Question on which Honda for F3

[lostinflyz]

The CBR if you are tall (Aye Deano and Stevie? And I mean they are lanky, not fat) the VFR if you are small (Isn't that right Nicky?) the RVF if you are rich (Errrr... Don't know anyone..).

Since I know the RVF the best, I'll make some sweeping statements that are bound to be incorrect.

What you do have in the RVF is brakes and handling, what you don't have is power.

I'm pretty sure you can make some serious power with it. The problem is that muffer has to come off, but then your fuelling is all up the poo. So you need an expert. Then you are out of money. Then you find a big bore kit, but you shove it under your bed because you don't have the money to get it done properly.

yea that sounds about right. tuning a VFr/rvf is a bit of black art and alot of pain. and big bore is only for those rolling in money or with little else going on in life. but ive always been fond of grenades

[roadracingoldfart]

between the two options you give, VFR is better than RVF in my opinion.....
jury is still out as to weather CBR is faster than the VFR... ay stevie

I can answer that one Nicki......
Stevies CBR is a whale and mine is (as you know ) faster hehehe and thats always going to be the case


I prefer the CBR as i own one and as i also have to work on them i can say with honesty that the V4s are just a shitty project to undertake due to the design. The CBR is a breeze by comaprison to work on. Just try to fit a set of carbs to a V4 and then call me wrong !!!

As for the 17 inch wheel , you can get the tyres in this size but you will pay a slight premium for the honour.
CBR will fit many other Honda wheels where the VFR is a bit more of a trick as there was only a few models with them so rarity is an issue.

Either way it is alot of fun and F3 is getting to be a big class with the option to cross enter into Post Classic Junior if you buy a pre 89 model.

Paul.

[roadracingoldfart]

[QUOTE=limbimtimwim;1714765]The CBR if you are tall (Aye Deano and Stevie? And I mean they are lanky, not fat) the VFR if you are small (Isn't that right Nicky?) the RVF if you are rich (Errrr... Don't know anyone..).

QUOTE]

Hell man , im 6 foot 2 inches and i fit perfectly onto the CBR, the VFR makes me look like (and feel like ) Mr Bean on a bad posture day.


Paul

[limbimtimwim]

Just try to fit a set of carbs to a V4 and then call me wrong !!!

Ick! There is a trick/horrible hack involving a small screwdriver to make it easier. But I still hate it.

Hell man , im 6 foot 2 inches and i fit perfectly onto the CBR, the VFR makes me look like (and feel like ) Mr Bean on a bad posture day.

That's what I mean, 6"2' is lanky, and it seems lanky types fit on the CBR well. I think the CBR400 was physically larger than it needed to be.

[Clivoris]

I'm having shitloads of fun on my CBR, but I have discovered that it can be a challenge keeping a 20 year old bike running well. That too is part of the fun. I imagine that what others have said about the V4s being even more challenging (and expensive) may be true.

[jnr]

I'm 6"3 so might be a squeeze on the VFR!!

[jnr]

I'm having shitloads of fun on my CBR, but I have discovered that it can be a challenge keeping a 20 year old bike running well. That too is part of the fun. I imagine that what others have said about the V4s being even more challenging (and expensive) may be true.

I know what you mean, the FZR went fine but finding that certain part always seemed to end up in one getting fabricated or something newer used.

[limbimtimwim]

I'm 6"3 so might be a squeeze on the VFR!!

Try it though. You aren't exactly riding SH1 Wellington to Auckland non-stop.

[mark247]

I'm 6"3 so might be a squeeze on the VFR!!

im 6"2 and i fit on my VFR, just...

pic of proof

[JJ58]

Hey good idea to ask around on this matter. I've owned a VFR before and I fitted an RS250 rear wheel to it. They are a lot of performance mods for both the RVF and VFR. You could by them all and spend around $40K plus and you'll have a bike that has less performance than a stock engined SV.

In terms of getting into racing, don't handicap yourself by getting something that's not competitive. Look at what's at the front of the field and get a similiar bike.

If you really want to buck the system and run a Honda then some suggestions are:

A sleeved down CBR600, that's lightened to the hilt,
A RS125 spec CRF450,
A RS125 Spec CR500
Ummm, err, that's where I run out of ideas...... It'll most likely be cheaper to sleeve a 600 down than what it would be to build up a competitive CBR400.

...My 2 cents worth anyway.

[lostinflyz]

Hey good idea to ask around on this matter. I've owned a VFR before and I fitted an RS250 rear wheel to it. They are a lot of performance mods for both the RVF and VFR. You could by them all and spend around $40K plus and you'll have a bike that has less performance than a stock engined SV.

In terms of getting into racing, don't handicap yourself by getting something that's not competitive. Look at what's at the front of the field and get a similiar bike.

