2014 Vfr800F Test Ride

I managed to finish work early today and on the off-chance called my local dealer and there were no more test rides so I took the new VFR800F out for a test ride this afternoon. I had about an hour and managed just over 30 miles through rush-hour traffic, some busy country roads and highway. But I didn’t need any more…..wow, what a beautiful machine to ride.

Luckily, the test bike was a black one with 173 miles on the clock. After signing my life away, off I rode. Through town initially, the bike fuels well at low revs/low speed, in fact I couldn’t find fault with the smoothness of the fuelling; no surging or on/off that you get with the Vtec. I tend to use the rear brake in traffic and found the de-linked system a little less able to slow the bike than the linked system but I quickly got used to it. One thing I will say….the dashboard is glared out by sunshine. It covers the whole of the dash and makes it difficult to read. Also I’m used to having mirror extenders on both my VFRs and so the new ones did not give me the rearwards vision I’m used to and with the running & turn lights mounted there, it may prove a tricky job to fit mirror extenders.

Out of town came the opportunity to open her up and find out if there is still a lull in torque around 5k rpm and what the Vtec transition feels like; well, there is no lull and I barely felt the Vtec transition at all and probably only that because I was looking for it. To actually feel it for sure you have to ease the throttle as you approach 6500rpm and ease through it and you can feel it change, but rev through like we all do and it’s only noticeable by a very slight and very smooth increase in acceleration. The exhaust note changes, but otherwise it’s very smooth. It felt like it accelerated a little quicker than my Vtec and revs smoothly all the way to the rev limiter. I didn’t notice any vibration in the mirrors.

Handling is typically neutral, turn in quicker than the Vtec and the bike feels narrower and lighter, despite figures to the contrary on the weight. It’s very stable with no discernible issue when changing down or up in corners, just like previous models.

All-in-all, it seems to be what we all asked for; the feel of the Fi engine (smooth, non-stop torque) with the rasp of the Vtec range combined with outstanding handling & stopping…..yes, the front brake is very, very good!

Back at the dealers, I notice the white model with the accessories list by it so took a picky…..Akrapovic exhaust available!!! Plus a power socket, and reasonable luggage. Oh, and the seat hump is extra!

Pics to follow:

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Nice one!!

How much are the hardbags? Do they come w liner bags?

How was the front suspension?

Nice one!!

How much are the hardbags? Do they come w liner bags?

How was the front suspension?

No prices yet on any extras but liners are available on the accessories list (see pic).

Didn't really notice anything significant about the front suspension but thinking back, I'd say it felt slightly harder than my stock 6th Gen.

Akrapovic fitted (from sales brochure).

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 Some afterthoughts:

It's much easier to get onto the centre stand than either of my other 2 VFRs.

The grips are a much narrower diameter.

Self-cancelling indicators do just that.

Pearlescent paint on both black & white models.

Bike accelerates from 2k rpm in 4th & 5th with no issues.

Found some lurching (on/off) in 1st around a small roundabout at about 10-15mph.

6k rpm = 86mph indicated. :cool:

Average fuel read 43.9 mpg which is pretty good for the 1st 170 miles considering all the testers must have thrashed the knackers off it.....all except me that is, of course!

I can't wait to see a tear down on the rear tail. The thing looks like it was diesgned for an undertail exhaust with the way it flares on the sides. But, even with the side mounted can, I bet with a custom midpipe, any can on ebay could be made to fit.

... Also I’m used to having mirror extenders on both my VFRs and so the new ones did not give me the rearwards vision I’m used to and with the running & turn lights mounted there, it may prove a tricky job to fit mirror extenders.

Mirrors are the same of VFR 1200 F and CBR 1000 RR, so the extenders are already available.

See here for example:

http://www.vfritaliaclub.it/node/3369

Great info, thanks for sharing!

I'll be looking for a wrecked one to snag!  [image: f]

Not a smart idea with the clear instrument cover and I'm 50/50 with the split seat option.

Thanks for the review and pics.

I like the split seat option on the ST1300, it allows the pilot to adjust for their comfort without negatively impacting the pillion.

I have contacted my Honda dealer again to inquire about test rides.

Thanks for posting your thoughts Skids.

Thanks Skds awesome write-up. I take it you're in Europe somewhere or Australia. with the stock exhaust does it still sound like a sewing machine?

Sent from my SGH-T679 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks Skds awesome write-up. I take it you're in Europe somewhere or Australia. with the stock exhaust does it still sound like a sewing machine?

Sent from my SGH-T679 using Tapatalk 2

England m8.

Yes, it sounds like a standard VFR with the strangling can on it......I'm sure it'll sound great with a decent aftermarket slip-on though.

Good write up M8. Did you enquire what they are asking for the seat cowl? Must be the first VFR ever to come without one supplied.

I am looking foreward to getting mine in a few weeks (red).

Good write up M8. Did you enquire what they are asking for the seat cowl? Must be the first VFR ever to come without one supplied.

I am looking foreward to getting mine in a few weeks (red).

No m8, I didn't, sorry. He did say though that red ones are as rare as rocking horse sh1t.

Some more pics:

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Where is the R/R located?

After looking at this beast a couple dozen times, it does look like an evolution of the 5th gen -- especially the front view. 

Where is the R/R located?

no idea bud.

Just checked my local dealership, said latest manifest indicates next two weeks for delivery of his inventory of one for this year. First in line for test ride.

What a gorgeous bike! I couldn't help but wonder though, what it might look like with an underbody exhaust and a tail tidy. So I did a little photoshopping on Skids image. With Skid's permission, here it is....

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I think for an exhaust like that the header collector would have to be reversed other wise it may have 2 180 deg bends but it defiantly looks better. the way it should have came

Sweeeeeet. :beer:

Skids,

I see you're in Beds.  What dealer? 

I want to test ride one but then I don't because it may put my 5th gen to shame.   :goofy:

Skids,

I see you're in Beds.  What dealer? 

I want to test ride one but then I don't because it may put my 5th gen to shame.   :goofy:

It WILL put it to shame m8.

Norton Way Honda in Letchworth.

Skids,

I see you're in Beds.  What dealer? 

I want to test ride one but then I don't because it may put my 5th gen to shame.   :goofy:

It WILL put it to shame m8.

Norton Way Honda in Letchworth.

Ahhh, I almost guessed that.  I've been down to them as Grafton in MK just isn't, well, lets just say I'm not impressed.  I may pop down to see what I'm missing.

