I'm Really Disappointed At Honda.

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by OCLandspeeder, Nov 12, 2018.

  1. RC46-SP2

    RC46-SP2 New Member

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    Yeah, but aside from all that, what was actually wrong with it?

    ;)

    Seriously, they make some incredibly desirable bikes. But, like much of the Euro stuff (cars and bikes), it's really a case of buyer beware. The term "high maintenance" must have been coined specifically for a lot of the Euro stuff...
     
  2. RC46-SP2

    RC46-SP2 New Member

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    And if they were, I'd be on one in a heartbeat.

    Yes, WAY too much money to be putting into a 20 year old bike, granted. But with what's already been done to mine, and what will be done later this year (see comments re: refurb in the "What have you done to your VFR" thread), the Supercharger would, IMHO, make the bike "the" all-round bike it was originally meant to be "then", with power enough for the "now"...

    Wouldn't need 2 other bikes to "have it all", then.
     
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  3. RC46-SP2

    RC46-SP2 New Member

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    Great comment.

    The Mrs and I drive around in a '99 Corolla (we also have another, newer vehicle which is lesser used as it's a 4WD).

    To look at our car, aside from a few minor blemishes (pin dents etc.), you'd think it was less than 10 years old, rather than 20. Almost 200k on the clock, reliable as toast, and - for it's age - reasonably economical to boot. Great little run around car.

    I see cars which are 15 years newer with faded paint/ clear coat gone etc. I look around our neighborhood and see stacks of cars parked in driveways or on the street, outside houses with double (or triple) garages, and wonder why the owners need to have so much accumulated crap that they can't park their vehicles under cover...

    So many of these people driving around in "disposable" cars, are the same ones needing to go and buy a new one on expensive credit in 5- 10 years of ownership...just doesn't make financial sense to me.
     
  4. John carnahan

    John carnahan New Member

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    Frankly I like disposable as regards the modern automobile. The last 4 cars I've purchased new going back to 1979 have all given me more than 200K MILES, the lowest 236,500 or so. I've only replaced the plugs in the 1979 Corolla.. Only replaced tires and brake pads. The 2002 Malibu for instance, 276k miles and never changed the plugs. Still got 30+ MPG when the trany gave up. I've also purchased several used cars, all less than $2000 and get at least another 30k out of them. Only recently have I needed to do any work to the "horse" truck, a 86 C30 dually. Hay and sawdust got between that darn plastic cover and the tank and rusted the bottom out. Bought in in 1991 w/50k on the clock and now have 117,000, can't afford to drive it unless I have to @ 7-8 MPG. I'm in the middle of a new tank(always in winter working on the ground). I don't recall ever spending more than $1000 total on any of them.. If/when a $500 repair comes...they go to the graveyard.

    Bikes. Never bought a new one.. Just get on and ride and haven't managed to kill one yet.

    OTOH I've put way to many $K's into the darn airplanes.
     
    Riding a 2000 and James Bond like this.
  5. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Not a bad philosophy. I get what you're doing. New vehicles are turning into "throw away" items, much like new washing machines, due to cost to repair and shorter life spans because of complicated designs to meet Obama's and the EPA's dictatorial and arbitrary standards that drive cost for unmeasurable "benefit". I just put serious money into an 18 y. o. vehicle with a perfect body and 256K miles on it. I'll get at least another 150K out of it for a fraction the cost of a new vehicle. New washing machines (and cars) have tiny circuit boards made in China for very little cost but wait until it goes out in 3 years and you have to replace it. New cars are loaded with sensors and techs can't even work on them. I'm staying with the tried, true, and repairable. So are a lot of other people.
     
  6. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    I'm still driving a 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4x4, looked at getting a new one last year, but decided to do another build project instead. I have come to the point where I don't want to pay the interest on a vehicle loan, even if it's 2%. I am a sucker for a nice bike build, but only do them on a cash basis. Every person has their own priorities.
     
  7. OCLandspeeder

    OCLandspeeder New Member

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    It's nice to have 2-3 bikes, especially if one is very different. For example, I have a dual sport, which I really enjoy riding just to ride....not trying to be fast, or look good, but just ride. It's very unpretentious and sometimes it's refreshing to not have to live up to anything. I've taken my dual sport to far away places too and I feel it has opened up new avenues to me. Plus, it's damn fun to ride even in twisty roads. On the highway I'm more limited to "up to 85 mph", but I'm happy with that.

    The Ninja 1000 is a real treat to ride though. It is fast and it has tons more power than the VFR...everywhere. It is also faster and smoother than the Ducati SS that I almost bought yet just as sporty. I changed the oil on the Ninja recently and it took me 20 min. No need to remove any fairings.....a refreshing convenience on a fully faired motorcycle. OTOH, I still enjoy riding the VFR800 for commuting and occasional sport riding. I don't need the power of the Ninja but it sure makes it that much easier to ride fast in the twisties when there's so much power and torque on corner exits. Just have to always be aware how quickly the Ninja can dial up speed from corner to corner, or when passing slower cars. It's so easy to pass now that I no longer have to plan my passes....which is not always a good thing.
     
