VFR750 - RELEVANT OR RELIC?
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- Опубліковано 13 жов 2024
- In a world of new generation sports tourers is the VFR still relevant and can it match up to the new breed? Here I compare the almost 30 years old VFR to my new Moto Guzzi V100.
Linked videos.
300 miles on an old VFR - crazy?
• 300 miles on an old VF...
Moto Guzzi V100 - 1000 miles review
• Moto Guzzi V100 - 1000...
Thanks for this. I've had my 94 VFR for some 15 years and haven't ridden contemporary bikes. The heavy front end made tight low speed turns hard work until Michelin Road 6's were fitted which transformed it. There's a couple of things stopping me from getting a more modern bike namely its awesome reliability, I've done over 230,000k on mine with minimal failures. The rectifier was upgraded in 1995 which was the same time the valves were last inspected. Next is that gorgeous engine, there's nothing like it and the sound of those gear-driven cams.
Hi Marc 230k is some going. The reg/rec on mine is a replacement upgrade and (I'm tempting fate) has been totally reliable 🤞.
A very good bike.
They still stand up well against all bikes.
I had this bike some years ago, did about 30.000km on it. Loved it. The looks, the speed, the handling. But. I got pain in my wrists more and more, and also my neck more and more because of needing to keep my head up to be able to look ahead. As I did more and more B roads I sold it. Sorry to let it go. ( I then bought a Varadero 1000, and now I have a brand new V Strom 650).
I know where you're coming from! That's the great thing about the V100, an excellent fairly upright riding position.
Best bike ever! Bought a RC36-2 last year. Was a personal recovery project . Its almost new now!
That's great to hear Jonas!
A fair review IMO (I've got a '96 750 too). You're never going to get ABS or fancy electronic gizmos on one of these bikes (or any bike of its era), but you can sort out suspension and brakes quite readily. CBR600 F4i forks can be fitted, or you can go a bit further and fit USD forks (some have radial brake calipers) at the front: combined with a decent aftermarket rear shock, it transforms the way the bike handles twisty roads. As to safety aids, it's got only one - the rider. You have to think about what you're doing, all the time, which is no bad thing IMO.
Thanks. Yes the old bikes make you a better rider ...no safety nets.
I love my 95 VFR750 and I even find it a bit more nimble that a 2000 SV650 I owned concurrently. However, I don't think it's fair to criticize the VFR for being down on power and midrange in comparison to the V100. After all, the V100 has a 1042cc engine compared to the VFR's 748cc. Obviously the V100 is going to have more grunt. It might have been more relevant comparing the V100 to a VTR1000. I do wish my VFR had a gear position indicator though...hell, the 1984 Nighthawk S 750 had one.
Nice comparison, the huge difference in price between both motorcycles is an important point, in The Netherlands you can buy a good VFR 750/800Fi for 1500-2500 euros, a new Moto Guzzi V100 is +/- 20 times more expensive.
I also bought my VFR 750 1995 in the spring of 2020 for 1550 euros with +/- 91,000 km. The only problem since then was a worn battery and a broken gear recovery spring, easily solved with an external spring.
With my height of 1.88 cm and 2 cm handlebar risers (Moto-cnc) I sit almost upright on the VFR, the brakes work very well and 2 Pirelli's Diablo Rosso 2 (rear 170) did wonders for maneuverability and stability, greetings from Terneuzen.
Thanks Hans. We paid roughly equivalent amounts for our bikes!
Its only a sports tourer if you decide to ride it like that. Its an animal in the right hands. Ive got a gsxr1000k4 and this bike gets me into more trouble at the traffic lights grand prix
Yes sport touring bikes have evolved a more relaxed position but I don't want that. At 41 years old I love my vfr because it's much more of a sport bike without needing to be 20 to ride it long distance.
Love my vfr750 91.So under priced in the second hand market.