My 2001 5th gen was spotless with 5500miles when I bought it last October.  It's 7500 now.  It's still a bargain compared to a new Viffer but I may just try it to see how far behind mine is.  A suspension upgrade on mine would go a long ways.

Skids,

I see you're in Beds.  What dealer? 

I want to test ride one but then I don't because it may put my 5th gen to shame.   :goofy:

It WILL put it to shame m8.

Norton Way Honda in Letchworth.

Ahhh, I almost guessed that.  I've been down to them as Grafton in MK just isn't, well, lets just say I'm not impressed.  I may pop down to see what I'm missing.

My 2001 5th gen was spotless with 5500miles when I bought it last October.  It's 7500 now.  It's still a bargain compared to a new Viffer but I may just try it to see how far behind mine is.  A suspension upgrade on mine would go a long ways.

Well, service is very slow but they're fine with test rides.

My 98 had 5900 on it when I bought it in 01, has 130k on it now and I love it.

But it's absolutely clear that the new VFR is a significantly better machine.....at a price. New suspension and good maintenance, which isn't difficult, will keep your bike running for a decade or longer and she'll return fantastic service as mine has.

Very nice. Looks like it's back to a classic VFR look and purpose.

Updated hardware and software. :beer:

The 1200's always looked too big to me.

Had my test drive on a showery day on a white one. The bike is good but I don't think I will be ordering one now. It's a shame really as I thought this would be just what I needed. It's personal preferences really I didn't like the signals (I know I am not going to get used to it as my thumb can't reach without moving my whole hand off the grip). The riding position made the bike feel too small and I have been spoiled for torque of late. I expected it to be less but not that I would notice it that much. Final thing for me was the luggage which was looking to be quite expensive on the provisional figures. Dealer suggested it might be the vfr1200 that is more what I would be better looking at but that's a jump in price and with luggage and center stand as extras. Apparently the Automatic ones are the most popular and that's the demo? I didn't feel comfortable testing that in the wet and £1000 excess so passed. Well that and if I liked it I be in real trouble. I just keep thinking what if abs sensor fails as happened when Danny Pedrosa had his back brake clipped. Do we know if these systems fail safe?
The vtec blip isn't there like I remember but I did notice the traction control cut in for fraction of a second when revving the bike at the transition point but maybe that's just the wet road but it happened every time. It is very very easy to ride and I never felt suspension to be twitchy even on some rough roads. Wind on the motorway was fine with an area of pressure on chest and clean softer flow at helmet. Good to take weight of arms. Wasn't unduly affected by side winds. Ducking down on the tank puts you right into that pressure air and is unpleasant though. I did once and that was enough. Gear position indicator seemed slow to make a decision. I did clutchless shifts up and would look to check and it would show '-' then settle on a number. Nitpicky but it means I looked twice because I wasn't sure I trusted it. Pegs felt higher and further back than my CBR but I counting that as seat in low position which is where I figured it should be with 29" inseam but that might have been a mistake not putting it high.
I think if I was coming to it with less time on bigger bikes I would have liked it more. Say I was wanting first bike after doing direct access then this would have been perfect. I've seen posts about vfr owners wishing it was vfr1000 in 2014 bike. I think they might be right.

In the states I did have a 6th gen vtec.  It was smaller than the 5th gen I have now.  It felt more compact overall but I'm not sure it was anything other than in my mind.

The new one has the radiators moved to the front down low so the width of the bike is very narrow now.  I think that plays a role in how big it feels.  I don't like that as it just means less wind protection.  Could mean less drag though.

It is lighter and has some upgrades but It is still cheaper for me to upgrade my 5th gen suspension and brakes than go with this new model.  At £10,499 I think this model is more like a movie where you wait for the matinee when it's cheaper.  You could get a great used  bike with accessories for that price.

Thinking to try z1000sx now. I find fat tanks make for less inner thigh strain when gripping. So I like them.

I have a slightly different take on this bike to Skids. I tested the same bike out of the same dealer, I ride an 800Fi1 that I've owned since 2004 and a VFR1200F 2013. I've written this test for a UK forum so bear with the the UK road details etc. but the following is what I found when I rode the new 800 back to back against my 5th and 7th gen bikes. You should also know I have never ridden a 6th Gen Vtec.

VFR800F, I rode my 800Fi1 into work this morning as it was booked for its MoT this afternoon (it passed of course), I hadnt ridden it for a while and I have to say it felt a bit slow but still good, anyway, rather than sit around the Honda dealer waiting Id arranged to test the new 800. My first impression on looking at the new bike was that it doesnt look as good in the flesh as it does in all the pictures Id seen. That can probably be said about many bikes but I was expecting more from this one as the magazine photos looked great. Dont get me wrong, its not bad looking at all but something just wasnt as good as I was expecting, not sure what. Anyway, life signed away and Im off for a ride.

First thing that struck me was on tick over it sounds a bit shit, a bit like a parallel twin. It feels quite familiar when you throw a leg over it which isnt a surprise and first impression of the riding position is its a little sportier that the 800Fi, mine has Helibars so that may be partly why but its the foot pegs position too. Before I talk about the engine a little about how it rides in general. Its good, nice and easy in traffic as I left the dealers and easy to throw around out on the open road with precise quick steering, not Fireblade / sportsbike type turn in but good for a sports tourer for sure. Now for the controversial bit and Ill tell with a description of my ride.