  8. Litre1000

    Litre1000 New Member

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    I just rode my 84 Interceptor last Sunday. It was cold out, but the experience was still very enjoyable. Like I said before, I have not ridden this bike very much at all in the last 15 years. But I must admit, the bike does still feel like it’s brand new. It only has 26,000 miles on it. And I won’t sell it because I don’t have to. But what I want, is something extremely powerful. I’ve looked at everything available the last couple months. The new Ducati V4 is the most appealing to me. Even knowing what kind of problems may lie ahead...it’s still the one I want. I am going to look real close at the 2017 fire blade SP1. I’m not a big fan of the I-4 engine. But it is a Honda, I like the red white and blue, it is very fast, I just have no idea how I’ll feel sitting on it, and what it’s like to ride. Maybe I should just find a used via far 1200 and be done with it? I don’t really care about fuel range. Because it would not be an every day bike. Or a touring bike. Just something very powerful to ride once in a while.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  9. Gator

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    Have you looked at the Aprillia RSV4? I'd buy that over the Duc for sure.
     
  10. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    Keep the Taco, they will run forever. I'm on my 3rd 4Runner, has about 1/4 million on it and has used heavily towing bikes, my boat and off roading. Just normal maintenance stuff. Gave one to my daughter in high school, when she went off to collage we sold it with 360k and was still it excellent condition.
    Tacoma's and 4Runners are basically the same truck.
     
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  11. VFR1200

    VFR1200 New Member

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    I did until I saw the service intervals and cost. No f'ing way.
     
  12. headshrink

    headshrink New Member

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    Agreed. It was close to 3x what I pay for my VFR for insurance. :(
     
  13. VFR1200

    VFR1200 New Member

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    This is why I have a VFR. The insurance guys do not have it registered as a sports bike, hence it has a cheaper insurance bracket then a lot of other bikes.
     
  14. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Same thing here. We gave a new 2000 model Taco to our daughter for college, she and her husband no longer wanted it so it's sitting downstairs with 123,000 miles on it running like new. They literally don't make them as well thanks to Obama's arbitrary CAFE standards at a time when the U. S. has more oil and gas reserves than any other time in its history. Political agendas prevail once again. Older Tacomas refuse to die and I get offers on it regularly. But then what do I replace it with that's worth a damned? Turbos, cost and the complication of new engines are ridiculous. Nevermind the air is cleaner with internal combustion engines and has been for a long time. Electric cars are great until they run out of battery charge. Try driving coast to coast in a Tesla, if it holds together. Check out their body build quality. Elon's knowledge of car manufacturing is rather lacking. Better quit before this becomes a book of logic.
     
  15. Gator

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    I shoot some car commercials for a local Toyota company in Florida in my studio and have a lot of conversations with their executives. From what I understand the 4Runner is still 100% made and assembled in Japan. The Tacoma is assembled in (if I remember correctly) 3 places in the states. I have shot the Preadtor series of both the 4Runner and Tacoma, both were very nice.
     
  16. Gator

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    Some of the side by side video shoots I have done with Toyota vs Honda have been interesting. The new Corolla is a really nice car and way better built than the Accord. Squeezed a Tundra if for a shoot too, big truck.
     

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  17. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Not sure How I missed this thread, but here's my two cents worth. In regards to who's got something close to the VFR? Easy, Aprilia Touno is. That said, it hovers right around that $15k mark, the factory which Oozzies cool is at $17K Closest thing I've found that's even close to having the performance of a super bike and the ridability like a VFR, that and it's a V4. 165+ hp 460lbs wet handles like it's way lighter and Ooo the goodies. The only fault is the factory support! " not the dealers hic up" the ones I know will go the distance for you if there's a problem. then there's the dealer may be not so close by. AF1 Racing in Tx. has really jump on making sure the Apirlias get what ever hassle out and fixed asap, so for the most part now a days this is pretty much behind them as a problem. Go find one take it for a spin, damn nice ride. If it wasn't for what I have, and of coarse justifying the money, as I'm a bit on the frugal side, be looking for a good used one. I'd have one. DSC02449.JPG .
     
  18. OCLandspeeder

    OCLandspeeder New Member

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    I looked into the Tuono 1100 as they had these available at a discount at two dealerships near me. They don't sell that well. Anyway, I trolled online to see what owners are saying. The service intervals and the cost for the 12k service for them are astronomical. Something like $1500. As for doing it myself, there is a large amount of work to get it done: Both case covers need removal, 4 pins installed on the crankshaft to lock the engine and check each valve sets. If the intake valves need adjustment, mechanics say you can either "cut" the pins that lock the flywheel in order to access something to adjust it, or drop the motor. Apparently, accessing the intake valves somehow is just very hard with the engine attached to the frame or something to that effect. That's just too much for me to swallow for the privilege of owning a V4 Tuono that I will probably rarely use it's power. I feel that I can get to 90% of that enjoyment with a Yamaha MT10 or a lightly modified Suzuki GSXS1000 (naked) without the maintenance requirements of the Tuono.
     
  19. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Good point, nothing like the WTF moment when taking a bike in. For me yea its another one of those necessary evils, IF. But these days it seems there is never a free ride, and add that 12k would take me 3 years to pull off. Just saying, though, man is it a well balanced bike , It's what Honda needs to be making.
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2019
  20. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    I own a Civic, a Tacoma, an Xterra and 23 company vehicles which I'll leave out due to brutal use. The Xterra has 257, 000 miles on it and runs like new. I would drive it coast to coast after only changing the oil first, that's it. The Honda has the best design and build quality and I expect it to last longer than I will. All of them stay out of the shop and screw the "status and prestige" factor in what I drive. It doesn't make or save me any money or make me even cooler ; ). I'll stay with Jap vehicles for personal use. The disappointment with Honda is their poor marketing. Try to find an inexpensive used one though....
     
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