The colors are retro like white stripes and blue paint are to American sports car racing. They identify the current breed to their past bloodline.Originally Posted by malcster
I don't think the RWB is meant to be a 'flag in your face' kind of thing.
Honda only turned the world on its ear competing in those colors with American riders.
True the new innovations can look out of place, but I like seeing the colors on the bike that earned them instead of trying to morph them onto a CBR.
Scott Stine
www.hossracing.com
My doctor said to slow down or I won't live to see 50. Life is more than age-it's experiences. Get 'em in now because the last one won't let you come back.
When I had a 86' VFR 400R in Japan a long time ago, it was one of the fastest & lightest sports bike at that time.
I've been thinking to start riding again, but I personally hate inline-4 so my choice would be v4 again(that makes my choice be VFR again).
When I looked at the Interceptor(VFR) on Honda website recently, I was kind of disappointed with VFR's spec. It was heavier and underpowered, and somewhat out of date.
Now I have no motorcycle to buy.
Agreed wholeheartedly. The problem has never been with the motor - it's been with the way Honda has porked the bike out unnecessarily and attempted to address the power deficiencies through gimmicks.
Love VTEC or hate it - there's is no replacement for "displacement".
Today's standards mandate 120+ hp in a package that weighs less than 450 lbs. It's not a far-fetched concept. Scrap the collectors and gimmicks, hog out the motor, and give me a bike I want to buy - not a stop gap measure.
I'm tired of having to bitch about this year after year. Honda - are you listening?
I think we are being a little too rough on Honda. The dilemma they have with the Interceptor is the "mission", i.e., what the design criteria is.
Is it a "Sport-Touring" bike or is it a "Touring-Sport" bike? I believe it is more
of a Touring-Sport bike and would like it to stay designed in that direction.
If I were King of Design I would go back to the '98/'99 specs. and drop in a 1,000 cc motor, add hard bags, slightly higher handlebars, electric windshield (like my Katana 1100) and give us a better rear shock. Almost forgot...put a small fan on the regulator
Definitely no VTEC or chain-driven cams!
If some of you are disappointed by the horsepower/weight ratio you might have to be honest with yourself and determine the "mission" you want, i.e.,
do you want to play Rickey-Racer on the streets (very juvenile) or do you want a classy Touring-Sport bike that is unique like a Mercedes Benz CL600
V12 coupe.
Too many newbies don't look beyond the hp/weight ratio. The VFR's have great mid-range torque and that is much more useful in the real world than
a higher horsepower figure that is in the 11,000-15,000 rpm range. The key
to making a great street bike is a fat MID-RANGE not some narrow super high RPM screamer, which is right at home on the track but not on the street.
It's time to grow up in our expectations on bike designs. Nuff said...
I don't necessarily disagree with you Bob - I still ride my '92 that I bought off the showroom floor. I'm edging on 43 right now, so I'm clearly not what you would call a Wild-Boyz wanna be.
But my point is that you can accomplish both - and many other vendors are doing just that. The FJR would be a perfect example (except that it is heavy).
I'm certainly not blaming Honda for making a bad product - far from it. I'm chastising Honda for not keeping up with the pace of the industry. They've done extremely well with the CBR lineup, and by all accounts continue to push the envelope there.
I guess my point is that I've been waiting a long time for a new VFR that was really worth upgrading to; the 4th and 5th gens were just not that much better than my beloved '92 - especially with all the mods I'd made to it. And then along comes the much tauted 2002 6th gen, and by all accounts it's been a step back wards.
I don't necessarily "need" a lighter, faster, more powerful Veefer. But goddammit - I WANT one. And there's absolutely no reason why Honda should not finally evolve this bike into something worthy of the "Interceptor" moniker. Just my 2 cents...
Honda is to busy playing it up to the 600 class squids/posers who ride around town and parking lots....Honda needs to get some money into the engine /design department and just give the 5th gen 5-15 hp more and it would sell better..Just drop the 6th gen in the trash can as Vtec and cam chains kept me from buying it...I dont want traction control as its just another gimmik like vtec.
Last edited by Nailer45; 01-20-2007 at 05:12 AM.
The 481 lbs. dry sounds like too much weight to me. How does that compare to the 5th gen? Although, the 07 does get about 10 more HP. Still, though, it seems overweight to me.
99 VFR800fi
82 GS850G
It's true that hard work never killed a man, but I figure, why take the chance?