I pulled out of Norton way Honda with a plan. Id head up to Letchworth Gate (the A1 junction) go straight over and head up the A505 (dual carriage way) to Royston, leave Royston on the A10 and join the A507 (prime biking road) at Buntingford and head back toward Baldock. Within a few hundred yards of leaving the dealer Id decided I dont like the motor. It feels rubbish when its under the Vtec range, theres no pull, no power, no fun! But I thought Id better stick with it so got myself over to the A505, as I negotiated the roundabouts to get there I was getting more and more disappointed and when I attacked the last one and joined the traffic heading up the hill towards the Baldock tunnel my mind was made up. The reports Id read said the new bike delivers good power all the way through the range, IMO it does not. Its wheezy and uninspiring below the Vtec range and although when you hit the magic 7k it goes it just doesnt feel like youre accelerating with anything like the grunt and urgency an 800Fi delivers let alone the 1200. Now thats a little bit of a strange thing to say as I was now travelling at my usual motorway type speed but it didnt seem to get there like an Fi does. It also feels as if it wants to go but cant, theres something dull about this engine, its efficient and the Vtec transition is smooth but I can only describe it as the Honda Civic of the motorcycle world, if MPG is your main concern get one, if coming home with a smile on your face is more important...dont! On the Vtec transition, I did feel a lull a couple of times when accelerating to over take traffic in the inside lane after cars had moved over, this was solved with a gear change that wouldnt be necessary on an 800Fi and then driving it hard into Vtec range to get it going but even then, while ragging it all I was thinking was Ill be glad to get this thing back to the dealer!
So, through Royston, down the A10 with a few more dull and hard work overtakes and onto the A507, a great biking road. The 800F handles well, turns quickly and brakes well; the brakes are good but not a patch the 1200s 6 pots. But all the way through to Baldock my overriding thought and the thing that ruined the ride for this bike was the engines inability to deliver power progressively and when I wanted it. Its like riding a 2 stroke with no power band and when you hit the revs where you expect the power to surge you forward it lets you down with a whimper and sort of meanders along. Admittedly it meanders along to a decent speed but it just doesnt feel like its doing anything exciting. The Vtec having been smoothed out now kicks in too late, you want it to drive out of bends but for it to do that you need to enter them at a speed that just isnt safe on the road or in a gear so low that youre immediately scrabbling for more gears when you should be serenely lining up the next bend. Im not sure if that description makes sense to you all but for me its very simpleHonda have built a good handling road bike and ruined it with a wheezy, revvy engine with no grunt that never has enough power available when you want it!!

VFR800Fi1.
I wont bore you with an 800Fi report; Ill just leave it at this. As soon as I got back on my 800, even in traffic, I knew that this was the kind of engine for me. Linear smooth torquey drive that when I headed home via the A507 in the opposite direction to Id just ridden had me grinning like a Cheshire cat and summing up like this; the 800F does not handle or brake £10k better than my Nitron shod, set up by me, Fi, its a good modern bike but not good enough to warrant the money. The Fis engine is IMHO head and shoulders above the new bikes power unit and the ride home was an absolute hoot and a blessed relief all rolled into one!

VFR1200F and a final summary.
When I got home I took the 1200 for a blast just for a final comparison as I hadnt ridden it since Thursday. The VFR1200F rides like a slightly heavier, slightly slower steering 800Fi but make no mistake it can be pushed very nicely through the twisties and to coin a modern phrase OMG when you open the tap you get proper, laughter inducing seamless power that fires you straight to licence losing 000mph as quick as you can blink. As much as the 800Fs motor kills what could and should have been a great addition to Hondas ST range the 1200s motor makes this bike and having ridden it today directly after the other two I can only say that again IMHO its the 1200 that is the real VFR of the current range and as much as the 800F looks and feels worthy quality and style wise it is quickly exposed as a poor imitation of a proper VFR as soon as you hit the road!

I was fully prepared to report that Honda had hit the jackpot and that as much as I love both of my current bikes this was the VFR that would put the 800 back where it should be as THE VFR of choice for the dyed in the wool VFR enthusiast. IMHO its not and the new 800cc motor has killed a legend!

P.S. No pics, it's the same bike Skids rode.

Wow

RoystonRocket, when you say no grunt you mean no torque?

I used to own a 6th gen. I thought it was ok but it didn't have as much ooomph as my 5th gen. I'm sure the 1200 beats the socks off of all of them which is expected. The new one sounds like it is pretty tame.

@RoystonRocket, great review thanks mate,I owned a vtec for a while and loved the books of it but hated the engine, the VFR800 fi I have is simply brilliant, always puts a smile on my face and is the reason I ride bikes. So no new Vfr for me,I may even pick up another low mileage Fi somewhere along the line in case this one ever wears out,which is a long way off.

RoystonRocket, when you say no grunt you mean no torque?

Yes, exactly that.

There's not NO torque, it's just different.

If we were all the same and all liked the same things, what a boring world it would be.

Nobody should take either my word or Royston's word or anyone elses...if you are interested in a bike, go and test ride it for yourself. No-one else is going to ride it but you so no-one elses opinion matters but your own.

There's not NO torque, it's just different.
 
If we were all the same and all liked the same things, what a boring world it would be.
 
Nobody should take either my word or Royston's word or anyone elses...if you are interested in a bike, go and test ride it for yourself. No-one else is going to ride it but you so no-one elses opinion matters but your own.

Skids is right, you have to test it and draw your own conclusion. OK, there is torque, but not enough to pull the skin off of a rice pudding (English term, Google it).

I would put a lot more value on your reviews though than some bike journo who is maybe getting paid for a favourable review,

some of the mcn/visordown reviews I've read on bikes are such rubbish.

You guys have ridden Vfr's and know what you're chatting about.

Any thoughts on whether the torque deficit is just due to reduced noise giving that impression? I remember as a kid riding with my dad when he picked up our truck after a well needed tune-up. We pulled out on the highway and he was disappointed with the performance until he realized we were doing 80 mph. It was just that much smoother that it felt/sounded powerless.

Any thoughts on whether the torque deficit is just due to reduced noise giving that impression? I remember as a kid riding with my dad when he picked up our truck after a well needed tune-up. We pulled out on the highway and he was disappointed with the performance until he realized we were doing 80 mph. It was just that much smoother that it felt/sounded powerless.

I have to say, the Vtec/6th Gen engine has always felt like you have to wring its neck a lot more to get the same result as the Fi/5th Gen engine. Much of this is cured with the snorkel/PAIR/flapper valve mods but there is still a feeling of less torque. The new model doesn't need these mods as it is a smooth and seamless torque into power curve but until we see a dyno run on one and can compare it to a standard 5th & standard 6th Gen then we'll never know.

I do know that when riding my 6th Gen x-country open roads & bends, I find myself faster than I would be on the 5th Gen despite the 5th feeling like it has more.

The 5th gen does deliver more torque, the figures are not massively different but it does produce more. Anyone who's thinking about buying the bike needs to ride one because even debates like this can be misleading depending on personal preference. While Skids correctly reports that it delivers smooth seamless power and torque throughout the rev range I report that it delivers very low torque and power isn't always available in the same way as it is on the 5th gen and for me it's a significantly different feel, yes it is smooth, but it is not the kind of drive to power out of bends that I expect from an 800cc bike. My ZX9r IL4 track bike feels stronger. The new 800 feels nothing like a 5th gen anywhere in the rev range. I also think that now Honda have sorted the transition point to all valve Vtec then they should have lowered the change point to make it more useable in the real world. But as Skids said, we are all different and thank God for that.

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Yes, the 5th gen (green line) delivers more torque than the 6th gen(orange line)

The 3rd gen (red line) tops them all (emission/noise laws more relaxed in the days thus allowing an engine that could breathe better..)

