Initial Impressions - 2007 Honda VFR800 Interceptor (Long)

[adg44]

For the other VFR owners in this thread - do you find that the bike doesn't "lean" enough while on the side stand? I find it very unstable unless the ground is completely level. All of my previous bikes leaned more while on the side stand.

[nhbubba]

Wish to hell I could find that video now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsxVmQ4BH8M

Caution: Squidly behavior present. Not recommended as a how-to for noob riders.

[atomicalex]

do you find that the bike doesn't "lean" enough while on the side stand.

Lowered a bit? I know that this is such an issue with BMW that they replace the stands when lowering....

[TurboWraith]

For the other VFR owners in this thread - do you find that the bike doesn't "lean" enough while on the side stand? I find it very unstable unless the ground is completely level. All of my previous bikes leaned more while on the side stand.

I've noticed this with other Hondas I have owned. I always felt like they sit too vertical on the side stand.

On another note - partially in thanks to this thread, I think I am going to go pick up a used 2002 VFR tomorrow.

[adg44]

I've noticed this with other Hondas I have owned. I always felt like they sit too vertical on the side stand.

On another note - partially in thanks to this thread, I think I am going to go pick up a used 2002 VFR tomorrow.

Yeah, everyone tells me to check if the bike is lowered (which it is not), but it just seems to be a Honda thing. My past BMWs and Triumph, as well as my buddy's Suzuki, lean more on the side stand. Makes it feel more stable.

Congrats on the purchase! Please do share your impressions once you get it.

[TurboWraith]

Will do.

Pretty excited actually. Leaving home in a few hours.

[adg44]

Will do.

Pretty excited actually. Leaving home in a few hours.

So how is it??

[TurboWraith]

So how is it??

From what I see so far, great!

I took a chance on this one, and from the tinkering I did last night - its going to pay off.



I bought an '02 w/25k on it. The valve service has been done by a Honda dealer in Lafayette, IN. It has the Staintune slip-ons, new tires, fresh brakes, new fork seals, and is otherwise complete.

That's where the good ends, though the rest isn't bad.

It has some very small scratches in the left lower fairing from a garage tip over. I will probably touch it up with paint or a vfr sticker (the bike has been stripped of the factory decals on the fairings). The shift lever is also slightly tweaked from the same event.

It also runs like total crap when cold. I already know what the problem is there, the 'wax valve' which acts as an 'auto choke' is not engaging the starter valves in the throttle at all. The pushrod is completely misadjusted, which I imagine the Honda tech failed to do when he had everything apart for the valve adjustment (which makes me wonder about the quality of work he did on the valves...). Anyway, I'm a mechanic and a love working on bikes, so this is going to be fun. I plan on having it running like a top by the end of the night.

I'm very happy with it considering I got it home for just under $3k. I have a list of parts to order for it already, but it comes up to less than $100. Thermostat and some wire harness work.


Very much looking forward to putting the miles on her. What little I've done already has been great. Pic of it before I took it off the truck.

[Spinnaker]

Same exact bike (two years younger)

[nhbubba]

From what I see so far, great!

That thing looks exceptionally clean. Wicked nice! < $3k seems like a deal.

Same exact bike (two years younger)

Isn't

1998-2001 => Gen 5 => w/o VTEC, gear driven cams
2002-2009 => Gen 6 => w/ VTEC, chain driven cams

[Spinnaker]

Isn't

1998-2001 => Gen 5 => w/o VTEC, gear driven cams
2002-2009 => Gen 6 => w/ VTEC, chain driven cams

Is (I have an 04, same color)

[nhbubba]

Ah, YOURS is 2 years younger. Now I'm with yah.

[TurboWraith]

That thing looks exceptionally clean. Wicked nice! < $3k seems like a deal.

Thanks, I feel like I did alright on it.

Repaired the wax valve last night and got it running. I need to clean the spark plugs though. I first thought they were worn out, but I guess the iridium tips are supposed to look like sharp points. Supposedly they are good for 30k miles, so I'll leave them for now.

