Quite out of the blue I got a loaner 8th gen this morning. My CRF was in for a service and I was supposed to get a Hornet but they couldn't find the keys blah blah so the demo 2014 VFR800 it was.
I wasn't complaining.
Before I go any further and anyone gets upset...This is a Very Good Bike Indeed. I was sceptical and given the fairly muted reception in the press, I wasn't expecting to be blown away. First thing you notice is that this bike really looks so much better in the metal. It oozes quality too - typical Honda. Deep paint (red on this one), nice choice of materials e.g. top yoke and engine casings and just looks very classy and understated. Photos all manage to undersell it.
Riding position is very familiar but it's noticeably narrower than a 5th Gen and feels better in traffic when lane splitting (or filtering as we call it). My guess is my knees are a bit more bent but the bars feel a tad higher and further away. Seat really comfy for me. (I checked the dimensions on http://cycle-ergo.com/ and my hunch was right plus the seat is lower |). That's not great for me and I'm not sure how I'd get on with it on a longer trip. If you find the 5th Gen a bit too high or roomy then this may be perfect for you...
Feels very stable on the move and the suspension is great - fully adjustable forks and rear damper has remote adjuster - but even out of the crate it felt good ad I didn't fiiddle with it. Very plush ride, compliant without being too soft. Tyres fitted were Dunlop Sportmax and they were very stable, grippy with neutral turn in. My 5th Gen with PR4s turns in quicker I think.
The bike is fitted with traction control - I didn't have any chance to test that but it can be switched off via a very clumsy looking switch that looks like an afterthought, which is the only fly in the switchgear ointment. Like the dash and having a gear shift indicator is welcome. Also trip computer including mpg is handy - although numbers are a bit small. I think in bright sunlight it'd be hard to read too. Like the integrated heated grips - they get warm, they heat up your hands. Tick.
Gearshift is superslick and the clutch pretty light. 5th gen feels a bit more workmanlike in comparison. Brakes are very strong and really inspire confidence. Headlights are amazing and I like the rear lamp cluster too. Auto cancel turn indicators are sort of useful but I'm not sure I trust them to stay on when I need them to be on...so I don't want them..
So what about the engine? I've never ridden a VTEC VFR before but it has plenty of grunt. The 'step' is there but it's more of a 'lip' than anything. You can notice it but it's fairly unobtrusive. Engine sounds good - even with standard can - it's still quite rorty and characterful. However, to my ears and my in-built dyno my 5th gen feels quicker and more exciting - no matter what the facts say on paper. One big area the new bike is improved though is low down torque - it's really tractable and that's handy in low speed corners and at traffic speeds. Where my 5th gen gets a bit boggy and grumbly below 4k in higher gears this new bike just grunts and gets on with it. 6th gear roll ons no problem. You'd be forgiven for thinking it was a de-tuned litre bike.
It has a very curious idle - really high at 2k. I asked dealer and he said it was designed like that. Not sure why.
So overall, it's still familiar, loveable, do-it-all brilliant VFR but refined and improved and much more modern and better in every way.
Which is why I probably won't buy one.
I think I like the 5th gen's old schoolness. I like the fact I can kid myself it's a close relative of an RC45 and it's a bit more rough and ready. This may sound bizarre but it feels almost handbuilt and more special to me. From a golden age of Honda.
Lovely bike but it doesn't replace my 5th gen. Yet.