2014 Vfr800F - Diary

*** UPDATED - JUL-18-2014 ***

Hi All,

So I wanted to create a running diary of what it's like to ride, own and generally live with the new VFR800F, from new to whenever I decide to sell it - which as time goes by is looking less and less likely to be any time soon :-)

The crazy thing is, I bought this bike before even test riding it; much of that decision was based on the reputation of previous generation VFR's and having spoke to a great deal of friends who were/are past generation VFR owners. So back in Feb, when my local dealer told me they would be expecting their first delivery in May, I parted with the deposit and took a punt post lost of detailed discussions on this bikes all round ability to be a Sports-Tourer (i.e. something I could take to Europe or Ireland for a long weekend and not need a chiropractor following to keep me walking, and equally something I could use to get to and from work, but that could eat Motorway miles and be swift and capable around London-Town too) and as usual a solid bike, built only how Honda know-how :-)

Here it is, after first ride home from the dealer 2 weeks ago:

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  0 - 250 Miles

First thing you notice when you fire it up cold, is that it does sound like a sewing machine - or TINNY, as my wife would & younger brother would put it - which is a shame and I kind of agree with them. After a fair few miles and warming up it does get better with more of a bellowing grumble, but to be honest this bike really needs a better sounding exhaust, but Honda have recently got into this habit of pretty poor sounding stock exhausts on almost all of their 800 and less engines that aren't RR badged IMHO. I recently owned a CBR500R and embarrassingly I wouldn't say there's a great deal between how the VFR sounds now and my CBR500R did with it's stock exhaust.

When I sat on It, it immediately felt like a Sports-Bike and I remember thinking "Oh-God!" because I was looking for more of a Sports-Tourer in terms of feel and comfort. I work in the Ambulance Service riding a Yamaha FJR1300A on duty at times, and can honestly say I know what an out-and-out Sports-Tourer should feel like in terms of comfort.... unfortunately the VFR800F doesn't hit any of the markers. The feet are further back on the pegs than you would expect from a Sports-Tourer of the ilk of a VFR and the riding position is more forward than I expected too. Incredibly the CBR500R was more comfortable than the VFR800F. I remember getting sore wrists after just 20mins on the bike, and already felt my back getting uncomfortable before the 45min ride home ended. I put this down to the fact that I've been riding CBR500R and FJR1300A for the past while and I need to adapt to the new position. More on how that turns out later!

My first challenge was getting the layer of rubbish off the tyres and scrubbing them down in the turns. Make no underestimation guys, until you've got those tyres scrubbed almost all the way down to the "Chicken Line", do not throw this bike into corners or accelerate hard out of turns. To be fair I wasn't really able to test handling on the first ride back home, but it still didn't disappoint, It felt light, nimble and eager to turn in, flicking back up out of lean with ease. It sounded great too even with my reluctance to open it up fully as it's due a FIRST-SERVICE at 600miles and you really dont want to be pushing it harder until at least 300 MILES according to the dealer. 

The one thing I wanted to clear straight away was when does the VTEC Engine kick in... It's at roughly 6500 REVS and you can feel the bike get an extra surge of power when you hit it, but it's not jerky at all, it's very very smooth and the noise change puts a grin on your face. It's at 6500 and above that it sounds like a true VFR with a lovely grumble and roar when you push it up to 11,000 - 12,000 marker. It's no slouch either, christ does it have tourque! the Front wheel will lift with ease in 1st, 2nd and 3rd from mid-range to screaming and with a pillion on the back, it's even more eager to lift.

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250 - 500 Miles

So I've taken the bike on Motorways, A-Roads, B-Roads, around town, Into London, Rain, Hail, Sun, Fog and all the rest. 

In terms of comfort, my body is finally adapting to the new riding position and things are starting to settle down. Riding 100 miles in one hit feels manageable, albeit there are still a few aches to deal with. Mainly from the Seat, which feels harder than it should and will definitely need a Gel Saddle Cover to make it more bearable on touring. One massive issue is with the Pillion Seat. There is a huge gap between the Rider and Pillion due to the seat design and it does mean the Pillion will often slip forward on braking into the groove left by the gap. The ergonomics of the seat design are shocking, it should come with an option for a lip at the end of the Pillion seat to prevent forward movement and better quality leather cover for more grip. The seat could also do with being much thicker for the more touring minded of us.

The Self-Cancelling indicators are actually dangerous and work so shockingly bad, that I am looking for the wire to snip that disables this feature. On roundabouts, it'll self-cancel when you really really really don't  want it to, mid way through the roundabout. It has a mind of it's own too and will decide sometimes to cancel when you complete a turn and other times not to. It's a total waste of an addition IMHO and I would rather have saved the money from the purchase price of the bike. If it were an option I wouldn't have gone for it.

