What route to your VFR ?

Nepix's story makes me realize how different we all can be. He had a hot car at 16 and used the computer to find it. ME? I didn't get my first car until 28! (Rode a bicycle everywhere in Tucson.) And a computer? Hmmm...personal computers were just becoming reality back in 1987 when I got my first car (84 diesel rabbit...52 screamin' horses!). RFVR had his first mini bike in 1st grade...I wanted one but being in NYC the parents said NO--no place to ride! I only got a motorcycle under me when I was 47! But, good things come to those who wait, I guess. We are all different...different stories...same love for motorcycles though!

Cool...

 

You could call me a "born again biker" since I always loved cars and only recently got into motorcycles.

Bikes were just a toy and I didn't like how you can't carry luggage around, you don't have AC, no radio, etc... Now, I like going fast and I thought my Honda CRX was a fun little street legal go-kart.

Several years ago I got a roommate and sometimes he'd borrow my car to get groceries. Wasn't a big deal at first but sometimes he'd drive the car when I NEEDED the car. So I asked him if I could just borrow the bike when he's driving my car around.

So he gave me some basics on the bike, clutch, throttle, front brake, rear brake, etc... I practiced with him on a parking lot no big deal. I wasn't enamored with bikes and quite frankly its hard to do that when under 15mph in a parking lot.

One day I had to run to the bank and figured I'll just ride about 15 minutes. As it turns out I was having so much fun I ended up driving around for over a hour.

I'm hooked so I figured I might as well get my own bike. I didn't even know the VFR existed and I only thought the Honda CBR1000RR was the only viable option because I'm 6'1" and it's pretty much the only bike I saw out there that fits me decently.

What I ultimately wanted was a bike that I can drive for hours comfortably and still haul ass. I thought that I could just get a CBR1000RR and put helibars on it and upgrade the seat to make it a halfway decent sports touring bike.

Well, my best friend Jim was telling me about the VFR and I looked it up on the internet. I was really surprised at all the excellent reviews of the VFR as well as the fact not that many people have heard of it. Talk about a sleeper.

I looked around on Craigslist.org and saw 2 VFRs, one '99 and one '02. Two completely different models and I decided to check both of them out to decide which is better. I saw the '99 first and I literally had to restrain myself to keep from buying it right then and there. What a beautiful bike!

I had to look at the '02 second to make sure I'm making the right decision. The '02 was just a little biggish for me plus the VTEC didn't really impress me. The wide seat made me feel like a cowboy and I don't like that.

So I finally look at the '99 the second time, made a $2,500 deposit for a test ride and Wow! I made an offer for $5,000 though he was asking $5,500. Thankfully he accepted. I would've bought it for $5,500 anyway because I LOVED it!!!!!

And that's my story. :biggrin:

 

The VFR feels like it was more of a route to me.

Started riding on the street at 16 and bought a used VT500 Ascot. From there did the usual kid thing and took it everywhere - school, work, track, and long trips. Did the same with a Nighthawk S. When the V4's came out, fell in love with the look first (I was young) and then the engines. Had an 83 V45 Interceptor and an 84 1000 Interceptor which were both raced.

Got out of racing when high school was over and started a career. Thought I should grow up, you know the drill, but then the 86 VFR750 came out. Fell back into childhood and HAD to have it. The styling, the performance, the whole package was amazing to me. Had and loved that bike until 2000. It was still running perfectly with over 80k on it.

In 2000, and in my mid-thirties, I guess I actually had grown up and was looking to update. I was doing a lot more long-distance riding so the newer VFR's seemed perfect as I felt I still wasn't that grown up and wanted to play every once in a while on my bike as well as tour. Told my wife that if a blue model ever came to Canada I would have a hard time resisting. Imagine her surprise when Honda listed a blue colour choice coming in a couple of weeks later (she sort of went for it).

Traded in the 86 - REGRETFULLY and got the bike that I can tour, play, commute and everything I want to do on a bike on.

Feels like it was built for me - never looked back.

I imagine many of you feel the same.

 

Looked at the vfr 800s when I past my test a year and a half ago now. allways liked the look of them but couldn't aford to insurance on it.

My first a Honda VT125 Shadow , 2nd Honda XL125V Valladero, 3rd Honda CBF 600N now my VFR800A all in 3 years not bad lol

I really can't wait to get on it, dam leg lol

 

always likes the vfr since 86 think they look cool it does everything right some think its slow some fast guess thats experience but the bike is realiable is different in a crowd sounds different if honda made the 86 model with new tech gear driven cams etc id get one but the gen 6 is what they make thats what i got other bikes i admire or wish i had back or were on the wish list hurricane 600 100 fzr 1k 89 vmax gsxr750 blackbird zx9 98 new busa vstorm 650 newconcord14 st13 rune duck 848 1099 augusta aprilla tourno RC51 yep like that one very much taz i m jealous crf250 450 crf 50 pit bike bmw r12 had a few of these wish to have the others but want to retire early so you cant always get what you want but if you try sometimes you get what you need ahhh yeaah and thats the vfr 800 thank you and good nite everyone have a great Easter be safe and thank the lord for our blessings for we really are lucky to be able to ride and do things we are able to do and i appologize to all i offended with my cruerl remarks i was get funnin thats all...

 

Thanks Elf!

 

My wife told me I could buy only one new bike to supplement my 1984 VF750F - I had sold all the others. It had to be a sporty long distance bike. It had to be used because I never buy new bikes. Buying new bikes is a big waste of money, in my opinion. I was looking at Triumph Sprints, Ducati STs, Multistradas, and VFRs. I wasn't particular about the generation VFR - 4th, 5th or 6th would have satisfied me. I bought my 2004 6th Gen because I got a screaming good deal from the shop where my brother works. I like the bike, but it isn't perfect. I am not married to it or to Honda, either. I think I would have been happy with any of the bikes on my short list.

Does my dispassionate attitude toward VFRs and Hondas make me unusual here?

 

Cheers everyone for their road to VFR story so far, doesn't even matter if its transient as the original VFR zealot mate who inspired me to VFR's now rides a tickled Tuono.

Thanks for sharing your history, who would have thought love of outboard motors would have led eventually to the VFR. :smile:

The photo's bring back memories when I were a wee lad going to a parents friends place talking to their much older son who used to race a Kwaka 750 Mach IV, it looked great although he reckoned the motor ballistic, the shocks were like a rock and likened the frame to wet spagetti.

As a school kid was actually a bit of a bike slut saving my pocket money for bike mags then drooling over the the amazing 6 Cylinder CBX and with their marginal ground clearance and thin tyres watching them go surprisingly well in production races here, feel a little sad now never ridden one. :frown: