New bike.... Honda VFR800

[Radis]

So despite me wanting to go for a big naked bike like the Speed Triple or the XJR1300 I didn't really have the budget to get one that wasn't falling apart. So I just put a deposit down on a 2003 VFR 800 from Chiswick Honda.

Only the press pics I'm afraid as I won't get the bike until next week. They are fitting some new Conti sport touring tires and a new heat plate before I pick it up. It comes with some Remus exhaust and a top box the size of the enterprise.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201302075237949/

My Mrs will now get the full use of my XJ6f for her commuting needs. Riding the XJ6 home after the test ride of the VFR was all the confirmation I needed that I should buy it. Very different bike!

[c_dug]

I bet it will sound nice with those pipes, one of the nicest sounding engines IMO.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Radis]

It does sound lovely, nice little burble up to ~7k rpm then it goes a bit mental when the vtec starts. Not so much an increase in power just in noise really. I think it sounds a little bit like the V8 mustang I hired when I was in America although that was all noise and no go.

[Danablos]

Nice! I very nearly bought a pre vtec model before i got the tdm
____________________
Current: 2001 Yamaha TDM 850 --- Previous: Derbi Senda, Honda varadero 125

[bren_9311]

____________________
My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked. If you like, I'll trade for one of yours.
Currently bikeless.
Ps4- bren_9311

[instigator]

Get a power commander to try and increase the abysmal mpg it gets as standard. You'll notice it's a fair bit thirstier than the XJ6!

[Dilyan]

It did 250 miles to a tank (probably more left). Abysmal?
____________________
Current: 2007 VFR800; Ex: 2001 YZF600R Thundercat
Škoda Octavia (yes, a taxi driver)

[J.M.]

It's a lovely bike. I wanted that one (in different colours) until the price tag told me otherwise
____________________
2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Aff]

Fuelly says they get about 40-50mpg, which is pretty good for a heavy 110hp bike.

Plus they have a huge tank, 22 litres or something.
____________________
Current Bikes:Honda 929RR Fireblade, Honda CD200 Benly (Project), Stomp Z2 140
Electric Bike Project

[instigator]

[c_dug]

50mpg!?!? I wish! I'm lucky to see 35-40mpg on what is arguably a "big, boring cumbersome vehicle"
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[radicalrabit]

sorry but to drop a gob of snot onto your great celebrations of getting a cracking bike at a damned good price But I have to take serious issue with the tryes, My Blackbird is heavier than your bike but Avon Sport or even Avon Storm IN MY OPINION would have suited that bike better ......whos suggestion was it to put conti's on?
____________________
VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

[spnorm]

I had a 2003 VTEC and it usually did around 45mpg/180 miles to a tank, which was about 5mpg less than my pre-VTEC 2000 model VFR800FiY (much nicer engine).

I really didn't like the VTEC lurch when using the mid-range power and rolling on and off the throttle through the VTEC transition at 6500rpm, so I sold it and bought my old VFR back.

[Radis]

[P.]

[UnspeedySam]

Looks nice. I have considered on a few times but the MPG, price and fact it's just that bit too old manish for a 23 year old. Good to know a power commander helps the MPG though.

[Seb]

Honda FI was horrifically bad during that sort of era, I boosted my MPG by ~40% by fitting a PCIII to my SP1, got more power and a far smoother delivery too
____________________
2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[barrkel]

I get about 130 miles of reasonably spirited riding to last bar flashing on the fuel gauge, which is about 40mpg as it only takes 15 litres to fill it from there. The tank is apparently 22 litres, but I've never gotten down far enough to put even 20 litres in it. Also, top bar of the 8 disappears within 10 miles. Feels like the gauge isn't very accurate. Getting better mileage is very easy if you do 75 on the motorway, though 6th gear on it is kind of pointless at any legal UK speed IMO.

I've found the stock seat dreadful for any more than 3 hours. It's flat and broad with sharpish edges that cut into the insides of my thighs. On the lookout for a decently priced aftermarket seat.

My 2005 VTEC doesn't kick in until 7k RPM, and I generally cruise on the motorway at ~6.5k. To get much go out of it on country roads you have to keep it fairly revved up though.

Riding it in London means leaving it in first gear much of the time, where it will easily wheelie if you're still accelerating when the VTEC kicks in. But it's a heavy bike, not easy to flick around between traffic.

It's very good for higher-speed cruising when touring, and the suspension and line-tracking is considerably better than my old ER6, though of course it's not nearly as flickable. Feels solid at 110 even with top-box on, though it starts to get a bit wobbly at 125. Removing the top-box helps.
____________________
Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Huambo81a]

I have the older 2001 Fi model VFR. to be honest I've owned quicker bikes, but I do love it.

The sound is part of the character though. With the standard exhaust they sound pants, you need an aftermarket slipon, and then it sounds like it should.

They definitely are not as boring as people make out.
____________________
Present: 2017 KTM Super Adventure S
Past: 97 Bandit 600 / 05 Bandit 1200 / 03 ZX6-R / 2006 Tuono R / 2001 VFR 800 / 2010 Street Triple R / 2013 Speed Triple S / 2017 S1000XR

[radicalrabit]

I had Tony Archer from Huddersfield fix the sea on my bike and not a costly fix either. so if yours isnt big or soft enough get him to make you one you will be happy with
...
____________________
VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

[Radis]

I've only had it out on a 45 min test ride and don't get to pick it up until next week so no issues with the seat or fueling so far. It does have aftermarket cans on it (Remus GP) so sounds quite nice. No idea on the fuel economy yet and don't really fancy having to mess with a power commander for a bike I don't really intend to keep for more than a year or so.

I did some London filtering on it on the test ride and it isn't a bike I would like to have to filter on too much to be honest. Compared to the XJ6 it is a lardy bugger and I have to change the way I ride in heavy traffic quite a lot.... more forward planning required. Luckily at the moment my commute is Shepherds Bush -> Slough and back so not much traffic and pretty much just motorway speeds on the A40. I'll have to go for a few more jollies on it and find some decent twisty roads to get used to it.... oh the shame.....

Whilst the Continental Motions were a steal I have never ridden on them before and since agreeing to the fitting of them I have read some reviews that are fairly mixed. I'm hoping they will be as good as by BT-023s on the XJ6

[radicalrabit]

Contis good as 023 's???/? erm dont hold yer breath ,,,,,,,but if you are mainly commuting and not mainly on the twisties then for the price they "will do" rather than be "epic"
____________________
VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

[c_dug]

[Huambo81a]

After a full 32k service, i've been getting a reliable 45mpg for the last two tanks (no motorway riding, just A and B roads)
____________________
Present: 2017 KTM Super Adventure S
Past: 97 Bandit 600 / 05 Bandit 1200 / 03 ZX6-R / 2006 Tuono R / 2001 VFR 800 / 2010 Street Triple R / 2013 Speed Triple S / 2017 S1000XR

[Vincent]

I get 120 mls per tank on average, I find 250 mls on a tank unbelievable - unless the VTEC has a tank twice the size of the Fi.
I've just put a Remus 4-1 on and it's the best sounding pipe so far.
I don't like the sound of the bike much under 3K revs, to me it sounds like two G5 engines bolted together but it really does sing higher up the rev range and keeps pulling

The best tyres are supposed to be Michelin Road Pilots for the VFR, I'm using Avons which seem to be fine but I havn't pushed them in the wet much yet.

Check out the pair valve and airbox mods and get ready for the Reg/Rec and/or common earth problems.
____________________
Space Is Deep