'03VTEC VFR or '93 CBR1000F ?

Hi, my name is John and I am glad to find this great site. I was hoping to get some advice/opinions from some of the experienced riders on this forum. I currently own an '05 VTX1800N which really like & I plan to keep for cruising/weekend rides/light touring. I also want to get another bike for commuting/light touring purposes. I have been researching different bikes and am interested in both the '03 VTEC VFR & the '93 CBR1000F. I am aware of the obvious differences like engine displacement, horsepower, torque and the technologically more advanced engine of the VFR.
I have a great lead on an '03VFR w/4k miles for a reasonable price. Can anyone suggest to me why or why not I may be better off with either bike. What are the characteristic differences between a V4 vs. Inline 4? Which would be better suited, less maintenance, more trouble free for use mainly as a commuting/light touring bike putting on about 2-3K miles per year?
Any advice or ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

From my point of view, VFR.

I've had over 17 years on the street and just got a mint '99 VFR with only 5k on it. My previous bike was a '94VFR. Rode the wheels off it. I had a brief stint with a '91CBR1000F about 8 years ago. It was more of a porker and suprisingly lacked low end torque. The VFR is more of a little buddy to ya. You are way more over the front on a CBR and the riding position is more compromising.

VFR shim under bucket valves make it the valve adjustment king. Duno about those VTEC's however. Gear driven cams like my bike has just pop right out! Inline fours deliver high end HP. Also the CBR is carb and the VFR is EFI. Injected bikes run like the cat's ass.

The VFR would be a hands down winner between the two in my book due to way more hi-tech stuff overall, and a much more frendlier personality.

 

Hi Sinner,
Thanks for taking the time to offer me your opinion. I have pretty much decided on the '03 VFR. I've put a deposit on it and take it for a test ride tomorrow. If all goes well, I'll sign on the dotted line. I've read that the valve adjustment on the VTEC's is a little more involved to perform and may require a special Honda tool. But, luckily, the service intervals for the valves are about every 16K or so I've read. I did sit on the VFR which felt very comfortable. I didn't have a chance to sit on the CBR but thought that it would be a more extreme riding position as you have stated. After reading your advice, it confirms my initial leanings and I agree the VFR is the way to go.
I will post a pic probably in a couple weeks after I get it tagged, insured, etc.
Thanks again and I look forward to learning alot from this website.
Regards,
John

 

Well, I finally picked up my '03 VFR with about 4K miles on it. It is in super clean shape and was well taken care of. After two days and one ticket later, (bargained it down to a minor traffic infraction-no points), all I have to say is WOW! It certainly is a different ride from the VTX, but I enjoy the immediate responsiveness of the handling and when that VTEC engages I can see how it is easy to get addicted to that feeling and that sound. I have only experienced a smooth transition, not the abrupt kick others have mentioned. No doubt you can feel it in the seat of your pants, but it is nothing that would make me feel uneasy about it's handling capabilites. Thanks to all who have contributed advice and opinion to this great website. I've found it to be the best resource of information specific to the VFR.
Regards,
Johnny

 

Thanks. I was partial to the silver. I am thinking about adding after market exhaust, perhaps the Staintune's or Scorpions. I would like to hear some in person though. I've already found alot of great info and ideas. I posted a pic of it in the 6th gen. section. I already have about 5 items on my want list already...

 

If I was looking for pure sport riding and many tickets, Id opt for the CBR (Having had a brief Stint with a 900rr) However for general all purpose riding, and still being able to mix it up with the Pure sports crowd, I'd opt for the VFR much more versitale.

And like you I still have the Hog for weekend touring long hauls.

 

Simple math,

(ME + CBR1100XX + Redlight) / (Ford LTD + Drunk idoit.) = Owned for 24 hours.

I was hit by a drunk Driver, while I was stopped at a red light. Bike went from about 3 feet high and 5 feet long to 5 feet high and 3feet long.

The only thing that was salvageable from that accident was, My body (and that required extensive work.) and the Triple trees. everything Else was a complete loss.

 

Hey Saint Craig, Glad you lived to tell the tale and ride another day! A similar scenario to Preregrin's buddy is how I obtained a minor traffic ticket last week. I was at a red light in a busy intersection. I was in the left lane and there was a small SUV in front of me. The light turns green and then lady decides she wants to turn right, across the right lane onto the entrance ramp to the highway. I am stuck there in the middle of the intersection as she is trying to inch over to the right as cars are whizzing past her on the right. I said to myself, "Self, get your ass outta here!" I swerve around to her left and aggressively twist the wick to escape a potentially bad situation. We all know the sound of a bike accelerating quickly-music to our ears right? Well, I was circumspect as I pulled away making sure I was safe and not endangering anyone else. As soon as I was about 75 yards away I let off. Unbeknownst to me, Mr. Police Officer was sitting behind a car at the other red light and witnessed the whole thing. He speeds up to me as I'm stopped at the next light, his lights flashing, I pull over. I explain to him that I was nervous and trying to remove myself from a bad situation, he says,"No, you were pissed off". " I said wryly, "Yeah, maybe a little of both when my life is threatened". Regardless, he walks away from me as I am talking to him trying to explain what happened. Five minutes later, he comes back with a citation for failure to obey mechanical traffic device, telling me I am lucky b/c he could of had me arrested and my bike impounded for unsafe speed. Even though I know that is is incorrect, I could see there was no room for debate. LOL! He should have given the lady a ticket for unsafe lane change, no? Ten minutes prior to this incident the same day, I was almost smashed by a yuppie bastard in a mercedez who was speeding in his own residential neighborhood!
My older brother had an incident once where he got cutoff and almost killed by an impatient driver. He caught up to the guy at the next light, put his bike on the side stand, and had words with the business man who was in his tie and short sleeve dress shirt. As my bro is talking to him, the guy is giving him the finger(the bird for those in the south) with one hand and rolling up his window with the other. My bro smashes through his driver window with his fist, grabs the guy by his collar and proceeds to pound him back and forth in his seat. The guy pisses his pants and is dumbstruck. Maybe an extreme reaction on my bro's part, but when you life is threatened b/c of an inconsiderate, disrespectful driver, doesn't it make you mad!?!?
Anyway, short of it is, even when you play by the rules, you sometimes lose.
I am very respectful when driving on the road, whether on my bike or in my truck, hopefully some of that respect comes back to me - but not always.
Safe riding to all...

