1985 VF1000R... Getting close...

Lovely 1000's Mike! How does the R compare to the F?

 

They surely are. I'll take the R.

 

That doesn't keep people from calling them VFR500, all the time.

 

Sometimes they come up for sale masked as VF500f’s
;-)


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As stock, the 1000F was a much nicer ride and handles better. A stock R is a heavy pig that does not want to turn. The F shifts smoother for sure.

When you update the suspension (this R has a DMR modified CBR-F3 shock, Gold Valve Emulators and Race Tech 1.0 springs) the R is absolutely transformed. I had an F-ing blast that day on it. Everybody who has ridden a 1000R and written them off is justified, but also cheated, because the chassis can work and you can enjoy that liter gear driven cam loveliness. Braided lines and good pads is an absolute must.

It had been all Winter since I was on it, and after riding my 95 and 92 VFRs (both upgraded suspension front and rear) and my 2 Modified Hawk GTs all Spring, I was very curious, but ultimately blown away.

Yes it is big. Yes it is heavy. But I rode the same roads in the same direction as those four other bikes that all handle pretty fucking good, and my feeling of speed and braking markers and apex exit timing all felt really close, on bias ply tires. I was pretty enamored when I got home.

The F has the same fork treatment with a YSS shock riding on 5.5" and 3.5" CBR1000F wheels, so nice wide, modern radials is pretty darn nice. I have another R with VTR1000F wheels that is similarly planted and transformed.

They both pull like freight trains and scream doing it. I think the F "feels" faster, but it could very well be the slightly more vibration and mechanical noise coming from the cam chain engine.

 

Here's the other R with the VTR wheels, YSS shock and a 1990 VFR750F front end with RT springs.

 

Good write up on the F and R Cap.
I did some “testing “ with my friend back in the 90’s with my F vs his R
The F was a slight bit faster than the R but my guess was weight . I’m sure top speed would be different… in either case I love both models .


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Oh! And on that ride, on my way home I stopped by one of my favorite places for a beer and some fries.



One... people were checking out, talking about, asking questions and taking pictures. The other one was a McLaren. That definitely put a smile on my face too.

 

I don’t see no McLaren


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Those were the days, I remember a dimly lit garage with one of those in it, along with a Husqvarna dirt bike back when they still stamped the parts "Made in Sweden." I had 86 CA model Kawasaki that soured me on that brand for years. I always liked seeing some of the engine as opposed to fully faired bikes, FJ comes to mind, not that I ever rode one.

 

While things certainly change a bit from model to model, the brands certainly have their own feel or personality. I've mostly avoided Kawasaki and Suzuki and have enjoyed Yamaha (3 FJs!) and Honda.

 

I have all 4 brands and as all of you probably know Honda has the best build quality. The most brutal brand, viceral feel would be the Kawasaki's.