Performance wise, this bike is awesome... I've been able to open to engine up quite a few times now and it's impressive. Low-Mid-High Tourque is all there when you need it and in the right gear, but it really comes into it's own above 6500 REVS as expected, when the VTEC kicks in and the sound is brilliant. I cant wait to see what an Akrapovic exhaust does to the sound (with baffler removed!) when it's finally available. I've had countless conversations with HONDA about options and the only thing I can get are the Rear Panniers - which I have ordered and are being fitted on Monday (Pictures to come) - the Rear Hugger, Exhaust, Tank Pad, 12v Socket, are not yet priced and are expected Mid-July, I'll be adding all of those options as soon as they are released, I bought this bike as a Sports-Tourer and will make it so :-)

Handling is a dream, quite literally. Honestly this bike can keep up with and out-handle the best of em. It just drops into the turns stays there until you're ready to come back up and gets on with it, slow, fast, even, uneven surface, whatever. I cant tell you enough how brilliant this bike handles, you really have to see for yourself, it's a different league. I suppose it's just the entire package, the engine, the chassis, the wonderfully adjustable suspension with for a 75Kg male is just perfect at stock settings.

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500 - 1000 Miles

So ermmm, I havent put it in for its FIRST SERVICE yet - Doh! I am literally having too much fun with it and are having to take all the discipline in the world to leave it in the garage until it's been through it's first service now. I took it to the hills of Wales with some biker friends (Paramedics, etc..), with following FFR1300A's in tow and boy did we have a great time. The VFR out handled the FJR's on all roads in the Brecons and on the Motorway I was able to keep up with and ride past all the FJR's at ease - dont get me wrong the FJR's had plenty of punch to pull away at higher speeds, but the VFR wasnt left far behind at all, it kept up brilliantly and as we hit the higher speeds the VFR was a hell of a lot more stable.

The wind shielding is great and the design works. The Faring doesn't mean your legs get buffeted out to chicken wing position and I was always well protected from the elements. Whereas the FJR Riders were taking out the UK's population of bugs, I seemed to be the only one (even sat upright) in the group who had a relatively clean and visible visor :-) - Honda have done well with the design of the faring and wind shield, it works and it works great.

We had a fair bit of rain (as usual in Wales), but that didn't stop the VFR from being enjoyable. Stock tyres are clearly very capable in all conditions, and although you take it slower and change your lines to accommodate the wet roads, you could still make progress and the bike never felt twitchy or the ABS never overruled your every throttle response either. The VFR can be ridden smoothly with ease, the throttle doesn't bite and the bike does lurch forward on de-acceleration from throttle, it's all smooth, unless of course you want to be heavy handed and get that highly strung sports bike feel - which I did at times and left the FJR's for dust when the Sun came out.

I am getting around 185 - 200 miles per tank on varied riding, and it is improving, I'm not going to make a call on MPG or L/100km until it's had it's first service, but so far I am a little disappointed at the returns.

The looks are wonderful and at almost every pit stop, I had several come over take pictures, ask about the bike, wanting to jump on it (and most likely ride off quick!) and try it out. the Single side Swing arm, gives it that Italian flair and the Bronze coloured Engine casing and wheels just add to the overall look that makes it sweet! 

We ended up riding back late and let me tell you those headlights turn night into day - every bike needs LED headlights now that I have them on the VFR. The LED"s on the wing mirrors give it a really nice touch, but all in all it simply works and looks bloody awesome too.

I have to say at this point I am now in love with the VFR - I almost sold it at around 250 miles, thinking I've been conned into buying a Sports bike that was pitched as a tourer. A few of my police biker buddies have said it reminds them of their old BlackBird Bikes and is definitely more of a Sports feel than tourer, but all in all they seemed to like the position and of course the looks. I am literally finding every excuse to take it out and will put lots more miles on it.

I'm looking forward to getting the Panniers fitted on Monday and will share the pictures and my experience of how the bike handles when they are fully loaded.

So far my verdict is; if you can get past the initial comfort issues of expecting a true Sports-Tourer and let the bike bed itself it, you'll not be dissapointed. It has some minors and really is not going to be a bike that can currently take your Pillion on long journeys, but it will do the miles (quite clearly!) and you'll have the chance to give it beans when you feel like it and not be afraid of pegging out, or having a wallowly bike in turns that sucks your confidence around twisties, like the larger Sports-Tourers.

1000 Miles (Pre-Service - SEAT LOWERED & REAR SEAT COWL ADDED)

So last night I decided after some good advice on here to adjust the Seat Height to it's lowest setting. You can see pictures in the trail of this post on how it's done, but it's a fairly straight forward process and took around 15mins all in all, being very careful and loosing some tools along the way.

