Motorcycle.com article - Living with the VFR

[Britt]

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...-vfr-1439.html

I am reading EVERYTHING I can to help me decide between a 5th and 6th gen, and I ran across this article which I hope you folks find worth a read.

One of these days I will make my final decision!!

[RVFR]

Right on.. other than a 4th generation is even Better... LOL.

[Yombute]

I'm picking up a gorgeous yellow 2000 this weekend. After I get some time in the saddle I'll put in my two cents worth. I had an '86 many moons ago and a '98 a few years back so I'm expecting the same kind of wonderful-ness.

By the way...Hi Everyone.

Yom

[infonm]

I just got a new 06. The engine has always interested me and
I am quite satisfied with it. I don't think of the bike as heavy
but I have had heavier bikes. It is built to do what it does, little
of this and a little of that. And it does it very well.

[douglasthecook]

There's a guy who is currently in the process of making a bolt-on supercharger kit for the 5th Gens. Not to try and sway your decision at all. I love my 4th Gen, would buy a 5th Gen, and don't really care for the mega-angular looks of the 6th Gens, but that's just personal preferrence.

[RGonVFR]

The original article from Motorcycle.com praises the 5th gen VFR. I got my 5th gen about a month ago, have put over 1500 miles on it, and love it. Probably my favorite bike I've owned yet. Granted that may not be as many bikes as others on here, but I think it's number 9. Is that a lucky number somewhere?

[John451]

What a great review that supprisingly haven't read before.

Agree with most of his opinions and reading multiple reviews boldly stateing the VFR (Gen 5 in particular) as the best motorcycle on the Planet helped me choose the VFR as my machine to replace my SV650S at '03's end.

The only areas I differ are always use Semi Synthetic Motul 5100, don't rest on the tank bag, haven't tinkered with lighting and not so sure about the sex bit.

[stewartj239]

I am reading EVERYTHING I can to help me decide between a 5th and 6th gen, and I ran across this article which I hope you folks find worth a read.

I have owned them both and I would say that it is a draw. I'd buy which ever one comes up first. That is something that's in great shape for a great price.

[nozzle]

......you will be assimilated.....

(heavy breathing sounds)



(yeah, it's a mixed Sci-Fi metaphor, but whaddya expect for Sat. Morning )

[Tuzo]

I have both (98 and 2003) and my favorite one is the one I am sitting on. Of the two bikes, I consider the 98 to be a better sport bike and the 2003 to be a better touring bike. The 98 has more low speed maneuverability and the 2003 has better high speed smoothness. There both the same in one regard; when I get of the bike and walk away, I always look back at the bike and think "damn that is a nice rid."

[Coastal Coyote]

A very nice review, thanks for the link. I'm looking at a yellow 2000 VFR this weekend.

[tcarroll]

For $21 here you can get tons articles on most any bike, I bought the one for the 5th gen and read it several times before buying my bike. It's well worth it. Also got a couple others for friends and they were thrilled.
Honda VFR800 1998-2001 Motorcycle Report Test Review Article Reprint Service

[Bronzey]

What a great review that supprisingly haven't read before.

Agree with most of his opinions and reading multiple reviews boldly stateing the VFR (Gen 5 in particular) as the best motorcycle on the Planet helped me choose the VFR as my machine to replace my SV650S at '03's end...

I know you posted this a loong time ago John, but it struck me as quite a coincidence that I, a fellow Aussie, also sold his '03 SV650S and bought a '98 5th Gen' VFR (mine's yellow) - albeit I have only just done so. Best thing I ever did (well, apart form marrying my wife....er, maybe that's the sex thing creeping back in again....). Trust you're still enjoying the viffer.

Bronzey57

[Bronzey]

A very nice review, thanks for the link. I'm looking at a yellow 2000 VFR this weekend.

Aaah..the best colour in my opinion....goes particularly well with the black wheels. Now, how 'bout a black exhaust....

[joner7777]

I`m in love with my 5th gen!
Only trouble is--
It has done only 8500 miles from new and is unmarked, i don`t want to make it a high milage hack.
Thing is-- do i buy a old 5th gen and ride it to death and keep mine polished to just look at and keep the milage low to keep it`s original state,or just ride it???

[tcarroll]

Just ride it, it isn't an NR750, or RC30.
But take care of it.
Mine had under 13k two years ago, now I have 33k and don't regret one mile.
I can't wait to hit 50k.. maybe 100k. lol

[02 VFR Rider]

6th gen.