It looks terrific! Any pics of the color scheme from the front? That's gotta be a must-see. BTW - luv the VTec. Especially on the highway. Ahhhh and here I thought you couldn't improve on perfection.....Honda does it again with a retro color scheme!
looks great!
but its slower than my late 80's sport bike......that surprises me ALOT. Hadn't really looked at the power output of the new VFR's but I expected it to be a bit faster, hell it weights the same as my 88 FZR1000
Yam 88 FZR1000
Yam 82 XZ550 Vision
The whole sport touring/touring sport word scramble is lost on me. Touring sport is best left to the bright yellow Goldwings, they're "sporty".I think we are being a little too rough on Honda. The dilemma they have with the Interceptor is the "mission", i.e., what the design criteria is.
Is it a "Sport-Touring" bike or is it a "Touring-Sport" bike? I believe it is more
of a Touring-Sport bike and would like it to stay designed in that direction.
If I were King of Design I would go back to the '98/'99 specs. and drop in a 1,000 cc motor, add hard bags, slightly higher handlebars, electric windshield (like my Katana 1100) and give us a better rear shock. Almost forgot...put a small fan on the regulator
Definitely no VTEC or chain-driven cams!
If some of you are disappointed by the horsepower/weight ratio you might have to be honest with yourself and determine the "mission" you want, i.e.,
do you want to play Rickey-Racer on the streets (very juvenile) or do you want a classy Touring-Sport bike that is unique like a Mercedes Benz CL600
V12 coupe.
Too many newbies don't look beyond the hp/weight ratio. The VFR's have great mid-range torque and that is much more useful in the real world than
a higher horsepower figure that is in the 11,000-15,000 rpm range. The key
to making a great street bike is a fat MID-RANGE not some narrow super high RPM screamer, which is right at home on the track but not on the street.
It's time to grow up in our expectations on bike designs. Nuff said...
As for your mission mantra, the mission statement is sport-touring. Taken from the words 'sport', meaning athletic recreation, and touring, meaning recreational travel. Combined, the thought derived would seem to include something along "athletic recreational travel". For me that means a type of aggressive, eventful activity. Not that I pack extra pucks for a trip down the interstate, but I like to travel at a pace that allows me to enjoy the road itself, in addition to the views around.
The VFR is the minimalist sport tourer. Backback and a bag and go type stuff. I take my viffer because I want to enjoy the trip a little more, not just the destination. If I just wanted that, I'd go 'simple, I'd go easy, I'd go Greyhound'.
Ricky Racer doesn't leave town. Ricky doesn't do trips, or backroads, or sights. Ricky doesn't ride for your reasons or mine. Leave him out of this. (Primo pet peeve.)
CL600s probably ride nice, corner well and take care of everything their owners expect them to. But I bet some CL600 owners still want a little more for their money, because that's JUST THE WAY PEOPLE ARE - HUMAN.
I agree the VFR holds a valuable tool in its midrange. The HP/wt. ratio is a three sided thing. Most VFR people who voice here seem to want less weight as a priority over more power. The more power people want less weight too, but hardly anyone is looking for a 'Busa beater. The third side is the durability that almost no one complains about. It's a non topic when joined by proper maintenance. That's probably 40% of why I love my viffer, but never comes up in conversation because I'm too busy picking apart the things I'd like to see added/lost or redesigned.
Every spring I look at the st1300s or the old 1100s. They have that electric windshield and I bet it's nice sometimes. Every year I think about how I could do some this or that trip sometime. I get away when I remember that I am still looking for more from less, not the same from more. It'll happen one day, but until then, I'll ride hard and travel light.
Scott Stine
www.hossracing.com
My doctor said to slow down or I won't live to see 50. Life is more than age-it's experiences. Get 'em in now because the last one won't let you come back.
Just switch out the cans. The factory ones are heavy.... 30+ lbs. a good after market set will certainly lighten things up a bit. and removing that weight from high up will help lower the center of gravity, making the weight loss feel significantly greater.
--- Current Rides ---
1998 Harley Fat Boy FLSTF (Daily Driver.)
2005 Vulcan 500 EN500C (Wifes Bike.)
2002 VFR 800FI (Non ABS)
--- Past Rides ---
1972 Suzuki TS250
1973 Honda CL350 (Driven into the ground)
1974 Honda CL350
1976 Honda CB360
1983 Honda XR 200
1987 Honda VFR 700F
1986 Honda CMX450 (Wife's old bike.)
1986 Honda VF1000R
1988 Suzuki GS550L
1997 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird. (Owned for 24 hours.)
I think the old school paint is poor execution of the right idea. I dont think the the paint follows the lines of the bike like the original interceptors. I like the concept drawing I found on this site though.