I have to say that the adjustment has transformed the riding position totally. Whereas before you were forward and in a more sports position, the new height means you sit deeper into the chassis, slightly back and therefore instantly have a more comfort sports feel. I took it for a quick ride and had to get used to the new position in terms of turn-in at bends and round-abouts - however town and open road cruising was a much better experience. I've definitely found the position I've been looking for from a VFR, don't see any reason why I would ever go back to the original stock seat position.

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1000 Miles (Post Service - Rear Pannier Set ADDED)

So I just picked it up this morning from the first service, cost was £159.00 (Approx $260.00), not too shabby, but a little more than I had expected. Nonetheless, I am over the moon to have it ready for longer miles and more road-testing, up until it's next service which is 8000miles OR 1 Year, whichever comes first. I took a punt on the Rear Pannier set, rather than the top-box, mainly because I dont want any permanent fixtures on the bike and definitely not a mounting bracket that would quite simply ruin the wonderful lines this bike has been born with. Panniers suit me fine, pop on/pop off and use when needed. OK they do affect lean angle and if you're extra-careful you'll want to balance the weight well, but all in all, it's "Horses for Courses" and these ponies suit my course all day long.

You do notice the extra bulk when sitting on the bike and be aware that there is significant overhang from these panniers, beyond your wing-mirror edges, I'll need to get exact measurements, but it looks at least 1Inch (give or take). Road handling is not really affected. Apart from the noticeable extra kit and the buffeting on the panniers from traffic wind-turbulence on open roads/motorways, the rest is pretty civilised and predictably Honda (great build quality, solid feel). Also note (clearly) because of their size, you've got reduced lean angles before contact with terra-firma....

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I also added a HRC Tank-Pad, which looks great too IMHO :-)

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The next project is the new Michelin Pilot Road 4's, Rear Hugger, Akrapovic Slip-On Exhaust, 12-V DC Outlet and the Quick Shifter, when available next month. For now it's time to get it out on the open road for some serious mileage and all weather conditions testing, including a short trip to the Emerald Isles and maybe even France for a long weekend.

3600 Miles 

Hi All, apologies for the delay on the latest update, I wanted to wait until I had a good run with the bike, in literally as many varied conditions as I could muster and the weather would allow. Suffice to say some of my impressions have changed and so has the bike!

So over the past month and a bit, the bike has been ridden for all purposes, Work, Pleasure, Pleasure with Pillion, Work with Panniers fully loaded and a bag on my back, Dry sunny days, Torrential Rain, slippy roads, lumpy roads, races with a Yamaha R1, emergency braking situations (x3), Traction Control kicking in and some life-saving ABS moments!

HANDLING

First things first - The bike still handles like a dream - quite literally it's one of the most well balanced bikes I've ever ridden, from Yamaha's to Suzuki's to Harleys and the likes. It still handles bends and roundabouts like a dream, and the confidence it gives you in the turns is incredible... so much so I've pegged-out on 3 occasions (not clever I know, but just an example on how a relatively new rider like me can be lulled into a false sense of ability given this bikes exceptional handling and balance).

ENGINE

Second thing and most importantly is that the switch in the VTEC is now very noticeable - for some reason as the bike gets more run in, it's now very clear when you go from 2 to 4... There is a noticeable lurch forward and it is no way near as smooth as it was when in the first 1500 miles... This is such a shame, we'll see what happens at it's 6000mile service.

The sound on the STOCK exhaust has become a great deal more "mature" and sounds sweet now. There is the initial startup tin sound, but after a few minutes it really develops a nice bellowing grumble that it didn't in the first 2000 miles or so. In fact it's so good, that I'm considering not putting any new exhaust on it, I genuinely don't think it's needed... that said I do own a Harley and nothing beats that for sound!

Mine has developed a very concerning slip-out-of-gear issue from 3rd to 4th and it's sporadic, but always during harder acceleration. I've also had instances where the bike display hasnt a clue what gear it's in and just spins the number view, until the engine is restarted... very strange and will be looked at.

BRAKING (ABS & TC)

So this is a part of the bike I've become very familiar with.

ABS works and it works bloody well. I've had instances where cars have pulled out on very uneven and sometimes mud laden roads and I can honestly say, if it weren't for the ABS, I wouldn't be in a position to write this blog! ABS performs flawlessly, even in the wet, it just wont let the bike slide - thank god! Interestingly though is that ABS works even more brilliantly on the back brake... I've had instances on wet roads mainly where my use of the back-brake has been interrupted with pressure back on the brake through my foot, removing pressure applied... Quite clearly I am over-using the back brake (need to sort that out), but also the bike is preventing a rear-wheel skid, which when in the Rain is another God-Send... 

