Honda Needs to bring this Bike back.

[RVFR]

[dskelton]

Could not agree with you more, for a couple reasons. Honda has nothing, especially in sport bike style, in a mid power range. Their smallest offering, the 600, is hardly a begginer or intermediate bike. On a personal view, if Honda were to make a mid-range V-4 sport-tourer in 500 or maybe 600 cc with ergos very similar to the VFR, I would be all over it as a new, or newer, bike for my wife.
But hell, even the '86 model is fun bike to ride.

[stewartj239]

I've been thinking the same thing for the last 10 years. I still have my '86 500 for a reason. It not only was my first bike, but it is still a very capable bike as well. They wouldn't even have to retool it. Just bring it back as it last was.

[fotomoto]

Yeah, I had an 86 back in the day. IHNSHO, it's the best looking of all the VF's. The VF1000R is next.

Anyway, I wouldn't buy another one: 68hp (at the crank) is till 68hp no matter how light.

I bought an 84 500 years later (cuz it wuz very cheeeeeeep as evident in the picture) after having had many other larger CC bikes and sold it PDQ thereafter.

[KC-10 FE]

While I agree 100% that the 500 Interceptor should be re-born, I'd be willing to bet there would be very, very few buyers for this machine. The general populous simply will not buy a 500 Interceptor. The only ones who would would be die-hard Honda V4 fans.

Even a "beginner" doesn't buy a "beginner" bike anymore. Most people regard the 600 super sports as "beginner" bike. We all know that's absurd.

A Nighthawk 250 is a beginner bike but any decent rider will outgrow it in less than 6 months of riding.

The Buell Blast is a beginner bike but it's even less entertaining than the Nighthawk.

Look at the Hawk GT. For all intents and purposes, it was the single best "beginner" bike ever made. It had enough power to keep you interested, it handled phenomenally, it had a look that no other bike ever did, it had "personality". It was a sales flop. It is now a Cult bike of epic proportions.

Look at the Ducati 695. It's a small, light, phenomenal handling bike. Ducati can't give them away.

Even the SV650 isn't selling well anymore. The local dealer told me there are rumors Suzuki is going to drop it and only make the SV1000.

It is a sad fact but small bikes are definitely going the way of the Dodo bird.

KC-10 FE out...

[medyv]

The small displacement market in the US is pretty crappy, but its not as bad as you say. The Ninja 250 and 500 are still relatively popular bikes (much more than sport tourers), enough so that Kawasaki has spent the money to redesign the 250 for next year. I think a 500 Honda done well would sell, if only by taking away sales from Kawasaki.

And Suzuki drop the SV650? Not likely... look how long they kept the universally ridiculed Katana on dealership showrooms. And the 650 is actually a decent bike with a large following.

[Rat]

An '84 500 Interceptor was one of the first streetbikes I ever owned.
I absolutely loved that bike and still do.
One of the most handsome motorcycles ever made, bar none (IMHO).

I would consider trading my '94 VFR750 for a really nice '86 VF500, or maybe even a nice Hawk GT.

My vote for "The Bike that Honda Should Resurrect" would be the '84-'86 CB700SC Nighthawk "S".
I also had one of those and it was damned near perfect.
Put a buncha miles on it and it was utterly faultless.

I wished for an 1100cc version, but in all honesty, I think if Honda brought it back nearly as is, but made it an 800cc and fitted 17" wheels/tires, I think it would make a nearly ideal mid-size Sport-Tourer, Commuter and general fun canyon-carver.
It has a shaft drive and hydraulically adjusted valve clearance, comfortable seat, upright position, excellent passenger and luggage room, low Cg and great handling, not to mention handsome aesthetics.
It would need a larger fuel tank, but that'd be easy on a bike like that, maybe even put the tank under the seat w/fuel pump and use the 'tank' for storage.

They've already made their money back in spades on the R&D and manufacturing machinery (it was also a 750cc and Police bike in other countries), so if they priced it at something like $6995-, I think they'd sell every one they could make.
I'd be first in line.

Honda - Are you listening?!?!?

[stewartj239]

Originally Posted by fotomoto

I wouldn't buy another one: 68hp (at the crank) is till 68hp no matter how light.

For a beginner bike, 68 HP isn't enough motor??? I do think that this bike would be successful because the 500 has a reputation and a following. I don't know anybody who is into motorcycling who isn't aware of this particular bike. Also, the price point would be much lower than the bigger bore bikes. I think it has all of the ingredients to be successful.

[medyv]

Originally Posted by stewartj239

For a beginner bike, 68 HP isn't enough motor???

That's quite a bit more than the three bikes that dominate the entry level market: Ninja 250 (38hp), Ninja 500 (60~hp), GS500 (45~hp). Not to mention the anemic CBR125 sold outside the US, with something like 15hp.

[fotomoto]

Originally Posted by stewartj239

For a beginner bike, 68 HP isn't enough motor??? I do think that this bike would be successful because the 500 has a reputation and a following. I don't know anybody who is into motorcycling who isn't aware of this particular bike. Also, the price point would be much lower than the bigger bore bikes. I think it has all of the ingredients to be successful.

LOL

How does "I wouldn't buy another one" morph into beginner bike status? I was responding to the original post waxing poetic about bringing back the VF500F.

Yes, I agree 68hp is more than adequate for a beginner bike but how about a V4 mini-RC211V replica? It'd sell like hotcakes. Well, at least until the insurance rates caught on......

I once got to ride an MVX250. Ever heard of that one? It was a mid-80's Honda street V3 two-stroke two-fiddy. Yup. Not a replica of the Spencer race bikes (that was the NS400R) but a "riding the coat tails" of the technology kind of model. Very cool.

[Old VFR]

Here is my 500 that I sold over the summer. Was a great bike, but Honda will never bring it back. Would not sell in US, but maybe in Europe where people ride smaller cc and HP bikes.

[eddievalleytrailer]

Yeah, they need to bring a few cool old bikes back. The VF500, the Ascot was a pretty cool bike, a decent dual-sport (lighter than 600cc please), and my favorite, the Trans Alp. Oh yeah, don't forget the NX 250 and the CBX (not that great of a bike, but waaaayyy cool, inline 6 cly...HE** YEAH!!).

[Outlawz24]

It seems lately that im collecting small displacement bikes to go with my larger machines...if given the chance to own a new VF500..Hell yea!...

[Superceptor02]

I was just wondering a friend of mine wants to buy a 86 VF500, it looks to be in perfect shape with 18,000 miles. How much would you pay? Also, does it have a cam chain or cam gears?

[flameface]

cam chain. It was $2,800 new. They had motor issues (cams) but there's a preventative fix if the cam issue hasn't yet happened. VF500F is a fine bike, and easy to learn on, easy to boogie down a backroad, and fairly easy to maintain. I would recommend one to anyone who doesn't need 800cc power and it is a perfect beginner street bike.