looking for bike like a VFR800

Hi all,

I'm looking for an all rounder bike, I'm in the UK, the VFR800 is virtually the perfect bike for me, but with one big caveat.

My bike history - I had some small to medium two strokes, then a range of bigger bikes, did a bit of club racing etc when younger, done a few trackdays more recently. I've owned about 30 bikes in all. Nowadays it's mostly commuting 70 miles a day, and some fun riding at weekends every now and again.

I got a 1986 VFR750 about 15 years ago, liked it and then bought a 1995 vfr750. It was great. Had it about 12 years and did a ton of miles. Got hit by a car who was at fault and it got written off. While waiting for the insurance money I had a loan bike, a 2006 VFR800, it was great, great riding position, I liked the vtec engine response. I liked the handling. It was even a nice colour.

But the brakes!!!!! God they were horrible! I'm not trying to say i'm Mick Doohan / Valentino Rossi etc, I'm just a regular road rider. but they make the bike virtually unrideable for me. The guy from the insurance company that collected the bike (I had it about 6 weeks, doing my normal approx 350 miles per week) said "what do you think?" - I said perfect apart from the brakes - he said "everyone says that"

So i bought a 2001 fireblade, it is a great bike, but i'm looking for more of an all rounder, with a bit more comfort for long distance. Can anyone suggest a bike to me that is virtually a VFR800 but without the linked brakes? I've even thought about another VFR750 but finding a low mileage one is hard now.

Anyone got a suggestion for the closest thing to a VFR800? Doesn't have to be Honda.... Got about £4k to £5k to spend if necessary.

Cheers, Mat.

 

Hi,

The problem is the linked brakes, removing them would be a real hassle, and the insurance may be an issue because it's a "modified bike". I've read a couple of writeups about people removing them.

It's a big shame for me, because I loved my 1995 VFR750, the 800 would be the perfect bike for me apart from the brakes....

Cheers, Mat.

 

Yes but they'll still be linked.... it's the linked brakes I don't like

Cheers, Mat.

 

I've been told that the new version (2014 and later) do not have linked brakes....

 

abs is the best option-just pull the front lever =stops perfect every time.

 

What is it about the linked brakes you dont like? If you use both front and back brakes at the same time you don't even know their linked. I just took a motorcycle safety class run by the police officer that trains the Illinois state police and I was the fastest stopper in the shortest distance of all the guys in the group. I love my VFR Brakes. 2007 Non-ABS 22,000 miles.

 

Unless you are trail braking in corners with finesse, I'm not sure how the linked brakes would have an impact on your riding.

 

If your after a Sports Tourer, there are a shitload of bikes out there. Aprillia (V4),, Beemers, Kawasaki & so on, even go back to an earlier model VFR. The new CBR650F looks the goods also. Every bike has it's bad point(s). I wish my bike had heated grips, adjustable seat, traction control & weighed 10 - 20 kilo's less, yeah I know it's all on the new model, but I'm pretty happy.

 

I don't Race my 07 . If trying to compare it to the CBR600 track bike I could tell the linked brakes are there. Daily commuting and spirited riding shouldn't be noticable.
If it is your riding to aggressive for the street and should really save that style of riding for track days. Stay safe.

 

I am a VFR rider and love the bike. My favorite is the 5th gen VFR. Other bikes to consider are - the Aprilia Futura or SL 1000 Falco, Triumph Sprint, or a Kawi Ninja 1000 - IMHO. Oh Yeah the ole Yamaha YZF10000 ThunderAce 1000cc or YZF600R Thundercat 600cc, and there is always the Honda CB 1000 and the Kawi Z1000. I am thinking about trading my 05 VFR for a Aprilia Futura or a Triumph Sprint and keeping my 2k VFR.