TC - I've tried so very hard to get TC working and it finally happened twice in one week (just recently)... One instance was on a right hand bend at dusk; came in a little hot on a sweeping right-hander, and hit a manhole cover that caused a sideways slide of the bike towards the hedge - I felt it and immediately attempted to feather the throttle to power traction through the rear wheel to get me out of the slight slight - clearly I put in more power than was needed - instantly the bike applied TC, reduced power ( you can clearly feel it ) and when traction was found, away we went - all intact.... Pretty sure this was another example of the bike saving my life, due to my incompetence! You really do have to try very hard in the wet to get TC to kick in, but I had managed it once when hitting surface water and pretty much causing a split-second aqua-plane.. the TC kicked in, traction found and away we went...

ECONOMY & OTHERS

So I haven't touched the MPG calculator since I purchased it and we're showing 46.4MPG average over the life of the bike. I am getting 200 miles to a tank under a mixture of hard and cruise riding and as high as 240 or so when sensible most of the time.

The HeadLights are exceptional at night - they really do light up the road, better than any bike I've owned.. I know there are other good ones out there, but many will be hard pressed to do it as well as the VFR does!

One of the Panniers developed a crack on it's mounting bracket, Honda say it's not their fault, I beg to differ, so that battle continues. Also one of them dont close well, again perhaps another shoddy build issue, that battle also continues.

Pillion reports it's generally comfortable, but on some roads a little teeth chattery - this can be easily fixed on the adjustable suspension and once sorted, it's like riding on a cloud :-)

Some of reported that the display is hard to see in bright sunlight - well I can tell you that is rubbish.. it's fine in all lights and I love the way it changes from a gold background in day, to the blue lit background at night - very nice touch :-)

SUMMARY

All in all a solid, dream bike that is still a dream to ride and that can keep up with the best of them when ridden by someone who is capable enough to get the best out of the bike. I would still buy one now that I've put over 3600 on mine :-)

BIT OF FUN ON A CHARITY RIDE-OUT RECENTLY:

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Thats all for now, no options available yet still waiting - when they are fitted, I'll take pictures and send details!

Cheers

Nobby
 

Thanks for the info. - Keep it coming. 

Is this your 1st VFR ? ?

Any traction control??   If it has TC a report on that would be interesting..

Excellent write up, I an hoping to test ride one around the middle of June.

Sent from my crazy hand held thingy using Tapatalk 2

Nice one....errr....Nobb....or Nibble. :goofy:

The test bike I had averaged 47+ mpg and with only 170 miles on the clock and I did abuse it a little.

Your report confirms my impression of the handling.....even better than my 6th Gen and certainly far better than the 5th Gen, even mine with Ohlins & WP Racing springs. I also mentioned to the salesman that I wanted it overnight so I could see the LEDs at work but I don't think he'll let me.

Glad you are settling down with her....it is a helluva package and yr only experiencing the issues with accessories because you've bought it right at the start.

Whereabouts do you live? We manage a few rideouts with mates from London-way so you'd be most welcome.

Keep the reports coming! :beer:

Almost forgot.....new guy buys the beers (if your bank balance can take the strain after your recent purchase)! :beer:

Here it is, after first ride home from the dealer 2 weeks ago:

TWO WEEKS? It took you this long to get on here and brag?!

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting pictures of that beaut.

Doesn't this make him the first forum member with an 8th gen? 

Doesn't this make him the first forum member with an 8th gen? 

I think you are right...  :cool:     

 -Gotta finagle a test ride somewhere... 

 
 
Doesn't this make him the first forum member with an 8th gen? 
 

 
I think you are right...  :cool:     
 -Gotta finagle a test ride somewhere... 

Since I owe you a big favor I can get you a test ride, long drive however lol.

Sent from my crazy hand held thingy using Tapatalk 2

Nice intro post, NN. :beer:

Welcome to VFRD. You might think handlebar conversion vs bar risers. :happy:

Hi Guys,

Good call on the Traction Control Report (I'll have a play with it next week and look for both Wet and Dry conditions to see how it performs) - I'll get that posted on here ASAP, with some pictures of the roads I've been testing it on.

I feel honoured to be the first 8th Gen owner :-). I've not ever owned a VFR before, but honestly it's reputation precedes it & I am not surprised at why! I picked it up on Sat 17th May - so I'm sure there'll be newer owners out there who haven't yet given us their verdict :-)

SKIDS, I am always up for ride-outs and beers (even if I am buying!)...

I feel like I should lower the bike a little (my parents are from the shire and technically that makes me a Hobbit), but alas no lowering kit available, the joys of jumping in on the new bike scene. 

