When is the VFR1000 going hit our stores

[nudemetalz]

About 1985! And I owned one!!

I remember riding one of these back in 1989. Had a nice loud 4:1.
Awesome machine, great looking and I would think, very collectable nowadays.

[vifferman]

I remember riding one of these back in 1989. Had a nice loud 4:1.
Awesome machine, great looking and I would think, very collectable nowadays.

I met a guy a couple of weekends ago, with a ratty old VF1000R he'd had a few months. It wasn't running properly on two cylinders, so I lent him a screwdriver to drain the carbs. When he cranked it up, I couldn't believe how loud it was.

His previous bike was a GN250, and he said it was "a lot more powerful, and then I found out it was only running on two cylinders. When I fixed those... "

Oh yeah - and he was going through a rear tyre every month or so. "LUckily I get them cheap ($130). But I must learn to take off a bit more gently!"

[nudemetalz]

The VF1000R was the first bike to come out with a radial rear tyre as standard.
Yes, my mate Mark was replacing tyres on his at an alarming rate back then.
Heavy bike and lots of torque.

[nudemetalz]

this is nice...

[limbimtimwim]

Well if it's anything like the 'phake', it certainly won't look bad. Almost a worthy replacement to the RC-45. Almost, but not quite.

I dunno man, this looks good to me.

http://www2.solomoto.es/noticia.asp?ref=5094

I live in hope.

[Qkchk:Me]

When anf IF it every does come out - Sign me up for a test ride baby!

[Reckless]

It's not coming - there've been rumours like this since before the VTec model came out.
The VFR was supposed to have been upgraded for 2006, as part of a four-year model cycle that had been in place since 1982. Instead we got clear indicators and a few other cosmetic changes.

There are a couple of inferences you can make from this; either Honda are going to continue like this until sales drop off and then ditch the VFR altogether (like they're doing with the VTR1000), or they're working on something really radical.
The first option is the most likely, as the VFR has never been a big seller.
The second option is scary, because if you take cues from what they did with the VTec, it's likely to be something really 'eco-friendly' that's an evolution from just cutting out valves at low revs/small throttle openings to dropping whole cylinders.

I for one would like to see a VFR that has a larger displacement engine, better suspension and brakes, adustable seat, handlebars, footpegs and levers, but it's very unlikely. Because Honda san has used the VFR as a technological showcase of sorts, this usually makes it expensive to produce, so savings are made elsewhere to keep the price down. The nett result is that while it's a great all-rounder, it doesn't sparkle enough to generate the sales needed to keep the development going.

Dunno viffer there is some logic in my theory that if they take Moto GP as there race category then the High performance future will be 800cc. So the CBR1000 racer becomes the CBR800 racer. You then drop the CBR1000, VFR800 and the VTR1000 and do a fast sport/tourer more along the lines of the ZX12r. Now that would appeal to many. The guys who like to not risk instant loss of their license the whole trip (110-140) but want to have a good squirt along a chosen straight or through some twisties a couple of times each ride.
How many of us are like that I wonder!! 90%
For a lot of riders the present CBR1000 is to much, I'd bet there's only 5 people on the whole of KB that can ride one even to 95% of its limit. The VFR800 is a bit too tourer, the VTR is bloody great but at the end of its time.

If they can make a 1000 with VFR traits and bit of CBR mongrel its a winner I reckon.

Dunno but a capable fast 1000 is logical their future for me!!!!

[vifferman]

The VFR800 is a bit too tourer, the VTR is bloody great but at the end of its time.

Having owned both, the VFR is a much better bike all round, including sports riding. The only thing the VTR is better for is wheelies.

If they can make a 1000 with VFR traits and bit of CBR mongrel its a winner I reckon.

Dunno but a capable fast 1000 is logical their future for me!!!!

There's really no reason why Honda couldn't take one motor (say a 1-litre V5) and make more than one bike from it: say, a shaft-drive sport-tourer, a race replica, and a detuned, naked hooligan machine. Ditch the VTR, the CBR1100XX, the CBR1000RR, the CB1100/1300 and Hornet 900, and bring out a VFR1000ST, a VFR1000RR, and a VFR Wombat/Termite/Buzzard/Fugu (or similar animal/insect/bird/fish name).

[Reckless]

Having owned both, the VFR is a much better bike all round, including sports riding. The only thing the VTR is better for is wheelies.


There's really no reason why Honda couldn't take one motor (say a 1-litre V5) and make more than one bike from it: say, a shaft-drive sport-tourer, a race replica, and a detuned, naked hooligan machine. Ditch the VTR, the CBR1100XX, the CBR1000RR, the CB1100/1300 and Hornet 900, and bring out a VFR1000ST, a VFR1000RR, and a VFR Wombat/Termite/Buzzard/Fugu (or similar animal/insect/bird/fish name).

Your first point is personal preference, I wondered if I'd find that response forthcoming. I have a very good riding buddy with a 20th Anniversey model and he has just recvd, last week, his brand new blue, red and white 25th anniversery addition. Which he got in directly from the USA himself. I felt his VFR was great but I personally felt a bit more sporty riding my VTR than his VFR. But again personal prefrence. I doubt I'd ever convince you of my opinion and it probably comes down to riding position alone and I liked the twin.

To your second point you could be quite correct, it makes sense, or we both could be, who knows. It will be interesting to see the outcome.
Its because it suits my impression of my personal riding style that a sport based VFR1000 (the ones in the pics look bias this way) suit my dream of what the perfect bike should be. And would send me scrambling towards the bank account. I was sad they dropped the ZX12r before I could afford one or maybe they dropped it because there is no market for it and I'm completly off track!
Who knows we can only wait and see?

