Hi from a newly converted Limey.

Hi all – new here and new to the world of Hondas and VFRs… my last Honda was a 1972 CB250K4 that I fixed, used and fixed again through two years of university and sold in 1978, swearing never to own another one…

Been a Ducati fan since 1982, still have my old 900 Mike Hailwood Replica – hence the handle – if you read Classic Bike magazine you may have seen it in the January issue (out now at a bookstore near you!). It's currently standing on the Classic Bike stand at the MCN London motorcycle show... have a look if you're going this week (Is there anyone else here from UK?!).

So anyway after 27 years messing around with old Ducatis and more modern Hinckley Triumphs I was digging around on ebay the other night and saw what looked like a bargain… a 1989 VFR750F-K for a starting bid of £599… no bids and a couple of hours to go. Stuck a bid on and went to bed… woke up the next day and had won it at the start price. Paid for it, and pretty much forgot to collect it until I was coming back from the Classic Bike photoshoot with the MHR in a van and passing within a couple of miles of the Honda. Picked it up and took it home, dumped it in the garage and went on holiday for a month.

Got to finally look at it last weekend, pulled it out the garage, pumped the flat tyres (Bridgestone Exedra?… how old are they?) and bump started it down the drive. Went out for a quick ride to see what it was like and ended up visiting a friend 80 miles away. Given that it was a damp and cold UK January day, it surprised my wife and family that I came home 7 hours and 175 miles after leaving…

Hey! Why didn’t someone tell me about these 20 years ago? What a fantastic motorcycle…

I guess the press called this bike “the best motorcycle in the world” for at least a decade and I’ve been wilfully ignoring them, preferring to believe that Hondas weren’t “real” bikes, so I guess it's the worst kept secret in the world and I have only myself to blame.

Anyway, good to be here… anyone want to bring me up to date on 23 years of VFR history? Are the later 750s/800s even better? If so, I want one!

Anyone want to buy a Ducati or two? ;-)

Stu

 

Welcome aboard Stu! The VFR is a solid and reliable bike that you will be able to enjoy for many more years. I must tell you however that your story sounds suspect without pictures as proof


Regards,
Rollin

 

How very suspicious you are!

Haven't taken any pics of the VFR, to be honest... it wasn't too pretty when it arrived and it's now filthy after its run at the weekend.

Altogether though it looks pretty good... it's the gen2 version you didn't get in the States, with 110 & 140 17" wheels, in pearl white. Couple of minor cracks in the fairing, and some paint damage on the tank, but largely OK. It came with a full stainless Motad exhaust on it, which retails at about £550(!) and from the feel of the back end I'm guessing the shock isn't 20 years and 69000 miles old either... no idea what's in there, but it seems to work. The brakes are abyssmal, I guess calipers are all seized up... it'll be the first job I do on it. Apart from that absolutely everything seems to work just fine.

 

Without knowing much about the mechanics of the bike I'm surprised you went as far as you did on your maiden voyage. But that is a Honda for ya.... It will get you there and back again if you let it

 

Ah... but my normal ride is a 27 year old Ducati so I'm a fully paid up member of a recovery service...

Actually I used a little licence in my write-up... I'd done a 15 mile local ride on it earlier and was fairly convinced it was sound... and anyway it's a Honda.... what's to go wrong?!:unsure:

 

Welcome to the forum Stu! Honda is known to make reliable and solid bikes. I previously owned an '86vfr 400, '92 750(which i love and miss) and currently an '02 800. Good luck and have fun!

 

Hi stu, welcome to VFRW, im sure you'll enjoy it as much as we colonials do (LOL)

hey nice work on getting your bike in the MCN show, i will check out the january classic bike issue which should be here about early feb.

now that bike in the avatar has the MHR tail but not the lower fairings so was wondering if it was the MHR or a modded darmah?

also the yellow in lieu of the green is interesting.

kinda reminds me of one of those scuderia 900 NCR's...

congrats on the gen 2, sounds like your ably qualified to look after her.
the pearl white is a classic look !

 

Well you know what they say



You may want to consider picking up some new stainless brake lines when rebuild the calipers. As the 20 year old lines can rot out and expand quite a bit.

 

Wonderful story. Welcome aboard. There are several members from the UK here.

 

.....then I understand riding off into the horizon....you're riding the early DNA of a legend. That makes it uniquely fun.

Welcome!

 

Thanks guys.

To answer a few questions... the story of the Duke is in the magazine, but it's an original MHR, not a Darmah. I bought it new in 1982, and know its history. In 1983 I crashed it, and repainted it in red and yellow. In 1984 I crashed it badly, rebuilt it badly, and sold it to a mate. In 2004 I got the chance to buy it back, and had to fix all the bodges I'd done 20 years earlier! The original fairing was the cause of both crashes (no clearance) so I replaced it with an SS fairing. Most of the bodywork is original and fixed... I've added a bigger pic so you can look properly. The colour is as I did it in 1983... because I like it! Yes, it's like an NCR... note the sticker!

Braided lines are already in place on the VFR... someone has lavished some love on it at some time.

 

Hey!

No VFR content, but my MHR won the competition and I came home with a fat cheque for £1050 (About $1500 this week, usually more!) on Sunday. Maybe I'll fix the VFR's brakes now!

Stu