2003 Honda VFR 800 VTEC motorcycle review: Forbidden love affair.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/fe...tor/index.html

[bluespecv03]

I love my 6th gen, but if I were to go back, I think I'd try to find a 5th gen. They should be a few grand less, pretty much the same except for VTEC and some cosmetic things, and the sound of those gear driven cams is amazing...

[smithyVFR800]

It wont matter which one you get as you'll be wearing a huge grin each time you ride it!! What good is a great bike when your not on it. I am currently on my seventh VFR, (x2 750's, x2 5th gen, 3rd x6th gen) I have averaged in excess of 35,000 km (20,000 miles) a year for each of them. My 02 v-tec has 235,000 km (140,000+ miles) and still puts a huge grin on me each time i ride it. My 08 v-tec is probably the smoothest and most capable bike i have riden, in fact it is more capable than i am. I will probably exceed 40,000 km on it by the end of October.
I guess that what i am trying to say is that it won't really matter which one you choose, you will not be disappointed. Both models will give you mile after mile of enjoyment.
Regards Smithy.

[Bronzey]

I`m in love with my 5th gen!
Only trouble is--
It has done only 8500 miles from new and is unmarked, i don`t want to make it a high milage hack.
Thing is-- do i buy a old 5th gen and ride it to death and keep mine polished to just look at and keep the milage low to keep it`s original state,or just ride it???

Ride it!!The high mileage isn't an issue with these bikes. If you're passionate about the bike, you'll take care of it. I bought my '98 model used, from someone who had looked after it well. It has 45,000kms on the clock and some people get confused when they look at it because they know the model was discontinued 6 or so years ago and yet the bike looks new...

[Pliskin]

I`m in love with my 5th gen!
Only trouble is--
It has done only 8500 miles from new and is unmarked, i don`t want to make it a high milage hack.
Thing is-- do i buy a old 5th gen and ride it to death and keep mine polished to just look at and keep the milage low to keep it`s original state,or just ride it???

I bought my 5th gen (yellow) with a mere 5500 miles on it. Its not perfect, but it is pretty clean.

The bad news is that since I live in Jersey, we get snow, ice and other weather related incidents that prevent from riding year round. The good news (I suppose) is that since I can't ride year round, the miles don't rack up quite as quickly.

As the others said - ride it an enjoy it!

[Mark 024]

Ride it Joner7777,
They are great bikes to look at, but better to ride IMO.

[Ardnfast]

A mate of mine has owned 3 VFR's over the years (1 x 5th gen and 2 x 6th gen) and he wishes he had never sold his first, the 5th gen. As for me i ride an R80 BM but have just bought a 2001 VFR on Ebay. I fly across from Perth to the Gold Coast to pick it up and ride it back next week, it's my 40th b'day present to myself!

[diVeFR]

So short story shorter how I got hooked on the VFR is a friend had a 5th gen (red) and I rode it a couple of times and I was hooked. I heard about the 6th gens V-Tech and was curious enough to buy one. I love rideing them both equally. I beleive your hardest decisions will be.... what color is best for me, where do I want to travel once I have one and what accessories do I want to have with this bike. Another problem you may have is what doctor to see to remove your per-ma-grin. (although members on this site can not help you find said doctor. We have learned to live with this from our experiences on the VFR)

[tris1948]

I know you posted this a loong time ago John, but it struck me as quite a coincidence that I, a fellow Aussie, also sold his '03 SV650S and bought a '98 5th Gen' VFR (mine's yellow) - albeit I have only just done so. Best thing I ever did (well, apart form marrying my wife....er, maybe that's the sex thing creeping back in again....). Trust you're still enjoying the viffer.

Bronzey57

Spookey - I swapped my SV for the VFR. Best thing I ever did

Does anyone else see a trend starting to emerge here

[Capt. John]

Am pleased with what I read on this thread. Eight years ago I was casting around for a bigger bike and the choice came down to an SV650 and the VFR. I am glad I bought the VFR, though for the first few days I thought I had bought a bike with too much power. I rev it regularly to 10K up the local mountain pass now and its just great.
That said my son has a Suzuki DL650 and it is also a great bike.

[Hammerspur]

Right on.. other than a 4th generation is even Better... LOL.

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