Honda vfr..advice please.

Honda vfr..advice please.

Author
Discussion

999gsi

Original Poster:

488 posts

226 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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Evening all,just looking for advice.. Looking at getting back on a bike... Last rode 7 years ago,when I last had a CBR 600 RR.. Now looking at vfr 800's... I admit I'm slightly out if touch... Have £2500 to spend and looking about the VTEC an non VTEC are in budget.. Which is the better bike ? Many have high mileage,is this something to worry about ?. Ill do about 4k a year commuting and just riding for fun...what are your thoughts ??

jjones

4,422 posts

192 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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I had a fifth gen non vtec (1999) model. It was a great, well built bike. The only "downsides" were the poor mpg which lead to a poor tank range (~150 miles for a tourer) and the mild steel header pipes (many have now been upgraded to stainless).

Benefits of non vtec over vtec models were the gear driven cams (sounds great) and doesn't have the cam belt that the vtec models have.

You would get a very nice fith gen for your budget, but either way you will have a cracking bike.

When buying check the water temps (the dash board should show it warming up to 70-80c in under 5 minutes (on the move)). If it takes longer or stays at a lower temp at this time of year the thermostat will be stuck open, common issue, £35 part but a pig to fit.



Edited by jjones on Friday 22 April 21:39

Gunk

3,302 posts

158 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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For your budget I'd take a look at the last of the 750's, fantastic bike!

SAS Tom

3,398 posts

173 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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I'd look at the 750's as well. I've ridden 750's and pre vtec 800's and much prefer the 750. Just feels a nicer bike to ride to me and the throttle response is much better. The 750 is more comfortable for me as well.

999gsi

Original Poster:

488 posts

226 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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Thankyou for the replies..i like the look of the older vfrs but most tend to be high mileage.should this be a concern ?

SAS Tom

3,398 posts

173 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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Depends what you consider high mileage really. There's plenty around with 50k plus but equally there are a lot between 20 and 40k which isn't that high really given all but the last 750's are 20 years old now. Even then I wouldn't hesitate to get one as they are pretty bulletproof.

Fastdruid

8,623 posts

151 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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Main issues with the VTEC are *very* expensive services every 16k (IIRC they were subsidised at £500 by Honda) and the feeling of the VTEC itself isn't to everyones taste. I took a test ride on one of the early 800 VTEC's (considering buying one coming from a VFR750F-J) and personally I hated the way the VTEC was kicking in and out mid corner. The later ones allegedly feel better as they widened the range between it kicking in and out but I've not ridden one to see.

Baryonyx

17,990 posts

158 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
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I'm reading this thread with interest. I've always been greatly interested in the VFR 800p bikes, especially the first generation model. A friend of mine has been deliberating for ages about buying a VTEC model, as be wants something a little sexier and faster than his CBF600 Final Edition. He moans about paying £160 to get that serviced so I think £500 will quickly kill his interest in it. Is that servicing annual if the mileage interval isn't reached?

Nyarlathotep

25 posts

135 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
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Baryonyx said:
Is that servicing annual if the mileage interval isn't reached?
That's the valve check/adjust every 16k miles (not based on time). Many choose to leave it far longer with no problems though.

Dr Doofenshmirtz

15,187 posts

199 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
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I test rode an 800 VTEC and didn't like it at all. The non-linear power delivery is just wrong for a bike.
Most people seem to feel the same - so if you buy one, don't expect to be able to sell it again very easily.

Fastdruid

8,623 posts

151 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
quotequote all
Baryonyx said:
I'm reading this thread with interest. I've always been greatly interested in the VFR 800p bikes, especially the first generation model. A friend of mine has been deliberating for ages about buying a VTEC model, as be wants something a little sexier and faster than his CBF600 Final Edition. He moans about paying £160 to get that serviced so I think £500 will quickly kill his interest in it. Is that servicing annual if the mileage interval isn't reached?
Might be lucky if it's only £500, I believe in the first few years it was subsidised so it didn't cost as much, now they're getting on a bit I've heard tales of a grand for the every 16k service!

Still, that's obviously at full Honda dealer prices, if you can find a good specialist I'm sure it'd be a lot cheaper.