 

Good question - I like the idea of the ABS, that's a great idea. But the linked brakes just make the bike feel horrible, it's still braking but not getting the weight transfer over the front wheel, feels horrible like a siezed caliper, although it is still braking. In the dry I hardly use any rear brake if at all, and a lot more in the wet, so the idea of Honda knowing what balance i need from front to rear in all conditions amazes me.

Funnily enough I ended up using both brakes at the same time, which makes it feel ok, fooling yourself into thinking you are controlling the braking, but it's a bit of a farce. What I really would want is to keep the ABS on the front but not have any linked brakes. The fireblade had a superb front brake, loads of power and loads of feel, that with ABS would be perfect. But transplanting that front end onto the VFR would be a mega hassle as its USD forks and a different bar position.

A lot of people moan about the linked brakes when they dab the rear the front goes down, that funnily enough didn't bother me. Honda say it improves braking in an emergency as you don't have to think about balance, but for me it takes the confidence away that you are in control of the braking, and that's what limits it (for me) - it's a feel / confidence thing. For me it just feels all wrong, which takes away all confidence in the front brake.

The other problem is i ride a few bikes, I have a rubbish honda Dullville winter commuter bike, an RGV500 two stroke track/road bike, and a Cagiva Mito 125. You can go between any of these and the braking approach is the same, despite the massive size and weight differences. The feel of the brakes you can get round but I just can't get my head round the linked brakes.

So i'm looking at getting another VFR750 as I really liked the bike, a mate of mine has a VTR1000 firestorm, I'll try that one as well.

Btw I'll have a look at the 2014 VFR800, not to buy as it will be too expensive for me, but to look at the brakes and see if tey can be swapped.

Thanks for all the replies though.

Mat.

 

Yeah this is good advice! I do go a bit quicker than I should at times..... You're right it should be kept on the track.

Mat.

 

The closest used bike to a 6th gen VFR is probably the last gen Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (NOT the newer GT). I looked hard at one before I bought my 07.

BTW, I loved the linked brakes on my 07 and really miss them on my 14. During the first month with the 2014, I found the front end would dive excessively coming into corners, then I realized it was because there wasn't that extra bit of rear brake being applied. I guess I'm an oddball since hardly anyone else likes them.

 

I don't like the linked brakes either, especially in rain/mixed conditions. I'm a track rider myself to get the speed out of my system; might be a common factor at hating linked brake systems. But I live with it on my 09, not going to the pain in the ass delinking. I had a Thundercat years ago and loved that bike, great all arounder. Have you looked at Yamaha FJ's? I really like the Tuono, just not the price.

 

Hey, you are in the UK and you haven't given Triumph a try? What about the Sprint ST if you want to have a true sports touring bike, or the RS like I had. Comfortable and it's more agile than the VFR, along with 20 + ft lbs torque. The ST is even more than that if you get the 1050. I miss my RS, it is lighter and the rake and trail are set up to be more "sporty", but it still has raised bars, etc. The ST is very similar to the VFR, minus the VTEC, greater torque and HP, perhaps slightly heavier, but I may be wrong. Or you could check out a 2006 Triumph Daytona 955i, 146 HP, 74 ft lbs torque and only 420 lbs, but may be too much of a sportbike seating position. Get the Trident high mount exhaust and get ready for Eargasms....

Give them a look, you'll love em.

 

I have ridden a lot of bikes, and I have to say that my bone stock 07 has some of the best brakes I've seen. If I ride at 10/10th's, I can tell they are linked. But honestly I only ride like that about 5% of the time. And even then, rain or shine, I have never had to adjust my riding style because of them. But to each their own....it's your money.

 

I have an 08 VFR and a 05 Superhawk VTR. Not crazy about the linked portion of the brakes on the VFR but I do find they are adequate for spirited riding. Not sure I would want to track the bike though. I like my Superhawk. I do track it often. Very fun bike with tons of torque. Problem is mileage range. Smallish tank limits range to 120-150 mi. Otherwise I think you'd like it. You may want to upgrade the brakes though. Minimum of stainless lines and better to swap the calipers for 600 F4's.