More to come, when it's through it's first service and I've fitted a nice Go-Pro to share some video's of if on the road :-)

the Front wheel will lift with ease in 1st, 2nd and 3rd from mid-range to screaming

That's a fairly bold statement. 

Thanks for the write up. I am on the fence here. I guess its time to ride one

Have you lowered the seat to its lowest setting? (It may come set to that as standard)

When  you  do your 1000  mile  checkup  can  you  take  some  pic's  of   the  air  box ?

And  thanks  very  much  for  the report  ...

Just found this excellent forum, When doing a search for this new bike and good to get a report from someone who owns one so hello to everyone. Did not even know there was a new vfr coming out till last weekend, but got out on the demo bike and put in a order for a red one with luggage. Told that i would get it in july, was hoping earlier.

Nobbnibble, is that dunlop roadsmarts that are fitted, forgot to look when i road tested it. The bike i tested came with the seat on the highest setting, you need to get the tools out to move brackets if you want to lower it.

Hello,  Hello   must  be  riding  the  crap  out  of  the  new  VFR  or  he  is  having  electrical  problems .

:goofy:

Thanks for the write up. I'm interested to see how you like it after a couple of months. And welcome!

Nobbnibble, is that dunlop roadsmarts that are fitted, forgot to look when i road tested it. The bike i tested came with the seat on the highest setting, you need to get the tools out to move brackets if you want to lower it.

My tester was, so I guess all the UK bikes at least come with them.

Hi Guys,

Will grab the tyre models for y'all later today when back home. Bloody awesome day for a ride out, but alas stuck on shift for the next while! Pretty sure it's Dunlop Roadsmarts - I am changing to Michelin Road Pilot IV next week anyway, I've used them on all my previous bikes and it's in the wet that the Michelins come into their own, worth every penny! I genuinely have noticed the difference between the Dunlop's over the michelins on my old CBR, or maybe I'm just a creature of habit! Also going for a treatment called "puncture Safe" - blue gloop that is put inside the tyre then re inflated so that it binds binds to the compound wall and helps prevent blowouts or stop punctures when tyre is pierced - mate of mine was able to ride home a further 50miles (albeit at reduced speeds) when he had a nail go right through his bike tyre! Cheap to do too..


I didn't check the seat height - my bad, completely forgot about the fact that I have an adjustable seat! Mechanical credibility destroyed in one post :-)

Will get that picture of the air box for you at he service on Monday :-)

Need to see what other options there are for exhausts out there - getting impatient!

Cheers

Nobby

Are you sure about the tyre "goop"? Blowouts are very infrequent and tyres usually reduce in pressure slowly. When I go away I carry a proper puncture repair kit & a portable inflator powered from my bikes power socket. Those kind of repairs have been known to last the life of the tyre whereas I've heard mixed reports about "goop"-type products.

Just a thought.

I may well fit PR4s next after spending the winter on PR3s.

VFR800F - POST SEAT LOWERING:

Well, well ,well, well...... What a HELL of a difference simply lowering the seat has made! Incredibly so, it's a bloody different bike altogether!

So I looked through the manual as directed and removed the front and rear seats:

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You can see the higher setting from the picture above. Here is how much lower the brackets are afterwards:

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It also exposes more of the tank (obviously) - What is strange is that they decided to have a sheet panel over the tank, which is exposed now that the seat is lowered - interesting, I am not an engineer, so I dont know why this is like it is, I dont understand why they didnt account for those who would want to lower the seat ,and make the tank so that this doesnt show in the lowest position (no biggie really, just a thought!)

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So, I took it out for a ride and OMG! It has instantly become a SPORTS-TOURER, but still slightly more on the sportier side, If I could drop the pegs a little, it'd be more Tourer than sports, but when I took it out for a ride, it was a new experience. Clearly you sit deeper into the seat and lower on the bike, but this has the net effect of changing your position significantly enough to bring you back down and into a more touring position. On the road it was a great deal more touring feel, and in my opinion more comfortable by a long way. Definitely consider making this adjustment if you feel it's too sporty in position for you, but watch out as the pegs will mean your knee's rise higher, for me it's not enough to be a concern, but I am sure taller people (5ft 10inch and higher perhaps) will feel the difference when the knee's come up, in an already very knee high, feet back position.

Whilst I was at it, I decided to add the Rear Seat Cowl, and I have to say it looks SMART! really SMART!

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Cheers

Nobby

Intriguing my 6th Gen has 70,000 miles still impresses me riding it today

Are you sure about the tyre "goop"? Blowouts are very infrequent and tyres usually reduce in pressure slowly. When I go away I carry a proper puncture repair kit & a portable inflator powered from my bikes power socket. Those kind of repairs have been known to last the life of the tyre whereas I've heard mixed reports about "goop"-type products.
 
