Audible

Afaik, there are different versions of the slip on for the VFR. Genuine honda part O8F88-MJM-900 has the baffle fixed in place via a tack weld so that it can't be removed, easily. If you buy the Akrapovic as an aftermarket slip on, the baffle has a small 10mm bolt that can be undone and the baffle removed. The bolt to remove the baffle is in the end of the muffler, right next to the outlet on the left hand side on the inner wall of the tear drop shaped recess. Once you have removed the bolt, it's a tight fit and a bit hard to get out. I find it best if you push the outlet up/down and wiggle it out a bit at a time. It's not overly loud with it out, but gives the Vee four an awsome note.

I put a pair of T31's on my 8th gen at the start of Autumn here and rode daily thru one of our wettest winters, 160mm in August alone. They are far superior to the D222 OEM's in the wet. Under braking the D222's where constantly squirmng/activating the ABS under moderate braking where as the T31 require a deliberate noob grab/stomp on the brakes to get the ABS to activate. Under power, the D222 rear was easy to activate the traction control. Have been unable to do that with the T31 except briefly over a wet painted line on take off. As for grip in the corners, well I had the D222 rear sliding in the dry so I rode like a pussy in the wet on them. On the T31's I have been riding normally as I would in the wet and they feel good and confident and I'm sure I could push them a bit more if I wanted. Wear is good given i've done 4k km on them so far, all in the wet. Looks like they will put in a 15k km's life span. In the dry, I can't really offer an opinion on them, I've had so little time on them in the dry. There might be better tyres out there than the T31's. But one thing is for sure. They are an huge improvement over the D222's.

The top yoke nut on my 2016 8th generation is corroding and not looking great. Would be nice to replace it with something alloy/nicer/corrosion resistant, but I can't find what the spec is to order after market. The listings I can find are for earlier VFR's which is 24mm x 1.0mm thread pitch, but I can't find any listings for the 8th generation or what the thread is. So does anybody know what yoke nut I need or do I just order another OEM to corrode in another 18 months time? Edit: While I'm looking at the area, I pulled the black plastic bung in the top of the steering stem tube and found that was corroded as well, probably due to the plastic bung trapping water at the top. Any other 8th generation owners want to pull the steering stem plastic bung out and check for corrosion inside the steering stem tube?

Another tip when doing the lock cylinders, Masking tape. You have to do the full set of pins both sides. When you get one side right, you go to turn the cylinder over to do the other side, and the first side all drop out. So put a bit of masking taper over them to keep them in place. Then when you have both sides done, turn the cylinder so both sides are level, take the tape off, test with key, then into the barrel it goes.

No real mention of the price difference between the VFR-14 & Super sports. You could add a slip on, quick shifter and Lithium battery to the VFR, still be cheaper than the basic super sports and would compare a bit better being a little bit lighter, bit more power and sounding that much more awesome! You could even empty out 5 litres of fuel and take off the centre stand for another several kilo weight reduction. When the fuel guage reads empty, just fill up with 13 litres instead of 18 litres and voila, a 16 litre fuel tank just like a super sports!

Akrapovic. Since taking these pics, I have discovered that the Akrapovic sticker peels of fairly easily if you prefer. DB killer gives it an almost stock sound, fairly quiet to keep the neighbours happy. With it out, it sound just like a V4 VTEC should.

I have a Corolla? Oh wait, what's that out the back patio under a tarpaulin...It's a 2010 Corolla. Gee, forgot that was there! VFR Panniers & top box is for carrying clothing, helmets, camping gear, books, lap top and other assorted personal effects. Ducati luggage is for carrying tools, diagnostic equipment, spare parts, extra coolant, oil, breakdown membership card and satellite telephone in case you get 100km's before your first break down.

So which is the better bike? Honda VFR or Ducati Super sport? The Honda is cheaper, reliable, better pillion seat, dash, less vibration, includes a centre stand, bigger fuel tank, bigger panniers, two top box options and has adjustable riders seat height & handle bars. The Ducati has more power. ..and the winner is, The Ducati! Yay!!!! Whoohoo! Who care's if it will shake your teeth out, break down, can't carry anything larger than a tooth brush, has a 200km range and has a dash you can't read or make heads or tails off. ...It has more powa! Power always wins! Silly people who thought the VFR had a hope in hell against the Ducati Super sports! Ok, got that off my chest.