If you really want to buck the system and run a Honda then some suggestions are:

A sleeved down CBR600, that's lightened to the hilt,
A RS125 spec CRF450,
A RS125 Spec CR500
Ummm, err, that's where I run out of ideas...... It'll most likely be cheaper to sleeve a 600 down than what it would be to build up a competitive CBR400.

...My 2 cents worth anyway.

Thats not fully true. i mean a 400 race bike is under 3 grand generally pretty sorted. any of your options you would first have to source the bits (what 10+ grand for a 600, similar for a motard and old RS125) and do all the work which is time and or money. for 5 grand you could pretty easily source out a 450 kit to get the snot or tune up your 400 motor a long way and itd be as much work as any of the others. and still alot cheaper.

if you wanna go front running you have to spend 30 grand (look at the SV boys at the front). for 30 grand you can make alot of things pretty competitive. especially in f3.

its def. not a 40K experience to get a stock SV motor matched. it wouldn't even cost a tenth of that.

but in f3 a better rider will beat 9/10 other bikes there no matter what hes riding. Its generally a starter class anyway. if you wanna go competivie (nationals) you need to do it on a SV and spend 20+ grand. but eric de boar has proved a ZXR450 can beat most the field. and then you gotta get up to william's level.

[JJ58]

Thats not fully true. i mean a 400 race bike is under 3 grand generally pretty sorted. any of your options you would first have to source the bits (what 10+ grand for a 600, similar for a motard and old RS125) and do all the work which is time and or money. for 5 grand you could pretty easily source out a 450 kit to get the snot or tune up your 400 motor a long way and itd be as much work as any of the others. and still alot cheaper.

if you wanna go front running you have to spend 30 grand (look at the SV boys at the front). for 30 grand you can make alot of things pretty competitive. especially in f3.

its def. not a 40K experience to get a stock SV motor matched. it wouldn't even cost a tenth of that.

but in f3 a better rider will beat 9/10 other bikes there no matter what hes riding. Its generally a starter class anyway. if you wanna go competivie (nationals) you need to do it on a SV and spend 20+ grand. but eric de boar has proved a ZXR450 can beat most the field. and then you gotta get up to william's level.

I know the past two owners of Eric's bike, and there's a lot that's gone into it. Also, I've seen a lot of very fast VFR's with lots of $$ thrown at them, and I'd doubt if any of them would even touch a pro twins bike.... Plus they're ticking hand genandes (remember to factor in a motor rebuild in your purchase price for a 400). That's why I think the best bang for buck would be a stock SV with a few mods, or some of the other suggestions I made (depending on the time you want to put into prepping). Plus SV's are easier and more plesant to race for an amatuer.

Honestly, if you look at the cost of setting up a F3 winning SV I think you'll be shocked at how cheap it is.... I think $30+k is a huge over exaggeration unless they're running WSB forks or something crazy like that, but you really wouldn't need that for F3..... Remember the motor's are stock, so that helps reliability..... A reasonably fresh ebay motor costs around $800USD.

But then if you just want to make up numbers then anything cheap would be great.

400's are only raced in vintage here, so it's funny that they're still being raced in a NZ national series..... I like the Kiwi attitude!!

[Shaun]

I agree with what jj is saying

Buy a 400, and get ya arse kicked, unless you have spent a shit load on it

I can and do build and sell, SV650 bikes, with full GSXR front end, and Penske rear shock, Body work, pipe, footpegs, stearing damper ( different brand than before)

$12k normally is the going price

Next one finished in 2 weeks from now

[jnr]

I understand what you guys mean, I'm not looking to get straight to the top - heck, if I qualify I'll be happy - but I do want something reliable with a bit of poke.

I had previously looked at the idea of sleeving down a 600 the advantages are you clearly have a modern bike with all the bells and whistles. I have seen a few 450 kits in action, some reliable others just grenades popping at any given chance (more development/homework reqd)

I was heading down the VFR/RVF track just for something a little different out there but might have to refocus with something that "is less hassle". I enjoy F3 just for the fact you can do what ever you want so long as you meet the two rules in place for the class.

This used to lead to a class with two different kinds of people, the first would would tune their 400/450 to the hills, have all sorts of later/exotic parts fitted and just develop the bike over a few seasons and then you had the ones who just turned the key of an SV, with minor mods, although now Pro Twin has taken that away.

So, might have to look at other options that are around also, but still something a little out of left field.

[TonyB]

All this is a bit of a moot point unless we know your budget.

Here's a spanner in the works.... if you REALLY want something different, get a Ducati 750SS. As long as its carburetted you can run it in F3. You can also run it in BEARS if there is a series in your area

Just don't do what I did and buy a Monster M750- too much development required.