Frist Time VFR Owner - Brand New 10 Year Old Interceptor

After owning 11 different bikes, mostly Japanese as well as a Triumph and Buell, I bought my first Honda last Saturday off Craigslist. A 2006 VFR800 Interceptor in beautiful pearl white metallic. The bike is immaculate with only 3,100 miles and in like-new working condition. I rode it home with the stock tires it was built with 10 years ago. He even used a clay bar on the paint, feels like glass to the touch. I'm the third owner and the guy I bought it from has owned it since 2010.

The bike came with the OEM Honda hard side cases and matching trunk all in pearl white, as well as all the required brackets. I also got 3 matching key cores (still in the packaging) so all luggage now opens with the same key. He put a brand new battery in it last year which is under warranty.

It truly looks like it came right off the showroom floor and I feel like I got a good deal as I paid $4,400 for it especially since it came with the hard saddlebags and trunk.

The refinement over some of the other Japanese bikes I've owned is quite apparent. The transmission is an absolute pleasure and has the most positive feedback I've ever experienced. So satisfying to hear and feel the next gear "click" into place, like a precise work of art. The entire machine truly looks like art in motion, especially that stock exhaust and single sided swing arm. Gorgeous.

No, it's not the quickest bike I've owned but it's probably the most finely tuned and really makes the ride so much more engaging feeling and hearing everything work together, perfectly.

Looking forward to contributing on your forum here now that I've paid my admission.

Ride safe!

 

Welcome to the forum. You did get a great bike! Sounds like the two prior owners were keeping it as a museum piece.

 

Looks great! They removed the rear pegs though ... those are dope AF for long distance riding ... put your feet on them and lay on the tank for a nap.

It's a doppleganger of AM's bike ... same year too!

Welcome aboard!

 

Welcome to The World! Looks like you found a nice gem.

 

Thanks you guys, the bike is a gem, I feel fortunate. And I actually removed the passenger foot pegs myself. Love how clean those lines looks without all of that stuff hanging off the tail. A rear seat cowl is in my future.

I also own a 2014 Kawasaki Concours14. So the interceptor is my sporty/better handling/around town fun bike. The C14 is the long distance comfy tourer. Although I can make a case the VFR can do the job of both bikes. Time will tell. A softer seat would be in order before that happens however.

 

Ah, makes sense then if you have a C14 ... my riding buddies in the US both ride a C14 but they love my VFR.

You should see the shit hanging off my bike. Last trip I think I had a nearly 300lbs of gear on the bike ... (see photos in my gallery)

 

Saw the bike loaded up Jeff, yea, you weren't kidding. My Connie is the designated as the pack mule. Trying to keep the VFR light and lean although I like having the option of loading it up with hard cases and the trunk.

 

I like loading up the VFR and making a base camp ... then I can tear it up on the twisties at my destination with a light bike.

 

:welcome: to the madness :wave:
Congratulations on your new purchase. That is a fine Sexy 2006 :love:
:thumb:

 

Well played, Sir! :drum:

 

White bikes suck. But welcome to the World anyway. Needless to say, dump those OEM tires like quick. I would suggest that given its age and lack of miles, look over that bike closely especially any rubber hoses and the like. Lack of use may lead to drying and deterioration of the rubber.

You can still get the rear seat cowl from Honda and they are not as expensive as one might think. I just replaced mine a few months ago. I am not at home or would tell you what I paid in Canadian pesos.

I had the option of getting hard bags for mine when I bought it new and said no. Did not take long to realize that was the wrong decision. Since bought second hand hardies and would like to get an OEM trunk eventually. Hopefully the bike won't die on me first.

 

Thanks Anne Marie, Randy, and everyone. New tires are definitely on the short list of upgrades. And I plan on giving the bike a once over this weekend. Plan on replacing brake/clutch fluid too, new air filter, etc.

Anne Marie, you like those Bridgestone's more than the PR's?

 

If you back to Michelin, don't get the PRx front tire but get the Pilot Power 3 as the front. The profile of the PP3 is better for flicking and seems to last as long as the PRx rear, both have the 2CT carcass and seem to work well with one another. Ive had a couple sets of PP3/PRx (First a PR2, then a PR4, on my second set of PP3/PR4 now). To me it seems way more responsive with the PP3 front than it did with a PR front. Of course this is all theory and conjecture until BB proves it otherwise!

 

PP3/PR2 = 13,601
PP3/PR4 = 11,210 (I changed tires before full life, opportunity to grab tires came up before tires were completely worn. Probably had at least another 1200-1600 guesstimated)
PP3/PR4 = 7K and still counting.

These are mostly commuting miles i.e. So Cal freeways with a couple of Sierra Mountain trips on the PR4s, plus a few spirited rides in Malibu, ACH and Palomar thrown in. The PR2 and first set with PR4 the same with an R3 trip on the PR2. Basically a good amount of commuting and highway miles with some twisty roads thrown in to keep them from squaring off in the center. :wink:

 

Welcome! Nice bike!

 

Thanks again for the great tire info OOTV and Anne Marie! I've gotten nearly 15K on some PR2s on my old Kawasaki. I generally put about 10K annually here in Michigan which doesn't have a very long riding season (I live in the wrong state). Most of the riding I'll be doing with the VFR will be on the twisties but some commuting so agility and grip are a higher priority over mileage.

Where do you guys buy your tires? Seems I buy them from a different website every time.

I wish I could get out of work long enough for a 7K ride, damn! You're my hero Anne Marie although I have already told my boss I'm riding to California and back next year. I have to see Yosmeite with my own eyes.