New V5 VFR1000F announced

**RobRod** · 10th August 2008, 23:28

Originally Posted by RantyDave

It might not've sold very well, but I'm not sure that makes it a failure. Ever seen one? Seen seen one? It has a certain ... air to it.

Dave

Yes it sure does, the air of an American motorcycle, tasteless styling. to much useless bling, underperforming, can only go in a straight line - no corners please & overpriced.

However the NR was a piece of art in both visual & technical, it still out does the ducati, it sure as hell ain't got oval pistons, 8 valves a cylinder. Also the NR was a very small production run unlike the rather large amount of exclusive ducatis being built, there's even one in CHCH.

**imdying** · 11th August 2008, 08:22

Originally Posted by RobRod

However the NR was a piece of art in both visual & technical, it still out does the ducati, it sure as hell ain't got oval pistons, 8 valves a cylinder. Also the NR was a very small production run unlike the rather large amount of exclusive ducatis being built, there's even one in CHCH.

Yes... it's interesting how a single Honda makes all the Dukes and MVs put together 'commoners' bikes. Fancy having to buy a fags bike to be truly exclusive

**vifferman** · 11th August 2008, 08:23

Well, I've said before that the indications are that the VFR will be phased out.
I hope I'm worngA though...
And I agree about the V5 - although the V4 offers some advantages, like a narrow width for a 4-cylinder bike, there are also disadvantages, like having pannier radiators and a swingarm that pivots in the cases, to keep the wheelbase short. And servicing difficulties.
The V5 would make that side of things even worse.
But (however!) with the way Honda's gone all eco-mental, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a mutli-cylinder sports-tourer of some sort with a silly engine that drops a cylinder or two while cruising, a la the V6 Honda Accord. That would suck even more than the VFR Vtec engine.

**imdying** · 11th August 2008, 08:24

Originally Posted by OOk

First the Rune, it failed and is not available anymore, the end.

I think as of 2 months ago, they were available in NZ still, they had a price drop when the arse fell out of the dollar, down to $35k.

**Qkchk:Me** · 11th August 2008, 10:48

Originally Posted by OOk

Very few people know or realize that the designer of the 916 openly admits to being influenced by the NR750. So every time someone claims a Jap bike is imitating a modern ducati I just chuckle.

Originally Posted by RobRod

..........However the NR was a piece of art in both visual & technical, it still out does the ducati, it sure as hell ain't got oval pistons, 8 valves a cylinder. Also the NR was a very small production run unlike the rather large amount of exclusive ducatis being built, there's even one in CHCH.

Ive heard whispers that someone will have a true blue NR750 in their shop in the next month............ cant wait to have a perve....

**RobRod** · 11th August 2008, 18:17

Thats cool - would be a nice collectable. Also there is a new Rune for sale at Honda Otago

**Swoop** · 11th August 2008, 21:15

I am still wondering why Honda would call the bike a 1000F?
They have done "F" before.

**justsomeguy** · 11th August 2008, 21:27

Originally Posted by Swoop

I am still wondering why Honda would call the bike a 1000F?
They have done "F" before.

"F" stands for fag??

P.S: Real men don't ride bikes, they take teh train.......

**Swoop** · 11th August 2008, 21:34

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

"F" stands for fag??

P.S: Real men don't ride bikes, they take teh train.......

Careful, you are showing a suzuki mentality.
In Auckland we would be privileged to take a train. Alas, our leaders have not planned ahead and built tracks all over (under) the city. One day perhaps!

**Mystic13** · 12th August 2008, 11:38

The V5 has also popped up on thebikergene with a little more info about why they think it's happening.

http://www.thebikergene.com/sportsbi...ith-v5-engine/

**vifferman** · 12th August 2008, 11:44

Originally Posted by Swoop

I am still wondering why Honda would call the bike a 1000F?
They have done "F" before.

It looks like the "F" is the sprot version, and t'other (the one with the "GT" monicker, and what looks like a FJR1300? windscreen) is the touring version.

**vifferman** · 12th August 2008, 11:55

Originally Posted by Mystic13

The V5 has also popped up on thebikergene with a little more info about why they think it's happening.

http://www.thebikergene.com/sportsbi...ith-v5-engine/

There's some bollix in there as well - like this bit:
"It’ll be interesting to see what a V5 Honda feels like in terms of power delivery - there’s been nothing on the road in recent years using this engine format."
Say what?
There's never been a V5 on the road, apart from in VW cars.
And this bit:
"Narrower than an inline four but longer, Honda’s V5s tend to operate in a kind of big-bang firing configuration that blends the horsepower of a high-revving multicyclinder engine with the v-twin’s ability to let the tyre grip the road better in between power pulses, aiding traction."
Hello?
The "big bang" thing is for racing - it's unlikely they'd adopt it for the road bikes, but use a staggered firing formation for smoothness instead. This is what they did for the VFR750 and VFR800. The 800 is supposedly derived from the RC45, but whereas the RC45 has each pair of pistons (they share crankpins) firing together, with a 360-degree firing order, to emulate a big twin, the RC46 doesn't: one piston is on exhaust, the other on compression. Although you can turn an RC36 (the 1990 to 1996 models) into a big bang engine very easily. Because the cam-drive gear is in the middle of the camshafts, you can remove the cam, flip it end-for-end, and voila! (A small, misspelled musical instrument.) Nothing else needs to be done, as the ignition sparks on every up stroke. A guy on one of the VFR forums in Mrka did it - turned his bike into a "twin twingle". He said it made the engine sound different, but it didn't affect performance much.

**Swoop** · 12th August 2008, 12:04

Originally Posted by vifferman

"with the v-twin’s ability to let the tyre grip the road better in between power pulses, aiding traction."

So... when "pulsing" the grip is bad?
Please Mr Honda. Can I have a bike that keeps traction with the road all the time?

**vifferman** · 12th August 2008, 12:11

Originally Posted by Swoop

So... when "pulsing" the grip is bad?
Please Mr Honda. Can I have a bike that keeps traction with the road all the time?

In MotoGp and superbike racing, where the bikes are largely tuned for peak power, when it hits it has a tendency to spin the tyre up. With a "big bang" engine, the power's not too much different to a "screamer" engine, but there's a gap between pulses, which tends to not spin the rear tyre up as much. (Hard to imagine, when they're doing 18k rpm, but that's the theory..)
It's one of the reasons Ducati was cleaning up in WSB, until the RC465 was converted to "big bang" mode. Then when Ducati was allowed a capacity increase, Honda had to go to a v-twin as well to catch up.
The MotoGP bikes are all set up as "big bang" engines, even the IL4s, apart from Kawasaki, who are playing with "screamers" to get more power. With being allowed sophisticated traction-control, the pulsed power delivery's not such a big deal.