How did you hear about the VFR, and why did you chose it?

I got back into biking about 4 years ago with a Yamaha majesty 400 scooter that was fine but after a few months got the need for a proper bike sold it and got a BMW k1100lt good bike but I’m only 5’8” and was on tiptoe when stopped not clever on a camber or in high winds as she was a weighty old girl.
Sold it and got me a 1986 virago 750 very low knees bent feet flat on the floor just the job except for the clutch which was quite a stretch and a bit stiff and I have a buggared thumb left hand and after a ride very painful so started thinking surely someone makes a bike with a hydraulic clutch. Asked a few people no one could help don’t know how but trawling around the Internet came across the VFR and yes a hydraulic clutch. Found a few pics and loved the 94-97 bikes found one a 94 on ebay 57,400 miles new seals, battery, regulator, front tyre, braided lines, powder coated wheels, no scrapes to the bodywork, stainless exhaust. £1,300 or best offer offered £1,200 and got the bike 08/08/2009. Still getting used to the riding position after the virago but loving every minute of it. Not been very good at keeping my bikes and cars clean but will definitely be making the effort with the VFR as it would be just wrong riding her dirty.

 

wasn't really looking for a bike, I was searching for a unusual single seat
mini-buggy engine, and got a '98 VFR engine out of a wreck.

Thought I'd buy a whole bike ('99) on ebay to get the rest of the components that I didn't have to make the buggy engine run.

Have since learned that the VFR might not have enough torque for buggy use but Man, would it be fast! It's a fabulous M/C engine and damn near't bullet proof.

 

I drove a Canadian -spec 1983 RZ 350 Yamaha for 25 years [I still have it by the way- put almost70,000 kms. on it - what a cool little bike- fast and handles like it*s on rails.] I faithfully read all the magazines I could get my paws on- Motorcyclist, Sportrider, Cycle Canada, and any British one with a vfr article . It didn*t take long before I was hooked. With a five year savings plan designed by my wife; I purchased my 2008 vfr with luggage and aCorbin seat in Sept ,08, and picked it up in Apr. of 09.

 

Sheer good luck.

My first bike was a SV650 and I wanted to move on to something "different" so I could do some distance riding without cripling myself.

I was pitching for a Guzzi California as I love the look of them and couldn't come close to a Centura :smile: but couldn't find a way to get the cash together to make the deal work

Then I went a saw a mate of mine who said a mate of his wanted to get rid of his VFR - problem with a big bike and a narrow gate!!

I suggested a swap and three weeks later we met up at a motorway services did a quick test ride and rode off on each others bikes!

Good decision on my behalf, but I suspect I'll still need to get the Guzzi itch out of my system some time

 

Dealer had a used one for several months, caught my eye a few times. Wasn't really looking for another bike right then, but had the "next bike" list going (like always!).

Didn't do a ton of research about the model, but knew it was well liked and had a rep for being very dependable.

It also let me take the bags of my speed triple (which shouldn't have bags) and use the vfr for commuting.

It has become tied for my favotire bike

 

thats a very touching story ... especially were you peed and ran away like a girl.....:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

mine called to me as well...but more like a ghost from the past (used to the same bike years ago) second bike I ever owned first one that I fell in love with....(the first 86 700 that is)

 

I was snortin blow off this hookers ass up in Tahoe at the end of a three day binge when my heart started to defib.... I rolled over and and hung my head off the bed and through one bleary eye I saw this red bike outside the hotel window.......I said " Whose bike is that?" to no one in particular, then one of the other hookers at the head of the bed says, "Thats my bike, its an old VFR that I got off this guy that couldnt pay me" So I said " Tell you what, I"ll go you double or nothing for what I owe you and rest of the girls for it, high card wins."

Those dumbasses.......I gave them the rest of the blow so they'd stop whining.........

 

... one fine day I rode my v-strom 1000 into a large used motorcycle dealer (also a Yammy dealer). The saleman said "what are you looking for" I said "sport touring". He showed me a 97 VFR and a 2002 FZ1. He said " I probably shouldn't say this being a Yamaha dealer, but, the VFR is one of the best bikes ever made" I asked him if we could fire it up. He did. I was grinning uncontrollabley and said "is it supposed to sound like that (gear whine)", he said " yep, cool huh, you want to take it for a ride".
...and that was it. I went home and googled the VFR and saw he was speaking the truth. I went back the next day and traded down the v-strom for the 97. He cut me a check for the difference and I rode away...

The 4th gen sitting in the back of the bike shop, lonely and a little dusty with 21,000 miles on her

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w270/bdk1961/IMGP5073.jpg

I had the '97 for about a year. Came across a '98 for a good deal. I would NEVER be allowed 2 bikes (the little dragon would NOT approve) so I though I'd put the '97 on craigslist to see what would happen. Sold it the next morning and picked up the 5th gen.

 

my friend got a brand new pearl white vfr700 gear driven cams... I always liked that bike and still due as time went on I went through a few bikes but always liked the vfr, then the retro rwb came out I was bikeless and had to get it and am glad i did....