On the ractrack my buddy on his 5th gen would pull away from me at the beginning of any straightaway... then I would overtake him through the curves on my 6th gen... the rolling chassis of the 6th gen is way better than the 5th gens and allows better cornering speeds... I used to own a catless 5th gen and can say it was a smidgen gruntier down low, but the 6th operates better at higher rpms... and handles a smidgen better.

But all in all they are very very similar. Compared to other bikes in the 800 range, the VFR weighs so much that it will never compete, but that's not its misión.

Very interesting reports. I am curious to see how it is in other countries, since emissions/noise laws are different.

Dear Honda,

Please have test rides at this years motorcycle show.

Especially the one in Long Beach. :warranty:

Dear Honda,

Please put a 1000cc non VTEC engine in it 

like you should have done 10 years ago.

WWWobble

Still waiting for them to arrive in SoCal. So far, none of the super stores are expecting them until June which means more towards September. Fingers crossed for an on time delivery.

Good reviews from true vfr owners & what pleased me reading them is the underlying statement there personal opinions & people should ride the bikes there thinking of purchasing & gauge for themselves. I'm a 6th gen owner & prefer the better handling over the common vtec complaint over the 5th gen motor, because I have owned a vtec for so many years my riding is adapted to the characteristics of that motor, so if I was to test ride the 2014 vfr my opinion would differ from say a owner coming from a 5th gen. It is more or less the same scenario that is documented all over this forum comparing the 5th gen to the 6th gen.

As a comparison I hate the 5th gen handling compared to the 6th gen & it really is a well known fact a bike that handles well will always be quicker in the long run that a bike with a bit more power that doesn't handle as well. But it is also why there is choice in the market place as we aren't robots so each individual prefers different things & it's simply a good thing we have choice.

Just to put it out there my fav motor is the 4th gen :-)

Hi all across the pond! Last Wednesday I went on a day's test ride with Motorcycle News, a weekly bike paper here in UK who wanted existing VFR owners for a comparison test with the new bike. It was a good day out, we met at Bauer's offices (the publisher) in Peterborough, a 750 (4th gen to you lot), 800Fi (5th gen), two VTECs (6th gen) and the new one. After coffee, paperwork and a fuel fill-up we went and did a photoshoot in an underpass out of the rain (!), rode out into the country to do some more shots of all of us going round the same bend different ways on our own bikes and then rode off for lunch. After lunch more of the same, bike swapping, more rides to different photo locations and more going up and down the same bit of road. We each had about 30-45 minutes on the new bike, my session was the final bend photoshoot and then the ride back to the office for more coffee, debrief and final brainstorm.

My impression - the new bike is very impressive, still feeling very much familiar VFR but noticeably lighter and better handling than my VTEC, the motor is revvier and the finish and quality is superb. The can is, as has been pointed out before, fugly "looks like it was stolen off a maxi-scooter" but has a nice raspy edge when you wind it on. On B roads in the wet I didn't get anywhere near the VTEC transition point but the rider who tried it on the A1 said it wasn't an issue (and I never find it a lurch on my 05 VTEC anyway). The riding position seemed to me more upright with the slightly higher bars but at the same time slightly more cramped as seat and footrests are closer together due to the same footrest position but a lower seat. I could get both feet down flat which I can't quite on my VTEC.

Thinking about it afterwards we were very much focused on the bike Honda had produced, rather than what might have been. Yes, I prefer the 800Fi gear cam engine to the VTEC engine but I think everything else about my 6th gen is better (and I've owned both). Honda have developed what they had (again) rather than producing something entirely new. It makes me wonder who will shell out £10.5k for one, I think existing VFR owners would be the most likely but existing VFR owners by definition already have a VFR and as the bike seems to me very much an evolution with a lot of small improvements over the VTEC but not a quantum leap forward that makes it less likely at the same time, if that makes any sense. It didn't make me think "this is brilliant, I must have one" but I'd certainly get one if I were in the position of looking for a new bike.

Anyway, huge thanks to Phil at MCN for the coffee, photos (how else can you get pro pics of yourself on your bike?), insight into what goes into the production of a weekly and a chance to ride the new VFR800. We should be in next week's issue, meanwhile here's just a couple from my day, taken by Simon for MCN...

[image: FSBonnewVFR_zps170c0090.jpg]

[image: FSBonnewVFR2_zps11159d86.jpg] __________________

Thinking about it afterwards we were very much focused on the bike Honda had produced, rather than what might have been. Yes, I prefer the 800Fi gear cam engine to the VTEC engine but I think everything else about my 6th gen is better (and I've owned both). Honda have developed what they had (again) rather than producing something entirely new. It makes me wonder who will shell out £10.5k for one, I think existing VFR owners would be the most likely but existing VFR owners by definition already have a VFR and as the bike seems to me very much an evolution with a lot of small improvements over the VTEC but not a quantum leap forward that makes it less likely at the same time, if that makes any sense. It didn't make me think "this is brilliant, I must have one" but I'd certainly get one if I were in the position of looking for a new bike.

 

First off, cool forum name.  haha

Second, thanks for the review.  That is quite an opportunity to try it out with MCN.  Thanks for sharing.  I'll be buying the issue on the iPad just to read it! 

I think based on the reviews I've seen so far and judging the options and upgrades on the bike I would say your assessment makes sense and is very fair.  It is not a quantum leap forward as you say but today the only quantum leap I can think of in recent time is the combination of traction control and automatic suspension.  Other than that it is hard today to come up with a mind blowing new 2 wheeled bike that just blows the socks off every previous bike.

I have a 5th gen and for that price I just don't see me jumping to it.  I think for that price I'd look at all the used bike options out there that could fill a void in my garage.  I can think of a few bikes that would be absolutely exceptional at a used price.  FJR, K1200, VFR1200, Aprilia RSV4......  If I did not have a bike I think I would still have to think twice about one of these unless it was considerabley lower in price.

Thanks again!



 

Here's  a  new  video  AND  it's  GOOD   !!!

[video: http://youtube.com/embed/XSz4XOnRRBw?html5=1&fs=1]

Nice write up by MCN. Here is a screenshot from the article.

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That's me at the top of the page. Fame at last!

That picture looks posed but it's not. Not sure what James is doing but Simon and I were genuinely saying, "what's that weird lump on the left footrest hanger for, doesn't seem to be doing anything?" (the answer, as we found out later, is that it's the mounting for the optional quickshifter linkage which the test bike doesn't have...yet). 

