I just spent $3300 on the world's best motorcycle

[Spiffious]

Or, I just got a VFR800.    
Or, another "I got a new bike!" thread.
Or, I now own controversially popular bike.

Some claim it was engineered by the hand of God, while others lambasted the vtech.  I must say, there is something to be said for 'Honda quality' because the VFR just feels great. So smooth and capable. Its fun on twisties and I feel like I could ride it all day.  This thing is in just amazing condition; it looks brand new.  It's a 2004 non-abs with 13k miles. Pretty much stock other than throttlemeisters.  The seller was the original owner and just a great guy.  He took amazing care of the bike and was incredibly anal about keeping it clean.  This bike is the cleanest used bike I've ever seen.  And I love that red (owned all black vehicles for too long, its a nice change.)

And I got it for $3300.  

My current SV1000s will be replaced with the VFR; I was looking for something different to better compliment my 1125CR.   I was shopping VFR's and aprilia futuras when a friend sent me a link to the ad for this bike.  I was pretty sure I had to jump on this sale, but I wanted to be certain that a VFR was right for me before making the 3hr drive to pick up the bike.  Luckily a buddy of mine just happened to have an '02 VFR800 and he was nice enough to let me take his out for a thorough test drive.  My first impression of his VFR was that it was very smooth, but didn't brake as well as my SV and didn't have the torque it did either. My second impression is realizing that the dreaded vtech kick at 7k rpm was barely noticeable and certainly did not bother me.  As the miles ticked up on the odometer, I began to really like, then love the bike. It just fit me like a glove and was so satisfying to ride.  The next day I took the 3 hour drive each way to the seller and got the bike home in the back of my trusty S10.

I am really excited about this bike.  Sadly, I'll be parting with the SV (see classifieds over the next 2 weeks as I get things listed).  I really liked the SV and I'll miss the character of that engine, but overall the VFR fits my needs perfectly.

Once the SV is sold, I'll be ordering hard bags- probably OEM honda bags since they'll be on the bike most of the time and I like that they fit neatly and are color-matched.  I don't know yet whether I'll keep the stock seat or clip-ons yet... I need to put in the seat time to know whether that is necessary.  This also may be the first bike I've ever owned that will remain with the stock exhaust.  The stock mufflers look great on the bike, and the engine sounds fine to me too.  

 



In my truck. Unfortunately I had to strap to the grips, couldn't find anywhere else up front that wouldn't also rub the body work.



Its mine!



Seller's photo, Dang she's clean.



Seller's photo, love that tail.




The SV the day I got it brand-new in 2006- A leftover '05.  Goodbye.    

[vfrrider]

Nice bike.

No stickers? Repaint or rebuilt with new (rebuilt) plastics?

I hope you enjoy it a long time.

Larry
VFRrider

[spaceman]

  ...............enjoy mate.......I do!

[Spiffious]

No he d-stickered it.  It was pretty obviously stock paint in really nice shape.  A few chips from a garage tip over... can't see in pics and hardly visible in person.

[atadaskew]

No he d-stickered it. 

Asphalt is good at that.

 

Congrats on a sweet deal!
Now check the charging system!

[Spiffious]

Had the recall done.. what else to check?

[county]

Those are damn fine looking motorcycles....congrats...

[veefer800canuck]

Congrats. Now get yourself over to VFRdiscussion and we'll talk you into a Toro1 supercharger kit.

[Giaka]

That red is straight up dead sexy, congrats!! Wish I was in a position to take that SVS off your hands.

[Justin]

Nice  

[DosEquis00]

Looking good  

[Frankienuckles]

Sweet bike!  

[Walker]

Very nice looking bike!  I've recently discovered the joys of taking a heat gun to the plastics to get the OEM graphic stickers off myself.

[Walker]

Congrats. Now get yourself over to VFRdiscussion and we'll talk you into a Toro1 supercharger kit.

Uncle Bob?  Is that you?

[Rincewind]

That's a helluva deal on a sweet-riding bike.  

[Kneescrubber]

Welcome to the assimilation.  

[Bryan217]

Congrats. Now get yourself over to VFRdiscussion.com

  VFRD is the source for info. A great bunch of guys.

[ZZR12]

Very Nice, both of them.  

[Root Beer Express]

Congrats :thumbsup:You can't beat that for the price.