Tuck in behind me; I'll show you where to crash......
I rode my Bike to Trailer week.
Yesterday at the local Honda shop I saw the red, white, blue 07 Interceptor. It is way nicer than the pictures that we have seen. Pearlescent paint, it's really very fine. Priced at $9999, which suprised me. I was expecting it to be higher than that. Beautiful bike for sure.
99 VFR800fi
82 GS850G
It's true that hard work never killed a man, but I figure, why take the chance?
Well it is the 25th anniversary for the interceptor line. The target audience seems to be riders who have softend thier riding focus in the same time. This is my fourth interceptor, and they are all the same color scheme. Besides, other countries use Red White and Blue for flag colors. In addition, a riding compadre has a green ZRX, and I want to spend the summer playing Spencer v. Lawson!
I saw one today for with ABS for $12,099.00 at the local dealership. Maybe I'm out of touch, but that price shocked me...
Member- 5G Brotherhood
Life begins at 45 degrees
Saw the Red White and Blue Interceptor at the Long Beach, CA motorcycle show last month and fell in love with it. Paint job really is an eye catcher and of course, Honday quality was very evident. A few weeks later I couldn't resist when I saw one at my local motorcycle shop so I gave in and purchased the bike. This is my first street bike (37 yrs. of riding dirt bikes) but from the research I did and discussion with friends who own VFRs, the choice for me was a no brainer. Looking forward to many miles and years ahead on my VFR!
Betayzman, I have to agree with you. I saw the 2007 at the San Mateo,
California show and the RWB and dark red both
look a lot better than the photographs. Of the two I thought the RWB had
the nicest paint job. Too bad it didn't come with white wheels, but still,
a stunning looking bike in person. I think you made a very wise choice.
Enjoy your ride...
It seems the RW&B VFR will not be for sale in Holland. Does somebody has a 40 foot container, ship and about a month time? You can sell them overhere.
Dont keep us wainting!
regards, Tico
I'm Tico and live in Holland. Fanatic 2 wheel driver since my 18th birthday. I've owned: Suzuki T20, Ariel 500, Laverda 750SF, Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, Yamaha XS 650, TX 750. Then the Hondafleet passes by. CB350, CB500, CB750, 4 x VFR
My recent bike is a VFR/VTEC/ABS model 2006: high windscreen, gripheating, travelcases tankpad, Sargent saddle. I'm 55 years old, Chairman of the Ducht VFR Owners Club. (www.vfroc.nl)
No children and a lovely girlfriend named Els.
was at bike show last month RWB was a real looker especially sitting besides the red burgundy one it got way more attention, almost as much as the new cbr600rr. i wouldent trade my vtc i still like the rush when it kicks in
we are kind of missing the point of owning a VFR. if you want to go faster, quicker, lighter,etc. there are lots of bikes out there. ours is a DO EVERYTHING WELL bike with a level of power, handling, comfort and sophistication unmatched by anything I personally have ridden. and don't forget that beautiful V-4 sound! as for the RWB paint scheme, let us old folks have our memories of VFR dominance on the race track. a lot of things have been blown away by Hurricanes!
RC30 IS ALIVE!!!! :P Nice colors!
So let me get this straight...
The viffer needs to shed 30-40 kg and put out greater than 120 hp...
A colour scheme may improve the bling but without enginnering and go fast bits...well...
Slugfest
The local bike shop in town got a 25th anniversary VFR800 (RWB) a couple weeks ago, and I went and looked at it.Now I'm having dreams of trading in my '02 for it and being seen by every other jealous VFR rider on the we(s)t
coast. Is this wrong?
Ride it like you mean it!
My advice is to trade for the tri-color.
it's a bitchin' look.
No, it's not wrong. I sold my '99 in order to upgrade to the tri-color. I currently own an '86 500 and 750 in that color scheme so I HAD to have it. If I could have justified it, I would have kept the 5th Gen too, but I'm sure this bike is just as good.
Hi all. Im a new member. I have owned my 86 VFR 750 for over 10 years. I have 60K on the bike. I have always loved it. My bike was wrecked last fall. I bought the bike back for a song and the ins co paid me more than I paid for the bike 10 years ago! Anyway, Im trying to decided if I want to put my $ into restoring my 750. I was at the dealer last week waiting to have some tires mounted and my jaw dropped when I saw the RW&B bike. When I looked at the newer VFRs I though they looked kinda fat and bulky. Now seeing the bike in RW&B I think I could love this 07 bike so I started reading about the bike.