[Spinnaker]

So I had her dyno tuned yesterday as a bday present to myself - 93WHP

HOWEVER, what a whole new bike it is with an exhaust and a tune

[adg44]

So I had her dyno tuned yesterday as a bday present to myself - 93WHP

HOWEVER, what a whole new bike it is with an exhaust and a tune

Did you dyno it beforehand?

[Spinnaker]

Did you dyno it beforehand?

Did not, though he had a few other VTech files in his system and they all did about the same with cans and a drop in. Basically I have no idea what the gains were if any.

[nhbubba]

93 seems pretty decent at the wheels.

Happy B-day. I'm a May kid myself.

[Spinnaker]

93 seems pretty decent at the wheels.

Happy B-day. I'm a May kid myself.

Thanks!

It's more than ample for me. Felony speeds in a matter of seconds either way.

Guy was telling me the biggest numbers he ever saw was from a turbo zx-12 - 400rwhp. Just absurd. That bike goes in the stretch thread.

[TurboWraith]

Beefed up the circuitry today for the charging system on my '02. Currently waiting for a new thremostat, so had time to kill.

Pretty simple to do really. My bike has the updated wireharness that addresses much of the electrical issues with the lights and other forward components, as well as the main 30A fuse and its undersized wiring.

However, I was still only seeing about 13.2v at the battery at idle. Less with the brights on. Voltage would climb to about 13.8v at 5000rpm. I tested stator and r/r for correct function and has the battery load tested. All came out fine, so I set to work beefing up the wiring at the r/r. I ran two extra redundant power and ground wires from the r/r. Ground went to a fairing stay bolt and powers went through some inline fuses then the battery. The monitor wire also got routed directly to battery, no fuse as it doesn't actually pass any current.

Fired it up, voltage at battery reads 14.3v no matter what you do. Rev it up, brights, etc. Acts much happier at cold startup as well.

[Spinnaker]

Ive had a chance to put several hundred on since the exhaust and dyno tune and its like a whole new bike. Veru glad i kept it

[adg44]

Ive had a chance to put several hundred on since the exhaust and dyno tune and its like a whole new bike. Veru glad i kept it

Awesome - glad to hear it!

Can you confirm that the Leo Vince exhaust is manufactured in Italy? Any better pictures yet?

[Spinnaker]

Can you confirm that the Leo Vince exhaust is manufactured in Italy? Any better pictures yet?

Straight from the website:

Being a 55 year old company we employ a mixture of both old-world craftsmanship and the latest technology the industry has to offer. For example, welding, assembly and even packaging are all done by hand, while design, R&D and testing are all performed with the aid of computers, CAD/CAM programs and dynos. Another important aspect to the construction of our exhaust systems is that they are built entirely in-house. The titanium and carbon fiber silencers, the carbon fiber brackets, springs, straps * everything you see (except a few nuts and bolts) * were machined, stamped or produced by our technicians, even our new electronics.

Will get some better pics next time I'm out.

[adg44]

So a sprained finger kept me off the bike for about 3 weeks, but I was finally able to go out on it yesterday. It is definitely the best handling bike I have owned.

I did notice that the riding position is putting a bit of strain on my neck. Since I sit high on the bike and have to lean forward a lot, I end up having to tilt my head back to see ahead. I feel like I'm sitting on the bike and leaning down, rather than with the K1200S where I was sitting in the bike and leaning forward.

Or I'm just getting old!

[atomicalex]

Or I'm just getting old!

I won't tell anyone....

[TurboWraith]

I read good things about the genmar risers, Anthony.

I think I'm ok with the bar position, but the stock seat is a nutcrusher. Not a fan. I'm saving up for a Seargent.

[The_Hamster]

Hmm, my VFR is a bit older...





Seriously though I have considered getting a newer VFR, I am a big fan of naked bikes and wish the engine was visible on the newer models like it is on my old piggly.

[adg44]

I read good things about the genmar risers, Anthony.

I think I'm ok with the bar position, but the stock seat is a nutcrusher. Not a fan. I'm saving up for a Seargent.

I see them new on eBay for about $350. Is that a good deal? I'ven ever sat on a Seargent seat before, and I would definitely like to at least sit on one before I make that purchase. I agree though, the stock seat is not the most comfortable.

