LoopRider

The first VFR I ever owned was the 1200 and I have found it to be a great bike. It has also awakened my interest in other VFRs and the general history of Honda V4s. Now also as an owner of an earlier VFR, I know the 1200 deserves and is a good chapter in a proud VFR story.

So it is interesting to see forum posters concerned about the poor sales rate of the VFR1200 in the USA and more recently no new model years. This is simply part of the VFR tradition going all the way back to 1986. The 1200 is a quality well designed road sport machine that was designed in its own tradition, not following the market trend. The original VFR750 was not a major market success in the US either but still became a cult bike that people hold on to for many years.

Greg Pullen in the history of the Honda V4 notes that despite the Honda VFR750F "... winning the Best 750cc sportsbike award from Cycle World an accolade it would win again and again ... the VFR did not live up to sales expectations in the US market. Indeed, some 1986 models were still available after the 1987 versions had arrived ... For 1987 only, the 700 version was imported to the US, but no VFRs at all came into the USA during 1988 and 1989".

Sound familiar?

Honda generally back themselves with their innovation ie the VFR, the ST and the Goldwing. None of these bikes were market followers, they created new niches which are still here today. They are often highly refined, quality items with good reputations for reliability.

So I would not be too worried by its lack of sale's success. We are just experiencing a reasonably predictable part of the Honda story. Critically the VFR1200 is generally highly acclaimed, not unlike the original VFR. See UK Bike magazine rating the 1200 as 5 stars, and it prevailed in the original Motorcycle USA comparison with the BMW K1300S which is a similar design brief.

I think in the end it will become acknowledged as a special bike but it will take a long long time, just as it still is for the original VFR750 which many classic bike magazines are only just beginning to acknowledge. In the end the original CB750 became a classic and so has the originally maligned and very poor selling CBX1000. So in the meantime, until I am proved right, I will just have keep clocking up many enjoyable miles on the big beast, maybe using the money I save from not having to upgrade to buy one of those very original 1986 Interceptors, in red, white and blue of course!

I have the early model, says the tank can take 18.5 litres. I can get close to that without having run dry, 17.9 the most I put in once. Touring, solo, full panniers and top box. Gets 280-290 km if I leave it that long.

I normally fill up around 250-270. Just seems to be when everyone else is stopping or where a logical gas station is. Rare in NZ to have a stretch longer than that without a fuel station on the route.

This looks a fun thread, birds are obviously very ballistic and the feathers clearly unable to absorb much of the force.

I hit an unshorn sheep once. There are a few around here and some of the fencing in the remote parts leaves a bit to be desired. Lucky I was travelling at less than 100 kph, came around a corner when confronted by a line of four of the woolly absconders. I went hard on the brakes so must have taken even more speed off before glancing one sheep on the left. It shot up the fairing, hit me in the leg and bounced across the road.

No damage to the bike, and I stayed on. I could not believe it, and looked in the rear vision mirrors to see the sheep get up and run off. Great brakes and very stable these VFR1200s.

Nice in blue. Think about a change in the muffler, they sound great with an aftermarket. Welcome to the big VFR club.

Ouch! might wait for sale day on that one.

My apologies for techno incompetence. I cannot quite work out on the Ipad what the link is, but it comes up first in Amazon if you use 'Greg Pullen Honda' as the search. And the price seems to have changed, now to just over nz$13. Maybe it was a sale day? I would still buy it.

The book? Honda V4 : The complete Four-Stroke Story

The writer? Greg Pullen

I found this searching Honda on Amazon. For $8 you get an electronic Kindle version. This book is close to a complete history of Honda itself as Greg sets the scene for the evolution of the V4 against Honda's racing ambitions, Soichiro Honda's engineering quirkiness and the wider culture of the Honda Motor Company. It is a must have for any VFR owner. Very recent as it covers the 8th Generation VFR800. Has an excellent graphic of a VFR1200 too ...

Thank you. And people here think vacation USA is just theme parks, movie stars and Vegas. I am now educated. Stunning.

UK Bike magazine rates them.

Just recently bought two Givi bags, one a very small one handy for short trips and the other a 25 litre bag which swallows a full size helmet.

What I have found useful with having more than one bike is the interchangeable system once you have the tanklocks on. Swapping them around between bikes is a breeze. I have just done a 4000 km tour using the large bag and it was great, except it obscured my GPS. A longer stalk on the ram mount would fix that.

The side pockets are useful for pressure gauges, sunscreen, ferry tickets and the like without having to dive into your main luggage. I find it easy to carry around using the safety strap which locks around the steering stem. This also works as well as a shoulder strap.

It also comes with a separate IPad case which clips on top or fits in side. There is a rubber sealed access for an external charger as well if you have a socket fitted.

On shorter trips I find myself just using the smaller one. There is also a mid size which looks closer to the OEM bag.

I did use the raincover during one wet run and it is easy to put on. However I have often been in the rain without it and so far it does not leak. I think it is just sufficiently shielded by the fairing.

They are quite easy to lock on the bike with small padlocks.

VFR 800 2001 model - bar risers, double bubble screen, heated grips and air hawk saddle. I could ride this bike forever

Triumph Street Triple - the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

ST1100. If only it was lighter to push round a car park. Comfy, fast enough, perfect tourer.