I just purchased a 91 vfr750 last week. I haven't ridden a bike in nearly 40 years so it was a bit of a challenge at first, but I love the bike. Tight and well maintained it cost me $2000 Canadian. I wanted a classic looking standard like a Bonneville or a V7, but they were all 3000 more, so I'll be happy with my VFR. Cheers
I have a 1992 CBR 1000F. It goes like a rocket!
I had an original CBR1000F in 1987 in gunmetal colour. Mighty fast bike.
That was my bike before the VFR750 (and before that an XT500.....). Also very nice, but it was rusting too much, always outside under a cover but still rusting, valve chain spanner (?) problems etc. Never dare to go faster than 245 kmh on it (Autobahn).
Spot on review/overview of the relevance compared to modern bikes… My experience is, on my 1992 VFR750, is that the engine is every way as valid as anything modern… Just need to plan ahead the whole ‘stopping’ bit 😁
Fail to plan ....plan to run on...so to speak 😂
The VFR is one of the few bikes I would like to aquire again. I bought a new 750FS back in 95 in this stunning red colour. I fitted it with a Baglux tank bag and tank harness also in the red. I originally bought it for leisure use but as I changed jobs and ended up working in London commuting daily wasn't comfortable for me so I sold it for something more suited to the task. I couldn't afford to keep it as well. Recently I've bought a 2001 Honda 600cc Hornet just to play with and I'm throughly enjoying riding a very basic (even compared to the VFR!) motorcycle,this thing is a hoot to ride but not comfy!. So my thoughts keep wandering about buying another VFR (especially in red) if at the right price/condition, but the Hornet may have to go(😞) if I did. I enjoyed your comparison with a modern sports tourer.
Thanks Mr H. The thing is these things if properly maintained, just keep on going so mileage shouldn't concern you. Also, they are incredible value. I bought mine for just over £1100 4 years ago. It's still saleable for at least that.
As a guy of your age, I'd expect you to understand the history behind the VFR.
It was never designed as a sports tourer.
It's a Honda RC.
It's a 24 hour le mans durable race bike.
With more tech. I've got a younger CBR600F which doesn't even have a fuel gauge.
Thanks for your comment Chris. As a man of my age, I'm fully aware of the DNA of the RC36. The original VFR may have been a genuine sports bike (I've owned and ridden one) but by 1996 (the age of my bike) it was no longer an outright Honda sport bike (that lay with the Fireblade).
Also, the point I was making is that evolutionary tech on the modern bike can enhance the ride and make it safer. Both good things.
P.S. I don't recall seeing a VFR750 circulating at Le Mans?
We tour Europe twice a year and have been doing so for 20+ years, covering 2,500 to 3,500 each time. A couple of the lads use Kawasaki versus 650’s. . We stop approximately every 120-150 miles, and tend not to use motorways/autobahns. . In my opinion there’s no need for big bhp machines, I used a CB 1300 for around 15 years and have now started using a Crossrunner, both bikes are less than 110 bhp, and I find them both great. . All a matter of personal choice and comfort. I suppose it’s a lot to do with what you grow up with?
I’ve had a couple of vfr 750’s last one a 97 absolutely loved it but I’ve now got a GSXs 1000 naked bike not sure I could go back to the old vfr now!! But saying that I still love em great noise great motor
I've found the same dilemma.
If you're riding induces the abs system I'd say you're riding style needs looking at. Non abs does not equate to a dangerous bike, abs can actually increase braking distances.
I don't recall saying my riding style does induce the abs to activate. What it gives is an extra layer of security in emergency braking. James Whitham did a great video with MCN many years ago, which showed the benefits of abs in these situations. Thanks for your comment
@@blueyondermoto I don’t recall saying it did ! Merely pointing something out, but I will look up this article.
