thoughts on your 6th gen R/W/B with ABS....

Was hoping some of youse with this bike (or any 6th gen with ABS maybe?) can offer up your humble opinion on riding with ABS. I've never ridden a bike with it, and I'm looking at buying this bike with ABS, and thought in my mind I was sold on it, solely b/c I'm running out of room in the garage and figure this might be my last bike for a bit, so I might like something with a little extra margin o' safety that I don't usually have.

At least till I sell something else to make room for more. (PS I never sell something else to make room for more.)

Then I went to bike night last week, and there were quite a few guys who suggested I run away from ABS, ASAP.

Rather than listen to a bunch of opinionated riders who I've never met or seen before, I thought I'd listen to you guys...a bunch of opinionated riders who I've never met or see...wait a minute. Than didn't turn out right. What I mean is...THOSE riders are guys who I've never...um...YOU guys are riders that...

You get the idea. Fill me in.

Also, in my thinking on this vfr800 purchase, I thought I'd see how much a valve adjustment is @ a dealer. I know it has VTEC and FI. I will proudly add that I have not had any bike in a shop for over a decade. I do all my own stunts. And my own bike labor.

I got a quote of $750!!!!! For parts and labor! Basically it's a full, 8 hour job. Parts are (possibly) new valve cover gaskets (x2), and shims. Honda recommends NOT swapping out/reusing shims on the VTEC, according to the tech.

The interval is the same as my other VF/VFRs (16k). But still...it's a honda, not a ducati. No wonder a few of the ones I'm seeing are right around the 12-15k mark on miles. "Got a valve adjustment coming up. Time to sell it."

Apparently the trouble comes from the fact that both cams have to be taken out, an adjusting tool dropped in, and the cams reinstalled, valves checked, then adjusted, then the cam comes out, the tool comes out, and we move to the other cylinder to repeat the whole thing.

PS Adjusting tool? Huh? What is this?

Also hearing a lot of talk/reading a lot of views on the whole VTEC pro vs. con thing. I know a lot of folks don't like the abruptness when 7k hits and the power comes on. Lots of folks add a Power Commander to cure the harshness of the VTEC hit, and apparently it makes it a hell of a lot easier to ride.

Apparently it's one intake, one exhaust valve open below +/- 7k for fuel economy, and then above 7k it's an entirely different animal with full on valves working. I've never ridden one with VTEC...is that about what you experience with yours?

I do like the idea of fuel injection though. No choke or carbs gumming up from sitting too long in gas issues would be nice.

Do you find yours heavy at all? Also, do the bags stick out further than the mirrors? Thinking about CA lane splitting in advance with bags on?

ABS is the best thing that happened to bikes IMHO.
Saved my bacon on numerous occasions.
I see no downsides to it especially on a VFR, which is a porker to begin with, so what little weight it adds isn't noticable.
The only time one would argue with this logic is during very aggressive riding on the track.  But then the linked brakes are/may be an issue as well and a VFR isn't a track bike any way.

Valve adjustments are completely optional IMHO.  I've never checked mine and don't intend to.
Heck, a replacement engine is cheaper than $750 if worst comes to worst.  And I have yet to hear of a VFR engine taking a dump because of misadjusted valves.

VTEC is a non issue on 2006+ models.  The transition is butter smooth and does not present any danger.  If anything, it is a nice albeight useless feature.

If lane splitting with bags presents an issue, which it very well may, I suggest a 46 liter+ top box.  You can put a lot of stuff in it and it doesn't make the bike any wider.  It also doesn't change the way the bike feels on the straihts or in turns.

The only issues VFRs commonly have are related to the charging system.  Fixes have been documented at lenght on this site and they are inxepencive and effective.

Good luck wiith your decision.

No issues with the RWB with ABS. You will never notice it unless you really get in trouble or you are braking really hard. ABS isn't a replacement for practicing braking, it's a backup.

I have the ABS and needed it 3 weeks ago. I was going south bound on the 110, just barely entered the carpool lane near USC when a guy cut in front of the Toyota Corolla ahead of me. The Toyota overreacted with the breaking. I could sense my ABS kicking in, and heard a bit of skidding. But I stayed upright and managed not to kiss the Corolla's butt. I think if I didn't have ABS, my tail end might have gotten under me. ABS does take a bit more distance to stop, but you stay upright in the end.

$750 for valve adjustment seems a bit high. I got a quote from Long Beach Motorsport for about $600. But like you said, they may come back in the middle of the service with a bunch of parts that you *need*. Hard to say no at that time when your bike is pulled apart in bits and pieces.

The RWB was made in '07. After '06 they lowered the VTEC switch over threshold from 6,800rpm to 6,400. (http://en.wikipedia....ki/Honda_VFR800) This made the switch over less abrupt. It's a preference thing. You either like it or you don't. I like it because it feels like how turbos kick in and you get a surge of power coming on. You just have to ride it to get it. There have been much discussion around mid corner engagement of VTEC. That's solved by keeping the RPM above the VTEC threshold throughout the turn; usually 3rd gear does it for me.

Good luck with your decision. RWB is a beautiful version.

I've owned four VFR's an 87' '05 (killed by a hit & run driver) then I bought an '06 with ABS and loved it. Yes it has saved my ass several times. Since I sold that bike with 45,000 miles on it with no valve check. Also the '05 has 25,000miles on it when it was killed, also with no valve adjustment. I now have the 2010 VFR 1200F with ABS also and I won't own another Streetbike without ABS. Go ahead and ride it before you buy it and you'll see the difference and don't be worried about valves, these are Honda's and don't need much but TLC. :tour:

I have a 2002 with ABS.  The ABS seems to work really well.  As far as the so-called abruptness of the V-tec, I never really experienced any jerkiness -- just a louder engine noise.

ABS thousand words:

Definitely would want ABS. Got a steal on my RWB a few years back with luggage, so can't complain. Since I ride daily I wish I did have ABS in the rain/ice/cold of Boston.  How many miles do you ride a year? Most sport bike riders don't put 12k miles per year, so I suspect that even if you followed the manual you would only need to spend that much money every 3-4 years or so.  Now, look at how long do you keep your bikes....

Hmmm. I ride every day here in SoCal, about 100 miles a day x 5 days = 500/week or 2k a month. Not counting weekends and at least 1 week, maybe 2 for vacation per year by bike, etc. And yeah, I keep my shite till the wheels fall off it it. Then, I buy new wheels and repeat.