Just a thought.
 
I may well fit PR4s next after spending the winter on PR3s.

Angels are awesome

Hi Guys,

Will grab the tyre models for y'all later today when back home. Bloody awesome day for a ride out, but alas stuck on shift for the next while! Pretty sure it's Dunlop Roadsmarts - I am changing to Michelin Road Pilot IV next week anyway, I've used them on all my previous bikes and it's in the wet that the Michelins come into their own, worth every penny! I genuinely have noticed the difference between the Dunlop's over the michelins on my old CBR, or maybe I'm just a creature of habit! Also going for a treatment called "puncture Safe" - blue gloop that is put inside the tyre then re inflated so that it binds binds to the compound wall and helps prevent blowouts or stop punctures when tyre is pierced - mate of mine was able to ride home a further 50miles (albeit at reduced speeds) when he had a nail go right through his bike tyre! Cheap to do too..


I didn't check the seat height - my bad, completely forgot about the fact that I have an adjustable seat! Mechanical credibility destroyed in one post :-)

Will get that picture of the air box for you at he service on Monday :-)

Need to see what other options there are for exhausts out there - getting impatient!

Cheers

Nobby

THANKS,  curios  as  to  how  it  has  changed ..

Hi mate,

Did the seat cowl come with the bike or was it an extra?

The clear sheet on the tank would be to protect the tank so that you dont see scuff marks if you lower the seat. Its little details like that that make VFRs such a great bikes IMO, Honda's attention to detail.

I am getting anxious about their appearance in Oz, it shouldn be soon..

Seat cowl was included which is great - normally a costed option!

Hi Guys,

Will grab the tyre models for y'all later today when back home. Bloody awesome day for a ride out, but alas stuck on shift for the next while! Pretty sure it's Dunlop Roadsmarts - I am changing to Michelin Road Pilot IV next week anyway, I've used them on all my previous bikes and it's in the wet that the Michelins come into their own, worth every penny! I genuinely have noticed the difference between the Dunlop's over the michelins on my old CBR, or maybe I'm just a creature of habit! Also going for a treatment called "puncture Safe" - blue gloop that is put inside the tyre then re inflated so that it binds binds to the compound wall and helps prevent blowouts or stop punctures when tyre is pierced - mate of mine was able to ride home a further 50miles (albeit at reduced speeds) when he had a nail go right through his bike tyre! Cheap to do too..


I didn't check the seat height - my bad, completely forgot about the fact that I have an adjustable seat! Mechanical credibility destroyed in one post :-)

Will get that picture of the air box for you at he service on Monday :-)

Need to see what other options there are for exhausts out there - getting impatient!

Cheers

Nobby

THANKS,  curios  as  to  how  it  has  changed ..

Yep - Dunlop SportMax Front and Rear - No change if I suppose its works well in the past!

Hi All,

So update (I'll add a general one to the original post and keep the detail here) since I've just done the bikes first service, at a cost of  £159.00 and had rear pannier set fitted.

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Personally I think it looks rather smart, with the rear seat cowl intact. I fear that with the TopBox it'll ruin the lines a great deal, given that a mounting bracket needs to be fitted. Very well weighted as standard and the mechanism works great, typical Honda quality, no cheap feel especially not for the cost £673.00 including fitting and the Queens VAT! Hop on the bike and you can instantly tell you've got something sticking out at the sides and that your lean angle is now reduced - this is a good thing, you wouldn't want panniers or side-bags that make you feel otherwise. 

They definitely overhang the side of the wing-mirrors, which again is a shame, because these are your radars when filtering, so now you need to be aware of approx 1inch or so (i'll need to give exact measurements soon) overhang, or else you'll be on your side in no time and in a lot of trouble! See below:

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On the road, you only notice the difference with turbulence bouncing off the traffic and buffeting on the panniers behind you. The change is small, but you do feel the bike (strangely enough) pulling through the atmosphere more than you do without them. Getting off now means you tend to strike the Right Pannier with the foot a few times, but with practice you'll get used to them being there and will adjust your dismounting to compensate. Apart from that it's business as usual behind the bars and the bike still goes bloody fast and handles incredibly well.

