How does the 6th gen compare to the 5th?

I sold my 5th gen VFR (mint cond, 18K miles on the clock) and damn .. i miss that bike. I was the 2nd owner and got 5 years of trouble free motoring before the new wife decided she was too uncomfortable riding on the back. I know I could have got a corbin but outfitting the bike with a corbin plus sticking the givi (or similar) bags on the side and trunk was cost prohibitive - even on ebay. Got some feelers out there and decided to buy an ST1300 or FJR, found a deal on one and sold my VFR. As luck would have it the stupid bike I was goin to buy got sold a few hours before I got there..... and now I REALLY miss my bike. There is something about that sound and ride of a VFR that makes the bike addictive. Anyways, got a new deal come up with an 04 Interceptor with a rear givi trunk and was wondering how they compare. I did a quick ride and it seemed to be really sluggish below 7K revs, and then it surges which will take a little getting used to. What I need to know is how the 6th gen compares to the 5th in terms of reliability, ride longevity, and maintenance cost. Any advice you guys will provide will be appreciated. Not looking for speed demon reviews .. just sound advice and/or your experience on long rides etc.

 

LOL, Found a ton of threads regarding this on vfrworld. ignore my request ... a lot of interesting reading.

 

We all know that the 5th gen is a lot better than the 6th :biggrin: ..... time to run & hide.

 

I read the thread's title and thought that this would be opening up a big can of worms. I've owned both and have no regrets with either. Good luck with your search.

 

Maybe if you're looking at a 6th Gen get a 2007 or newer as they have improved the VTec engagment and fueling. I know some earlier VFR Gen 6 owners have got rid of the surging with a PC3, O2 sensor eliminators and Custom Dyno map although Fuel economy usually suffers a little. As for extra expense think the main one with the Gen 6 is the Valve check because the cams have to come out twice whereas with the Gen 5 they only need to come out if the gaps are out and of a lesser issue the Cam chain / guides have been known to fail though rarely. On the plus side the Gen 6 handles a little better with it's 43mm forks, better biased CBS and doesn't have the R/R bogey the Mk 1 Gen 5 does.

 

This will be fun......

:hump:opcorn::kev:

 

I own a stock 2007 and the VTEC transition is very noticeable and annoying to me. I've also ridden several 5th Gens and find them to feel much more "sporty" and easier to drop into the turns. You would need to weigh the advantage and disadvantages of each. If I had to do it all over again I'd probably get a 5th Gen.

6th Gen - Feels more solid and better built, available with ABS, Under tail exhaust doesn't need to be removed to take rear wheel off, many more luggage options, much better lights for nightime riding.

5th Gen - Gear driven cams, Less expensive to perform valve job/inspection (@ $300 vs $700 on 6th gen) , cheaper aftermarket exhaust options available, catless headers available on 98 and 99 models.


Rollin

 

I own a 2002 vfr vtec and absolutely love it. The steering is very neutral and the seating position I've read are the same on both the 5th and 6th generations. I maybe wrong on that though. I don't find the vtec to be very abrupt with the exception if you really twist the throttle in the low gears, but it's not that bad. I also have the abs version and the light has come on a few times only because the calipers were a bit dirty. Other than that, the bike is really comfortable and easy to steer through corners. I can't say anything about a 5th generation. Only you can decide what is best for you. Good luck with your decision!

 

I went from a '03 Gen 6 to '99 Gen 5 in '05, the main feeling of sportiness especially in mid range comes from the Gen 5's GDCs and catless exhaust. The quickness of turn in with Pilot Powers on both seemed to be more to do with the Gen bars being slightly higher and how far the forks were dropped through the triple clamps than anything else although I also thought the Gen 6 felt generally a little more planted handling mid corner ripples and bumps fractionally better which I put down to the stiffer 43mm forks and frame.

 

I don't think there is any diff in reliability or longevity in the two bikes. I have a 04 and don't mind the VTEC at all and in fact, enjoy the sound change and "hit" when it kicks in. I am 6 ft and 180 lbs and don't notice any "sluggishness" under 7K. Pretty smooth and healthy power band from bottom all the way to redline. It's no R1 or CBR 1000 but no dog either. Just sayin.

 

Thanks guys. Awesome advice. I miss my 5th gen now more than ever. A lot of them out there for sale though .. but i knew and babied mine and getting an older bike like a 5th that may not have been looked after as well (especially when u see what kids do to their bikes now-a-days) is a concern. Guess I'll keep looking for a bike .. the valve adjustment on the 6th gen (to me) is annoying in its complexity ... PLUS .. that surge around the 7K rev mark is just plain irritating if you arent used to it.

 

Had both, I like my 6th more than my 5th. I don't regret selling the 5th for the 6th. The transition point was changed in 06 to 6400 rpm and mine is smooth but noticeable (I like it). I loooove my Honda side cases and the looks of the 6th over the 5th. I have had zero problems and am currently at 26000 miles doing nothing but basic maintenance including an upcoming chain and sprocket change.