VFR800

[blade023]

So I went and got myself one of these sort of as a Christmas present!

https://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z181/daveajj/DSC00213.jpg~original

The pic is just one I found on google, but mine looks pretty much the same, with full luggage on it. It's also had a gear indicator installed (very nicely) on the dash, a 12v accessory socket and I've just fitted a chain oiler to make chain maintenance easier for my many miles of commuting (about an hour per day, 2-6 days a week depending on the season.)

Got it from Speed Superbike centre in Exeter, and as usual their service was excellent. Traded in a VTR1000 Firestorm for it, and so far I'm extremely pleased with it! It rides beautifully, handles and corners effortlessly and is a real pleasure to ride.

I was initially going to get a more up to date Fazer, as I've had 2 now and thoroughly enjoyed riding them, but after having a blast on the Firestorm I was prompted to look for something more similar to that but a bit more comfortable. The VFR ticks all the boxes of both Fazer and Firestorm for me; plenty of fun to be had, good amount of low down torque, nice and comfortable in town, good carrying capacity and just generally very well behaved. With the added bonus of being excellent at carrying a passanger, which I only do occasionally but on those rare occasions it's nice to know it handles very well.

Despite having some terribly wet weather I've been finding any excuse I can to get out on the road. So pleased with it!
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Current: VFR800 2008 13.7k and rising rapidly!
Sorn: 2003 FZS1000 30k(ish) looking to sell.

[ADSrox0r]

Welcome to the club, there's a cracking good owners group on Faceblog with thousands of members.

Get her de-PAIRed, de-flappered, check for recall wiring if appropriate, chuck some nice rowdy cans on (I chose Remus, bloody awesome), fit a Power Commander for ultimate smoothness and chuck a Pipercross filter in for good measure to get the intake roar nice and feisty.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Marclev]

Brilliant, I was just asking on another thread what people thought of these and along comes someone's review. Thank you internet!

But damn, I was asking because I was thinking of buying one. Was hoping for something more negative to dissuade me!

[esullivan]

Congrats! I'm sure you will enjoy it. I still like my VFR800 (the X variety) 9,000 miles later. How old and how many miles?
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[t121anf]

Dad has one always liked them, if our lass was still willing to be a pillion it would have been my first choice.

[blade023]

Marclev: In all honesty I can't fault it. They're well known as fantastic all round bikes and that's one of the things that persuaded me, the other being the test ride I did. Admittedly I've not ridden loads of bikes, but of the few I have this is hands down my favourite so far.

Short biking history; (tatty chink 125 excluded ) '96 CB500, '02(ish) CBF600 (good fun bike), '03 FZS1000 (x2, one was written off and replaced with another), '98 VTR1000 and now the VFR.

esullivan: I'm enjoying it already! It's a 2008 model (second VTEC version so some kinks worked out) with a paltry 13.5k on the clock.

ADSroxOr: I've heard mixed reviews on these particular mods. Funnily enough I was looking at a page describing the depair and deflapper mods and also the snorkel mod. Other places I've heard they don't really add much to performance. The page I looked at described unplugging the vacuum tube for the flapper valve to stop it from closing as it's normally open. Some comments disagree with this though saying that the flapper is normally closed, and unplugging this tube will stop it from opening?!?

I've not tried any of these mods yet, but I may do at some point just to see if there's any noticable difference seeing as how they're easily reversible.

I'll be looking around for more info on these mods. As for the eggsauce, unless there's a significant power boost with an aftermarket can I'll leave it as stock. To be honest I quite like the quiet cans on the back; they certainly look nice and they can be loud if you move from the 'bimbling around' rev range to the 'super fun' rev range.
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Current: VFR800 2008 13.7k and rising rapidly!
Sorn: 2003 FZS1000 30k(ish) looking to sell.

[Reg]

Picked up my 62 plate one today, the test ride was a joy the other week. Looking forward to getting back to work to get some miles done on it! Just got to get some luggage sorted.

