Two Brothers C-4 aluminum slip on, Second Look tank cover.
Plenty of torque and power in the lower RPM range. Smooth acceleration all the way up the powerband, a real testament to fuel injection. Don't get the same high rev rush as a inline 4 though.
Excellent brakes, LBS is almost invisible. 'Til you need to panic stop, then they really shine.
Very good for a bike this size, 525 pounds wet weight. You can hang with 600's thru the twisties. Rides on a rail well into 3 digit speeds.
I suppose we'll not see a 1000cc VFR in the near future. Honda announced the 2002 VFR 800 V-tec this week, boosting MPG and torque along with nice new styling. As far as comfort goes it cannot be beat. I test rode a ZX-12,CBR1100XX and a Busa. The Viffer won hands down in that department. If you are longer limbed like me,(6'4" at 250lbs)you"ll appreciate the extra squirm room.
Stock California Spec 781cc VFour
The VFR's on/off throttle fuel-injection is excellent and provides confidence in twisties. Low End torque is good. It won't rip the front tire off the ground like the R1 I've ridden, but you get going very, very quickly. From 6 - 8K RPM's the acceleration will push you to the back of the seat. From 8 - 12K RPM's the acceleration is awesome. I've read many reviews from professional open class riders about how the vfr power is not up to par for racing, but encourage prospective buyers to look at the actual numbers. The quarter mile times between open class bikes are rarely more than .5 seconds faster than the vfr's 11.16 seconds. This bike puts its 100hp and 55 ft/lbs of torque to the ground very well. I ride with other, larger-displacement sportbikes all the time and power is never an issue. In fact, when I actually was able to spend time on an R1 and an RC51, I was shocked that their power wasn't that much more than my stock VFR's. Unless your heading to the track, the speed of this bike is limited by only two things: the condition of the road and the rider's abilities. (Oh, and the 150mph limiter of course!)
The linked brakes work very well. I have never subscribed to using the back brakes when at speed. On this bike you can two finger the front brake lever and the linked Honda brake system hits all the front calipers and one of the back. It's virtually invisible to the rider except when under extremely hard braking. Then you'll feel the entire bike squat down a little more during deceleration rather than pivoting forward up onto the front tire as much as other bikes. The stability this adds to the mix is great. I've entered a turn too tight and had the back wheel slide and raise up off the ground a bit (my fault, not the bikes) and the bike holds its composure. Definitely a 9.5 out of 10.
The bike will lean over with composure and scrape the pegs at speed any day of the week. On the same note, it will ride two-up in relative comfort for 200 miles at a time (which is when you need to stop and get gas anyway) all day long. I am 6'2" 190 lbs, abuse this bike in Southern California canyons every weekend and have not felt the limits of its chassis. The road conditions and weather typically set the limits. Flickability is not as light or quick as an R1, but quick, stable and accurate - nonetheless. And comfortable, did I mention that?
I ride this bike on the streets. My reason for buying the VFR over similarly priced open-classers was for its performance on the street. On top of the performance details mentioned above, the VFR gives you: Comfort - The more upright seating angle of the VFR is great for day trips. The R1 and RC51 kill your wrists after 15 miles of riding. How fun is having to stop and get circulation back to your fingers every 20 minutes? Range - And you don't have to stop every 120 miles to get gas. Count on around 200 miles or more between fillups. Looks - This is a smooth sexy looking bike. I stripped the decals. And the single sided swing arm makes people complement and ask me what type of bike it is all the time. The new 2002 looks interesting, but I'll keep the yellow 2000. In summary, if I ever move and live closer to a race track, I might consider buying an open class track instrument, but for riding on the streets the VFR is unmatched.
List the modifications on this bike. Mods include: High mount Two Bros round aluminum exhaust can, Targa touring windscreen and black tank bra, Heli-bars, Corbin seat, Hyper-pro progressive fork springs with 20w fork oil, Penske triple adjustable racing shock, BT56SS tires, Afam sprockets and Gold X-ring chain, Power Commander II with timing advance, PIAA hyper white headlight bulbs, rear fender cut and reshaped, Motul Semi-synthetic motor oil, Motul 5.1 brake fluid in the brake and clutch system. I think that is it.
