VFR800 good bad or otherwise?

[AllanB]

I mentioned in your other thread to have a look at the GS1200ss Suzuki - landed in NZ in 02-04 - big arse oil cooled old school engine that is super grunty. F1 in Hamilton make a set of higher clipons that significantly improve the riding position. Cheap as chips and tour really well plus offer good protection with the fairing.

[cheshirecat]

This is not a bad buy - pity wrong country
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-VFR7...item43b016cce3

[numbersixteen16]

I didn't like the VTEC stuff, with it kicking in and all... personal pref.

My understanding of VTEC is that it gets rid of that powerband kick, by not only having advanced cam timing up top (for top end punch), but retarded timing down low (for low down grunt). Thus getting rid of a "kick" that comes as a motor gets into its powerband.

Ive been in integra type r's and there is no kick, just power everywhere. Not sure about bikes though

[Quasievil]

there was no "kick" on the one I rode

[ducatilover]

My understanding of VTEC is that it gets rid of that powerband kick, by not only having advanced cam timing up top (for top end punch), but retarded timing down low (for low down grunt). Thus getting rid of a "kick" that comes as a motor gets into its powerband.

Ive been in integra type r's and there is no kick, just power everywhere. Not sure about bikes though

No. If you were in something with the typical Honda VTEC (not the VFR, it's not essentially VTEC) and you didn't feel a kick, it's because it's gutless or overloaded with fat fucks.
Hitting VTEC should feel more violent than "climbing a cam". I've been in/worked on countless stupid VTECs and they all fail at low revs, F20C and K20A being the exceptions.


Quasi, the VFR are brilliant bikes, nothing more to say.

[malcy25]

I did a ride with a mate a few years ago VTEC VFR800 and a Trumpy Sprints ST.

I thought that
1) The Triumph was a better version of the VFR800 than Honda built!
2) the VTEC was a pain in the arse.

[Swoop]

What price Quasi?

At 28km she has been run-in and that's about it.
A good seat for longer rides. 2 up riding is OK and couple the fact that you wouldn't normally be thrashing the arse off of it with a pillion on the back, quite acceptable.
1-up, the bike is a great combination with the race pedigree which has evolved into a great tourer. I'm happy with mine for a good blast or for a trip away 2-up with bags. No complaints from the rear seat occupant either.

They almost all have an issue with regulator rectifiers,the mod I did was to relocate the REGREC into a cooler spot so it got more air,that fixed it..

Reg/rec on the '08 is up near the headstock. A lot more air there than previous models being nearer the left thigh of the rider and nicely hidden away from much cooling.

Valve clearance checks on the VTEC requires special tools and substitute shims and a lot of time.Having said that,I never needed to change any shims on one.

A local honda mechanic says the same. Inspected a few and never had to adjust one.

Just aquired the 96 VFR750..its even better than all the reviews say it is

That's the year I'd go back to if had to choose. A nice ride!

[cheshirecat]

good with furry pillions

[zeocen]

Awesome bike let down by a shitty engine. VTEC doesn't improve power on the VFR800, it just makes the output as good as it should be in the beginning, pre-VTEC just gimps the bike.

Triumph ST is basically a VFR800, if the VFR800 had a proper engine.

[CRM]

I had a 2003 and did about 20,000km on it around both Islands. Mostly happy memories - you could tootle along quite adequately or open her up and use the VTec and it transformed into something quite fun. The kick at 7000rpm was quite pronounced on mine and a lot of fun - it hit 7000 at 160km in top and just took off Mine had Staintune pipes and power commander which may have helped it to feel extra snappy when opened up - certainly sounded good

The problems I had were that you had to work it a bit to get real fast overtaking - on a bigger bike - Bandit, GSX1400, CB1300 or my Trophy you just wind it on in whatever gear to get the same instant results. I also got sore wrists and elbows from the riding position for long distances and it gave problems with the cam chain tensioners needing replacing around the 55k mark (I could see it getting expensive as any engine work involved getting in past the VTec) so I sold it - but often wished I could take it out for a quick blast again.

[cheshirecat]

Telll you what, only two things have come close to those gear driven cams(on the relevant VFR's) and they've been my CBX 1000 full swan and listening to a 1974 MV start up with straight thru pipes (which also had gear driven cams). Cam chains just don't do it anymore.

[Ender EnZed]

The kick at 7000rpm was quite pronounced on mine and a lot of fun - it hit 7000 at 160km in top and just took off

It's the same story on my '86 VFR750; 160 - 200 in top is faster than 100 - 140. I think it's quite a good amount of power for most NZ roads. You can get along at any pace you choose to (if you don't mind changing gear occassionally) but you can also feel like you're really working it without doing go-to-jail speeds all the time.

[nudemetalz]

good with furry pillions

I see me on the Guzzi at 0.13-0.15