VFR800i - Opinions?

I'm toying with one, so I thought I would consult the FOAK. Any
comments/opinions welcome.

Ta

 

Not as sporty as the older 750, but very comfortable for covering
distance. To be honest, most slow to average riders won't notice the
difference in handling anyway.

About the same power output as a sports 600, but a much more flexible
engine, will pull from next to nothing - whilst over in France last
month I don't think I ever took at above 8k rpm as there was no need.

Thirsty if you press on - I've seen mid 20s mpg on a BoTAFOT, but can
turn in 40mpg plus if you're taking it easy.

Doesn't tear through tyres / chains / sprockets, so the overall running
costs are quite low - especially as the insurance is relatively cheap
(Paid CN £380 FC this year incl. unlimited 'green card' and European
Breakdown cover).

Reliable, incredibly good quality finish and screwed together very well.

Hold their value - mine's lost less than £1k in 3 years, and prices seem
to have levelled out now.

You get that lovely V4 engine note - sounds like nothing else.

Can't think of much else, really - some people say they're dull and
boring, but I disagree - the V4 engine has bags of character and more
than makes up for the total predictability and competence of the rest of
the bike.

IMHO, linked brakes are fantastic - keep the bike nice and flat when
braking heavily with a pillion, the only time I'm nervous of them is on
downhill, gravel-strewn hairpins.

Can't remember where you live - ISTR it's Westcountry-ish, isn't it? -
if so, you're welcome to come and have a go on mine.

 

Get a Blackbird.

But if you have to get one, get a race can.

 

I had a go on Dan's, whatever that was. Seemed a nice comfy change from a
taut sports bike and the engine seemed to do what it should. If I had the
cash to buy a commuting bike I'd consider it. I wouldn't really care about
it much but it's got 2 wheels and is therefore going to be pretty much fun
anyway.

 

Dan White emerged from their own little world to say

I had a VFR750FR (the last iteration). I rode the first VFR800i and hated
it in comparison.

Too much vibration and inferior handling.

I haven't tried the more recent versions as I went off that type of bike.

Black ones seem very slow IME.

 

It's not a VTEC.

HTH.

 

I've *got* a Blackbird. Thing is, it feels like a bit of a waste now that
I'm not doing the 240 mile round trip commute any more. I've never been in
the situation where I'm doing 130+ and thought, "You know, I *really* need
that extra 50mph right now

Really I want something of a similar build quality, just as comfy, able to
carry luggage and pillion without struggling too much. The VFR *seems* to
fit the bill. What I don't need is an 1100 engine and group 16 insurance,
particularly not since I've got round to telling the InsCo that I live in
Bristol, and I'm about to buy a house without a garage.

 

You want a Pan European, you do.

No real danger of you ever going over much over an indicated 130, you see...
;-)

But in all seriousness, I'd sum mine up as thus:

It does the job reasonably well - it's a bit boring, except for maybe when
the TCS badge on the side lulls you into a sense of traction invulnerability
in the rain.

Nowhere near as unwieldy as the stats on paper suggest it will be - I
actually enjoyed piling it through tight twisties yesterday, and it didn't
give me any nasty surprises, even when I had to anchor up more than
expected, mid corner on one occasion.

No mucky chain to maintain, plenty of storage space, cheap to insure, and
this side of a 'Wing, you're unlikely to be able to offer a pillion a more
suited to the job place to sit, particularly when the top box is in place
and doing a sterling job as a back rest.

12k oil service interval...

And it never drops below 40mpg, even with the binary throttle technique
being adopted.

The fairing is deceptively shit, being my main bugbear with it so far...
that, and I still hanker after something that will actually get the
adrenalin flowing like some of 600s used to on a particularly twisty bit of
road.

--
JackH

Pan European

BOTAFOT #110 D.Bot (University Of Speed) - BOTAFOF #29 - GHPOTHUF #29

 

This all sounds good so far. No chain? Shaftie is it? Here I am
demonstrating the level of research I have undertaken so far...

Very nice, the Blackbird is bloody thirsty.