Impressions: This bike is the best bike that I have ever owned. It does everything right riding at about 9/10's. My bike has 22000 miles on it and its runs great. The best improvement has been the suspension and tire change(came stock with Dunlop 204's). I can run with all of the 600's and all but the very best of the open class bikes in the twisty stuff. I must admit that the bike does not like the very tight, first gear, extreme lean stuff(feels like the front wants to tuck if not careful). The LBS brakes give great balance and feel although the front brakes feel a little spongy. I do wish it had a little more power, but the weight give the bike a real planted feel. First gear wheelies using the thottle are never a problem due to the good power and great throttle response(FI is great). Second gear wheelies using the throttle are also good with a small rise in the roadway. Also great for long rides.
Feel, Strength
Bagmaster Tank Cover and Alpha Bag Givi Rack and Top Box Carbon Fibre Hugger
Absolutley fantastic - found 'ghost' nutral between 5th and 6th, otherwise perfect
Supppppperb. Stops on a sixpence if you want to but bery forgiving if you get out of shape a little, too.
Can't be beaten. As good in the wet as it is in the dry, traction perfect, more than enough torque, tyres do their job very well.
My first bike and i am thrilled with it! I still have a big smile on my face every time i ride it - even if its wet/windy! Highly recommended. get one now/soon as prices should be low with the new Viffer coming out in 2002.
List the modifications on this bike Race Tech valving and springs on the front end, K&N air filter, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, and Givi windscreen and Corbin beetlebags when I am touring.
any flat spots etc. Power delivery is strong and perdictable all the way through the power curve. Not much of a powerband surge noticed.
Feel, Strength Link braking makes braking a little too easy. A great system for beginer riders. Advanced sporting riders may not care for this type of braking system.
I am 5'7" 145lbs and the first thing I found to my dislike was the suspension. The suspension is too soft and tends too squat too much in the corners. Even the lightest front end braking will cause the front end too dive too much. I have had the front end revalved with new fork springs added to make the ride more compliant to my needs. The rear shock works ok and is dependable, but it is limited with the lack of adjustable features that other bikes have. I ride most of the time on the firmest settings which is fine for me. Most likely, I will be puchasing a new rear shock in the near future.
Overall this is a great bike. A "jack of all trades" one could say about this bike. It rides great, light enough to feel like a sportbike, yet rider ergonomics are comfortable to ride all day long without any discomfort. I did a 4000 mile tour through the western states and B.C. Canada crusing 70 to 80 mph getting 53 mpg on average. I once went 270 on a tank full (5.5 gal). My friend just bought the 2002 interceptor and after he finshes breaking it in, I will get to ride it to see how much better it is over the previous model. So far, he loves it.
None yet...Have order Staintune slip ons for the bike
Power is seemless...Good pull up to 7000RPM then VTEC system opens up additional valves...wonderful increase in engine sound and acceleration from 7000 RPM to redline
Linked brakes work very well. Strong stopping with minimal effort
Bike handles very well considering it is a "sport tourer" and not a race replica bike. Bike is heavy when compared to the race replica bike, so it's not as nimble. However, this bike handles very well and it's very easy to ride (fast or slow). However...excessive speed hurts! Ask my friend who wasted a 600 GSXR and who is injuried seriously.
Way cool looks...center up exhaust coupled with an awesome single swing arm. This bike gives you the best of both worlds...sport bike looks and performance with a comfortable ride. Try riding a GSXR for more than a hour or Triumph Daytona...You'll have to go to the chiropracter. You can ride the VFR all day long and feel great.
None.