You don't look so fat!

The "Verdicts" of the three VFR pilots seem to contradict slightly the overall tone of the article...interesting none the less.

Mick, do you plan on carry copies or reprints for all of the followers and hangers-on who will want autographs and selfies now?

I'm almost certain I saw the two silver-haired cobbers in a bike mechanic's shop couple days ago in southern Spain; one one a white crossrunner and the other on a black cb-something naked streetfighter. Too much of a coincidence I reckon.

I want a white one!!!

Either that... or get the radiator for the new one and make a custom fairing for mine... hmmm. Probably a lot cheaper.

My local Honda dealership invited me over for a test ride today - they had just uncrated a white and a red one and I must say the red looks stunning but the white is even better in person.

The fit and finish are excellent and the bronze touches on the wheels, casings and handlebars are classy. I went in quite ready to trade in the 6th Gen after reading the Bike UK extended review - a magazine I trust.

Alas - in three words this is my humble verdict - refined, composed but vaguely unexciting. (4 words actually)

The engine is smooth and the bike is vibration free. The VTEC transition though noticeable is mainly an engine note change now, rather than providing any additional grunt and it seems to occur a little higher in the rev range than my 6th Gen - closer to 7k – judging by the tach. Unfortunately the engine almost seems neutered and a bit character-less. Also low speed fuelling at parking lots speeds is a bit now you see me, now you dont. Nothing extreme but definitely noticeable. The handling is pretty decent with unadjusted suspension and the bike has a plush but composed ride.

For me at least this 8th Gen doesn’t speak to me like my old 4th Gen with its better engine and lively demeanour.

I also think Honda needs to pull their collective heads out of you know where if they want $14K plus for this bike. You can only charge that much of a premium for build quality.

By way of contrast - I am now the owner of an Yamaha FZ-09 (MT-09) for about 2 months now and have over 2300 miles on it. That bike is ASTONISHING value at $8100 out the door here in the DC Metro area. Granted the suspension is a bit lacking but a little less than $1K has fixed that and left room for various farkles. And oooh. that torque..,,,

Honda is trying to sell a very limited pool of customers an expensive motorcycle using the nostalgia card. I wish them luck and would love to be proved wrong.

Even if in their infinite wisdom, 800cc was enough - this 2014 model should have been lighter, more powerful and a huge leap forward - sadly it is not.

The bean counters have taken over the asylum - hope there is a coup in the not too distant future and the engineers regain control.

In the meantime, BMW is now what Honda was, cornering the sports bike market with the S1000RR and now the naked version of that bike and making exciting products. Not that I find them desirable.

My new sweetheart....grunty, full of character and wheelie good fun!!!

[image: IMG_4951.jpg]

Insurance  pricey    ?   ^^^^^

Thanks for posting up your take on the new VFR. I am waiting for the Honda guys in Chattanooga to call back when their first ones arrive. They said it should be any day now. Having NOT ridden one I am on the fence as my current 5th Gen is the perfect back roads bike but it is monoposto...I have an ST1300 for when my wife wants to ride but it can be a hassle to get both bikes up to a destination for a week of riding. I swapped bikes with my son for a day ride with the wife and others one day at TexasMac this year and she was pleasantly surprised with how comfortable she found the Sargent seat and the 6th Gen (full disclosure, this Sargent has the atomic foam in the pillion section as well). In the fall we are doing 11 days on a VFR1200 in Europe. Depending on her rear seat evaluation, we will probably be moving the ST1300 along and replacing it with one of those two options (7th or 8th Gen VFR).

Can I ask why you are thinking of getting rid of a bike like the ST1300? Seems like a superior 2up bike overall.

It is a great bike for two up but the design was last freshened up in 2003...It is heavy (even if only at parking lot speeds) and I wish it had a 6th gear. I have the 2004 edition (only year of the dark blue) ABS model here in the US and after putting a couple thousand miles on the 1200 in the mountains of Austria, Italy and Switzerland this fall will likely keep the ST to complete a ride to Alaska with my uncle next year before deciding which other V4 to get. I know both the new 800 and the 1200 will be compromises for the sort of riding I do with the ST (the 800 doesn't have 80 ft lbs of torque and the 1200 doesn't have 200 miles of range two up at my pace so nowhere close to 325+ miles of range) but both are lighter and if Mrs Carver likes the feel of the 1200 with the top box and panniers that could be the way forward

Insurance  pricey    ?   ^^^^^

Just 20% more annually than the 6th Gen.

It is a great bike for two up but the design was last freshened up in 2003...It is heavy (even if only at parking lot speeds) and I wish it had a 6th gear. I have the 2004 edition (only year of the dark blue) ABS model here in the US and after putting a couple thousand miles on the 1200 in the mountains of Austria, Italy and Switzerland this fall will likely keep the ST to complete a ride to Alaska with my uncle next year before deciding which other V4 to get. I know both the new 800 and the 1200 will be compromises for the sort of riding I do with the ST (the 800 doesn't have 80 ft lbs of torque and the 1200 doesn't have 200 miles of range two up at my pace so nowhere close to 325+ miles of range) but both are lighter and if Mrs Carver likes the feel of the 1200 with the top box and panniers that could be the way forward

Fuel cans strapped on the rack? :goofy:

Insurance  pricey    ?   ^^^^^

Just 20% more annually than the 6th Gen.

Sweet   !!!!!

Looks good.

Thanks for the reviews guys.

I'm curious what my reaction to the refreshed 6th gen will be. The stories about low end torque brings me way back. I owned my 6th gen long enough to get into the (apparently bad) habit of yanking hard on the throttle once I had launched. This would engage the VTEC and get some grunt out of the bike. I did love the handling of the 6th gen, and when tired or just wanted to admire the road & scenary, it was a very comfortable and enjoyable ride. But I last rode an 'Orgami' in late 2008.

In the spring of 2009 based on my life style, commute, and magazine reviews, I bought a then new CBR600RR. The ergos are slightly harsher than the VFR, but unlike other supersports I've owned or ridden, I could ride the CBR all day, the plank of a seat not-with-standing. The day I picked the bike up from the dealership, I turned out of the parking lot, and mindlessly yanked hard on the throttle just like on my old VTEC. That was a mistake, albeit without any long term consequences. The new and slippery rear tire spun on the cold asphault and the back end of the bike tried to overtake the front end. Fortunately I've ridden a few times, and quickly eased off the throttle and concentrated on keeping the shiny side up. After nearly soiling my underwear and nearly completely humiliating myself in front of the dealership sales team, I straightened the bike out and pointed it in the right direction. Since then, I apply power smoothly, and thanks to various municipalities with eagle eyed law enforcement, I am often past the speed limit in 2nd gear.