[cliffst]

I did the same thin myself back in May. Picked up an 03 ABS with 5,400 miles. I am surprised at how much I like this motorcycle after having a short term affair with a 140 HP Tuono. It's so  comfortable and easy to ride ride Really all the bike I need. I don't understand what all the fuss is about with the VTEC.

[deagle10]

Great looking red.

Why did you not want to strap to the grips?

[Spiffious]

Thanks for all the comments, this thing makes me giddy!  Any free mods I should do (de snorkel, etc?)

I don't like strapping to the grips because I don't like the pressure on the throttle tube/cable

[gradus]

 Any free mods I should do (de snorkel, etc?)

De snorkel - I never saw the benefit.  Similar with the PAIR removal.  

1)  Gut the exhaust (I was hesitant about this until I heard one in person)
2)  $0.99 O2 sensor eliminator (if you get a surging or hesitation at constant throttle around 6k rpms)  

Details on all of these mods are on VFRD.  You're asking in the wrong place.

I'm not happy about that great price since I'm close to selling mine.    
Congrats!  

[Fun Dog]

Nice bike.  I may get one myself in the future.  Love the stock exhausts on those bikes.  In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a better exhaust rig on any bike.  That "upside-down triangular" shape with two ports per pipe is perfect.  And the way they're arranged on the bike make them look like a part of the machine and that's not easy to do with exhaust pipes.

I've never ridden one, so I can't say anything about the power delivery or the handling or braking, but I've never heard bad things about performance.  Only thing is I've heard they run a little hot because of the way the radiators are arranged on the side of the bike instead of up front, but they're going to run hotter anyway because you rev them more to get the 100 horses out of the 800 (as opposed to a liter bike).

[Ancon]

Nice find--spent more on my '01 last year, but who cares--they're great bikes.  

And +1 on VFRD--great group of people, always willing to help.

What kind of tank protector is that?

[ConPilot1]

beauty red VFR man. Looks damn near new!!!!

[shil]

I've ridden a couple of VFRs of that generation and can tell you that, if I'd had the chance to ride one before I got the SV, well, then I would not have the SV.

Nice bike!

[Papa Lazarou]

Congrats


May i point out that the red on your pick up clashes with the bike's colour?

[Rogue]

Congrats.

If it hasn't already been done, do the Starter Valve synchronization.  If you have extra coin, upgrade with Powercommander III or higher.  Get the unit specific to your VFR800's year.  Plug an play and makes a big difference in engine response and VTEC smoothness.

[D-Mac]

Congrats! That bike looks awesome. Love the red. Excellent price too.

[Spiffious]

Just took the vfr out for a little loop.  What a great machine!   I got it home then took out the 1125... Holy     That thing is a beast.  The Buell felt so different than the VFR, confirming that they are indeed good complimentary bikes.  What a hoot.  I am a fortunate guy, and I love my wife for putting up with me!  Need to do something special for her now.  

[Hardware]

VFRs are awesome bikes and you got a great deal on a pristine sample!

Good on 'ya!  Gorgeous ride, Man!!!

[tenbears]

Nice looking hair dryer, esp in tomato red.  

[smackdoogle]

Just took the vfr out for a little loop.  What a great machine!   I got it home then took out the 1125... Holy     That thing is a beast.  The Buell felt so different than the VFR, confirming that they are indeed good complimentary bikes.  What a hoot.  I am a fortunate guy, and I love my wife for putting up with me!  Need to do something special for her now.  

You should buy a Corbin Gunfight and lady for the wife (bike).  That would be a perfect gift so she can ride along with you  

Seriously though, I had an 02 (will have another to compliment my 85 VF1000R) and I did the stock exhaust gut.  You keep the good looks and get a better growl.  Not to loud.  Anyway, enjoy the ride.  I'm jelous for now only because I know what I'm missing.

[Rogue]

Just took the vfr out for a little loop.  What a great machine!   I got it home then took out the 1125... Holy     That thing is a beast.  The Buell felt so different than the VFR, confirming that they are indeed good complimentary bikes.  What a hoot.  I am a fortunate guy, and I love my wife for putting up with me!  Need to do something special for her now.  

I also have a Buell 1125R.  I agree, both a complimentary machines.  No doubt the Buell is the beast and is the most fun to ride.  In fact, I prefer riding the 1125R.  The VFR800 feels like a Lexus luxury car after riding the 1125R.