Automatic choke/fast-idle/enricher (whatever you want to call it!) a real blessing. Twist the key, press the starter button and vroom! The rumble the engine produces is truly a mix of a twin and an inline four. Strong power and torque at any RPM. Nice throaty growl under 7,000, at which point VTEC kicks in, unbelievable racebike sound from then on, serious rush of acceleration all the way to redline. VTEC litterally gives this bike a double-personality. Under 7k, it pulls cleanly and in a very linear fashion. No drama, just nice, predictable and useable power. Above 7k, the engine really comes alive. Keep it up there and you're rewarded with an awesome sound and near open-class performance. Way enough power for the street. Fuel injection has a little bit of that on/off feel to it, particularly noticeable at low speeds. Not a big issue when riding aggressively.
Great stopping power from the non-intrusive LBS; this time around, they really got it right. Adds a lot of stability (less nosediving and squatting). At very low speeds I use the rear brake; the rest of the time the front is all you need, even when riding hard. Good bite, very easy to modulate.
Very good for a taller/heavier bike. Not as light as say an R1, but very flickable. At least you don't need a steering damper. I once gave myself the scare of my life accelerating at full throttle in 3rd gear on my 2000 R1 as I was going over an expansion joint on a bridge. The handlebar went from lock to lock 2 or 3 times before settling down. I've been several times on that very bridge with the VFR at all kinds of speeds and the most I got was a slight tremble. I know, the VFR is heavier, not as powerful, doesn't have as drastic rake/trail/wheelbase as a pure sportbike, but it's damn nice to be able to peg the throttle whenever you feel like it and not worry about traction, headshake, flipping over, etc.
I would totally recommend this bike to anyone looking for near-superbike performance with more comfort for the rider and pillion, and longer range. If you can't quite afford one, a Suzuki Katana 750 is an excellent alternative.
None
Awesome low-end. Roll-on the throttle at 4-grand and the front will come up in first(no clutching or bar yanking required). When the V-tec kicks in at 7K you can hear the sound change and the power just keeps building. Not the "kick in the pants" that some magazines have complained about. Economy is less than I was expecting, right around 40mpg. Maybe it will get better as it breaks in further.
Very powerfull. I guess having the rear work a little all the time really helps. I can't feel the LBS (CBS) at all. You pull the lever a little you slow down a little. You really yank it back towards the grip and you'll nearly go over the bars.
What can I say. At 472lbs dry, I was not expecting a race bike, but I got one. This bike is extremely well balanced. It doesn't feel heavy at all. It turns in very nicely and quickly at speed. Rock solid stability.
That throaty V-4 sound. Killer looks. Comfort galore. Unless all you do is drag body parts around the track, you'll love this ride.
List the modifications on this bike honda panniers (excellent but expensive in Portugal)
very good, except for a slight hicup bellow 3000. Really annoying is the way the VTEC kicks in in 6th gear. With small throttle openings, it is far from smooth.
it�s perfect except for track usage but then again this bike isn�t meant for it. the combined brakes are well sort out. much better than other hondas with the same system.
it amazed me to see that despite it's weight, the handling is just so easy. it�stable but can also turn very well, as my pegs can demonstrate (all scratched out). i personally like the firm feeling on the suspension, compared with the previous models.
perfect all-rounder. can cruise all day and in the meantime it can chase pure sport bikes around turns. chassis so great it could do with 20 hp more!!!! then it would be just perfect! fit and finish absolutely first class (it�s a VFR!).
List the modifications on this bike
Injection is a little on/off but not very troubling. Only noticeable at low speeds. Excellent low end grunt, what you would expect from a V4. I regularly ride with R1s and GSx1000s and they're constantly amazed that I can keep up. A complete rush over 7 grand when V-tec kicks in.
Great braking power. Was a little worried about the linked intrusion but my fears were unfounded. Strong and controlled. Hard as hell to do a stoppie, but if thats what you're into you're on the wrong type of bike.
Handling is on par with most sportbikes, and I'm talking R1s and GSXs. Not quite as nimble but it'll more than hang with this crowd - I do it every weekend. Ultra stable. Can slice and dice with the best of em'. Despite it's size and weight this bike is really nimble. No complaints.