I look forward to riding the latest VFR, but not sure I'll be trading in the 5 year old CBR. Though I miss the solid smooth handling of the VTEC. Having to lift and shift my weight to get the CBR to corner gets tiresome.

Thanks for posting up your take on the new VFR.I am waiting for the Honda guys in Chattanooga to call back when their first ones arrive. They said it should be any day now. Having NOT ridden one I am on the fence as my current 5th Gen is the perfect back roads bike but it is monoposto...).

Wondering if you had a chance to test ride the new bike and what your thoughts are given your history with Honda V-4s

It is available in Chattanooga now but my travel schedule has been tough the past few weeks.

I hope to get there for a test of the Dee-Luxe model around the 15th-18th of this month...I will for sure post up here what I think, not that many who know me care :goofy:

This  is   what  you  will  look  like   .   :tour:

Good Evening All

Having had the chance to spend a few hours, 80-odd miles on a 2014 VFR800F in all road conditions I thought I would give a review, but try to be a little more subjective than RoystonRocket 2 whos review I feel missed the point.

I happened upon this post and I thought I would add my 2 penneth. Firstly, I have been riding Motorcycles on the road since July 2008, and since then have owned a number of bikes (listed below), and covered approximately 50-60k Miles on motorcycles.

I have owned and ridden:

1999 Honda Hornet 600

2009 FZ1 Fazer

2010 Kawasaki ER6-F

2010 GSX-R600 L1

2011 CBR1000RR Fireblade

2010 VFR800 A10 VTEC

As you can see this is a good spread, so gives me the opportunity to compare the new VFR to these and give my opinion.

My Initial impressions were that it felt smaller and more compact than my current VFR800 VTEC, and the new riding position suited me very nicely.  I came to the VTEC VFR from a Fireblade, which I absolutely loved, but needed something slower, as I would have lost my licence on the 'Blade.  Therefore the new, more sporty riding position definitely was to my taste.

I didn't have any problems with the new 14 VFR around town, it got on with it so well that part of the journey almost paled into insignificance.  The fueling was good, it felt light and easy to maneuver.  Much easier than the my 2010 VFR.

Once I got onto the dual carriageway/freeway again it felt good, pulled very similar to the 2010 VFR, and never left me feeling like it was lacking.  Yes its not got the grunt of a Fireblade or a VFR1200, but if you want this kind of grunt your looking at the wrong bike.  The whole point of me getting a VFR8 was so that it HAS GOT a little LESS grunt and is SLIGHTLY MORE work to get it to licence loosing/prison speeds.  Therefore, RoystonRockets complaint about the power is largely unfounded, and you would of course find this when comparing it to the VFR1200.  (I thought a Hayabusa was lacking when I tested it, compared to my Fireblade, which I thought felt much faster).

THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS BIKE...FOR ME

Once I got off the freeway and into the twisties, this bike came into its own. I LOVED the sound, I thought it handled brilliantly, was fast and fun, and my thoughts were that it felt like a big, comfy sports 600 that you could stay on all day, and carry hard luggage if you so wished.  The induction noise is addictive, and I felt I could really thrash the bike (which I like) without always thinking Id be on my way to prison if I got caught.  That said, it will tank along at 100+ all day if you so wish.

The main point though i suppose is that I never felt that this bike was lacking in any way.  I loved the power delivery, loved the smoothness and loved the handling, although the stock tyres are a little scary!!

If you compare it to a VFR1200 it probably will feel flat, but when I got on my 2010 VFR800 VTEC for the first time after owning and riding a fireblade for 2.5 years, the VFR8 felt like a moped.  I soon got used to it though, and found that I had more confidence and much more enjoyment thrashing a VFR to within an inch of its life than I ever did tickling a 'Blade and looking down thinking 'f*** i'm going to get locked up here'.

Conclusion

Is the new VFR a bad bike...NO. In my opinion Its an absolutely FANTASTIC bike.  It does everything I want a motorcycle to do, and I can go for a proper thrash on the road, and go touring all in relative comfort whilst retaining an intact licence.

If anyone has any questions please ask!

Thanks for the review and welcome to VFRD!

Good Evening All

Having had the chance to spend a few hours, 80-odd miles on a 2014 VFR800F in all road conditions I thought I would give a review, but try to be a little more subjective than RoystonRocket 2 whos review I feel missed the point.

I happened upon this post and I thought I would add my 2 penneth. Firstly, I have been riding Motorcycles on the road since July 2008, and since then have owned a number of bikes (listed below), and covered approximately 50-60k Miles on motorcycles.

I have owned and ridden:

1999 Honda Hornet 600

2009 FZ1 Fazer

2010 Kawasaki ER6-F

2010 GSX-R600 L1

2011 CBR1000RR Fireblade

2010 VFR800 A10 VTEC

As you can see this is a good spread, so gives me the opportunity to compare the new VFR to these and give my opinion.

My Initial impressions were that it felt smaller and more compact than my current VFR800 VTEC, and the new riding position suited me very nicely.  I came to the VTEC VFR from a Fireblade, which I absolutely loved, but needed something slower, as I would have lost my licence on the 'Blade.  Therefore the new, more sporty riding position definitely was to my taste.

I didn't have any problems with the new 14 VFR around town, it got on with it so well that part of the journey almost paled into insignificance.  The fueling was good, it felt light and easy to maneuver.  Much easier than the my 2010 VFR.

Once I got onto the dual carriageway/freeway again it felt good, pulled very similar to the 2010 VFR, and never left me feeling like it was lacking.  Yes its not got the grunt of a Fireblade or a VFR1200, but if you want this kind of grunt your looking at the wrong bike.  The whole point of me getting a VFR8 was so that it HAS GOT a little LESS grunt and is SLIGHTLY MORE work to get it to licence loosing/prison speeds.  Therefore, RoystonRockets complaint about the power is largely unfounded, and you would of course find this when comparing it to the VFR1200.  (I thought a Hayabusa was lacking when I tested it, compared to my Fireblade, which I thought felt much faster).

THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS BIKE...FOR ME

Once I got off the freeway and into the twisties, this bike came into its own. I LOVED the sound, I thought it handled brilliantly, was fast and fun, and my thoughts were that it felt like a big, comfy sports 600 that you could stay on all day, and carry hard luggage if you so wished.  The induction noise is addictive, and I felt I could really thrash the bike (which I like) without always thinking Id be on my way to prison if I got caught.  That said, it will tank along at 100+ all day if you so wish.