Glendon is the closest to my view. Triumph Street Triple for the tight windy road loops around my home, A good early generation VFR for the 'everything and anything' machine (as Bike magazine agreed, the best allrounder of the last 30 years) and the VFR1200 as your modern 'Grand Turismo' special. When someone says 'Come away for a few days, we will do a mixture of A + B roads and we may need to do a final haul of 1000 kms on the last day to make the ferry' it is always the Veefaloo I choose. The fairing, the motor, the sound and low maintenance shaft drive wins when it handles so much better than a ST. On top of that, the discounted ones were incredible value for the money. Second hand they still make sense. A well engineered bargain fun machine, as long as you fit an aftermarket pipe.

A pleasure just to read the process. The art of craft is not lost! Thanks.

... And I am not sure this is a fake weld ... Looks and feels real ...

Here is a frame that I never tire of ... nothing cheesy or fake here ...

Yes he does appreciate a good V4. Spoke with Aaron Slight by chance today and he said he raced it completely stock including the tyres. He thinks he came 5th on the Hill Climb against the likes of Cam Donald on open class 1000cc machines. Not bad for a sport tourer! I shot some photos with my camera of the rear tyre, still looks very good condition. I will upload those once I get home. The bike is just sitting at the Honda dealer today before he races it at Teretonga Raceway tomorrow. I could not help but pose for a photo, a nice looking bike these 800s.

At the Burt Munro Challenge Hill Climb today, former Superbike Racer Aaron Slight was racing a new model of the VFR800. Picture from Bike Rider Magazine Facebook Page

Bike magazine thinks it was an instant classic, however if you go off prices (in NZ at least) good first generation VFRs do not sell for much over residual (unlike rc30, CBX1000s, K1 Cb750 etc). Is it simply not old enough yet? Or looks too modern?

I have put 17.9 litres into mine one time after 292 km ... it was still running but I must have been close ...

Currently the VFR1200 is just good enough that I have not traded it. I was hoping and maybe I am holding off for something more than just a revised colour scheme. It would not have taken much for me to uograde to a 2015 VFR1200 if just a two or more of the following things were new features -

- 30 kgs lighter,

- 3 litre bigger tank,

- Bosch brakes and traction that work when on a lean,

- cruise control

Looks good.

Just as an indicator, a VF1000R sold on New Zealand Trademe (like Ebay) for $NZ5300 last week. It was an 1987, from a collection, very good but not pristine condition (as best as I could tell). Had 40kms on clock. Our dollar only worth 4/5 of a $US. That compares to the earlier CB1100R where someone is asking $12000.

Thanks guys, yes my OEM bags on the VFR1200F are great. I have taken them through torrential rain and no leaking. And I love the fact no racks required to fit them.

Unfortunately they are a different bag to what Honda offers for the Cross Tourer (VFR1200X) and the F bags do not fit. Apparently the Top box has a zip like closure and can let water in according to Bike magazine. They recommended the Givi set instead. However I have seen one for sale with the OEM bags and wondering how good they would be, if anyone has ridden them in the rain?

Has anyone had these for a reasonable number of kms? How durable? Are they waterproof in heavy rain? I read in an article the zip on the top box lets rain in? Any feedback be appreciated as I am thinking about trading the F on an X after a test ride today. Thanks.

Time to test the 8th Gen against my stable - and the final conclusion is? I want more VFRs!

The Gen 8 is better than I expected. It has handling in the corners nearly as good as a latest Triumph Street Triple with the suspension feeling even more composed than the Street Triple. Honda know how to do OEM suspension! The 50 km loop included some really bumpy fast corners posted as 45 kph and I was able to calmly go around at 90 as I can on the Triple.

The 8 Gen engine still reminds me of the 1st Generation which I rode back to back. Both pull from low rpm as if they were a refined V Twin. The Gen 8 though has an excellent second 'character' as it moves past about 8000 rpm and then it feels faster. This is at least as intoxicating as the sound of a Triple on the cam. No whirr of cams though, and I love that on the old bike.

The Gen 8 is very smooth too, not quite as turbine smooth as the Triple but I think I like that better. Way smoother than an inline four. I rode the latest CBR1000 straight after the Gen 8, which felt tingly in comparison (of course much faster again but I like my licence). Honda V Fours have ruined me for Inline fours.

Pity about the exhaust pipe though, too discrete, the sound of the Gen 1 is much nicer, however I am sure the right Two Brothers pipe would fix that. The Gen 8 is way more stable at any speed than the Gen 1, not that it is bad, just 25 years later, things are very secure. Very confidence inspiring and even in too high a gear, I felt I could just let it track with no assistance from the throttle. Nice if your entry is bit fast but you want to keep it smooth. Quickish steering but stable at speed, nice mix!

The power delivery is more progressive on the Gen 8 than a Street Triple however less than the 1st Gen. I am thinking it might be a better bike for my wife than the Street Triple which she finds a bit abrupt on the power.

The seat on the Gen 8 seems firmer but I only rode each 50km so not sure what long term comfort is like. I am thinking this is a very good bike, but not a replacement for my VFR1200F as I first thought, nor a replacement for the Gen 1, more a replacement for our Street Triple. The lower seat height options will probably cover of the weight difference.

I need a demo longer than 45 minutes though!

MCN writes ... "You can’t go far wrong when you start with a Honda VFR1200 engine and electronics, so it’s no surprise the Ace’s lump is a peach, developing linear power, with glitch-free fuelling, and a nice kick at the top end."

Sums up why after riding a smaller VFR or something like a Triumph Triple, I still feel the need to jump on the 1200 and go once more around the block. There is something about this motor and Ariel obviously get that. The fact they keep the shaft drive and the brakes also says something about the original machine as well. Going forward it will be interesting to see if this motivates Honda.

Cleary there is more potential. And the motor looks good out in the open ... maybe Honda would consider a K1300R type competitor.