I love VFRs, I really do. But I sometimes wonder whether over the years Honda lost its way a bit with the VFR. Let me explain. The first gen VFR750 weighed 199kg dry and kicked out 87 bhp at the back wheel. At the same time a GSXR750 weighed 176kg dry and made around 88 bhp at the back wheel. On a good day the VFR was certainly a match for the GSXR on road and with a bit of work, the track too. Yet, the VFR was also good for comfy 400 mile rides (I did a 10 hour 437 mile ride recently on my '86 750 and had no problems). I do wish Honda had stuck with its original power/weight formula (relative to the GSXR). Imagine what we could have had now? How does this sound (using the % key on my calculator and the '86 VFR/GSXR benchmark): a 2010 VFR750 that weighs 186kg and kicks out 126 bhp at the back wheel. That's heading towards twice the power of an '87 CBR600 Hurricane and with a similar dry weigh too. Sounds good? Comfy yet able to live with a 2010 GSXR750 on road or track. A race bike in elegant clothes. What more could you want? Honda could do this if they wanted to.....
I for one don't understand all of the bashing that VFR's receive in regards to weight. Yes, I've made a few weight saving modifications, but my 6th gen would probably still tip the scales in the 510lbs wet range. The heavier weight means more stability and better long range comfort; much more so than a GSXR with risers could provide. More importantly, it handles like it weighs more in the 450lb range; so despite what that weight number looks like on paper, the actualities are much differant. Then, when rider ability is taken into account, the number becomes even less significant.