Ilovejapcrap

3,274 posts

111 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
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Get the pre vtec, or for 2500 a very nice cbr600f, basically same stats bar. The torque.


doggydog33

245 posts

252 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
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I had a 2000 vfr 800 and a 2007 vtec. Didn't like the snatchy throttle on the vtec and the way the power came in. Seemed a bit gimicky to me. Had a 16k service on the veteran and from memory it was about £350ish. Don't think they adjusted anything though. I guess that's where it can get expensive. That was from a Honda main dealer.
Both bikes were brilliant. Nothing went wrong only tyres and servicing. I fitted bar risers to both and a high level can to the non vetec one for a nicer noise.

Doggydog.

seismic22

643 posts

168 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
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I have had a Non Vtec 2000 vfr800 for 4 months now.

Paid £1700 - 21k on clock, new stainless headers and high level micron, newish tyres, serviced, rear seat cowl and in mint condition bar a tiny dink in the tank on one side only.

I'd rather have a well sorted non vtec than a slightly scraggy vtec.

Love mine, does everything. Cannot fault. That V4! cloud9

Rubin215

3,985 posts

155 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
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Early VTEC has a noticeable step in power delivery which can occasionally catch out an inexperienced rider; not good leaning over accelerating in the wet. That said, how often is that going to happen?
Later bikes are less noticeable but both are expensive when it comes to valve service time.

Last of the non-VTEC's are fantastic bikes anyway but are often priced just slightly more than the first VTEC's because of the above!
Either way, you won't be disappointed.

Have you also considered a Triumph Sprint? Better bike all round, often looked after better too.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
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jjones said:
Benefits of non vtec over vtec models were the gear driven cams (sounds great) and doesn't have the cam belt that the vtec models have.
Are you sure they have a timing belt? I thought the VTEC models had chain driven cams?

jjones

4,422 posts

192 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
quotequote all
Mr2Mike said:
Are you sure they have a timing belt? I thought the VTEC models had chain driven cams?
Yes sorry chain, but the point is not the gear driven cams which are glorious.

999gsi

Original Poster:

488 posts

226 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
quotequote all
Some interesting replies..I like the look of the VTEC but reading the comments it would appear the nin vtec's are the better bikes.. Would I be mad to consider a bike with 50k+ on the clock... (Sorry for late reply been working all weekend).

999gsi

Original Poster:

488 posts

226 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
quotequote all
Rubin215 said:
Early VTEC has a noticeable step in power delivery which can occasionally catch out an inexperienced rider; not good leaning over accelerating in the wet. That said, how often is that going to happen?
Later bikes are less noticeable but both are expensive when it comes to valve service time.

Last of the non-VTEC's are fantastic bikes anyway but are often priced just slightly more than the first VTEC's because of the above!
Either way, you won't be disappointed.

Have you also considered a Triumph Sprint? Better bike all round, often looked after better too.
Tbh I know nothing about Triumphs... Had Hondas all my life as 100% reliable.Is the triumph any good ? No longer after balls out performance as I'm getting old (43)..and have children... Do you prefer the non VTEC ?

Rubin215

3,985 posts

155 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
quotequote all
999gsi said:
Rubin215 said:
Early VTEC has a noticeable step in power delivery which can occasionally catch out an inexperienced rider; not good leaning over accelerating in the wet. That said, how often is that going to happen?
Later bikes are less noticeable but both are expensive when it comes to valve service time.

Last of the non-VTEC's are fantastic bikes anyway but are often priced just slightly more than the first VTEC's because of the above!
Either way, you won't be disappointed.

Have you also considered a Triumph Sprint? Better bike all round, often looked after better too.
Tbh I know nothing about Triumphs... Had Hondas all my life as 100% reliable.Is the triumph any good ? No longer after balls out performance as I'm getting old (43)..and have children... Do you prefer the non VTEC ?
Not really, VTEC is a great idea but the first generation was just a little clumsy in the crossover and they are all expensive to service.
If money is no object come service time, then a later VTEC bike is always going to be better than a non-VTEC bike, however I would prefer a late non-VTEC to an early VTEC (if you see what I mean).
50k isn't a ridiculously high mileage if a bike has been serviced regularly (look for actual receipts and not just stamps in a book) but there are lower mileage bikes out there if you are willing to look and take your time for the right one to come up.

Triumph Sprint is a very reliable bike; only real issues are the charging system can sometimes play up but it's usually pretty cheap to sort.