I really love this bike and am 100% satisfied with it. I gave it a 9 out of 10 for several reasons. First, injection is not as good as it could be. Don't get me wrong it's good, but it could do without some of the abruptness at low rpm. Second, Mr. Honda shoulda' gave it a little more power. If I had 10 to 15 more bhp this bike would be absolute bad-ass!!! And third, more adjustable suspension. Again, don't get me wrong, the legs on this bike are great - rock stable and controlled comfortable ride. But there are those anal riders out there like myself that love to have complete control of their sus set up. Obviously these are minor nitpicks and they did'nt deter me from buying mine. I'd recommend one 100% to any biker.
List the modifications on this bike: None
The power is impressive, a perfect mix of V-twin grunt and I-4 top end. throttle response is a bit too twitchy at low speeds (in traffic). but i will deal w/ it considering the the great feel everywhere else in the powerband.
Very impressive considering the weight of the bike. very rarely loses its composure under hard brakeing. also, i have yet to notice the linked braking ( which is definately a good thing) very smooth and easily modulated. the front end also does a great job of telling you enough is enough.
once againg, simply amazing considering its weight. i feel far more confident on this bike than my previous F4. it has an awesome planted feel while feeding back much information about the road surface.
I bought this bike so my wife and i could ride in relative comfort. and after owning it a month i love it. It has to be the perfect mix of handling, speed,and comfort
Stock
Fairly noticable flat spot low down around 2-2500
great brakes
excellent handling for an older machine
Excellent sport touring bike.......very comfortable.....nice throaty sound......decent torque.
Stock
Got the manufaturer brochure 0-60mph in 3.0sec. No wonder anymore why my frind with the Kawa ZRX can't get rid of me :-)
Stock
Just got the manufaturer 1992 brochure 0-60mph in 3.0sec. No wonder anymore why my friend with the 201 Kawasaki ZRX can't get rid of me :-)
PIAA Extreme White Headlamps,Two-Bros full system headder & C4 carbon can,Y2K mirrors, Power Commander II With custom remap, Penske tripple adj. rear shock, Traxxion Dynamics Fork mods & custom CBR F3 fork internals. Renthal sprockets, DID gold X-ring chain, Competition Werks rear fender eliminator, Carbon frnt. fender. 5mm raise in frount forks, 1 & 1/2" raise in rear ride height(combination of shock & custom shim at top shock mount), Corbon seat, Second Look tank bra, Center stand removal ( for track days ), Pilot Sports, Mobil 1 10-40 synthetic, Motul symthetic brake fluid, EBC H-H pads, Scotts Performance oil filter, Custom K&N air filter ( no air box )
If you have a power-commander, Find the power-commander tuneing center nearest you, NOW!! Spend what ever it costs. You need a custom map! Every VFR is alittle different. You'll see 100+ Hp at the wheel! If you don't have a power-commander, get one, NOW!!
Linked brakes on the VFR just plain work.
With the suspension and chassis mods. I can piss off almost any good 600 rider on any road as I go by. And make Litre bikes wounder what is really under the bodywork.
I LOVE THIS BIKE! It does everything. Track Days, two-up With luggage, Commuteing.
List the modifications on this bike Suspension: RaceTech Gold Valves up front and Fox 4 way adjstable rear suspension unit. Carburetion: "Factory" Stage 1 jet kit. Exhaust: Two Brothers Racing full exhaust system.
Any flat spots etc. Never a problem in that area, before or after the exhaust mods. The results of the modifications were very gratifying, especially above 8,000 rpms. The exhaust sound from that V4 is like a symphony. I even had a cop tell me that although it was a tad loud, it was not objectionable and sounded great.
Feel, Strength They perform as intended. Drama-free stops from any speed.
The front and rear suspension mods have resulted in a bike that's virtually unflappable in whatever road or riding conditions one might encounter, and it's even more comfortable, besides.
The all pearl-white '93 VFR is a classic in my opinion. The crisp lines of the bodywork are in contrast to the cookie-cutter shapes of most other bikes. The V4 exhaust sound accompanied by the whine of the cam gear drive lends a sound that isn't offered on any bike today. Unique!
