Third time's a charm, they say, so after booking and then cancelling two earlier test rides due to weather and then a bloody summer cold, I was finally able to ride the new VFR. Which I will heretofore refer to as "the new VTEC", because that's what it is. I don't mean that in a derogatory way at all. The old VTEC is a good bike, and so is the new VTEC. Just a bit updated, and of course, new. I think the 8th-gen is to the 6th-gen as the 4th-gen was to the 3rd-gen, IYKWIM.
I only got about 30min on the bike before the heavens opened, but it was enough to get a feel for the bike. I managed to video myself popping the seat, looking around the bike and measuring the mirrors and stuff--and the wet half of the ride, but I also took some pics:
[image: post-362-0-66457200-1402142796.jpg]
[image: post-362-0-55203600-1402142798.jpg]
[image: post-362-0-02622300-1402142800.jpg]
[image: post-362-0-56289900-1402142801.jpg]
[image: post-362-0-05816500-1402142803.jpg]
The new turn signal/horn button arrangement was very annoying. Why did they have to swap their positions around? Mirrors were okay, but still showed a lot of elbows. I thought that the VTEC transition was mostly noticeable from the change in noise output! Good thing it didn't have an aftermarket end can, or I would have been dancing in anti-social territory the whole ride, making it go PFFFFFOOOOOOAAAAAAAHHHHH!
In Europe we don't get a stripped-down model like you do in the 'States, so this one had ABS, traction control, HISS, centre stand, etc. The key was new (to me--maybe the 7th-gen already has this new type of key?)
Anyway, I think this bike will appeal to anyone who wants a VTEC and doesn't have one, as well to current VTEC owners who like to have the latest and trickest. I would probably not buy one, but mainly because I would currently prefer to get another 5th-gen, for London, this time in lovely blue...
Ciao,