2014 vfr800

[raziel1983]

First review has come in, not sold on it as a package, but looks real nice in some of those pics!
http://s4.visordown.com/uploads/images/large/67327.jpg
http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-2014-honda-vfr800-review/24774.html

[Wingnut]

Doesn't really do it for me. Mind you I said that when the CBR came out (hahaha came out....) Anyway, don't mind the look of it now.... Fuck am I getting subconsciously being converted or something...

[merv]

I think it looks nice compared to the previous model and would just about interest us old VFR guys if it had gear driven cams, but no it doesn't, so just got to keep riding my old VFR.

[ducatilover]

I like it.
Mind you, I like every VFR

[Swoop]

Very interesting.
Looks like more of a ducati light-type front end. Much nicer exhaust than the fugly 1200.

Would like to take one for a spin.

[Motig]

Like it. Reminds me a lot of the 98 VFR I had.

[rustyblade]

I think it looks nice compared to the previous model and would just about interest us old VFR guys if it had gear driven cams, but no it doesn't, so just got to keep riding my old VFR.

if it ain't gear driven cams, it ain't a viffer proper. fact. :cool:

[misterO]

I think it looks pretty darn good and I'm more than a little tempted by the new VFR (it's been a long time since I could say that). It sports clean lines: no origami-angry-insect styling treatment. I loved my old '95 VFR- I look back on that as strong contender for my favorite bike. OK, so no gear driven cams but it does have a single sided swingarm and I'll bet that V4 would sound fruity with a good pipe. I'll be keeping a close eye on this one when it comes out.

[yevjenko]

Lovely looking bike. Always liked viffers. Is it me, or is there more than a pissing resemblance to Ducati in there... and not just the lights

sent from my phone (so scuze auto correct typos)

[willytheekid]

very nice!

...still prefer my 96 :laugh:, but so nice to see a new VFR :yes:...love it

[BuzzardNZ]

I like everything about it apart from the VTEC system. Probably buy one if it ran on 4 valves ( per cylinder ) all the time.

[James Deuce]

e side view is a bit plain but I like the front 3/4 view and the hint of CBR1000RR.

[Swoop]

if it ain't gear driven cams, it ain't a viffer proper. fact. :cool:
The first generation bikes were chain driven cams. 2nd gen went to gear driven, so perhaps chains are the "proper" ones...
The cams sound nicer though!

[Urano]

that's an admission of guilt by honda.

i kinda like it.
front light is not totally the best part, but above all i really can't understand why it's so hard to make a bike which remains around 200 kgs.

why on earth should i buy this one and not a z1000 sx which is same weight and has 30ps more?
:confused:

[yevjenko]

Which bit it's the admission of guilt?

sent from my phone (so scuze auto correct typos)

[Erelyes]

"Every piece of bodywork fits together with every other piece with other-worldly precision. The gaps between them (“shut lines”, a Honda man informed me at the launch in Alicante), are hair-thin and perfectly uniform."

Wonder if production bikes will be like that, as well as the ones they give to reviewers!

I do wonder why they've not managed to shave 20kg of lard off it.

[James Deuce]

Which bit it's the admission of guilt?



The bit where the last model, which ran for 11 years, was a fashion statement and they were losing VFR riders to other brands. VFR riders don't typically want the latest or greatest or another brand's product. They don't want the up-engined VFR Honda thought they were asking for either. They want a VFR800 you can put soft panniers on and one that fuels consistently throughout the rev range. They also want build quality.

[yevjenko]

Oh that bit. Completely agree with that bit

sent from my phone (so scuze auto correct typos)

[Urano]

i was actually referring to the other bit, the one where the last 11 year model which was a fashion statement has been completely discontinued in favor of a bigger, uglier and expensiER fashion statement thus completely abandoning, together with the decline of cbr 600f, middle class sport touring segment.

yamaha with the fazers and kawasaki with er6 and z1000sx will be long grateful...

anyway, the bit you mentioned is pretty fair too.

[pritch]

I like it.
Mind you, I like every VFR

I'll second that.

Oh, and there is a new CBR650F in the pipeline. Reportedly soon to arrive in the USA.
There is also a CB650F (unfaired) version, first road tests have already appeared.

[Urano]

Oh, and there is a new CBR650F in the pipeline.

ya, the 4 cylinder honda version of kawa er6...
nice bike, but half the one it was before. even considering the "faired hornet" model...

[vifferman]

I must admit, at first I didn't like it, but after viewing a whole swag of photos, it started to grow on me somewhat. But... why would I swap my well-fettled, just-about-run-in VFR800 for... well...anything? Oh - and it's more fettled now. Pix coming when I get some time and sun.

[Muppet]

Doesn't really do it for me. Mind you I said that when the CBR came out (hahaha came out....) Anyway, don't mind the look of it now.... Fuck am I getting subconsciously being converted or something...

Same here. When the 08 Fireblade was released with that blunt nose, I thought Honda had flipped.

[MD]

At the risk of offending those VFR fanatics from the olden days, when the VFR earned it's legendary following, I tried to view pictures of this 'new' VFR and read the specs. Each attempt failed as I fell asleep instantly from the overwhelming boringness and dullness of the images.

I tried to avoid eye contact with the bike images so I could maintain consciousness long enough to read the review/specs. Wow. After 28 years of gestation to hone their R&D Honda have produced a bike with MORE weight and LESS power than the VFR750 from 28 years ago!!! What the hell! They saved heaps by not spending money on market research investigating today's fussy buyers.

All I can say is their shipping costs from the factory to the market will be really low. One 20ft container should meet worldwide demand I'd say.

[SPman]

I like it. It's comfy with a good riding possie for an old git like me who, although he likes the adrenaline rush of compressing the horizon on a 1000 plus, just can't be bothered any more, but won't buy a cruiser!
Adjustable height seat, looks well finished, nice control layout - and it's only $15,400 on road - same price as a Street Triple R! Same power as well, I think.
Just rip off the horrible muffler and replace with something less obtrusive and slightly throatier..........and they've already sold several over here.

[raziel1983]

and it's only $15,400 on road

Try $20,995 plus ORC

[SPman]

Try $20,995 plus ORCBloody overpriced Kiwi market! $15,400 in Perth, W.A.

[James Deuce]

Bloody overpriced Kiwi market! $15,400 in Perth, W.A.

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.

[Ocean1]

Wow. After 28 years of gestation to hone their R&D Honda have produced a bike with MORE weight and LESS power than the VFR750 from 28 years ago!!!

Aye, I like the look, little too pretty maybe. But at 55 lbs.ft and 242kg it's obviously not aimed at the sprotsbike market, Shirley.

I used to think that they were simply not listening. Any of them. When 1 hp/kg is the benchmark why give us this shit? I can almost hear the marketing dudes: "Give it more "features", and don't spare the pork."

But it's worse than that. The simple fact is that it's more profitable to make something shiny and cheap and to market it effectively than it is to make higher spec'd machines at any price.

I fucking hate that.

[Ender EnZed]

When 1 hp/kg is the benchmark why give us this shit? I can almost hear the marketing dudes: "Give it more "features", and don't spare the pork."

But it's worse than that. The simple fact is that it's more profitable to make something shiny and cheap and to market it effectively than it is to make higher spec'd machines at any price.


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

[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... :no:

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). :mellow: 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... :no:

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). :mellow: 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 :drool: (I wonder how my old girl would go against one on your typical NZ road tho :buggerd::nya:...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?