Here is an interesting way to compare the VFR to Supersport. Spend the same bucks on each. Price's would vary country to country, but here in Australia, for the price they want for the basic Super Sport, I can buy a VFR and; - Akrapovic slip on. - Quick shifter. - Lithium ion battery. - OEM panniers, bags, locks etc. - OEM 45 litre top box, carrier, plate, lock etc. - Hugger, radiator guard, tank pad, levers, bar ends & handle bar spacers. I could then take off the centre stand and the first time I pull into the petrol station when the fuel light comes on, only put 12.5l instead of 18l of fuel. That would give the VFR an extra 3kw, no weight gain, over 100 litres hard lockable luggage, a comfier riding position and some bling/protection all for the price of the SS ready to ride out the dealer yard stock as a rock. Track fun? Well the VFR still won't equal the SS on paper, but without the luggage the extra 3kw and -12kg approx will help narrow the gap. And if you compare the VFR DLX to the SS erm, S, then you'd have to get into some gold plating or something to get the VFR up to that price, or pay the insurance for the next 5 years. Or maybe buy the VFR stock and with the change, buy a second hand fireblade thou for the track. Again, prices will vary between countries, but here in Aus, I can buy a 2008-2011 CBR1000RR for the price difference between the VFR (only DLX here) and the Super Sport S ride away. Edit. Actually, for the price of the Super sport, I can buy the Kawasaki ZX-14. Yeah, it's heavier than the VFR or SS. But put helibars/luggage on them and they make a decent sports tourer and good luck trying to keep up with one on the road or track.

Erm, like wow. I didn't expect that from Honda. New gold wing? I expected wider, longer, heavier and even more accessories you could never ever use but that, that I didn't expect. Lighter, funkier, better looking. Well done Honda! I'll keep my VFR though.

The VFR just doesn't come across as a "wheelie" bike to myself. My previous bike Kawasaki ER-6n is a 650cc Naked. Nakeds imho are a "hooligan" sort of bike, they just seem right to wheelie to myself over a sports tourer such as the VFR. I used to wheelie the ER-6n a lot, usually just a very low carry or bounce, but occasionally I'd put some serious air under the front tyre, right up to balance point. Wheelies and Nakeds imho go together. I've wheelied the VFR a couple of times, with the TC on and felt it spank my right hand, and a couple of time with it off just to say that I did it. But it just seems to myself that the VFR just isn't for doing wheelies on. I have lots of fun on mine chucking it around corners and cracking the throttle open & QS gear changes to make the V4 sing!

My take on ABS is that it's a great training tool to teach you to never need it. If you practice your braking, having ABS is a great way to find your traction threshold with confidence. On a non ABS bike, you'll be worried about locking the front up and potentially crashing so some riders may never find that threshold and never reach the full potential of their bike's brakes. On an ABS bike, you can practice braking deeper and deeper until you feel the ABS kick in and then you know that you've reached the threshold.

Well I just noticed that Akrapovic have added a new product on their web site, a different slip on for the 2017 8th gen. The part number, weights & power figures are different between the two; 2016 S-H8S03-HRT 72.7/75.8kw, 73.8/76.4nm, weight of 2.4kg compared to stock 4.9kg. 2017 S-H8S04-HRT 71.0/72.8, 70.1/71.4nm, weight of 2.3kg compared to stock 4.6kg. Akrapovic supply dyno sheets for both slip on's so assuming they use the same dyno & parameters, it indicates a bit of a difference between 2014-2016 & 2017 models, probably due to the 2017's Euro 4 compliance. I guess that the Akrapovic slip on is an OEM in Europe so, is there a different Honda part number for the 2017 now? http://www.akrapovic.com/#!/motorcycle/products?brandId=30&modelId=137&phaseId=1

You can also take off the centre stand. That would be worth 3-4 pounds? Mostly though, if you stop eating those cheese burgers.....

Ah ok, I missed your tongue in cheek. I usually loose 2-3 kilo's in Summer. I'm 5ft 8 and currently 77kg, usually 75kg in Summer so I'm not that much over ideal BMI. No, really, I'm not!