Tempted to buy

[Stately]

New VFR

I'm told that the valve clearance service every 12,000 miles can cost upwards of £600

I really like this bike, but if this is true, I'd be looking at having that service done every year as I normally cover between 10,000 - 15,000 miles a year.

Apparently this is a very tough DIY job, and even trained mechanics find it a hard job.

Anyone here own one of these ?

If do how much have you paid for the shim service.

[deej]

surely as a true biker you should be able to shim it yourself

[Stately]

surely as a true biker you should be able to shim it yourself

On every bike I've owned, I have, with the exception of a ZZR which had shims under bucket, I've been able to do the shim service without problems, but have you seen the layout of the Honda V-Tech engine

Apparently, it's a nightmare job even for a trained Honda mechanic.

[ZXR400Lee]

I had a brand new Honda VFR..

2008 '58' from GT Motorcycles, owned it for 28 days exactly... then I got hit in the visor by a large bird (one with wings and feathers) then hit by a car, then hit a wall.. the rest is history..

Pre-accident, I didnt really think much of it.. VTEC is the most annoying thing in the world and ruins the ride I think, you either tinker along slowly, or all hell breaks loose above the VTEC point.. there is no middle ground.. and can make things a little twitchy in corners, the only thing I can compare it to really is that its like having a turbo on your bike.

If the VFR has a non-VTEC I would be singing all its praises as it handles fantastic, looks fantastic, and the V4 sounds awesome.. too bad I had my accident as I'd planned to do a huge trip to Monte Carlo this summer.. instead I got very hurt and seriously out of pocket!

[Stately]

I had a brand new Honda VFR..

2008 '58' from GT Motorcycles, owned it for 28 days exactly... then I got hit in the visor by a large bird (one with wings and feathers) then hit by a car, then hit a wall.. the rest is history..

A similar thing happened to me some time ago.

I was riding along at about 60mph on a straight deserted country road, when a pheasant jumped out of the hedge into my lap.

I've had my share of underpants soiling moments on a bike, but that was the worst.

I managed to stay on, but only just.

I would never have believed such a small creature could cause such havoc.

Ref. VFR

You're not the firse person I've heard say those things about the it.

I'll need to ride one first, but can't find anywhere with a demo.

[jason]

I had a Vtec vfr800 given to me for a few days as a courtesy bike a few years ago (my K1 GSXr 750 of the time was having warranty work done), it had 10 miles on the clock when I picked it up...I used it for a weekend away to brands hatch WSB.

on the plus side it is fantastically comfy for motorway miles, and in black it looks good.

On the minus side it might have the tag sports tourer, but the sports part of that equation is dissapointingly minimal. It feels surprisingly slow and underpowered and has a very honda'ish engine (i.e bland), despite the VTEc gimmick , its also oil tanker big and although it carries its weight quite well its easy to feel the bikes limits the minute you start to go through twisty bits at anything other than a fairly sedate pace.

I guess its all relative to what your used to and what you want out of a bike, but a very underwhelming bike I thought. I was trying think of what I would use one for if I had one, ironically I think sportsbikes make better touring bikes than the sports tourers, and its overkill for commuting, and its a bit to boring and limited for a sunday blast bike...the problem with trying to be a jack of all trades is that you inevitatbly end up a master of none.

[Stately]

ironically I think sportsbikes make better touring bikes than the sports tourers,

I'm inclined to agree, unless you want to do a lot of two up miles with luggage etc.

That's what exposes the limitations of sports bikes in the touring context.

I just want a good long distance tourer without resorting a Plod Pan

[jason]

yeh I wasnt thinking about two up thats a good point, and your right that necessitates something else,( unless you want to be particularly cruel to your pillion )

[Cheese Monkey]

Piece o crap

[Stately]

Piece o crap

Could you elaborate on that.

Cheers

[Cheese Monkey]

Yup, honda. Nuff said

[Daresay]

ironically I think sportsbikes make better touring bikes than the sports tourers,

Don't get that. Surely a sports tourer is more comfortable.

Don't you get wrist,back & leg ache on a sportsbike after a couple hundred miles? I've never rode a sportsbike but i know people who have and they do complain about this over a distance.

[Stately]

Don't you get wrist,back & leg ache on a sportsbike after a couple hundred miles? I've never rode a sportsbike but i know people who have and they do complain about this over a distance.

Oh I dunno.

Nick Saunders seemed to managed a record breaking run around the world on an R1.

[greg]

Don't you get wrist,back & leg ache on a sportsbike after a couple hundred miles? I've never rode a sportsbike but i know people who have and they do complain about this over a distance.

Oh I dunno.

Nick Saunders seemed to managed a record breaking run around the world on an R1.

Nick Saunders is quite short, which helps. But it also depends on the bike. I am 6'2'' and find sportsbikes ok over distance because the wind tends to hold you up at speed. Bloody murder after 20 mins around town or in slow traffic.

[greg]

That should read Nick Sanders.