In terms of overall space, these bad-boys are big. I have 3 of these on my Ambulance Bike and the 2 on the Honda would most likely fit all of the Paramedic kit from the 3 on the FJR, give or take a few litres of space. See below:

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The real disappointment however is that they are pretty low and do hide most of all that fantastic work on the Single-Side Swing-Arm, Bronze Wheels and Exhaust, which will be even more of a shame when I upgrade it to an Akrapovic. You can see that the right pannier has the required protection from exhaust heat added, and it's barely noticeable on the pannier set - so a very good job again by Honda:

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So now it's a case of getting it out on the road, with and without these panniers, see what I can do to tempt Traction Control into play and give feedback on how it copes with the miles and varying weather conditions that only England can bring in the changeable summer days!

Cheers

Nobby1

Man, those things are huge! They remind me of the 5th gen Beetle Bags with that leg cutout on each of them. Very nice looking. 

Wow, you can do a house move with them. I have ordered panniers and the topbox, but these will only be needed when the wife travels with me. Do you know if the topbox carrier is mounted by removing the pillion hand holds!! Still looking good, the more photos you take the more excited i get.

Wow, those are big! I have the Honda ones on my Vtec and they're nowhere near that wide.

Beware high speed with those buggers sticking out......I started to lose directional control at 126mph. And yes, I was on a German autobahn!

Totally agree - I was really surprised at the size (story of my life).... That said, it means I most likely wont need a TopBox from a space perspective now - which will save a great deal of money.

Apart from that, every other feasible option will be added :-)

I've been focused on other things and didn't spot this thread until now, but i did a quick comparison of the foot peg arrangements on the parts diagrams between 6th and 8th gen VFRs and it appears that the pegs are very similar if not identical.  However, Honda did assign different part numbers.  This may mean that peg lowering tricks for the 6th gen may apply to your bike.  I didn't see Busy Little Shop chime in. But I suspect you do have options.  The Buell Uly pegs that I have on my 6th gen are still available in the market even though HD did kill off the Buell brand.

WTH   there  huge    ...

does a helmet fit in the panniers?

does a helmet fit in the panniers?

Do 2 helmets fit in each pannier?

Hi All,
 

Sorry for the delay.

EPIC FAIL, that the Panniers don't fit a helmet - I've tried a SHARK, BOX, SHOEI and SCHUBERTH - None fit! 

Which is nuts, given how big they appear!

Nobby!

Did you try both panniers? They look just like ones on my 1200 and one side will fit my Schuberth but not the other. They look the same on outside but slightly different shape on inside.


Sent from my cerebellum using Tapatalk

Hi All,
 
Sorry for the delay.

EPIC FAIL, that the Panniers don't fit a helmet - I've tried a SHARK, BOX, SHOEI and SCHUBERTH - None fit! 
 
Which is nuts, given how big they appear!

Nobby!

Contemplating buying one of these VFR's and found this thread - fantastic!! I've been reading loads of reviews, and have to say found this the most informative of them all!!

I'm amazed that a helmet doesn't fit though!! Was really hoping it would so one could avoid putting the unsightly top box mount on the back!!

Thanks for taking the time to do the write up, and post the pictures, really interesting.

Have you thought about having the bar risers fitted?

[image: post-30411-0-93315700-1401720743.jpg]

Over all  the  8th  gen  is  narrower  so  the  bags  had  to  be  narrower ,  I   get   it   ... 

My dealer told me the panniers and topbox was the same as fitted to the vfr1200.

Hi all,

Sorry correction!

My Schuberth does for when packed like this:

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I'll try the others again and be a little more inventive on how it's packed.

All in all good news :-)

Nobby
Also thought you might like this picture:

Old and New VFR :-)

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Hi all.

Interesting thing about seat height. Today I had a test ride. I have 177cm. When I first sat on it I thought that I fell in a hole and my knees were very bended. After I have made a stop and adjusted the seat height and it was better. Since I had a limited time and without any manual I have risen the seat only at the "back". Is there an option to rise also at the front?

However ... the bike drives like a poem.....much much better than 6th gen. Till now I was sure to buy a Triumph Street Triple but now I am completely confused.

Please explain how it drives "much better than a 6th gen." I need to hear more. I love my 6th gen, it handles great has over 70,000 miles and runs strong, but I really like the looks of this 8th gen. I would appreciate details on the handling comparison.

I have tried the bike on highway (around 30km), town (15km) and mountain roads (60km).  On the highway I can not say that I have noticed much difference, maybe the bike felt a bit faster. Also I think LED lights make car drivers to notice you faster. I town the higher torque is very noticable...also the engine is more responsive (I have LeoVinces on my 6th gen). Since seat height was not proper for me I did not feel as comfortable as on 6th gen. In the mountains I could notice that bike is more nimble ... specially in slow corners. Also I think that engine is more willing to rev. In slow corners I have also noticed that if you turn off TC small slides are possible on behalf of better torque.

