Popularity Of Vfr's

When I visited London, it seemed like I saw VFR's everywhere.  It jumped out at me, as after all they're a fairly rare sight for me around home and when people ask me about mine they usually either say "What is that?" or "Is that a Ducati?"  I thought it would be interesting to compare the number of bikes for sale in the US and Great Britain - maybe it would give some indication of their relative popularity.  So I searched for bikes for sale on ebay in the U.S. (both "VFR" and "Interceptor") and did the same on the Great Britain ebay site.  I expected there to be a difference, but it seems quite large:

VFR's of all gens for sale ebay US:    9

VFR's of all gens for sale ebay G.B.:  360

Wikipedia lists the population of the US as 320 mil and G.B at 60 mil.  That would make 1 VFR for sale for every 166,667 persons in G.B., and 1 for sale for every 35.55 mil persons in the US.  If that reflects ownership, the VFR is roughly owned 213 times more per capita in G.B. than the US.  Not a scientific sample or conclusive for sure, but interesting.   Put another way, if the same ratio of bikes were for sale in the US, there would be roughly 1,920.  If only!  I'd be a kid in a candy store - my MBD would be out of control . . .   :wacko:    If ownership in the US were like that, imagine what the VFR meets would be like.   VFRD would come in and take over a whole town for the week! 

While looking at the G.B. site, I noticed there were a number of the 50th anniversary models that were produced in 1999 available, some in extremely good condition.  If it weren't so darn expensive to import one, I'd love to own one of those. 

I think not many people in the US know what it is. I was actually surprised when a classmate of mine knew of them. He's actually been looking for one, but doesn't have a lot of play money to spend on one.

I wonder how Gixxers compare...

I'll bet if you compared the number of hogs in US verse GB it would be a much different story.

I chuckle when peeps ask what is it? Italian? Ducati? Nope it's the gentleman's CBR  :tongue2:

This website shows the number of taxed and SORN vehicles in the UK,

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/

Search for statistics about every make and model of vehicle registered in Great Britain. Data comes directly from the Department for Transport, and is regularly updated.

Honda VFR's as follows:

https://www.howmanyl...✓&q=honda vfr

My 2003 non ABS one of these:

https://www.howmanyl...honda_vfr_800-3

On one of the largest German (like the UK also a population of about 60mil) motorcycle ad sites:
VFR1200: 141
VFR800 : 194
VFR750 : 46
VFR400 : 6

Makes 387 in total.

Netherlands (population of 18mil, so a little less than the state of New York)
VFR1200: 60
VFR800 : 89
VFR750 : 40
VFR400 : 1

Total 190 of which about 40% are red :biggrin:
[image: gallery_5310_933_539581.jpg]

There's a lot of Vfr's in Ireland too, even where I'm from in the northwest,which is a fairly rural area, I know probably around 10 people who have Vfr's.

I'd imagine the big market in the States is for cruisers and Harleys.

If you look at the big picture, I think you will find that in most countries  motorcycles are very commonly used as daily transportation. This is generally not true in the USA. In the USA, you have a lot more pure "pleasure" bikes like chromed-out Harley garage queens and super high-performance sportbikes (race bikes?) which are impractical to use as a commuter.  The VFR is one of those bikes that due to a number of attributes is a true all-arounder which is good for everyday commuting and weekend sporting fun too. That all-around nature makes it popular in the rest of the world but not "look at me" enough to attract USA buyers. 

Where i live in Worcester UK pop 99500 i have seen two VFRs both in red since last June. Its a lonely life!

Here in the Houston area I hear this 95% of the time: That's a beautiful bike. What is it?

I've been riding over 2 years now, and I have never seen another 5th gen. I've seen one 6th, but when I bought my 5th, I had never sat on a 5th or 6th. I'd sat on a 7th and an 8th, but to this day, I've never seen another 5th gen in the flesh. Boo, SC, boo.

I've been riding over 2 years now, and I have never seen another 5th gen. I've seen one 6th, but when I bought my 5th, I had never sat on a 5th or 6th. I'd sat on a 7th and an 8th, but to this day, I've never seen another 5th gen in the flesh. Boo, SC, boo.

Maybe you just need to head towards Chucktown? I know of at least 2 sixth gens there (they are both on here). Not sure about Columbia but there has to be more than three in SC!

Maybe you just need to head towards Chucktown? I know of at least 2 sixth gens there (they are both on here). Not sure about Columbia but there has to be more than three in SC!

Might need to. The list of bikes in my area is like 98% cruiser, with the only non cruisers being blinged Busa's. My friends and I tend to be the exception, we make quite the misfit group: myself on the 84 Nighthawk 700S or the VFR, a friend on a KLR650, a friend on a KTM 690 Supermoto, my cousin on either his 94 Magna, his custom 80 GL1100, or RIP, his ex 2013 CB1100 (stupid deer).

If you look at the big picture, I think you will find that in most countries  motorcycles are very commonly used as daily transportation. This is generally not true in the USA.

In support of this, after some digging it would seem that there are something like 32M or .5 motorcycles per resident in the UK. Conversely, the US has only 9M or .03 motorcycles per resident - that is a huge difference. These are by no means 100% accurate as I had to eye ball some lists to come up with the numbers, but they give a good indication as to why there are more motorcycles for sale on eBay in general.

Add to this the motorcycle's intended use and the VFR stat would be skewed even further. Another bike that suffers this is/was the FZ6. Hugely popular in Europe and not at all in the US.

... of course this armchair analysis all provided by a Canadian :).

Good luck trying to find a garage queen over there.  Those Brits and Europeans ride their bikes!

in my experience, there are a lot more of them for sale on craigslist than ebay in the US

On one of the largest German (like the UK also a population of about 60mil) motorcycle ad sites:
VFR1200: 141
VFR800 : 194
VFR750 : 46
VFR400 : 6

Makes 387 in total.

Netherlands (population of 18mil, so a little less than the state of New York)
VFR1200: 60
VFR800 : 89
VFR750 : 40
VFR400 : 1

Total 190 of which about 40% are red :biggrin:
[image: gallery_5310_933_539581.jpg]

Where is this ? I'm coming volgende keer!

That was taken during a lunch break at Lauwershaven. The Dutch VFR owners club has a ride every month from march to november. When the weather is good about 70-80 VFRs attend the ride, when it is pissing with rain maybe 25.

Wow!  I sure wish we had regular gatherings like that around here! 

adeyren; others:

I live very near Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.  A city of 182K souls. If it were not for Tom, www.tomscyclerecycling.com  there would be no VFR's and a bare few Honda motorcycles in town.  With few exceptions It's very difficult to draw motorcyclists to a social event, even a race of any sort.  We have the population. We don't have the interest..  As someone mentioned earlier;  In the US it's about recreation; and choosing which toy for today.  The comparison is starling. A kind of I told you so.  In the past I spent a lot of time in Europe.

We lost a wonderful gathering place, (Thursday evenings only), a few years back.  20-40 bikes with decent weather.  Great weather would bring out more than 100.  One night there were 2 VFR's!  Many Italian bikes, but few other European or Japanese bikes.  R3~