So Im considering buying this 07 bike when my ins settlement comes. I use my bike as a daily driver in the summer months so I need a comfy easy to use and ride street bike and thats why the V 4 suits me so well. I do alot of 2 up day and weekend trips also. I do like to go out and carve the corners and I need the sprot bike look to complete the feel. The VFR has been and still looks perfect for me. I dont think I could live with out the V4.
Anyway, the reason for my post besides just saying hi is:
Those of you that dont like the V tec, why? What is it about it you dont like?
Anyone who has ridden a tuned up 86 bike and a gen 6 VFR, how do they compare?
What is the maint interval and or issues with the cam chain? Also, what is the valve check interval and how hard is it to do on the Vtek bike? I do all my own maint.
What is it about the 98 99 bikes people like so much?
Taking a good look over ( and under) the 07 bike just some of my thoughts. As far as the weight goes, I sat on the bike and it feels very light on its feet. The weight is down low and the bike rolls very quick from side to side (with the motor off anyway). As far as where the weight is or can be lost, I can tell you that taking a good look under the tail of the bike (laying on the floor!) there is at least 30 lbs in that darn exhaust that can go! The pipes look like the very complex rear section can be removed fairly easy but there is a large collector in the mid section that looks like It would require a very expensive full exh system to replace. This is all for US emissions reasons I figure, but just looking at the way the rear pipes have to flatten out in the rear wheel well is amazing. The normal Honda Fit and finish is lost down there in what looks like a desprate strugle for volume. There is a H pipe cross over under the tail section (looks like a trick to add more EPA volume) and you can see grind marks on the weld jonits and pipes that look like they had to be done for max suspension wheel travel clearance!
The bike has a factory center stand (just like the 86 race bikes did!). At least a 7 - 10 lb part, easaly removable for those that care.
White wheels are a pain in the BUUUUUUT, would not be so bad on the 86 if the wheels didnt have those impossible I beam mags. If I fix my 86 up its gettting a cbr wheel conversion. Wheel nit pickers can buy my used 86 white wheels with the 16" 18" sizes.
Lets face it, some of the stuff that was on the 86 is improved on the new bike. But remember the 86 interceptor was a race bike, that won! The 07 is not. Its a refined ride all day daily driver sport bike. In my mind the VFRs main comp is the FJR, and a host of BMW and maybe some Triumph bikes. Most of wich are hevy, down on power, and more expensive bikes.
Jason, I might be able to answer some of these. I currently own a pristine 1986 VFR750F (see my photo gallery) and a brand new 2007 RWB. I have also owned a 1999 VFR that I recently sold for the 6th Gen.
Some people don't like the VTEC because there appears to be a noticeable feel to it when it kicks in around 7000 rpm. Also, when it's time to service it, it is a little more costly. However, many people have reported that the transition doesn't bother them and is hardly noticeable. In addition, others have gone far beyond the recommended service interval for the VTEC with no problems. It seems that most of the complaints that you hear about the VTEC are from people who don't even own one. Most of the people who have it, like it.
Now comparing the 1986 to the 5th Gen, there is no comparison. The 5th Gen has more power, handles better and is more refined. I can't compare the 1986 to the 6th Gen as I haven't ridden it yet, but from everything I've heard, the 6th Gen has followed the same path and is more refined as well. You can't go wrong with a VFR regardless of the generation.
That was the feeling I was getting, same with the linked brake system
Do you mean you have not ridden the 86 or the 07? Either way, get on it!
I have removed the anti dive on my 86 and replaced it with a racetec cartridge valve setup. best thing I ever did for that bike. I had a Yohi 4-1 exh on it but had to put stock pipes on it now and man, thats the worst thing I ever did to it. I plan to get a 4 into 1 midpipe fabricated for it to mount modern Yoshi cans on 86 VFR's since no one makes them anymore.
BTW, I had an 86 VF 500 with the same lower fairing on it before I got my 750. looking at your pics brings a smile to my face.
I haven't ridden the '07 yet. I ordered the darn thing back in October and it didn't come in until early March. I've had it apart doing some minor updates and just got it back together just in time for the Nor'easter that came up the coast which dumped a foot of snow on the ground. Things are looking good for the upcoming weekend though.
I've got a ton of miles on the '86 and I love it. What I was saying was, even though the '86 is a great ride, it is outdated compared to my old 5th Gen. I've owned Interceptors since 1990, so I know what to expect from the '07. I'm sure it will the sweetest ride yet.
Cool! Ill be standing by for your full report
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