2014 vfr800

[James Deuce]

It hasn't gained a single hp since 1985. Honda has to have a stronger plan than just being stagnant for 30 years. Right?

Actually, more torque would be betterer. 55 ft/lbs is pathetic for an 800. Especially if you look at a 2004 R6 and see that it had 44 ft/lbs of torques. I personally think that's where efficiency and rideability gains could be made and there are a huge range of technologies available to do that that aren't particularly expensive, from direct injection to small turbo supercharger installations that VW do so well on their super efficient, super torquey fours. Or how about simply building a zero oil loss two-stroke like that Paris-Dakar bike they built in the '90s? An 800cc V4 version of that should have similar torque figures as BMW's K1600 6 cylinder engine. Honda simply don't give a shit any more.

Honda probably made more money from license fees between 1984 and 2010 from Hero, let alone actual sales while they were still partnered with them in India, than they made from 50 years of selling and distributing top end stuff throughout the "Western" markets. We don't matter any more and since our fake money bubble popped in 2008 and we stopped buying toys for a bit, they took the opportunity to concentrate on developing markets while ignoring the rest of the world.

[raziel1983]

I know it has more features these days but it actually weighs more and makes less power than the 1986 VFR750

[vifferman]

The only thing overpriced about the NZ bike market is Honda product. Doesn't matter though. If I wait a couple of years it will be $14,995. Another year and it will be $12,995.

Yes. And 'Honda product' includes spare parts which BlueWing Honda has the sole control over, so they keep zero (0) stock, and everything is 'indent only'. They haven't woken up to the fact ordering over teh interwebs is so easy now either. Koontz.
With the exception of fork seals, I haven't bought anything from a Honda dealer in the last 10 or 11 years - it's cheaper, quicker and easier to order it on the web.
If Honda bought out a modern version of the RC45 I might consider it, but in the meantime, I'm happy with my RC46. Sure it's noisy, a little porky and a little underpowered, but it does the job.

[Swoop]

I know it has more features these days but it actually weighs more and makes less power than the 1986 VFR750

The catalytic converter adds to that fact.
If people still have them fitted...

[Larksea]

I took a vfr800x for a test ride
beautiful ride, really comfortable.
Engine is sweet, cylinders run on two valves till get gets to something neat 7krpm then 2 more kick in and it really jumps.
fricken heavy though, what was it 230kg? The weight smooths it out a bit but I wanted something lighter.

[wellyriderz]

Well they've arrived (on Trademe) but the price is outrageous...

The deluxe model with ABS and a centrestand, which retails for about NZD$15kin the USofA and $NZD16K in Aussie has the NZ price of... $21k (+ ORC). You can buy a reasonable new car for that.

Probably cheaper to buy one in the US or Aus and import privately...!

[James Deuce]

The exchange rate certainly can't be blamed for the price.

[Ocean1]

Well they've arrived (on Trademe) but the price is outrageous...

The deluxe model with ABS and a centrestand, which retails for about NZD$15kin the USofA and $NZD16K in Aussie has the NZ price of... $21k (+ ORC). You can buy a reasonable new car for that.

Probably cheaper to buy one in the US or Aus and import privately...!

How many do you reckon you'd get in a container?

What legal impediments are there in landing and selling them?

And what do you reckon they'd sell for once you got them here?

[James Deuce]

How many do you reckon you'd get in a container?

What legal impediments are there in landing and selling them?

And what do you reckon they'd sell for once you got them here?

Which are all factors for those other markets, and consequently reflected in their prices. I've done the Import/Export things with vehicles and it's very cheap to send things here. A 2000 quid car cost about $600 to freight here from the other side of the planet including inevitable tax costs. Not so cheap in the other direction, about $2000 NZ all up.

It's a $17k bike. Buying one for $21k would be silly.

One merely needs to wait for 3 years and they'll be going out the door as dealer specials for about $15k.

[willytheekid]

One merely needs to wait for 3 years and they'll be going out the door as dealer specials for about $15k.

This! +1

...unless you want to pay for the privillege of being first, this would be the best option to combat the redonkulas price.

...nice bike tho (I wonder how my old girl would go against one on your typical NZ road tho ...meh, would be a nice rear end to watch disappear into the distance I spose lol)

[Ocean1]

Which are all factors for those other markets, and consequently reflected in their prices. I've done the Import/Export things with vehicles and it's very cheap to send things here. A 2000 quid car cost about $600 to freight here from the other side of the planet including inevitable tax costs. Not so cheap in the other direction, about $2000 NZ all up.

It's a $17k bike. Buying one for $21k would be silly.

One merely needs to wait for 3 years and they'll be going out the door as dealer specials for about $15k.

I'm not interested in making a once-off couple of grand each for a box of bikes, I'm interested in hurting the local distributor, (by way of returning a decades old favour) who seems to think $5k is reasonable.

And if Mr Honda noticed, (and you'd be silly not to make sure he did) then we may learn whether he supports this sort of historical rort or whether he's more interested in selling motortcycles.

[James Deuce]

I'm not interested in making a once-off couple of grand each for a box of bikes, I'm interested in hurting the local distributor, (by way of returning a decades old favour) who seems to think $5k is reasonable.

And if Mr Honda noticed, (and you'd be silly not to make sure he did) then we may learn whether he supports this sort of historical rort or whether he's more interested in selling motortcycles.

Very good points.

[pritch]

If Honda bought out a modern version of the RC45 I might consider it,

You may get your wish. The Honda CEO announced that there was a new V4 sprotbike on the way. I hope nobody was holding their breath because all we have seen to date are some patent drawings. It was the "imminent" arrival of this V4 that was used to explain Honda putting so little effort into the CBR1000RR in WSBk the last couple of years.

As I recall the RC45 was expensive when new? Journos best guesses as to the price of the new beast? Around US$100,000.

Good luck with making the homologation sales numbers at anything like that.

[Dodgy]

Why waste your money on that?

The best model was the 1998 - 2000 800. From then it got heavier and more complex (due to the VTEC) and lost some of it's pedigree (the gear driven cams). Buy a 2000 model, Racetech the front, CBR929 shock in the rear, CBR600 brakes and voila a sportier version and a great sports tourer. Save over $10k as well...

[macka77]

They are all gay why ride a 800 when with a little effort you can
go for a litre bike just as comfortable with a ton of grunt?