[Rogue]

Seriously though, I had an 02 (will have another to compliment my 85 VF1000R) and I did the stock exhaust gut.  You keep the good looks and get a better growl.  Not to loud.  

I love the way the stock exhaust actually sounds.  It's beautiful at idle and WOT.  I think the VFR's have one of the best exhaust sounds of any motorcycle out there.  I prefer the subdued sound of the OEM cans for stealth factor.  I also prefer the look of the OEM stainless steel hardware.  

I used to have an '01 with a Two Brother's pipe.  That bike sounded like a Nascar engine!  OMG it was so beautiful to hear.  It was freakin' loud and it would definitely wake up the neighbors at idle inside my garage but no matter what the RPM, the combination of the V4 firing order and the gear driven DOHC gave it a sound that was simply music.  The 6th gen with their chain driven DOHC don't have the gear whine of the previous generation, but it still has the V4 firing order and the exhaust resonance tuning, so it still sounds great!  

[Dan]

Great bikes, VFR's  

[atadaskew]

Great bikes, VFR's  

If they would only make the motor bigger, and maybe add shaft drive.
That would be an all time best seller.

[sammyseaman]

If they would only make the motor bigger, and maybe add shaft drive.
That would be an all time best seller.

 

[Dan]

If they would only make the motor bigger, and maybe add shaft drive.
That would be an all time best seller.

Say, 50% bigger?

[Bryan217]

 

Umm, VFR1200?  

[Rogue]

If they would only make the motor bigger, and maybe add shaft drive.
That would be an all time best seller.

They did and look what happened!

They should have:

1) Tuned the motor for a flatter torque curve with VTEC providing the top end kick.
2)  Used Titanium instead of steel for the subframe to save weight!
3)  Made it easier to adjust spring preload at the rear a la FJR.
4)  Bigger, upside down forks with Radial brakes as an update.
5)  Held the price at below $10k.

You don't need a freakin' 1200cc and 600 lbs. wet to tour.  Yes even with hard bags you don't!  Look at the F800ST!

[Spiffious]

If they would only make the motor bigger, and maybe add shaft drive.
That would be an all time best seller.

And that would violate what makes the VFR800 desirable in the first place... A light weight sport-tourer... Or, a big sportbike.  I don't want a big ST bike.

[CanadianBird]

Congrats, however, the VFR is the smaller brother of the BlackBird. I rode a VFR but didn't buy it b/c I thought I would outgrow it. That being said, the VFR is an exceptional bike and of course, it's a Honda. Enjoy

[XLR8]

Congrats. There seem to be a few people rediscovering the VFR lately. I just recently returned from a tour of around 2000 miles to the U.S. MotoGP on mine and the little VFR performed beyond my expectations. It fits the niche between sport and tour nicely. I don't have luggage but purchased a great tail bag from Roadgear which was perfect.

[Rigger]

Congrats on your new to you bike!!!  Awesome choice I must say  

[Rogue]

Congrats. There seem to be a few people rediscovering the VFR lately. I just recently returned from a tour of around 2000 miles to the U.S. MotoGP on mine and the little VFR performed beyond my expectations. It fits the niche between sport and tour nicely. I don't have luggage but purchased a great tail bag from Roadgear which was perfect.

People often don't know how good they had it until something is taken away from them.  

This move towards bigger, heavier, cushier, and way more expensive sport-tourers have really changed the ST landscape.  Whether it's for the good (or not so good), depends on who you talk to.  The only middle weight ST bike left now is the BMW F800ST.  Everything else has been supersized lately.  

[Spiffious]

Yeah, I don't really enjoy big/heavy bikes very much... it seems too removed from that elemental motorcycleness of the riding experience.

I just ordered the OEM hardbags in 02-04 Italian red.   I thought about Givis, but I like the way the OEM bags look on the bike with color matched paint... Important to me since the bags will likely be on the bike most of the time for me.

[Papa Lazarou]

Honda has made some great bikes.

In order, they go:
Honda C90
Honda CG125
VFR 800

tHat's all folks.  

[sammyseaman]

Honda has made some great bikes.

In order, they go:
Honda C90
Honda CG125
VFR 800

tHat's all folks.  

Don't forget the CT70