 

Yah me too. :biggrin:

I also had a similar situation, I was picking the wife up from work in Center City, and when I had her on the bike coming home a suit in a Accura tries to do the lane dodge (Stop and go Traffic.) into my lane.

Apparently this guy did not see two people on a Harley, well he gets about half way cutover into my line (Luckily I was riding the outer tire track in the left lane.) when he now notices me Screaming and honking at him. He jams on his brakes and APOLOGIZES real damn fast.

You know tha old mantra, I'm sorry... I wasn't paying attention... I didn't see you bla bla bla.

Then he sheepishly cut back into the lane from which he came.

Apparently Harley's command more respect.

The best one was going out to club row, Single line Stop and go traffic. A spot opens up and this guy puts his car in reverse, and starts backing up. SO I start pushing the bike back and laying up on the horn but there is no way I'm backing up as fast as he is when all of a sudden 5 other harley riders run over Yank him out of the car and explain things to him. The sixth guy hops in his car and "moves it for him" in the proper direction.

After, the police arrived, And the poor driver is making out like he did nothing when all of a sudden my five friends came from out of nowhere and started beating on him.

I told the cops, I never met the guys before but thank god for them as this clown had bumpef my tire in his efforts to get "that spot" almost knocking me over even though I was on the horn and if it was not for these fine upstanding gentelmen I would have been under a car by now.

At which point the police "Started explaining things to this driver."

The funny part was (And you can't make this stuff up) The driver says in his defense, "That this was a good spot, fight in front of where he wanted to go and I should have gotten out of his way." and it was not his fault that I couldn't push my bike away faster.

Long story short they loaded him in the police van and had his car towed, my 5 samaritans well simply melted back into the crowd.

 

Well,here is my first post to the VFR group.
I have yet to purchase my VFR,but it will come to pass.
I curently ride a HondaNighthawk750(1995) witrh 25000 miles...perfect bike...except a little small for me..I am trying to sell it for what I have into it but 2500.00 aint happening!!!Soooo...I will just ride it for a while....maybe my wife will want it.!!!!I am hoping she gets the bug!!!
I do get a little put off by the VFRs high price...it seems abit much for an under one litre class bike...But it looks so GOOD!!
I have only put about 600 miles on my bike but for me the biggest issue I have is with drivers on their cell phones...And I am ASHAMED(but alive) to admit I did knock rather forcefully on a drivers window at the stoplight after he nearly pushed me into oncoming traffic...He is alive cause I didnt wish to go to prison for removing his head from his ass via his throat...
I dont think he will forget the experience though...
Miike S
NH750 present
VFR future
Ducati after!!

 

Keep an eye peeled, you can occasionally find a buy on them. I got mine for $5800 with 5800 miles on it.

It was an 02 VFR and believe it or not I found it on Ebay. Guy was local, took a look got a bargain.

 

I,ll be very suprised if you find yourself riding that vtx anymore unless your planning on riding over 500 miles at a time. Although that vtx is a bit more comfortable for the passenger but not as fun.

 

don't be too sure.

I wouldn't say that. I ride my Harley almost every day to work and back. 30+ Mi each way.

Thing is, atleast in my case, the harley does not like to start in colder than 50 deg weather. So unless I am going to constantly change the oil out the Warm/hot weather oil stays in and I ride the VFR. The other option is if the ride is going to be less than 20 mi, The harley doesn't like the short stop and start runs, so in that case I ride the VFR. And Finally when I am tired of riding the harley and want a bit more speed and acceleration I ride the VFR. I average about 6K to 12K per year on the Harley and in the pas only managed to do about 3K on the VFR(s) I had.

I think the main reason for this is the Harley is just cooler in the summer. Temp wise not style wise. The Current VFR has the same problems my last one(s) had (Which are not a detriment in cooler/cold weather.) It dumps heat around the rider. Radiators on this model follow the lines your shins take when on the foot pegs, and of course the oil cooler dumps its heat behind the windscreen which hist you in the chest. In the summer this can be Well a bit warm, though can be a blessing when day turns to night and you hit those chilly valleys, you know the ones with a stream nearby.

So come around October/November we may see a migration to the VFR as the temps drop.

 

Well this was not a case of not seeing me. Or rather it was, since the guy was blind stinking drunk.

After he tried to flee the scene he T-Boned a Police cruiser who pulled in front of him With the lights going and all. (Which of course he didn't see.)

And just another fine how do you do. about 2 weeks ago I saw the same guy on TV (The drunk who hit me.) he was now on offence #10 and this time finally killed someone.

this time he is getting 2 years.