To vtec or not to vtec?

I've had a 5th gen for about 2 years and love it, but out of my control I had an accident with a minivan 2 days ago! (out of my control) well needless to say the mini van won! Luckely the insurance panned out well! So i'm in the market for a replacement. Found a real sweet deal on an 01 in excellent condition im my area!  But the also found a good deal on an 07 RWB!  I've really liked the RWB since i rolled into the dealer on my old 84 RWB back in 07! Finally found one in my price range! But hard to pass on the gear drive 5th gen that I'm used to,,,I'M SO CONFUSED!!! So if any of you vtec people can give me any input, Id greatly appreciate it?!?!

The 6th gen has the cam chain noise that pops up to be dealt with once in a while and occasionally the chain wears out, and just about anybody with a VTEC ends up fooling with the tuning with a PC3 or PC5 to smooth out engagement. Also the valve adjustment procedure is much more involved. The 5th gen has the gear driven cams you dont have to foole with it. The 6th gen has the better stock suspension, but about 20 pounds more weight. Stock brakes? Even, slight edge to the 6th, LBS is upgraded..  Handling near even. Nice hard bags for the 6th gen available.

Not trying to argue which is better, they are both VFRs and awesome!

Good luck

@#$% Bob!!!  I can't believe that!  I guess you don't need to worry about the right side scuffs from TMAC now!  Really glad you are okay though.  I know how you feel about the 5th vs. 6th.  It's a hard thing as I'm fond of both.  I've thought about selling my big cruiser for one or the other and keeping my 4th gen too.  My problem is I like them all!  If I could get past the idea of having to deal with the cam chain maintenance, I'd probably go with the '07 RWB.  Love those.  I would miss my cam sound though.

Agree with above, you really just need to ride a 6th gen & make up your own mind. The 6th gen downfall is only the cam chain but honestly mine has 68K & valves still within tolerance & I rev the crap out of my vtec because it's a fun bike not a commuter. Your valve service will cost a little more but for me the better handling & in my opinion only styling means I would go the vtec.

If your not used to it the vtec transition can be strange even annoying, but once you get used to riding the vtec it is kind of a pleasant novelty. Lent mine to friend that has 4th gen & at first he didn't like & thought something was wrong with motor, a little while later after getting used to bike like you do with any new ride I couldn't get him off it.

I have not ridden any of the older model VFRs. I have been riding my '02 for 3 years now(24,000 miles). It has roughly 29,000 total. I cannot for the life of me find anything to complain about. The VTEC is like an optional boost system, wring it out and it kicks in. Totally predictable and applicable as needed. Some refer to it as "jerky" or "jumpy", I get no sense of that. As for the need for PC whatever, I don't get that one either. I see dyno charts posted on here and claims of .001 second differences felt in the seat of the pants, remarkable transformations from rough and stumbly to silky smooth. I'm dubious of these claimed benefits. The 5th Gen and earlier may be superior, I don't know. I love the idea of the gear driven cams, my bike does not have them. However, the VTEC is, as far as I am concerned, an Excellent, capable motorcycle, smooth, powerful, competent and reliable in the Extreme. I am told the '07 is more refined than mine. That being said I don't see how you could go wrong with it. But having been on this site and the "world" one for 3 years I'm certain you can't go wrong with the '01 either. Regarding the valves. I met a guy locally who has had  several VFR's since the first version. He has never had out of spec valves and currently has 230,000 miles on his 6th Gen, an '02, I think. He is so confident about the state of the valves he has not opened the head on his current bike. He is a motorcycle mechanic at a local Powersports shop and I believe a member on here. Food for thought...

I personally dislike the VTEC engine and feel there is very little benefit to having it.  Yes the transition can be smoothed out some by adding a power commander and aftermarket exhaust but why should one have to shell out $1000+ dollars to make the bike run the way it should have straight out of the factory?  Maybe I am wrong but it seems to me like the majority of people I meet who love the VTEC engine haven't had alot of seat time on other bikes. Overall I am happy with the bike so having a VTEC engine wasn't a deal breaker for me especially since I got a smoking hot deal on the bike when I purchased it back in 08.  Bottom line is that the 6th Gen VFR is a very good looking and well built machine but I personally prefer the more linear power delivery of my 3rd Gen.

Rollin

I've put 100k miles on my '99 VFR , and now have 43k miles on my '08. No pc installed; no valve checks; no noisy valve chain.
I had the Vtec kick in when I 1st bought it, and it did make me feel it, but as I put miles on it, it goes in seamlessly now, and that is the case even when I'm thinking about it(just to be able to answer this question).
I'm not saying ones better than the other, and I had both bikes suspension mod'ed(since I'm a heavy guy), but I don't think the Vtec/ cam chain/ gears/ come into play since I wear earplugs and can't really hear either(but do ride without plugs just to do noise checks).
As stated ride both, and see for yourself.

Sorry to hear about the total, glad you're ok...........

What you have to weigh imo, is  Motor verses chassis and lighting,  The 6th gen is well built. the only annoyance is two stage cam motor, but suspension, chassis and lighting if the most important the choice is clear, 6th gen.   I think the transition of vtec point on the 06 and above models lessen vtech issue. The o6 and above models enter vtech before you get into the meat of the power band. Tell ya the truth, I have to look at the tach sometimes to know Im even in vtech, so its not like real noticable to me.  Sure in first gear sometimes I feel a Bump in transition, but really never in the other gears.

