look sexy

 

[Brown81]

43,000 on my 750. Starts every time, sounds Godly, pulls nicely, a great all rounder. Eats up twisties, just have to use some muscle is all. And, I got it for a song.

 

[fezzick]

Well, if we're widening the net here, then, yes, the 750 IS the iconic VFR, and suffers very little in comparison with the later, fuel-injected models.

All of the advantages already mentioned above, plus simpler to service, reliable fuelling because of the carbies and a better look than ALL of the VFR iterations.

Go the Testarossa!!!

 

[donoman]

I went to a VFR from an F3...~130 miles per tank to ~240+ when riding sanely.

240 miles? Bullshit!!! How do you do it? What speeds are you riding? I could only get 40mpg on my 99 VFR riding 75mph on the freeway.

 

[donoman]

... IF Honda doesn't have the long awaited 1000cc VFR for 2009...

A 1000cc VFR would be awesome. I waited and waited and waited for one in '06, '07, and '08 (after the change in '02) and it never came. I would dump the Blackbird in a second for a VFR with as much horsepower.

 

[fezzick]

240 miles? Bullshit!!! How do you do it? What speeds are you riding? I could only get 40mpg on my 99 VFR riding 75mph on the freeway.

I've seen 380kms (very close to 240 miles) on my VFR many times. That's a combination of spirited attacking of the twisties and touring miles at Oz's posted 110km/h speed limit.

Dunno how the consumption would fare if I rode it faster...

A 1000cc VFR would be awesome. I waited and waited and waited for one in '06, '07, and '08 (after the change in '02) and it never came. I would dump the Blackbird in a second for a VFR with as much horsepower.

And so say all of us. Honda dropped the ball completely by introducing the VTEC. All they really needed to do to keep their existing customer base AND gain heaps more, was to leave the formula substantially alone and simply hog the engine out to 1000cc. We can only dream.

 

[PorradaVFR]

240 miles? Bullshit!!! How do you do it? What speeds are you riding? I could only get 40mpg on my 99 VFR riding 75mph on the freeway.

The VFR gas tank is about 5.8 gallons. Do the math - at 40mpg that would be 232 miles. I used to commute in Miami on mine, flat slabbing at highway speeds in 6th gear...pushing the tank to the warning light I hit 240 miles and still (per the pump) had about 0.5 gallon left.

Mind you, in the hills I'm in the ~35mpg range...maybe a bit less on a spirited day.

 

[V4]

43,000 on my 750. Starts every time, sounds Godly, pulls nicely, a great all rounder. Eats up twisties, just have to use some muscle is all. And, I got it for a song.

those ARE THE VFRs....

lot better than a POS bmw R1100S by far...

 

[Eisernkreuz]

The last two are over 20 grand, the second one is the ugliest bike ever made, and overpriced as well.

Ok, ok the first one is pretty neat.:|

Small price to pay for not having to deal with Honda bullshit

 

[deekyoo]

.... the [R1200ST] is the ugliest bike ever made, and overpriced as well......

"How ugly could it be?" I said to myself....

[Enter Google Image Search and] GGYEEEAAAAHH!

The V-Strom has been dethroned - that BMW is hideous!

 

[RichK]

240 miles? Bullshit!!! How do you do it? What speeds are you riding? I could only get 40mpg on my 99 VFR riding 75mph on the freeway.

I regularly got 48-50mpg on my 2000 VFR. I just sold it with 64,000 miles on it and running strong.

Regarding your next post, I too waited a couple years for Honda to Do The Right Thing. I gave up and bought a non-Honda for my next bike.

 

[PorradaVFR]

Regarding your next post, I too waited a couple years for Honda to Do The Right Thing. I gave up and bought a non-Honda for my next bike.

Yeah, I know how you feel. I love my 2004 and have no compulsion to replace her but when that day comes there is not a Honda right now that fits the bill. Damn shame...a V-5 1000cc VFR would have certainly fired up the faithful.

Who knows, the new 1000RR looks to be a leap forward - maybe they'll get their crap together and deliver a proper heir to the Viffer.

 

[Alexey]

"How ugly could it be?" I said to myself....

[Enter Google Image Search and] GGYEEEAAAAHH!

The V-Strom has been dethroned - that BMW is hideous!

Good lord, you're right. Are all automotive designers drinking leaded water?

 

[JER-Z BoY]

I love my VFR, will probably hold on to it for years to come. You really can't go wrong with it's power AND smoothness.

 

[Kestrel]

Mind you, in the hills I'm in the ~35mpg range...maybe a bit less on a spirited day.

That's what is killing me. I love how the VFR sounds perhaps more than any other motorcycle out there... Beautiful tiny small block V8 sounding... arrghhh.. Get's me going.

But that kind of gas mileage sucks... It sucks a lot. That's absolutely unacceptable.