If I sum it up I think that the biggest difference towards 6th gen is engine low-middle torque, smothness and suspension. The suspension absorbs small bumps like butter. In the mountain road there is a corner with smal bumps and cracked asphalt. I usually drive through it with cca. 130 and 6th gen is shaking quite a bit... on 8th gen I drove the corner 140 with ease almost without shaking.

The brakes are also good. I did not miss combined system...but I must say that also there were no special situations.

The only add-on which I would definitely buy is Akrapovic exhaust because bike is very very quiet and i think more V4 soud would be very very nice.

P.S. I apologize for my bad English language.

Please explain how it drives "much better than a 6th gen." I need to hear more. I love my 6th gen, it handles great has over 70,000 miles and runs strong, but I really like the looks of this 8th gen. I would appreciate details on the handling comparison.

My guess is that it is 25ish pounds lighter, and you would notice that in the handling department. 

Let me tell you as a new VFR800FD owner, its amazing to ride, it pulls in any gear, at any almost any speed. The engine sound is very nice, its exhaust is quiet until you open it up some. It goes over bumps, and holes so smoothly, it feels like its almost the same weight as my old cbr600 F4 when your riding, but far better, yet at a stand still it doesnt feel that much heavier really, no way does it feel anything close to 100 lbs more, heck it feels like a few lbs. An old friends ZX-9R (sold it years ago) felt bigger, heavier, and  bus-like in comparison to this VFR.

Oops back to this, I just got back from another ride on it, this time at night, those LED headlights are amazing, wow do they light up the road, and everything around it.

Years ago I thought I should have gotten the VFR and not the CBR, but Im glad I got this one.

Here are my opinions, I have previously owned a 5th gen, 2 X 6th gens and now also own a mint 4th gen

Honda have done a lot of work on the vtec engine in this version. Gone is any hint of hunting, surging or snatchiness that I had with my old one when it was in stock form, I can find no fault at all in the fueling.
Not only that, they seem to have changed the throttle contour (if that is the right term).
By that I mean it has the feel of a carby bike like my 750 in that you need to move the throttle more than I recall from my old 6th gen to get the same result, which results in much smoother driveability, especially on a bumpy road.
But having said that, the throttle response is very lively and the motor spins up real fast, and although I have only done 250 Kms there is no apparent feeling of tightness at all.
60Kph in 6th gear doesn't bother the engine at all.
I think there may be marginally more torque 3500-6500Rpms than the previous vtec but its hard to say.
The engine is super smooth and makes my 750 feel agricultural by comparison in terms of vibration (character, I hear you say)
The suspension feels good to me, very sportsbike like in terms of firmness and damping, some people may find it overdamped if they are expecting a plush ride, but the handling is good with quick direction changes made easy and it holds a good line when gunning it in bends, although today I didn't feel confident in the fitted tires when there was a lot of green moss on the road in the shadows of trees etc so I didnt push my luck with that. I felt that it was impossible to get enough heat into the tyres in that situation. It is winter here.
The instruments are good with a bewildering array of functions, but access to the buttons is awkward on the move, I havent found any sun glare problems at all.
The front brake is awesome and it is so nice to be able to come into a corner under both brakes then feather off the front leaving the rear to trail without the interruption of linked brakes standing the bike up.

The finish on the bike is excellent, the red paint has a real depth to it. The only thing I would change is the pannier brackest are a tad on the ugly side and it doesn't look like they can be easily removed.

The handling and flexibility of this bike really click and it quickly sucks you into "naughty" behaviour on a nice twisty road, I really love this bike.

Pity the gold colour of the wheels is not lighter as the wheels are lovely but easily overlooked in their current colour.

Great write up. Thank for share.

I am still wonder why Honda keeps the bike normally much more heavier than the other brands.

However ... the bike drives like a poem.....much much better than 6th gen. Till now I was sure to buy a Triumph Street Triple but now I am completely confused.

I like that! It rides like a poem...

I agree it rides like a poem

I do like to ride my VFR

It's so much better than being in a car

The seat is so comfy that you can ride quiet far

The new gen. 8 is really a star. .....lol

Like Marvin the robot said:

"Oh god I'm so depressed."

Its probably a red herring but maybe put the noise killer back in for a while and see if it has any impact on the change in smoothness of vtec change over--if your as curious as me that is :)  
 
I am curious because several people on the forum have noticed that there was very smooth changeover at first and then later not as much. One person (OP-Nobby) also said his stock exhaust became much more of a growl over time and I'm wondering if maybe it is an exhaust restriction/tuning thing.  But I am no engine expert by any means.
 
Any feedback from people with Akra slip-ons regarding change in smoothness of vtec?

No issue here, 6000 miles since August, 4500 with the Akra.

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Thanks = appreciate it.

Nice mountains by the way :)