Good evening. Might be getting offered one, looking for sensible reasons to avoid them. Thinking it's an early/mid series but not yet had a look over it, anyone got any horror tales to share that might steer me away from buying one? Believe its complete and a runner thats been freshened up at some point. Any unobtanium vitals, atrocious handling quirks, known failure points, or general warnings anyone can offer me? Thinking i want it but happy to listen to reason.
thanks for your time, Glen.
They are big and heavy and handle like shit with stock suspension. The good news is that with a good aftermarket rear shock and proper springs with cartridge emulators they are transformed. Still big and heavy, but seemingly "lose" weight with the right suspension.
Confirm 2nd gear is there.
Some parts are very hard to find, but mostly cosmetic type things.
On the plus side, they are just downright cool and the engine pulls strong.
85/86 with modified and properly sprung and damped CBR600F3 shock with Race Tech Emulators and 1.0 springs in front. Handles pretty damn good, I have about a dozen other VF/VFRs to compare it to. Continental ContiGo! tires (bias) work surprisingly good on this bike with the stock wheels.
[image: 20200429_184916.thumb.jpg.85925cbfe593c9d3e8e16ce28cd3754a.jpg]
1986 with YSS shock and 1991 VFR forks with Race Tech Springs. VTR1000F Superhawk/Firestorm wheels front (3.5) and rear (5.5) for modern radials. Handles great.
[image: PXL_20240912_154000591.thumb.jpg.32a52ebb41ce86b6806e82485b66fa86.jpg]
Still very big and very heavy, but a shit load of fun. And looks good doing it.
I am definitely the wrong person if you want to be talked out of it.
13 minutes ago, Captain 80s
They are big and heavy and handle like shit with stock suspension. The good news is that with a good aftermarket rear shock and proper springs with cartridge emulators they are transformed. Still big and heavy, but seeming "lose" weight with the right suspension.
Confirm 2nd gear is there.
Some parts are very hard to find, but mostly cosmetic type things.
On the plus side, they are just downright cool and the engine pulls strong.
85/86 with modified and properly sprung and damped CBR600F3 shock with Race Tech Emulators and 1.0 springs in front. Handles pretty damn good, I have about a dozen other VF/VFRs to compare it to. Continental ContiGo! tires (bias) work surprisingly good on this bike.
[image: 20200429_184916.thumb.jpg.85925cbfe593c9d3e8e16ce28cd3754a.jpg]
1986 with YSS shock and 1991 VFR forks with Race Tech Springs. VTR1000F Firestorm wheels front and rear for modern radials. Handles great.
[image: PXL_20240912_154000591.thumb.jpg.32a52ebb41ce86b6806e82485b66fa86.jpg]
Still very big and very heavy, but a shit load of fun. And looks good doing it.
I am definitely the wrong person if you want to be talked out of it.
That is one clean, slick ride! As with anything, as long as you're willing to deal with the older bikes they are a lot of fun. Heavy, no tech, but very cool to talk about and ride.
VF1000R; I'm still in love after all these years. Never found a good one worth buying here at a sensible price
4 hours ago, Captain 80s
They are big and heavy and handle like shit with stock suspension. The good news is that with a good aftermarket rear shock and proper springs with cartridge emulators they are transformed. Still big and heavy, but seeming "lose" weight with the right suspension.
One should not forget that the basic design was introduced in the VF750F with a major aim of winning Superbike races. Which they did.
17 minutes ago, Terry
One should not forget that the basic design was introduced in the VF750F with a major aim of winning Superbike races. Which they did.
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...with the VF1000R being a showcase for the technology Honda had developed on the track with the FWS1000 race bike which was designed for competition in the Daytona 200 and AMA F1 class.
[image: FWS1000.jpg.4d7e3443e7d25e081aa052d933117a54.jpg]
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2 hours ago, Terry
One should not forget that the basic design was introduced in the VF750F with a major aim of winning Superbike races. Which they did.
[image: preview-928x522.jpg]
Mike Baldwin! My favorite racer of that era, from New England, watched him every year at Loudon. A pretty respectable international career also. Thanks Terry!
Last month at Silverstone they had some nice throwback colors for the 75th anniversary GP. Honda's was especially nice I thought, not that you got to see them much on the track.
[image: _DS_6192.jpg?width=1440&height=900]
https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2024/08/01/gallery-motogp-75th-anniversary-special-liveries/504770
And, if the VF1KR is complete and a runner I'd say go for it. I took on a basket case almost 20 years ago but wouldn't do it now due to the scarcity of parts. If it just needs routine maintenance and suspension upgrades, I'm with Capt80's.
Thanks fellas, you've failed miserably. I'll get some better details and run with it.
the conti-go's: i've used on the three GS fours and the GPZ9, loved em as they tend to burn up fast but never feel sketchy till there's nothing left of em.
i figure on riding it as is and see if there's anything i can't live with but doubt much will bother me too much. If they were an abomination new they'd have no following this late in the season.
cheers, glen.
I know nothing of that era...and didn't know where to post it just in case someone was interested. I mean...who doesn't like F-bikes! Beats Fbook...
I've been considering this as an option but like everything I touch, 40 year old carbs would not be my preferred choice even if low mileage. So engine tune up, add EFI & complete suspension & possibly wheel replacement would be in order. Check out some of the Jap Bike special builders like Sanctuary etc. but that would cost $$$
Anyone want to buy a special VFR800 ?
23 hours ago, Mohawk
So engine tune up, add EFI & complete suspension & possibly wheel replacement would be in order.
Now pondering. Don't imagine that despite hopes and wants that any "late" late stuff intersperses with the early girls? I doubt angles/spacing/diameters/logic will assist, but how far the other edge of buckleys are my odds that the spare series 6 throttle bodies with harness i copped back in june, would have an inkling of adapting? Got a VTR spare for wheels but not mad on tryna adapt forks.
sorta glad and sad that honda develops rather than rehashing, but love the way i can bung a springing medium in the front of my lemon of choice from 1970 of 62 to 81 and it'll fit. Suzuki was never so kind in the early 80's with the three variants of 4 slug 650's where two fifths of 5/8 of bugger all interchanges. Live by the sword i guess.
On an aside, got out there today and she's complianced as an 1986 model. My mate says he's found the back end bodywork which gets her to being a proposition as she's complete.
happy day an shit.
If anyone fancies doing Fi on an earlier model. You only need a couple of sensors & a Microsquirt ECU. For throttle bodies Suzuki GSXR750SRAD 1998/99 models use independent throttle bodies so can be adapted to anything. Later ones are integrated castings as are most bikes since so impossible to adapt.