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Honda VFR800 for a commuter?

Brown81 said:
I have a deep passion for the Gen4 VFR (and jazz flute...). I feel it's the sportiest, lightest, best sounding, and funnest of them. The quality of the aluminum parts and paint, etc. is awesome. I wish I could buy every clean one available and just horde them all.

Never have I been on one and wanted for anything. Well, maybe a bit moar powa.
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Brown81 you forgot to mention the 4th gen is also the best looking......it is the one gen Vfr I have never owned but always wanted....

guycole said:
This is the voice of experience. Buy those plastic connectors over the interwebs and buy in bulk. Even a oil change will require a few.
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guycole-you said it, some very good advice here, ugh I hate those things though:laughing
 
Brown81 said:
Nice RWB! I would like to own one of those at some point.

I have a deep passion for the Gen4 VFR (and jazz flute...). I feel it's the sportiest, lightest, best sounding, and funnest of them. The quality of the aluminum parts and paint, etc. is awesome. I wish I could buy every clean one available and just horde them all.

Never have I been on one and wanted for anything. Well, maybe a bit moar powa.
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I think the Gen 1 VFR (86-87) was lighter than the new ones. I had a highly modded one, GSXR front and rear, Ducati exhaust, Big bore motor. Loved it. Sold it when I couldn't figure out how to fix the never ending rectifier meltdown problem. Now I know what it needed. Wish I had it back.

Mad
 
Maddevill said:
I think the Gen 1 VFR (86-87) was lighter than the new ones. I had a highly modded one, GSXR front and rear, Ducati exhaust, Big bore motor. Loved it. Sold it when I couldn't figure out how to fix the never ending rectifier meltdown problem. Now I know what it needed. Wish I had it back.

Mad
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No kidding.

Isn't that pretty much what the "VFR Faithful" asked from Honda for years and years and years and years. 1000cc engine. Improved suspension. Leave everything else alone....
 
Save your nut and kidney....
A Super duke gt is damn close to what the last generation vfr should have been. Only thing more I could ask for is vfr reliability.
 
Can someone recommend a South Bay shop that has experience with bleeding the brake system on these bikes?
 
RickM said:
Save your nut and kidney....
A Super duke gt is damn close to what the last generation vfr should have been. Only thing more I could ask for is vfr reliability.
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Yes. That legendry VFR reliability.

My Gen 4 stranded me twice! Once on 95 80 miles from Las Vegas in 108F heat, and once in Arroyo Grande, thankfully at a Shell station. My Gen 5 began cooking it's electrics in Redwood City, but I made it home before it died. Had a voltmeter installed by then, which I recommend for any VFR.

That's a better record (for bad) than my BMW K1200RS, which failed constantly, but never stranded me. :rofl
 
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I'm a shorter rider and was very uncomfortable on my V-Tech VFR. In the same price range you can pick up an FZ1 and be comfortable :2cents
 
ThumperX said:
I'm a shorter rider and was very uncomfortable on my V-Tech VFR. In the same price range you can pick up an FZ1 and be comfortable :2cents
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The FZ1 seat is 2" higher than the 8th gen VFR seat adjusted to the low position, and the VFR should be narrower as well (v4 vs inline 4) so I'm not sure how this is possible.
 
ThumperX said:
I'm a shorter rider and was very uncomfortable on my V-Tech VFR. In the same price range you can pick up an FZ1 and be comfortable :2cents
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vtechmj2.jpg


:laughing
 
:facepalm
I probably would have faired better owning the V-Tech rather than the VTec that giant top heavy monster spent a lot of time on its sides.
 
wxduff said:
The FZ1 seat is 2" higher than the 8th gen VFR seat adjusted to the low position, and the VFR should be narrower as well (v4 vs inline 4) so I'm not sure how this is possible.
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Ergos no clip-ons on the FZ-1 has little to do with seat heith but everything to do with weight distribution.
 
Early 1st gen is what I’ve ridden. FZ6 is a better fit but the FZ 1 was manageable
 
ThumperX said:
Early 1st gen is what I’ve ridden. FZ6 is a better fit but the FZ 1 was manageable
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Ah so... now what you say makes more sense to me.

The Gen 2 FZ-1 (2006 up) is lighter still, but it is a much "harder" edged motorcycle.

The Gen 2 is faster and better handling than both the Gen 1 FZ, or any VFR800, but NOWHERE near as comfortable for just "goin' down the road" than either of those bikes.

I guess I should add, "in my opinion" -- but I've spent a fortune trying to make my Gen 2 FZ-1 as comfy as my old VFRs, without screwing up the handling..... mostly with [very] modest success. :laughing
 
Commuted on it. It's pretty good.

The low end reminds me of the Ducati 1200cc motor.

Splitting is great, the bike seems to be as narrow as my Ninja 300.

Brakes are great.

Not clear on suspension, but haven't even checked what the sag was yet.

Hate the clipons. I'm a tall dude and the ergos are definitely too close to a sprotbile for my liking. Will have to get heli bars to fix. Will also lower the footpegs to make the ride more comfy.
 
mrzuzzo said:
Hate the clipons. I'm a tall dude and the ergos are definitely too close to a sprotbile for my liking. Will have to get heli bars to fix. Will also lower the footpegs to make the ride more comfy.
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Hope it works for you. The clipons definitely make it narrow, but you'll find out if it's worth the cost for you

Some are comfortable on those out of the box, and some never get comfortable even with ergo mods.

My neighbor rides a different "heavy sportbike" class sport tourer, but with longer arms than me he can sit upright with slightly bent arms, while I have a lot of forward lean. Same height, but different build.
 
This is BARF, and they asked about a commuter.

I'm sad to see no mention of a Honda Pacific Coast plastidipped in chartreuse anywhere in the first 99 posts.
 
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