Mine same as yours a red one yes they are old hat but still a very good road bike been on it today and done 250 miles i am a big vfr fan also have a 88fj one and big brother the 1200 f my point is you dont need all the modern gizmos yes abs and traction is a very good safety aspect but the 750 is a bike of that vintage that did not have them. i very often go with others who have new modern bikes with lots off money in them and i am leading the way and most times have to wait for them and mine is almost 30years old the vfr was way ahead off its game and can still hold its own today.
10 VFRS or one V100 :-) If you want a more comfortable version the FL has a less sports angle and adding a riser bar makes it even better. Its a shame what Honda did with the model as they lost the soul of what a VFR was. The motor is simply wonderful with the clicking of the gear driven cams adding to the noise. So well engineered that even when the rest of the bike has rusted away that eninge will STILL run. If ever Honda made a new "classic" VFR with all the mod cons I would be first in the queue
Quickly followed by me Andrew
I bought a ‘95 vfr brand new. I was 33 years old at the time. Personally, I found the ergonomics extremely comfy. My road bike at the time was a 1983 Moto Guzzi Lemans III. My primary complaint with the vfr, and the reason I bought a brand new 1998 vfr 800, was the softish suspension. The ‘98 vfr 800 nailed the firmish yet still compliant balancing act almost perfectly. Both bikes had that lovely v4 engine, but the ‘98 was significantly more powerful and responsive. It also had a brilliantly effective linked braking system. Regarding the reviewers comments about the ‘95 feeling dated, where do I even start. Of course it feels dated. It’s a 30 yr old bike. For me, that’s precisely why I prefer bikes from the 90’s. Especially the carbureted bikes (pita tho they can be). The silky throttle response of a ‘95 vfr is something wholly nonexistent in modern bikes. Yet it still managed to retain an elemental feel. It was a fucking ‘proper’ (I think that’s a phrase the Brit’s use) motorcycle. No unnecessary ‘safety’ features, yet, in the hands of someone that actually knows how to ride a motorcycle, perfectly ‘safe’. By modern standards the engine’s low 90’s hp numbers might seem paltry, but on equally modern public roads, it’s an understatement to say it’s more than fast enough. Now in my 60’s, I still prefer the feeling of bikes from this golden era. Fwiw, my current bikes are a ‘06 650 Vstrom, 1990 Moto Guzzi Lemans 1000, 1999 BMW F650, and my trusty Suzuki DR 650. While I don’t fail to grasp or appreciate the features of modern bikes, I find they simply don’t make me smile the way older bikes do. YMMV, obviously.
This 750 has had suspension upgrades and is now quite taught.
Each to his own but I prefer the looks of the 750 over the original 800.
@@blueyondermoto looks wise, there isn’t much to choose between the 750 and the 800, but the difference in riding experience is quite significant. Neither is ‘better’. Horses for courses (another Brit expression, I believe). That said, they both have a sneaky habit of masking speed and sucking you into constantly rolling along between 80 and 90 mph. That’s why, in the early 00’s, I sold both my 1998 vfr800 and my 1993 Ducati 888. I’ve come to see that going fast on public roads is a fool’s errand. Still, your video really took me back to that glorious time in my mid 30’s. And for that, I thank you.
@user-hh9cu2px9g it's the same everywhere, the opportunity to let the bike run free safely and without falling foul of the law is reducing by the year.
How ist the seating position for the passenger? Is the knee angle any good?
I can't comment personally as I never carried one on this bike. However, on the 1998 800 I owned it was very good.
Hi Malte: yes, my '97 VFR has an ideal passenger knee position for a sport-tourer, and the billion handles are big, proper ones with plenty of clearance for gloved hands - rare and excellent. My Wife and I are in our 60s now, and she is not easy to please.
@samiamgreeneggs37 thanks alot. On last saturday I've bought one 😁👍🏻
@@malte3525 Outstanding!!!! What do you think?
@samiamgreeneggs37 it's really such a nice bike. Great power, comfortable and the sound is just amazing. It's my first big bike and I love it already but our riding season is over now 🥲
I take issue with your comparison, you keep mentioning the VFR but it's last iteration was in 2014 and does have a lot of the features of a modern bike as you call it like ABS, a basic Traction control, digital instruments, & details like average mpg, current mpg etc etc.
