Hello all: Today is a very exciting day for me because I just purchased a 2008 VFR Interceptor and man is it gorgeous. I've been wanting this bike for the better part of a decade and the day has finally arrived. I am currently a proud owner of a 1985 Honda vf500 red,white and blue. I do have some concerns and questions if anyone can help me out with their thoughts. I have only been riding my current and only motorcycle for a year, really only six months. This is my first motorcyle and I have never driven on previously. My question is did I make the right decision on purchasing this bike with my limited expierence. I am very responsible while riding but I did dump my bike twice, amazingly the bike is still in great condition after my first dump. My first dump was caused by a drunk driver running me off the road and I'm not sure if I could have avoided dumping it if I had more experience. I also gently set the bike down at an intersection becouse I was engaged into the turn and for some reason the car ahead of made a sudden stop for no real reason. still my fault though for following to close. I just want to know if any inexpirenced riders whos been riding for a year or less have hade trouble upgrading to a bike of this caliber. Thanks and I'll be enjoying riding everyones thoughts, Terry
I switched to a VFR after riding for lil over a year. Dumped it once on an incline at a gas station. Why I feel VFR is a good novice to intermediate bike, 1) Comfortable riding position 2) Great power delivery (lets talk about vtec later) 3) Forgiving bike overall 4) Great mileage and a big gas tank. Now don't get me wrong there are expert riders on this forum and can do all kinds of nifty stuff on the VFR. Vtec ---- The surge on a straight road is exhilarating. On a curve however can be dodgy. There are numerous posts on how this can be fixed (smooth out the transition). Overall given the looks of the bike, its history, the people that ride it, you can't go wrong with VFR.
Great purchase and welcome to the forum...My only real concern for you is that you've puchased the fastest color in VFR history, so you will need to excersise more caution than most. Just take it nice an easy for the first 6 months, stay below VTEC while cornering untill you've grown comfortable, don't grab the front brake while parking, take a rider course or two if you havn't already, read Twist of the Wrist, and always dress for an accident because shit happens to all of us. Newbs and racers alike. Enjoy the ride and keep the rubber side down.
Thanks for repling Thanks everyone who replied so far I guess my biggest concern was the vtech. I own a civic SI and when vtech engauges its quit a punch of speed and my concern was when cornering and vtech engauges will I lose control. I will deffenitly do my best to keep it under 6500 rpm while cornering for awhile tell I get a feel for it I have taken riders courses and they have helped but thats on my 85 which is a completly different animal. My other problem is that I live in Wisconsin so I now have the task of looking at this machine sit in my garage till the weather breaks in April, if im lucky. Better looking at it in my garage than on the internet though and I couldn't pass up the price of 6470 shipped from texas with 2870 miles.:thumbsup: I think when the weather is nice i'll start off on the 85 for a week or so and slowly get aquanted to the 08. Right now thats easier said than done though. I'm sure when the weather turns my heart will lean towards the 08 and my head will be for the 85. Thanks for the welcome, I'll be posting pics of both machines in the near future
Sorry for my inexperience but I'm not sure what you mean by don't grab the front brake while parking.
No worries, one thing I've noticed with newer riders is a tendency to pull into a parking space on the quick side and pull to hard on the front brake with the bike still partially leaned, bringing about an abrubt stop. With your feet on the pegs, at a lean, and stopped, the bike will usually hit the pavement. I personnely wouldn't worry too much about the VTEC. For some the transistion while cornering can be unnerving but at the end of the day the VFR just doesn't have enough HP to uncontrollably kick the back end out. Provided your on a good set of tires. Easiest way to deal with it for now is to stay below the VTEC and as your cornering skills progress, stay above the VTEC, gradually working your way into more and more throttle coming out of the corner. This way you're never caught off guard. After a seson or so I would be suprised if it is an issue at all anymore. As you get the first 1500 miles under your belt you'll begin to notice somethings with the bikes behavior that you may or may not want to change ( smoothing out VTEC engagement, adjusting the fuel map, etc. ) but deal with that later down the road.
I personally never worry about the VTEC. The only time that it provides a kick in power is when I am accellerating at full throttle. If I do a smooth roll on, the only thing I notice out of the VTEC is the added noise. I don't think that you will have any problems with this at all. I picked up my 04 VFR earlier this year after just over a full year of riding. Before that I owned a Honda Shadow VLX 600. HUGE difference in almost everything and probably one of the things you will notice is a weight difference. I didn't have any problems at all adapting to the VFR, but I had ridden many other bikes that friends own. Katanas, Aprilia, Ducati.... all with tons more power than the VFR. You'll be fine. Start easy and cautious but within a few weeks you will be fine. FWIW... I picked my 04 up less than two weeks before I took my advanced MSF class... the one where you ride your own bike. I had absolutely no issues with anything. The 6th generation bikes are very well balanced and very stable. You'll enjoy it. Don't be afraid to explore all of the RPM range when you get it. Just because you get to upper RPMs doesn't mean you have to hammer it to get there. Break her in right and it will treat you will for forever.
Thanks Havcar and meatloaf for addressing the vtech issue. It doesn't seem to be as big of an issue as I first thought. The weight difference at first my be an issue but I think it won't be after a few miles. I did ride a friends Triumph Thunderbird sport and that weight is comprable to the VFR and it really wasn't an Issue. Although the Triumph I believe only has roughly 75 HP under it and it was quit slow. My 85 took it easily. Know lets see what else this sight has to offer
I do not own a vtech but I have ridden two. Power commander makes a huge differance on the smoothness with the vtech. Welcome aboard, and I am sure you will get more input from some vtech riders. Congrats on the bike, they are sweet machines!
Don't be afraid of the VTEC. People who don't ride one regularly will make a big deal out of it when it really is a non-issue. I too came from an older bike (1976 CB750F) to the VFR and it made me forget I own 2 bikes! I've been promising to change the clutch in my CB for over 2 years now... As long as you are smooth with your throttle (which is good advise on any bike) you'll not run into any loss of control issues. If you feel uncomfortable then ride the VF500 for a while until you are more sure of yourself. Welcome to the forum and enjoy the 08'! :thumbsup:
congrats on the new ride! you made a great choice like the other have said vtec is a non issue its more about throttle control and riding technique when your in a corner. vfr is a very for giving bike unlike some of the supursports that make 60-80hp more. the biggest thing you will notice is slow speed parking lot maneuvers 800 alot heavier so take it easy and practice in a vacant parking lot to get used to extra weight. slow speed maneuvers for new riders are probably the most common drops
it sounds like I should stop listening to the people who don't own a 6th gen VFR and start listening to riders who accutually due. I do plan to take the bike to a parking lot to practice and take an intermedate course in the spring. well its 50 degrees and I'm heading out to take what could be the last ride of the season for me on my 85, I need to move to a warmer climate not sure if I can wait 5 months between rides. Thanks for everyones help. Oh, not sure if I would sell my 85 in spring but if I do what is fair market value. probablly 8 out of 10 cosmetic 9 out of 10 mechaniclly. 21000 miles valves done at 20000 miles tires 2500 miles new front and rear brakes - under 500 miles coolant flushed this summer new plugs