 

My story began when I broke the promise to my mother about not getting a bike; but she had passed 13 years earlier and I am now 40.
I went in search of a first bike a ZZR 600 found a good deal on a left over in Elgin IL and stopped by to find this very small show room but a great salesman.
He ask all the correct questions and said I wont like the ZZR (I though let me decide what I like) he pulled it out and I sat on it very uncomfortable so he pulled out 15 other bikes a lot of standards and we walked by a Ducati 996 and beside it was this bad ass red bike and I said I cant wait till I can ride that.
He pulled it out and it was like setting on a couch I said ok see you later and went home to gather more info on that bike.
I did a search on a 02VFR ABS and found this real cool forum about the bikes and a week later took my boss down to ride my bike back till I could get a riders course and some warm weather to practice.
Well it has been 2 years and don’t regret the purchase at all found time to balance work and family and my mistress.
I sure do want to get her back to WV for a trip; would like to make a run to Black Water Falls on her soon.

 

Well I have been searching for the perfect bike (for me). Had been researching BMWs, Yamahas and Hondas looking for a good sporty touring platform that I could have fun on in the Mtns and then pack up for a weekend get away. Had about narrowed to list to only the FJR but really did not like the thought of riding it in local traffic. Especially since I have been off bikes for the past 10 years. So one day while reading AdvRider and SportTouring forums kept reading about this VFR. So began researching, came by here and VFRD, liked what I read so went to visit a local Honda shop and saw a RWB that I set on. I liked the feel and that bags could be added. Came home and did more research. I really began to have that feeling, this is the bike. So went to Honda dealer here in town. The rest is history, no regrets and still love the bike.

 

It was 1988 and a friend got a VF500 interceptor, what a bike¡¡¡:thumbsup:, the engine sound, the painting colors and a great balance, In that time any bike bigger than 350 cc was prohibited and had to be imported in a non legal way.
Several years passed and the same friend got a VFR750f i think was a 88 model, he painted it like the Honda RVF and changed the exhaust can ( great sound again includiyig the distrubution gears sound), he sold it and got a 91 VFR750, I had to buy it.
I was charmed with that bike and owned three years and a lot of kilometers on it, later I bought a 90 Honda CBR600F and really liked too..... years and a lot of bikes have passed and after 12 or 13 years I found my 2000 yellow VFR and I enjoy every ride on it,(watching Mexican Ebay)... She's the only 2000VFR in town,there is a 97 VFR of a friend but the model I was searching was this, sometimes I'd like to change her for the 2002 and on model but I think mine has more personality.......

 

Okay, I'll add my story to this thread.

I've owned motorcycles since I was 15 yrs old. My first street bike was a Honda CX500 Custom, that's when I first appreciated what Honda could do with an engine. About a year later the owner of a restaurant I worked at bought an '83 V45 Magna. He owned it about a month and came in one day and said the bike scared him and that he wanted to sell it, I loved the looks of the V45 and jumped at the chance to buy it (I was only 16 going on 17 at the time). The Magna was a great bike, loved riding it to high school every day. My next bike was a V45 Sabre, another great bike but I bought it used and the previous owner didn't properly maintain it, the carbs had problems. I traded that in on a '85 Nighthawk 650, a great bike. Sold it and in 1991 bought a 1986 V45(ish) 700cc Magna (at this point I figured out I really loved the V4's). Kept the Magna for about 10 years and sold it in 2002. Got the bug again this year for a bike and always wanted an Interceptor, the 6th gen has the most modern styling but the 5th had the gear driven cams and no VTEC so I was leaning toward one of those when a great deal on a nearly new 2007 came along. Now I'm no longer a lurker on VFR World.

 

It was about 15 years ago, I happened to see 1993 vfr750 in white. It was unlike any motorcycle I had seen, more style by far. So in my infinate young wisdome I bought a 1988 cbr600 Hurricane, cool bike to be sure but, It never really scratched my itch. The ergo's were terrible and had short legs, quick to 60 but not a comfortable distance machine. Many years went by and I knew that If I ever bought another bike It would have to be an Interceptor. Well, in March 08' that time came. I'll admit I had no previous knowledge about the "gen wars" so If I bought the wrong gen, oh well. I absolutely love my vfr and rid it as often as possible. Glad I ran into that white 93' or who knows what I might be riding. viva la vfr

 

I just needed a cheap ride, so I was browsing around on craigslist. Saw this mistreated vfr700 for $1200, good enough and it gives me something to work on, which I enjoy. Also tend to like something different. Wish it was a bit lighter and smaller, fairing's a mess and it's got about two cylinders too many, but it sounds nice.:smile:

I did that with a Guzzi Quota. Nice, classy and well-made bikes, last forever, but the Quota was too tall and heavy for me, and the wind buffeting was nasty. The Californias do look nice though, and make a lot more sense because the weight is low. Cruisers that actually handle. I've still got a bit of an itch for one.