[Marclev]

[ADSrox0r]

The only thing I'll warn you about, especially for you with 13.5k is that every 16k is the big VTEC valve clearance job. If you're not already aware then it's a very complex and lengthy job due to the VTEC valves requiring near enough an engine strip to get to and a pricey set of 'special tools' to do the job. On average a Honda garage will charge around £5-600 then extra for shims etc if needed. An independent garage will do it for anywhere between £250 upwards but you have to ensure that they've done it before and trust them to do it properly. ("Yeah mate they all looked fine, honest guvna")

That said, I've had Honda techs say over and over, "If it ain't giving you reason to worry, leave them till 32k" Most of them say that of all the VTECs they've had in , very few of them ever need adjustment. I've also been told by a Honda dealer that if the techs see a VTEC valve job come in on the sheet they'll actually book a day off, it's that much of a ball ache!

If it hasn't already been done by the previous owner, then it's entirely your choice whether to do it or not. Personally, I didn't at 16k and probably will happily leave it till 32k.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Evil Hans]

Love it. Congratulations!
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[blade023]

[ADSrox0r]

You'll know generally if they've done it before by a realistic quote for labour. Barter with them by offering to remove all the plastics beforehand, every bit counts and they'll round it up to an hour if it only took them 30 minutes to whip her knickers off.

The ideal scenario is to have a well trusted indy that's up for a challenge and won't charge you the earth.

Bad things happening? Naturally, yes drastic repair bills can ensue after ignoring valves out of spec but if she's running well, fuel consumption is healthy and doesn't give you cause to worry then chances are with a VFR it'll just keep going like a faithful old dog **

** Disclaimer: If you choose to ignore your valve check and your engine shits its guts like a toddler with norovirus then that's entirely your problem and nothing to do with advice you took on the internets.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Maimboy]

Mine has now covered 67K and it's NEVER had the valves done. I reckon I've saved enough cash to buy another engine if it does explode, and still be quids in.

I intend to keep mine indefinitely, mostly because there's nothing else that gets close for the money. Even the brand new version doesn't address the key issues of the VFR - excess weight and lack of oomph.

Some folk reckon they're a bit boring, and to be honest they are a bit '2-wheeled Honda Accord', but there's nothing they can't do well. I've got a couple of other bikes but if I could only have 1, this would be it.

[ADSrox0r]

[spnorm]

I'm fairly certain that the valve check changed to 32k from 2006 onwards

The late, great VFR guru Dave Roberts aka GreenVFR on the VFR Club forum said just check the non-VTEC valve clearances and if they're OK, the VTEC ones will be as they're not in use half of the time

It's pretty rare for a VFR to require valve adjustments anyway unless it's been ridden very hard. Mine were still within tolerance at 32k, although a couple of the front cyclinder exhaust valves were getting close to their lower tolerance

[ADSrox0r]

Nah, just been out to the mancave and checked my '08 manual and it's 16k.

I can't vouch for 7th Gen ('09 onwards) but the changes made to the '2nd revision' 6th Gen VTEC in 2006 didn't include a service interval change.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[spnorm]

Yep, you're right - even the 2014 model is still at 16k checks

It's an awkward job too for home mechanics as you have to strip off the fairing lower, tank, airbox and fuel injectors before even getting to the cam covers and there's a labyrinth of hoses for the injectors you have to reattach in the correct order.

[Reg]

My 62 plate needs the full works at 16k according to the honda dealership I picked her up from. They suggested that the 4k interim services could be stretched to 8k without any issues if I was happy to do the oil at 4k.

[Ammoman]

Had one for five years and loved it.
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2013 ZZR1400 & Honda CG125 1986..

[ADSrox0r]

How does the ZZR1400 compare? Definitely a contender for my stable.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Maimboy]

I've got a ZZR1400 too

It's less nimble than the VFR, and less comfy. I don't use it in winter as it corrodes quite readily, and the headlights are poor. It's nice though - a big, plush rocket sled that has a sense of occasion about it.