Well I'm not particularly of the "ride like a ****" fraternity, preferring a
bike that won't leave me feeling crippled after a day out.

 

That's me...

Cool. TBH, I was reasonably happy with the power from the ZZR600's I had,
but they were just *awful* when it came to luggage/pillions. The Blackbird
excels at this, but is really over powered for what I need.

Sounds pretty much like the Blackbird.

Blimey, how much no-claims do you have? I have 6 years protected NCB, and
just paid £295 FC, and I live in one of the less savoury areas of Bristol.

Good, good and good.

Well, when I got my Blackbird 2 years ago, it was 5 years old and had 4k
miles on it. Even now, it's only got 17k, so it's well below average.
Hopefully I can get a decent part-ex on it.

Yeah, I have to say I like them too. I can see why the more experienced
rider might bemoan the loss of "total control", but that's not me. It makes
the bike "squat" under heavy braking, as opposed to the dive forward I've
had with other bikes.

Hmmm, may take you up on that, cheers. Whereabouts are you?

 

Keep it. It's much better than a VFR800.

R1150GS

 

It is indeed a shaftie, and one that I've not managed to, (or even if I am
honest), really attempted to 'hoist a fat one' on.

It did however, when I gave it large so we could laugh at the VR6 driver who
thought he was quicker off the lights in London last weekend, go all light
on the front end - 15 stone of mate on the back assisted with this, I think.
;-)

Just done mine, was a piece of piss.

Well considering this is a V4, and the VFR750 I had was a V4, I'm
impressed - I had that thing down to 24mpg once, and this doesn't seem to
dip below 40mpg, no matter what I do - Timo said the MPG had also dropped
since he fitted a K and N air filter - talking to the guy at the local Honda
dealers, the usual ballpark average figure on these is 45 to 50mpg,
apparently.

The seat isn't as good as it could be (seems to be a general consensus thing
in the Pan fraternity, as well as my own take on it) - I managed 160 miles
on it yesterday, encompassing numerous stops once I'd hooked up with the
others, and stiff legs aside, it was fine - no worse than anything else I've
ever had, anyway, and it wafts over bumps compared to the bulk of the other
bikes I've had.

Quelle surprise, given it has around an additional 100kgs keeping it well
planted. The main thing is, Mr Honda was quite considerate when he lumped
all this bulk together, and kept the centre of gravity nice and low - net
result is, bar when I've had said 15 stone of mate on the back and been
coming to a gradual standstill, it's felt very nimble and steady for a
behemoth, when trickling through traffic in town etc.

Recommended, anyway, and in the unlikely event of our paths crossing in the
near future, you're more than welcome to throw it up the road.

--
JackH

Pan European

BOTAFOT #110 D.Bot (University Of Speed) - BOTAFOF #29 - GHPOTHUF #29

 

If money is relatively no object.

I'd like to try one, anyway.

--
JackH

Pan European

BOTAFOT #110 D.Bot (University Of Speed) - BOTAFOF #29 - GHPOTHUF #29

 

What colour is it?

 

Red, 'cause they go faster ;-)

 

Vass scribbled on the back of a napkin:

You are aware that even the VTEC one normally runs on four cylinders
even if the second set of valves remains closed?

 

Hmmm, I think it was 4 years when I renewed.

Don't know how old you are, but that's for me at 30.

Ystrad Mynach, near Caerphilly.

 

Until the red "stop now" light came on.

 

And 25% heavier.

I am sure you will disagree (how I don't know) but my GSXR 600 had more go
than the VFR 800 VTec I had on loan.

100BHP, 160kg.

100BHP 200kg.

You do the math.

The GSX-R is faster _everywhere_ - the VFR just makes it easier.

Whether you view that as good or bad is up to you.

The VTEC I had drank fuel like nothing else I've used but it handled okay,
was comfy, stopped well etc. It also broke down.

I was happy to get my GSX-R back.

 

33 now.

Hmmm, doesn't strike me as the motorbike theft capital of the UK. I guess it
must be down to the NCB.

If I get over the bridge sometime, I'll give you a shout, ta.