[adg44]

I went on a ride for an hour and a half yesterday evening, and this is by far the best handling bike I have owned. I don't know if it's the bike or these absolutely amazing ContiRoadAttack 2 tires, but I can lean into a corner like I have never leaned before, and I have absolutely no chicken strips on the tires. It is just glued to the road and feels amazingly stable and confident.

I'm going to assume it's a combination of the bike and the tires, and they just seem like they were made for each other.

[TurboWraith]

I see them new on eBay for about $350. Is that a good deal? I'ven ever sat on a Seargent seat before, and I would definitely like to at least sit on one before I make that purchase. I agree though, the stock seat is not the most comfortable.

I think that's pretty fair. I've not sat on vfr with a seargent, but I MUCH preferred the seargent over the corbin on my old Z1000.

I went on a ride for an hour and a half yesterday evening, and this is by far the best handling bike I have owned. I don't know if it's the bike or these absolutely amazing ContiRoadAttack 2 tires, but I can lean into a corner like I have never leaned before, and I have absolutely no chicken strips on the tires. It is just glued to the road and feels amazingly stable and confident.

I'm going to assume it's a combination of the bike and the tires, and they just seem like they were made for each other.

Id have to agree. I am very pleased with how neutral the bike is in the corners.

[Spinnaker]

I think that's pretty fair. I've not sat on vfr with a seargent, but I MUCH preferred the seargent over the corbin on my old Z1000. Id have to agree. I am very pleased with how neutral the bike is in the corners.

Sargent is in the works for me

My buddy has an old BMW, and was amazed at how 'easy' the VFR is to ride when we swapped

[turbinepowered]

Hmm, my VFR is a bit older...





Seriously though I have considered getting a newer VFR, I am a big fan of naked bikes and wish the engine was visible on the newer models like it is on my old piggly.

That is a really pretty color scheme. I like! How old is it?

[The_Hamster]

That is a really pretty color scheme. I like! How old is it?

1984 VF1000F. The first generation 'VFR', although there was also a VF1000R made at the same time, a little more hardcore than the F model that I have. The F does a sub 1/4 mile in the 10's reportedly, which is huge for 1984. http://classic-motorbikes.net/review...honda/vf1000f/

There is a 25th anniversary VFR with the same colour scheme as the first gens r/w/b.

[Triumph]

I went on a ride for an hour and a half yesterday evening, and this is by far the best handling bike I have owned. I don't know if it's the bike or these absolutely amazing ContiRoadAttack 2 tires, but I can lean into a corner like I have never leaned before, and I have absolutely no chicken strips on the tires. It is just glued to the road and feels amazingly stable and confident.

I'm going to assume it's a combination of the bike and the tires, and they just seem like they were made for each other.

Really? Not to bash your choice, but I think the handling is pretty subpar for the price that these sold for new. For 12 grand, this thing should have at least come with a fully adjustable suspension. My old YZF600R and ZZR600 were both 7 grand bikes and they had it...

On the other hand, I rode a Buell Firebolt 1200 this week. Pretty much hated it. Got on the VFR afterwards, and realized how nice the bike is. So either I like the VFR more than I realized, or I just really hated that Buell. The thing would not turn to save its life, and when it did, all it wanted to do was stand up. And it has all the expensive suspension goodies.

[adg44]

Really? Not to bash your choice, but I think the handling is pretty subpar for the price that these sold for new. For 12 grand, this thing should have at least come with a fully adjustable suspension. My old YZF600R and ZZR600 were both 7 grand bikes and they had it...

That doesn't bother me too much. It's so well balanced that I don't really feel the need to have to adjust it. I just upped the preload front and rear, and adjusted the rebound a bit harder for the rear shock, and I couldn't be happier.

This is also me comparing it to the previous bikes I have owned, which have all been larger and heavier, so your comparison to a 600cc will probably differ.

[Triumph]

i am all the way bottomed out on the front preload, and it is still not where it is supposed to be. i also noticed no change in brake dive or handling after doing that. i need to look into suspension upgrades if i'm going to keep this thing.