[huck farley]

mmmmm Interesting feedback. I read somewhere also that Honda sales are plummeting world wide. As they seem to have been sitting on their hands for to long. So now they have to play catchup, to the rest of the Jappo motorcycle companies.

Let's face it the rest of the rice rocket manufacturers are streets ahead of Honda.

As far as I can tell, Honda motorcycles have been around for to long without radical changes, just the odd face lift here and there. So it wouldn't surprise me if they did get of there arse and turn out some real classy bikes, to which they are very capable of doing!!

Plus with the best build to boast of all the rice rockets I sincerely hope the rumor mill is heading in the right direction. So therefore producing some fine new Honda bikes.

Also is it true that the Blackbird is getting the chop and is being discontinued. Is there any truth in that??????

[SlowHand]

Dunno viffer there is some logic in my theory that if they take Moto GP as there race category then the High performance future will be 800cc.

For a lot of riders the present CBR1000 is to much, I'd bet there's only 5 people on the whole of KB that can ride one even to 95% of its limit.

Pfft, i can nearly pull the clutch lever in ALL the way back on the gixxer, which, we all know, equals 100 CBR1000s

I would have thought the superbikes were where the road sprots bikes originate from. We never really saw a 990cc with fancy bits or a 500 2stroke with mega power and handling.

Ditch the VTR, the CBR1100XX, the CBR1000RR, the CB1100/1300 and Hornet 900, and bring out a VFR1000ST, a VFR1000RR, and a VFR Wombat/Termite/Buzzard/Fugu (or similar animal/insect/bird/fish name).

I vote VFR Pingu, and a Bingo.

[vifferman]

Your first point is personal preference, I wondered if I'd find that response forthcoming.

Well, it's a tricky one.
Don't get me wrong - I really enjoyed my VTR, and miss it. But riding them back-to-back (which I've done several times over the years, including on the track), the VFR is a better bike, all things considered, and makes the VTR feels like a budget bike in comparison. They're close to the same weight, handling is almost the same, peak power's the same, the VTR just has more torque and feels a bit more slim and frisky.
When I rode both at Pukekohe, I was faster on the VTR, because it felt better in the corners and accelerated a bit harder. But (however!) I reckon I could go as quick on my VFR now that it's properly fettled.

Let's face it the rest of the rice rocket manufacturers are streets ahead of Honda.

As far as I can tell, Honda motorcycles have been around for to long without radical changes, just the odd face lift here and there.

That's not actually quite correct. The CBRs are still up there, and it seems that's where a lot of Honda's R&D seems to be going. The CBR600RR is a very good bike, lighter than the other Jap 600's, and with better mid-range torque. I can't speak about the 1000, but I'd be surprised if it lags behind the other makes for speed, handling and (most importantly!) everyday rideability (which is where Honda's usually shine).

Also is it true that the Blackbird is getting the chop and is being discontinued. Is there any truth in that??????

Quite probably.
It wasn't listed as a 2007 model for Mrka (neither was the VTR), but it's still current for Urp and Australasia.

It's rather telling that neither the Blackbird nor the Firestorm have received any significant updates for a while. The Blackbird got EFI and updated brakes etc a few years back, and the Firestorm got a new dash, bigger tank, and revised ergos ages ago, and that's it. You can't tell me either of them are perfect. I suspect Honda will keep dribbling them out to dealers until sales drop right off, then (hopefully) something new will pop out of the woodwork. I doubt whether a v-twin will be included as they're harder to get to comply with emissions regulations (noise and pollution). If they're not big sellers, why bother? But sadly, they're not big sellers largely because they haven't evolved.

[jrandom]

I met a guy a couple of weekends ago, with a ratty old VF1000R he'd had a few months. It wasn't running properly on two cylinders, so I lent him a screwdriver to drain the carbs.

Oh, is that what it was! I should have hung around and come over for a squiz.

Buggrit!

(I didn't end up catching that 600 anyway...)

[Reckless]

They're close to the same weight, handling is almost the same, peak power's the same, the VTR just has more torque and feels a bit more slim and frisky.
When I rode both at Pukekohe, I was faster on the VTR, because it felt better in the corners and accelerated a bit harder. .

Ahem!! Exactly! Hehe You shouldn't point your gun at your foot my friend! LOL

That's not actually quite correct. The CBRs are still up there, and it seems that's where a lot of Honda's R&D seems to be going. The CBR600RR is a very good bike, lighter than the other Jap 600's, and with better mid-range torque. I can't speak about the 1000, but I'd be surprised if it lags behind the other makes for speed, handling and (most importantly!) everyday rideability (which is where Honda's usually shine).

AS usuall the're HONDA BASHING! Bloody silly really I don't get this Honda bashing thing. Only Ducati has beaten Honda. Honda 2nd in the SBK and MOTO GP so on actual results they are The BEST of the rice rockets and to the PFFT comment suzuki where only 4th in both competitions.
And all thats from a Kawasaki man!

[Drunken Monkey]

Only Ducati has beaten Honda. Honda 2nd in the SBK and MOTO GP so on actual results they are The BEST of the rice rockets and to the PFFT comment suzuki where only 4th in both competitions.
And all thats from a Kawasaki man!

Those top level racers are nothing like road bikes. It's like comparing your average used Commodore form Moyes with last year's Bathurst winner - i.e. utterly useless shit.
When it comes to race winning performance from a bike you can actually buy from the dealer's down the road, well you only have to see what the local champions are riding - Suzuki owns the competition.