The VFR is a brilliant bike that brings a smile to my face whenever I ride it and even when I think of it in the garage.
The latest crop of bikes don't have a soul and the lack of all the bells & whistles is a plus in my book, you have to 'ride it', ride smoothly and plan your entry & exit points. Not chuck it into a corner & hope the 'safety gadgets will get you out of it.
It also has less to go wrong and as one of your previous viewer said it does BIG mileage.
Unfortunately most of us are getting on and hark back to the days when we could only dream of a bike like the VFR but can now afford one & with only 100hp is still within our operating limits! We don't need a bike with huge horsepower and apart from a track you couldn't use it for long anyway without losing your licence.
So to recap the V100 is a great bike but so is the VFR albeit from a different era where you rode the bike rather than Sat on a device that controlled your riding experience.
Your vlog made a great talking point though😁
Thanks for the comment Keith. The 2014 did have more features but they were never built on and developed by Honda. In fact the bike was quietly forgotten by them as i dont think they then knew what to do with it?
My VFR has done close to 56k miles and still rides well, my point is which I show at the end, that 30 years does make a big difference. The VFR is outclassed on everything, BUT it's still a great ride and road bike if you are prepared to forgo all the things a modern sports tourer delivers.
Glad it got you thinking and glad to hear your views and feedback!
Keep on riding and loving that VFR (take a test ride on a V100 though....you will love it).
Cheers, Alan
I think that the evolution of the sports tourer is that the foundation now is more adventure bike based, with regards to ergonomics, rather than sportsbike. Strip off the plastics and there is not a lot of apparent difference between an RC36 and an RC30. It is easy to forget that this was a sports bike that morphed into a sports tourer. Where the bike really shows its age is in its suspension and brakes imho.
No mention of prices, because you can find a very useable vfr like this one for £1500 and that makes it very relevant. Not sure what the Guzzi or likewise costs. Secondly; if you had a better bike, would you really ride it any more differently?
Just my thoughts...
Hi Paul, in answer to your last point, no I don't really ride it much if any differently. I paid just over £1100 4 years ago for the VFR hence my comment in the round up of they offer great value. If they made them now (yes please Honda) I guess they would be the equivalent of £14 or £15k given that the very dull NT is around £13k.
You're right about it's lineage I also had a '89 VFR back in the day and that was very much a sports bike
Thanks for your comment 👍
Great video alan 👍👍
Thanks Keith. It took forever!
Have you done the maintenance work you eluded to last video?
Hi, the rear wheel 8 spoke option, yes.
Give me the vfr any day
£1200 and it's yours 😁
@@blueyondermoto I have one already
Nice review! I kind of wish the VFR didn't look or sound as good as it does. I keep looking at them to purchase knowing full well that if I was to ride one it would be probably be disappointing. If they didn't sound soooo good no one would be bothered.
Never meet your heros as they say. I doubt you would be disappointed though, but there's only one way to find out. Also, you would most likely be able to sell it on for at least what you paid for it.
You WON'T be disappointed 😉
If you're disappointed with an early 90s model, go test ride a 2001 vfr800.
Unless you have something like a RSV4 you won't be dissapointed with an RC30-46. As someone else said it's a proper fucking motorcycle.
Perry: If you are 5'-8" or taller, then you will absolutely love riding a 94-97 VFR in good-condition. As I said in my first comment above, "....As the world is taken over by computerized-fly-by-wire-throttled-fuel-injected-ABS-nanny-state-hermetically-sealed-for-your-protection-video-game-like-SOUL-LESS vehicles, the 4th Gen VFR is truly REAL, genuinely HONEST, and absolutely VISCERAL. She trusts you to ride her well, and you are rewarded by feeling the road/engine/brakes/tires/road in every turn.....".