The main point though i suppose is that I never felt that this bike was lacking in any way.  I loved the power delivery, loved the smoothness and loved the handling, although the stock tyres are a little scary!!

If you compare it to a VFR1200 it probably will feel flat, but when I got on my 2010 VFR800 VTEC for the first time after owning and riding a fireblade for 2.5 years, the VFR8 felt like a moped.  I soon got used to it though, and found that I had more confidence and much more enjoyment thrashing a VFR to within an inch of its life than I ever did tickling a 'Blade and looking down thinking 'f*** i'm going to get locked up here'.

Conclusion

Is the new VFR a bad bike...NO. In my opinion Its an absolutely FANTASTIC bike.  It does everything I want a motorcycle to do, and I can go for a proper thrash on the road, and go touring all in relative comfort whilst retaining an intact licence.

If anyone has any questions please ask!

I agree totally with your assesment.

I sold a 2011 fireblade to buy this bike for exactly the same reasons that you mentioned.

Cheers!

Coming from a cbr600 (14 years plus) to this bike I like the power, its everywhere from the start to the end (I dont have to wait until its at 7000 rpms), very smooth, and always available, yet doesnt feel like its far too much. I like the fact that it feels very light, and handles so great. I dont get that workout I got taking my cbr down a twisty road, not to mention that I dont have to shift constantly.

I have no need for cbr1000 type horsepower, this bike has more than I need, and I can make use of far more of it riding on the road.

In fact this bike is very deceptive, you dont realize just how fast you are going, or how quickly you got there because the power is so smooth and linear, it feels like you are going slower than you actually are.

I can take a couple hour long ride and feel comfortable, it feels good even riding slow in town. It definitely rides 2 up far better than a cbr600, it also has an extra 3 inches of wheel base, and I dont feel cramped a bit like I did on the 600 on a longer ride.

Riding to work today with 29 mph gusts of wind crossing a large highway bridge over the Susquehanna river it feels stable and doesnt get blown all over the bridge like my old CBR did.

On occasion I used to ride a friends old 2000 ZX9R which had 143 hp I believe, that bike felt big and heavy and didnt seem to handle very well at all, but had alot of grunt. I also experienced his R1 which he got new a few years later, that bike felt like it had too much power (it got him into trouble a few times, each time he did not realize how fast he was going at all), and I never felt comfortable making use of it (now he has no cycle, oh well maybe someday again). He also had an SV650 for a short time until he got bored of it, and he didnt like the lack of wind protection on the highway before he traded it on the R1 (I never rode the SV, he had it for soo little time).

It is a great bike for two up but the design was last freshened up in 2003...It is heavy (even if only at parking lot speeds) and I wish it had a 6th gear. I have the 2004 edition (only year of the dark blue) ABS model here in the US and after putting a couple thousand miles on the 1200 in the mountains of Austria, Italy and Switzerland this fall will likely keep the ST to complete a ride to Alaska with my uncle next year before deciding which other V4 to get. I know both the new 800 and the 1200 will be compromises for the sort of riding I do with the ST (the 800 doesn't have 80 ft lbs of torque and the 1200 doesn't have 200 miles of range two up at my pace so nowhere close to 325+ miles of range) but both are lighter and if Mrs Carver likes the feel of the 1200 with the top box and panniers that could be the way forward

Fuel cans strapped on the rack? :goofy:

From you avatar you may be able to help a fellow sort out a couple of reusable drop tanks...

It is a great bike for two up but the design was last freshened up in 2003...It is heavy (even if only at parking lot speeds) and I wish it had a 6th gear. I have the 2004 edition (only year of the dark blue) ABS model here in the US and after putting a couple thousand miles on the 1200 in the mountains of Austria, Italy and Switzerland this fall will likely keep the ST to complete a ride to Alaska with my uncle next year before deciding which other V4 to get. I know both the new 800 and the 1200 will be compromises for the sort of riding I do with the ST (the 800 doesn't have 80 ft lbs of torque and the 1200 doesn't have 200 miles of range two up at my pace so nowhere close to 325+ miles of range) but both are lighter and if Mrs Carver likes the feel of the 1200 with the top box and panniers that could be the way forward

Fuel cans strapped on the rack? :goofy:

From you avatar you may be able to help a fellow sort out a couple of reusable drop tanks...

Haha, yes, we have one or 2 spare. Plan is to put them up to 4 tanks each so we can take them abroad next year.

Good Evening All
 
Having had the chance to spend a few hours, 80-odd miles on a 2014 VFR800F in all road conditions I thought I would give a review, but try to be a little more subjective than RoystonRocket 2 whos review I feel missed the point.
 
I happened upon this post and I thought I would add my 2 penneth. Firstly, I have been riding Motorcycles on the road since July 2008, and since then have owned a number of bikes (listed below), and covered approximately 50-60k Miles on motorcycles.
 
I have owned and ridden:
1999 Honda Hornet 600
2009 FZ1 Fazer
2010 Kawasaki ER6-F
2010 GSX-R600 L1
2011 CBR1000RR Fireblade
2010 VFR800 A10 VTEC
 
As you can see this is a good spread, so gives me the opportunity to compare the new VFR to these and give my opinion.
 
My Initial impressions were that it felt smaller and more compact than my current VFR800 VTEC, and the new riding position suited me very nicely.  I came to the VTEC VFR from a Fireblade, which I absolutely loved, but needed something slower, as I would have lost my licence on the 'Blade.  Therefore the new, more sporty riding position definitely was to my taste.
 
I didn't have any problems with the new 14 VFR around town, it got on with it so well that part of the journey almost paled into insignificance.  The fueling was good, it felt light and easy to maneuver.  Much easier than the my 2010 VFR.
 
Once I got onto the dual carriageway/freeway again it felt good, pulled very similar to the 2010 VFR, and never left me feeling like it was lacking.  Yes its not got the grunt of a Fireblade or a VFR1200, but if you want this kind of grunt your looking at the wrong bike.  The whole point of me getting a VFR8 was so that it HAS GOT a little LESS grunt and is SLIGHTLY MORE work to get it to licence loosing/prison speeds.  Therefore, RoystonRockets complaint about the power is largely unfounded, and you would of course find this when comparing it to the VFR1200.  (I thought a Hayabusa was lacking when I tested it, compared to my Fireblade, which I thought felt much faster).
 
THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS BIKE...FOR ME
Once I got off the freeway and into the twisties, this bike came into its own. I LOVED the sound, I thought it handled brilliantly, was fast and fun, and my thoughts were that it felt like a big, comfy sports 600 that you could stay on all day, and carry hard luggage if you so wished.  The induction noise is addictive, and I felt I could really thrash the bike (which I like) without always thinking Id be on my way to prison if I got caught.  That said, it will tank along at 100+ all day if you so wish.
 
The main point though i suppose is that I never felt that this bike was lacking in any way.  I loved the power delivery, loved the smoothness and loved the handling, although the stock tyres are a little scary!!
 
If you compare it to a VFR1200 it probably will feel flat, but when I got on my 2010 VFR800 VTEC for the first time after owning and riding a fireblade for 2.5 years, the VFR8 felt like a moped.  I soon got used to it though, and found that I had more confidence and much more enjoyment thrashing a VFR to within an inch of its life than I ever did tickling a 'Blade and looking down thinking 'f*** i'm going to get locked up here'.
 
Conclusion
Is the new VFR a bad bike...NO. In my opinion Its an absolutely FANTASTIC bike.  It does everything I want a motorcycle to do, and I can go for a proper thrash on the road, and go touring all in relative comfort whilst retaining an intact licence.
 
If anyone has any questions please ask!
 
 
 
 
 

 

OK, you feel I missed the point! What point? My test and subsequent review are based purely on my opinion of the bike and my opinion is that the motor in this bike is very disappointing, it's also a little disappointing that it doesn't even get USD forks but hey ho. If you go back and read it properly you'll see I'm not simply comparing it to the 1200 (which wouldn't really be a fair comparison anyway) but actually to the VFR800 Fi1 that I've owned since 2004. There is no 'point' to miss, I know sports tourers well, I know VFRs well I'd be as bold as to claim I know motorcycles quite well and IMHO the Vtec set up is not a fun motor to ride with and that's the whole reason I ride motorcycles....fun. BTW, I never said it is a "bad bike" overall.
 
As you started with a little history of your biking experience to justify your thoughts / comparisons I'll give you a very brief insight into mine, I first rode a motorcycle around about 1981 at the ripe old age of 12 or 13, I've ridden motorcycles on the road since 1984 and over that time period, as you can imagine, have ridden many different types of motorcycles, 2 strokes, 4 strokes, singles, twins, IL4s. V twins, V4s, triples big and small and so on covering sports bikes, ST bikes, off roaders, cruisers, adventure bikes, you get the picture? I've raced at club level here in the UK, done many track days (fast group), taken advanced road training, been off roading many times on both motor crossers and enduro bikes. If you'd like I can add a few photos and maybe some video right here to give you an idea of the kind of experience I have (which includes getting my perfectly good handling ZX9r around some of the UK race tracks in very reasonable lap times, not your comments on the 9r I know) but TBH that would just be photo hoaring for the sake of making a point. So I feel well qualified to offer an opinion on this or any other bike that I've ridden but I fully support your right to disagree with my view because were all different and all like different things. Missed the point? No. Don't like the engine characteristics and happy to share my thoughts? Yes, guilty as charged.
 
On missing points, you seem to confuse my point about grunt (torque and its delivery characteristics) with power. I never said the 2014 800 is not powerful enough, I never said its not fast enough, I said that IMHO it doesn't deliver its power or torque anywhere near as well as the non Vtec 800 Fi (have you ridden one of those?) and as the old 800Fi motor is, again IMHO, an absolute peach of a motorcycle engine with proper low down to top end useable torque that I think Honda have missed a trick and all they've succeeded in doing is make a well balanced, good handling motorcycle very dull by equipping it with a wheezy [feeling] uninspiring engine and that they have the Vtec transition too high up the rev range now that its smoothed out. I then said that anyway, the 1200 with its awesome motor is the bike for me.
 

All simply my opinion, plenty of people like the old and new Vtec but for me they don't deliver, they don't allow me to ride how I want to but the non Vtec VFRs do. Thats the 'point' but its my own 'personal point'. 

Thanks for the reviews folks. Appreciate the opinion (albeit divided) from VFR owners. 

I appreciate the differing opinions from one rider to the next on individual bikes and their characteristics. Sometimes different bikes fit different riders and what they are looking for.

I liked the feel and handling of 2 different Yamaha R6 models I rode (another friend had a few, although the riding position was not that comfortable to me), the R1, CBR600s (Ive had 2 different models, F3 and F4), this VFR800, and a few others.

I'm a '99 5th Gen owner (non VTEC) and I just can't get excited about this new bike.  It's just not very...well...sexy.  It doesn't do it for me. The styling is safe and a bit bland and won't offend anyone - which of course Honda don't want to do.  So I find it really hard to justify stumping up 5 times what I paid for my current bike.  The thrills per pound (or buck) aren't high enough.  My bike is 15 years old, is in great condition, looks great in a late 90s kind of retro way and the engine is a peach - it feels handmade and special compared to some bikes I've owned.  I get a thrill every time I start it up.  So the new bike needs to do a lot to get my attention - and that I think is the problem.  Objectively it's great - it's improved, lighter, slimmer has more tech etc etc but emotionally it's not stirring enough and i suspect a lot of VFR owners may feel the same way.  In fact I think I read that Honda see the biggest competition coming from old VFRs!

That said, I have been wondering about changing to something different.  On a complete whim I visited a Triumph dealer yesterday and got a test ride of a Street Triple R.  What a bike!  A very naughty bike indeed and sublime to ride - engine is stonking and makes grunt every where, comfy riding position and very light/flickable (it's aroun 60kg lighter than my VFR)  I loved it.  My only reservation was whether I could live with it all year round...

ST3R is hands down the best value for the money bike on the market in my mind.  My Street Triple is getting totaled out as we speak I loved that bike even though I had the base suspension.  I want something different now so I'm looking at a VFR.  I had a Daytona before my ST3 fantastic bikes for sure!!!

What a gorgeous bike! I couldn't help but wonder though, what it might look like with an underbody exhaust and a tail tidy. So I did a little photoshopping on Skids image. With Skid's permission, here it is....

[image: gallery_26770_7233_81500.jpg]

I was about to get waaaaaaaaay to excited till I actually read the text. I am after a tail tidy for my 8th Gen, I searched the forum and found this post and got excited as a puppy with two tails.... till i read that it was a photoshop job :( bloody great work though.

That may be photoshop, but it can probably be done in metal and plastic. I like the exhaust, it shows off the wheel. :beer: