FI W VFR 800 1998 model pre-Vtec

This is my first VFR, so maybe this review will suit you if you are thinking of buying an older second hand one.

First of all, the review is based on what I reckon is a pretty straight, fairly standard and well looked after VFR 800. Judging by the scottoiler, heated grips and full set of nofango luggage that came with the drunken ebay purchase, its 55,000 miles have spent a fair bit of touring time with the two previous owners, and according to the paperwork it has been regularly serviced. Its actually a 1997 (December) model. So dont let anyone tell you that there is no such thing as a 1997 VFR800, there just aren't many.

First impressions - compared to my 1988 Kawasaki ZX10 it feels very light - but most things feel very light compared to a ZX10 B1.

Build quality: First impressions. it doesn't get much better than this. Superbly put together, everything fits, no rattles, good paint.

Looks: (if thats an issue). Personally I like the lack of decals and garish badges. Nice, understated. Someone had added a black double bubble to mine, which is a black bike, and it just looks nice. It also generally looks like a quality build.

If I had to compare it in "feel" to any other bike that isn't a VFR I'd have to say it reminds me of an SV 650, but with a lot more grunt, and a very sensitive throttle. Then wind on the throttle and its more like a ZX6R, but without the snakey rear end action. It also lacks the propensity to playfully waggle its bars like a 6R, which is a blessing. It feels well built and well put together.

On day two I picked up a massive nail in the back tyre. So I had a new BT021 to match up with the almost new 020 on the front. So any handling comments are based on fresh tyres.

I dont know where this bike generates so much grip from, the front and back both feel very firmly planted at all speeds, at all angles, wet and dry. I appreciate that the 020/021 combination of tyres isn't everyone's first choice, but I seem to get on well with Bridgestones, and I dont do track days despite the remus titanium "not for road use" can that came in the top-box. But if grinding footpegs and getting your knee down is required, rest assured that the VFR will not disappoint.

We dont need to go into the engine note here, simply to say it is just magic.

Accellerating is done in a snap, in fact I found I kept red-lining it, and after the long-legged gearing of a ZX10 at first I felt that an awful lot of left foot action was going on feeding it gears.

At last a bike with an accurate fuel gauge. priceless.

And as for the linked braking system, after ten minutes you forget about it, and it feels like nothing other than a bike with simply damned good brakes. If, like me, you got into the habit on some other bikes of trailing a bit of back brake in corners (Kwak owners will know the score with that one) you might get a bit of a surprise when you try that on the VFR as it will apply a bit of front brake too. But under all other braking conditions these brakes are nothing short of awesome, and the next best thing, safety wise, to ABS imho.

Compared to an inline four the V4 at first seems rather vibey. In fact I get a bit of a tingle in one footpeg as the engine goes up or down through 5000 rpm. I dont know if this is normal, but its no big deal.

Comfort wise the seating position is good, perhaps some people might like modest bar risers, but coming from a "sport" bike background (ZX6,ZX9, ZX10) in comparison it feels like its got apehangers on it already
Its also, according to my long suffering wife, the second best pillion seat in the business. The best being the ZZR, apparently. Maybe she'd find it more comfortable if I took the cowl off

If you have been riding a big carburetter aspirated bike the sensitive throttle does take a bit of getting used to. A couple of days riding with full luggage and a pillion on the wettest weekend of the year and you soon develop the sort of finesse required. Until then, do bear in mind that too much boisterous exuberance on the throttle, and you get to do a bit of plane spotting, its got a very light front end compared to something like a ZZR or other big tourer.

We are in a pretty rural area, and many of the roads are not exactly racetrack smooth, but the suspension on factory settings is probably the best you'll get on an all rounder bike.

I cant make me mind up whether this is a tourer, a sport bike, or a commuter. I think it must be all three. I certainly have no plans to get rid of it in the near future, it looks like its here to stay.

The ZX10 is still in the garage, I have no plans to get rid of that either. But I haven't ridden it since I got the VFR, making the VFR the bike of choice through the end of the summer and now into the winter. So that, I guess, says a lot.

If I had to have just one bike, it would be the VFR.:thumbsup:

Here's a youtube walkaround YouTube - 1998 VFR800 walkround - Honda VFR800 FI

 

NIce write up...... enjoy the bike