If you could put a 5th gen motor in a 6th gen chassis, that would be my ideal set up, unfortunately thats not a choice. Would I buy a 5th gen 11 year old bike, over an 07?

Tell ya the truth Id probably buy neither, after 100,000 miles on a 6th gen Im looking for something different, just havent found it yet. BUt its been super reliable, 1 stator failure in that 100,000 miles. Ive never done a valve check either and runs great, but I do run a race Leaded diet.  I dont think Id let the vfr go till I was sure I found something better.

But the RR issues of the 5th gen IMO, more troublesome than cct issues on the 6th or it could be a WASH

How long have the vtecs been out and people are still "oh it has chain drive, vtec transition is wierd, the valves are hard to adjust". if this is such an issue for you guys dont buy one. i have 36000 on my 02 and its still 100% factory. ive never felt the need to spend 1000 dollars to fix its issues because mine has none.some of the comments on here make me wonder if you think the bike should do everything automatically include driving itself.

yea i havent ridden a lot of other bikes because i dont enjoy making payments and mine was paid off the first day i bought it and still is.

rant over:)

Bottom line the consensus of opinion on this site & really from anybody that has had experience with any VFR is there all outstanding bikes for the money. When I have someone try the vtec argument on me I simply say well a motorbike that has been in production from 2002 to the present day without any major upgrade can't be to bad (I don't class lowering vtec trans by 500rpm & a slightly faster processor in the ecu a major upgrade which happened 2006).

I also laugh a little when people say why should you fit aftermarket exhaust & pc to help smooth out vtec if you feel it's a problem because who the hell doesn't normally fit those parts anyway in the long run. You do exhaust to let out the V4 growl & you will be hard pressed finding to many 5th gens without aftermarket exhaust & the pc just tunes motor for best possible operation as all standard ECU mapped bikes from factory can be improved.

I've had two 5th gens, a 6th gen and now 7th gen.  I loved them all.  The 5th gen is more visceral than the 6th gen.  The 6th gen is a little more refined as well.  It's a little better suited to sport touring.  The 5th gen is a little more suited to sport riding.  That being said, they both do each job very well.  You will be happy with either.  One more statement.  The older I get, the more I like the successive generations.  Each becomes a little more refined (the 7th gen is a couple steps more refined).

5th gen - more visceral, lighter, more sporty (a little)
6th gen - more refined, smoother, more comfortable (a little)

Ride safe
Mark

Sorry to hear that Bob, but glad your OK first!!!

There is NOT a bad VFR! You know what a 5th gen rides like, ride the 6th and go from there.

Great to meet you and be sure to post up pics of whatever VFR you buy!

BR

Tthe two things I envy in the 6th gen are the lighting (especially the ease of fitting HID) and the option of having ABS. All other things being equal, I'll take the 5th, as the accused felon said on the stand...

Sorry to hear about that Bob.
I went from a 5th to a 6th about 6 yrs ago and don't regret it one bit. Mine's an 06 and have had no chain issues or a problem with the vtec transitiion, mine's smooth.  I prefer the styling of the 6th as well, and as I don't have any plans to mess with the valves( I'm on the Baileyrock valve maintenance program) it's a moot point :happy:

I caned that 6th gen at TMAC ahem....  I gently rode that 6th gen and yes when VTEC kicks in you feel a little boost and the sounds changes.
Do I like my 4th gen better? Yes. Would I *love* the 4th Gen to have ABS? Absolutely.
Although a safety device by heart, it gave me the confidence to give it some extra wellie, comfortably numb because I knew I cold slam the brakes if the brown stuff would hit the ventilator. Tried it on a quiet stretch in the rain..... so per saldo,  I rode faster, annulling the added safety ABS provides.......

Och well, YMMV.


All you need to do is find a dealer or VFRD member that lets you ride a 6th gen.
Post up when done :laugh:


Come rain

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Or shine


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VFRs Rule!!!!  but u already knew that.....

Best crashes are the ones you walk away from.

Thanks a lot for all your input! It took me a while to make a decision! But as much as I'm going to miss my 5th gen ands its whine...I finally decided on an 07 RWB! I purchased it from VFRD member "PoconoVFR" Steve is a good guy, we met up and I took it for a little ride and I was sold! The bike came with most of the extras i was looking for, sargent, two bros, pazzo levers. unfortunately no abs or hard bags, but the price was right and I'm very happy with it.

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Beautiful bike Bob!  Congrats! :fing02:    I expect to see that thing with frame sliders next May for TMAC!

Chuck

I've been behind that bike a few times. I remember it being fast!

[image: View Post]zRoYz, on 26 May 2012 - 08:07 AM, said:

You do exhaust to let out the V4 growl & you will be hard pressed finding to many 5th gens without aftermarket exhaust & the pc just tunes motor for best possible operation
Vtec valve arrangement
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Suitable exhaust
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Congrats!
C

Congrats Bob, hopefully you'll never experience the dreaded Vtec engagement where your bike burst into flames and everyone dies. :ohmy:



They are(vtec) a scary beast! You can't imagine how many times I've burst into flames and died on mine hitting vtec.   Good luck! :tongue:

BR