Honda VFR 800 Opinions needed

[MattyC]

Hi Folks,

Have been thinking about getting a Honda VFR 800 and am looking for opinions from folks that either own or have ridden one. Good points, bad points, etc.

--Matt

[NobodySpecific]

I rode an 01 for an entire summer and I loved it. The position is sporty, but comfortable. The power is adequate. The exhaust note from the V4 is wonderful. The 01 had gear driven cams, which sound awesome as well. It was a little heavy, but it didn't bother me at all. I loved that bike.

[mikeb]

i had an 04. i loved it, great st bike. put about 12000 miles on it with only oil changes and tires. the v-tec system takes getting used to. it engages at 7000 or 6400 rpm's depending on the year. feels like a turbo when it kicks in. can be a little unsettling in the middle of a corner. if you get one be aware there is a very involved valve maintance on these bikes that can be costly.

be sure to get a slip-ons for it as the v4 sounds awesome!

[MattyC]

Thanks for the info so far folks. One of my concerns is the centerstand. I don't like to drag hard parts on sharp corners.

--Matt

[Bonk!]

I sold my 2000 VFR and picked up a 600rr. I wish I had never done it! The VFR might not handle as precisely as an RR, but it's sooooo much easier to ride for long stretches.

I would guess you can take off the center stand???

[slaps76]

Thanks for the info so far folks. One of my concerns is the centerstand. I don't like to drag hard parts on sharp corners.

--Matt

You probably will not drag anything on the street unless you're riding like an idiot...I scraped my centerstand once at the track. Looking back, I would have taken it off, so take it off, and you should be fine.

I had an '03. Great street bike. Comfortable enough for long rides, sporty enough to toss around corners at a good clip, and had plenty of power for me. Really no complaints. I actually emailed the person I sold it to last week asking if he wanted to sell it back! Then I decided on the daytona 675 anyway.

If you do get a newer one, change the tires, I had Michelin Pilot Power sports...the change in handling is night and day.

[zachary6]

I have a 99 VFR, sportier than the old CBR if not quite as fast. good for distance, I'm no track star but I have not dragged the center stand yet. The torque is nice to have over the inline 4, and I actually like the gear whine.

[MattyC]

How about low speed work on the VFR? I use my rear brake a lot to either come to a very slow but smooth stop in stop and go traffic (I live in MA) or I use it and the clutch to inch forward, inch by inch, in stop and go traffic because I am too lazy to stop and put my foot down behind other cars. I also make plenty of near or full lock slow turns.

Am concerned about the linked/ABS brakes. Have never tried anything like those before. Are those weird brakes going to spoil my picnic? The R1 will take very slow speed turns with no problem. I realize the bike is no R1, but not sure if it is going to be like a big slug with its weight and those brakes in slow turns.

-Matt

[slaps76]

I did the same thing in stop & go traffic...would just use the rear brake. No problems whatsoever. Every bike I had before my VFR was a beater, so I was extra careful when taking slow parking lot corners, but no problems there either...

Mine had the linked brakes, and couldn't really tell they were there.

What kind of bike are you switching from?

[zachary6]

For all of the hype about linked brakes and how much they suck, I can say that I really don't notice much. I commute on it to boston so I am in slow stop and go part of it time and it does not bother me. I have seen threads on how to de-link VFR brakes on VFRWorld.

[MattyC]

I did the same thing in stop & go traffic...would just use the rear brake. No problems whatsoever. Every bike I had before my VFR was a beater, so I was extra careful when taking slow parking lot corners, but no problems there either...

Mine had the linked brakes, and couldn't really tell they were there.

What kind of bike are you switching from?

Have not made a final decision yet, but an 07 R1. For some reason I am getting less and less tolerant of the charcoal silver color of the bike. Other than that, the bike is great in all ways it seems.

How's the weight on the bike? I know its a bit more, but does it really feel like it weighs a lot at slow speed? The reason that I ask so much about slow speed, is I ride to work every day in the Massachusetts traffic

-Matt

[butcher bergs]

About the valve adjustment for the v-tec models.

Prepare for one of two things:

1) The most expensive valve adjust you've ever paid for...

OR (if you work on your own stuff)

2) The biggest pain in the ass valve adjust you've ever done.


Yes, it's really that bad. Buyer beware.

That was a deal-killer for me, BTW....and I do looooove that V4 sound.

[MattyC]

About the valve adjustment for the v-tec models.

Prepare for one of two things:

1) The most expensive valve adjust you've ever paid for...

OR (if you work on your own stuff)

2) The biggest pain in the ass valve adjust you've ever done.


Yes, it's really that bad. Buyer beware.

That was a deal-killer for me, BTW....and I do looooove that V4 sound.

Are we talking about a $1000 valve job or thousands of dollars? If its a $500 or $1000 valve job, I could handle it. Would not be happy about it, but would be able to do it. If it is several thousand $$ I would have to rethink this one.

[zachary6]

Weight seems very manageable to me but I am coming from a 650lb CBR so its all relative. Mine is not a VTEC so I have no idea about the service cost.

