By Gary Brient
This article was previously posted on another site and subsequently removed from viewing. I tried to get their approval to use this article since I think many VFR owner's will find it interesting, but unfortunately I never received an email response. If anyone objects, then I will immediately remove this from article from the site.
Last month Street Bike reviewed the 1996 VFR 750. We had planned to run long with the article some views from both staff and readers alike. Alas, space did not permit. We decided to run two of the submissions this month as a continuing piece, because they offer further insight as to what makes the machine special, as well as offering some helpful tips on the bike. If you have spent time on the machine, you know where we are coming from. If not, read on. Veteran Moto journalist Gary Brient, always one of strong convictions and interesting tales, lets us in on the other worldly experiences that led him to purchase a VFR of his very own. He also provides tips on what after-market accessories compliment an already complete machine. Sun Lee, recently of a 14,000 mile trek up, down, in, out and around this great country on a VFR provides highlights of his ride. If you have any comments or tales (not the tall kind) let us know.
So God's assembly chariot hovered just above the cloud-like floor. Angels had already assembled my form, but the personality and character had yet to be implanted. Far down the assembly line a brilliant, white light emerged, assuring me that my very nature was not far from discovery; God's station was the last stop before my descent onto Earth. And then there was God... he looked down upon me with a serious countenance and said,
"Our production of normal is exceeding the demand, therefore thou shalt proceed on earth as a biker, but I shall implant a free will so as to permit a freedom of choice when contemplating manufacturers".
Consequently, God's intentions were executed in the next millisecond; before I was even aware, I commenced to roam earth with a free will... a dangerous thing!
With this pre-ordained disposition, my search for an eternal relationship with a motor and frame became compulsive. I would travel any distance to throw a leg over a saddle and twist a throttle.
In truth, I lost count of the machines that were both mounted and mastered. These twins, those fours, that single, it made no difference; for over forty years I vacillated in my preferences of style, color and materials. Then stunningly, another miracle transpired . . . it was but for a moment, and it was red, this sleek package fleetingly witnessed on a city street, I tried to follow, but it was too fast. Yet my eyes were able to focus for one brief moment on a contour where inscribed was a strange word - HONDA.
Now, with divine inspiration, I proceeded to my local dealership to discover my next object of worship. The dealer informed me that my eyes had beheld a 1991 VFR (the one with the gold wheels), but alas there were but two alloted to the dealership and both had been sold. However, the general manager was one of the purchasers. So, with tears in my eyes, I plead for his sale of the bike to me, cash purchase of course! With true Christian charity, he said, ". . . the money would be nice!"
That was October of 1991 . . . four years and one month later my praise for the VFR continues unabated. In fact, after 20,000 plus, there have been but two mechanical repairs: an external shifter-linkage problem (covered by warranty) and a new clutch necessitated by the brutalization of the original owner. With these two exceptions, nothing more has been added to the mix other than oil, gas and coolant. Obviously, I have departed the ethereal theme in this dialogue, so let's continue with some hard-core recommendations for the Honda VFR-F.
My riding is a combination of touring and cruising. Canyons, desert straight roads, coastal switch-backs, I don't care. Recommendation number one is, Michelin A89X radials . . . they stick, they wear and are generally available. Recommendation number two is, Mike Corbin's touring seat . . . more plush, better platform, better looking. Recommendation number three is a Barnett Kevlar clutch when yours wear out. This clutch is four times the original - better springs, less mass, superior feel and an invincible plate, quite simply the best clutch I've ever operated. Do these things to a stock VFR and your over-the-road experience will accelerate into the sublime.
Maintaining the VFR has been a curious experience. Never have I had less maintenance on any motorcycle. 22,000 thousand mile maintenance intervals are standard. Change the oil every three to four thousand miles, apply some Chain Wax every thousand or so, clean, wax and ride, ride and ride! The machine is tireless.
Well, now that we've covered the ethereal and the practical, let's pursue the emotional. My baby is garaged with an old, wool blanket thrown over it to discourage dust particles from collecting. Every time I remove the blanket and the Italian red glares at me, I feel a visceral tug.
I like the line of this bike, the twin aluminum spars in the delta box frame, the massive aluminum, single-sided swing arm, the seamless, whole fairing, even the idiot lights in the cockpit dash no longer annoy me. And when I start the veefer (and it always does, mostly on the first punch of the starter button), a dangerous smile crosses my face. This nasty burbling I know full well can evolve into a shriek of sound that will pull at my eyelids and tighten my grip.
No person needs more launch than is contained here. So combine the sound, the feel, the durability and you have what I believe to be the best power plant in motorcycling. Obviously, these are but one man's opinions, but there are other believers out there. Talk with Reg Pridmore about his new VFR stable for CLASS. In the past year six riders who mounted a VFR for the first time in CLASS have gone out to purchase new veefers for personal use. Reg reports that this was the most remarkable response to his CLASS motorcycles ever!
European motorcycle journalists chose the VFR as not only the standout in the 750 Class, but chose it as bike of the year, century, etc. And recently, your reporter returned from the Catalaunian Grand Prix, the last GP event of the year.
Barcelona, which may have the most motorcycles in the streets of any European city, is rife with the veefers. More than BMW, more than Harley, more than any other manufacturer, Honda's VFR is the "hot ticket" in Europe for the serious, touring rider. Though it took a couple years in the U.S. for riders to engage this machine, Honda showrooms are becoming depleted of VFR product. And routinely, Motorcyclists and Cycle World magazines trumpet the virtue of this machine. Add to this clamor remarks made to me by machinists who say things like, "How'd they do those welds . . . I can't weld like that . . . look at that steering head, look at those bars, etc." A work of art - from machinists to rider - that's the real endorsement.
Well, it's true, or is it too good to be true, you decide! For me, God gave a "free will" and after forty plus year of motoring to and fro, I'd rather be on Honda's VFR-F than on any other motorcycle in the world. It really is that simple and admittedly, that personal!