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| Review |
The VFR750FR-V - the best all-round bike Honda ever made?
OK, so many people think of the Honda VFR as a fuddy-duddy bike -
associated with middle-aged men who can't cope with sportsbikes, or
accused of the usual Honda "blandness". But they couldn't be more
wrong. The VFR (especially this last incarnation of the 750 models)is
a brilliant do-it-all bike. Of course, like anything which is truly
multi-purpose, you can argue that more specialist machines are
"better" than it at any given job. But you won't find a machine which
is so good at so many roles anywhere.
One of the first things to note about the VFR is that it's been
around for over 25 years in its various versions, and that throughout
the 80s and early 90s it regularly won "bike of the year" awards in
the press. Even though opinion on the latest 800 versions is more
divided, the VFR750 still comes up time and again in lists of top-10
all-time bikes in the press. It had the traditional Honda build
quality, was a phenomenal and effective piece of engineering
(single-sided swingarm, gear driven cams, lovely balanced V4
configuration) and there are plenty of stories about the unburstable
engine being able to do well into the 6 figure range with no problems
- about the only weakness is a tendency for regulator/rectifiers to
fail (and the mild steel exhaust collector corrodes, but don't they
all). Carefully ridden well over 200 miles on a tank of fuel is an
easy possibility, and major services are 16k apart.
Yet this workhorse bike handles superbly and can still go like stink
(a stock VFR was once ridden by Ron Haslam to third place against
factory race bikes in the Transatlantic Trophy). OK you don't have
the brute power of a modern litre-plus sportsbike on tap but you do
have a turbine-like engine with a wonderfully smooth power delivery,
and unless you're on a racetrack the VFR has more power (and more
USABLE power)than most of us would need, and can stay with any
bigger, sportier bikes through the twisties.
The other glories of the last 750s are that they have carbs instead
of injection and so suffer none of the low-throttle snatchiness that
often occurs with FI bikes, which combined with its balance and
semi-forward position make it an easy bike to run round town and
through traffic, being docile and tractable at low revs but still
capable of howling with the best of them if you want to open it up...
...and that's another thing. No other bike sounds like a VFR when you
get going. That howl is unique to the V4 and it's gorgeous. My
friends know when I'm approaching because it's a unique sound, and a
great one.
It will also take a pillion without them having to get off every
fifteen minutes because their knees are so tightly bent, or put them
off because they're perched up so high - and even more remarkably, it
will still go and handle just as well two-up as solo, which is a very
rare feat.
Are there any downsides? Well, about the only thing which might be
better are the brakes, which whilst being very capable lack the sheer
bite and power of modern top-range systems. And of course being
15-odd years old, shocks and exhausts will be worn and in need of
replacement - but that's true of any bike of that age. Fit a new
monoshock, bung on a stainless exhaust, and perhaps add a custom seat
- not because the original is uncomfortable, but because you will
never want to get out of the saddle :-) - and you have a bike which
will commute, tour, scratch, and do anything with the best of them.
Add to that the fact that due to its age you can pick a good one up
for less than 2k, and it's only insurance group 13... Good grief what
are you waiting for! Go and buy one!
But not mine... I'm not selling. I prefer to ride and enjoy :-) |
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| Submitted by |
| Netballman in Northolt on 12/02/2009 |
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Comfort
Handling
Braking
MPG
Reliability
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