[butcher bergs]

Are we talking about a $1000 valve job or thousands of dollars? If its a $500 or $1000 valve job, I could handle it. Would not be happy about it, but would be able to do it. If it is several thousand $$ I would have to rethink this one.

I've heard numbers in excess of 500. Consider the intervals as well.

Depending on how often or how much you ride, if you're into spending a grand (or more) a year on valve adjustments, more power to ya....not my cup of tea though.

Keep in mind this is only in regards to the v-tec models.

[PhatPat33]

I ride a '03 VFR. I've never had a problem dragging the center stand, but I'm not a track racer. I have heard of people draggin the catalytic converter and sometimes the center stand.

I just had the valves adjusted at Central Mass Powersports in Lunenburg, MA last fall. All of the valves were within spec, including the VTEC valves. The inspection is a long procedure, nearly 10-12 hours worth of labor. Very pricey. While it's apart, have them do a few other things, too, like change the thermostat, etc. They say that you are supposed to adjust the valves every 16000, but I just had them done at 29000. I know other guys with 50000 miles on the bike and haven't done them at all.

If you have any other questions, you should check out vfrdiscussion-dot-com, a very informative website,or send me a PM.

[keet]

....i have the 98 VFR...i had a "wing" before so it seems pretty light in comparison....my one beef with the vfr is that (in my opinion) the seat sucked...so i got a sargent seat and that made a major diffeerence in the comfort level....the stock seat started hurting easily in 30-45 minutes......another issue that many VFR owners deal with is the R/R (regulator/rectifier)...that left me stranded on a sunday afternoon....that cost about $120.00 to replace.....other than that im pretty happy with the bike....i have about 6k to go before i have to deal with the valve adjustment maintenance....good luck!!!

[slaps76]

I just had the valves adjusted at Central Mass Powersports in Lunenburg, MA last fall. All of the valves were within spec, including the VTEC valves. The inspection is a long procedure, nearly 10-12 hours worth of labor. Very pricey. While it's apart, have them do a few other things, too, like change the thermostat, etc. They say that you are supposed to adjust the valves every 16000, but I just had them done at 29000. I know other guys with 50000 miles on the bike and haven't done them at all.

That's what I've heard too...many people's were fine at the recommended 15K mark and didn't have to have them adjusted. So if you have to drop a grand every 20K miles, that's a deal breaker? Don't Ducati's need the valves adjusted every 5-8K miles?

I went from a Ninja 250, to Katana 600, to the VFR, so the weight was a break even from the Kat. I'm sure you'll get used to it fine...it's about 440 dry, so 40-50 more than your R1?

The stock seat does suck for long rides. The Corbin solved that problem.

[MattyC]

It seems that you folks who own VFR's are for the most part happy with them. I think I can look past that choking valve job expense.

I'll have to take a look at one next time I happen to be near a dealership.

Thanks for your help guys.
-Matt

[zachary6]

Matty
VFRs just sort of do everything pretty well. Its comfortable, it handles well enough to make it interesting, its fast enough to scare you, it has great support (VFRworld.com VFRdiscussion.com) and the engines routinely last well over 100K. Its never going to be the fastest or the most comfortable or the most nimble but it is a great compromise.

[MattyC]

Matty
VFRs just sort of do everything pretty well. Its comfortable, it handles well enough to make it interesting, its fast enough to scare you, it has great support (VFRworld.com VFRdiscussion.com) and the engines routinely last well over 100K. Its never going to be the fastest or the most comfortable or the most nimble but it is a great compromise.

Something about that V4 rumble draws me to the bike. The single swingarm makes it look cool too.

[zachary6]

yeah, if you can get a high mount can or an undertail kit, it really shows off the swingarm. I agree the Vfour sounds great.

[MattyC]

yeah, if you can get a high mount can or an undertail kit, it really shows off the swingarm. I agree the Vfour sounds great.

ha ha ha, a high mount can like shown in this annoying video:

YouTube - VFR Vs CBR

[keeena]

I have the '02 VFR, its a great all-around bike as others mentioned. Corbin seat w/ the backrest makes it a good 2-up bike. Factory luggage option is a nice feature. Remember what you'll be compromising though...its not going to have the raw power of a supersport, or agility. But realistically its great for the street.

I dislike the LBS from a maintenance standpoint, but have no functional issues w/ it. Same thing for the ABS. And I dislike the VTEC engagement on mine. Supposedly the ECU on the 06+ has some differences which make the VTEC smoother, but i haven't ridden both to compare. Like others pointed out, VFRWorld and VFRDiscussion are 2 forums w/ tons of into. There are a couple minor recalls worth knowing about.

Feel free to shoot me a message if you have specific questions.

Other comparable bikes (for me) were the Triumph Sprint ST or Honda Blackbird XX. ST being very similar in all respects but with ~+20HP I3 motor; XX heavier, not as nimble, no ABS but with a ~+40HP I4 motor.

[slaps76]

You can kind of see it in my avatar, but I had the lazer exhaust...4 pipes. Not too loud at idle, but once you opened it up, they sounded great. More of a muscle car sound vs. can of bees. Expensive though, think it was $600-700 just for the exhaust. Stupidly I never took the rear fender off...