Genmar Risers Yoshimura SlipOn Givi screen Nonfango 46 Ltr Box Steel Lines K&N Filter
litle flat @ 5000rpm. You'll get used to it. K&N helps. Power is there, everywhere. Just open gas. don't ask for wheelies like GSXRs or Ninjas. Honda has VTR and Blade for that. Above 7000rpm in cat be realy fun. High milleage (6 ltr/100 km).
Good feel. Works as designed but don't forget bike wheight. Steel lines help. Could be better (according to 2004 standards).
Real nice. Estability at all speeds, even full cargo. Highway cruising can be done, smoothly @ 180-200 km/h. Suspension tunnig reduced but efective. Only on race track conditions show the limitations. However the weight (again) dictates those limits.
Excellent quality in overall building and finishing. This bike can last for years and provide a very good ride, with a level of comfort, safety and delight that not every bike can beat. Later models (RC46A/D and Vtec) more technology based (linked brakes, ABS, Fuel Injection) are more actual. The latests 750 are the finnest bikes before elecgronics came to play.
LI no longer have this bike. This was the best bike I have ever owned in my life. I will get another one. I have owned Ducatis, Triumphs Suzukis, Yamahas ridden with a Moto Guzzi and now own a H_D, but the Honda is the best bike. I have also owned CR125,s and 250.s Honda is the greatest.h
The power was great. I had it to 135 and it was still pulling. With a beanie helmet coming off, my eyes watering so much that I couldnt see the roah, I had to shut it off.
I dont worry about braking, just going. I will get stopped somewhere. It kills me to watch these shows about braking when here in W.VA we concentrate on speed, not stopping.
This bike handled itself, uprighted beautifully, handled curves greatly. The man I sold it to was going to bike week so he sat on the H_D and then the Honda. After uprighting the Honda he pulled out cash from his back pocket and paid me. As he went down the road my 90 year old dad (since deceased) said You just made a bad mistake. Boy, was he right. Numerous trophies have been won by my one legged buddt(motorcycle accident) and every time he wins one, here he comes.
I own a Harley but Honda and Triumph are the best bikes. Sonny Barger (pres. of the Hells Angels for about 40 yrs.even said that. He made a living working on them.I get tickled at these 110 h.p. bikes costong 150,000 wwhich top speed is 140 mph. That is a joke. A Honda sitting on the showroom floor will do 210mph. for a lot less than 150,000.4
FRC High Side Pipe, SS Brake lines, Custom Paint job. Waiting for a Corbin seat.
The bike likes it above 5K a lot and throttle response is spot on.
SS lines helped a lot for feel, fronts could be a little stronger but still adequate to lift the rear.
It's a VFR, Almost comfortable, Almost ready to race it likes track days at 9/10ths pace and will go all day long.
If I could afford 4 bikes I would not have a VFR, but I can't and the VFR fits in all of the roles I want a bike for.
List the modifications on this bike Vance&Hines slip on
The VFR is fuel injected...no problems. Down low on the rpm's you get good torque. From 3500 to 5000 rpm's there is a slight flat spot but above 6000 rpm's the bike responds quickly.
The linked braking give confidence. Plenty of stopping power but remember that this bike weighs 460+ so you have to plan ahead.
Very good. When I got the bike the shocks were on the softest settings...argh! Once firmed up I really enjoyed the feel the VFR gives you. I've ridden 929's and ZX-9R's and while they are certainly easier to throw around, the VFR is not difficult.
Comfortable, enjoyable, good acceleration. This was my first bike in 14 years (previous was a 650 Nighthawk) and contrary to what some said, it hasn't felt like too much of a bike for me. Since my riding is short duration trips (to work, 1-2 hour blasts)with great hills and turns (I'll never reveal, hah!) I'm going to a 929. I'll miss the comfort of the VFR. It is exactly what I thought it would be. If you want a bike that's good in the twisties and on the highway, the VFR is a great choice.