V-tech- Over all positive or negative?

[PorscheBob]

So, the analysis of this thread seems to indicate to me that fifth generation bikes are/should be going up in resale value.

Attention all 5th generation owners....especially '98/'99 owners...if you sell your bike (horrible thought) jack up the price by at least 30%.

The '98/'99 VFRs are going to be collectibles!!!

But...you can't have mine.

[Bubba Zanetti]

I have been blessed to own a 3rd gen and now a 4th gen. I have yet to ride a VTEC VFR so I'll wait to provide an opinion, but the magic 8 ball says that might happen in 08!?

However, all you 6th gen bitches are frontin! I am tired of all your whining!

Oh, wait that's the gear driven cams whining of all the previous gen's, my apologies.

BZ

[jasonsmith]

Originally Posted by stewartj239

MD - I've heard that stated before, but I'm not sure where that comes from. I'm coming off a 5th Gen and what I can say is that the 6th handling and suspension is better and the motor is equivalent. That alone allows me to ride the 6th Gen more aggressively. I'm wondering if people think that the 6th is more on the touring side because the high mounted exhaust has better side case options??? Any ideas?

I don't get it either... I have come to the understanding that the 6th gen has been speculated about so much that people are and will continue to be oblivious to the bike as a whole. Those of us who own it are the lucky ones because we actually know.

And... this whole VTEC transition thing... WHO has actually dumped their bike because the VTEC kicked in around a corner? Speak up.

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From Freddie's website:

"You haven't seen what an Interceptor can do until you see Freddie ripping around LVMS aboard this sport-tourer. The Interceptor is the perfect machine to spend long days in the saddle, whether on the street or the track, and several of our instructors use the bike on a daily basis for instruction purposes."

I guess he has death wish taking his VTEC on the track huh. Someone should call him up and warn him.

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Since were on page 3 I thought I would spice it up some.

[junktionfet]

Originally Posted by jasonsmith

Since were on page 3 I thought I would spice it up some.

New stuff is always better. Old stuff sucks, that's why they don't make it anymore. Ouch...

[RVFR]

LOL, love this thread, who do I give rep points too? I've rode the 6th, woo hoo no big deal. It felt more up right, felt bigger, even thou it's only a couple pounds one way or the other. From the pilot seat position the windscreen is taller. I'm not to kean on how the tail section looks IMHO it's lost some soul and then some.(gear driven cams was a trade mark) Biggest thing to me is the looks of the instrument panel layout, all that LCD stuff belongs on a 747 dash. Love my simple to read dials anytime, and while on the subject of simple all the other do goodie stuff like linked brakes ABS FI etc, can also go by by, who needs it. Bikes are getting way over the top complicated IMO, and as far as ride went, Ha My 750 is just as comphy and rails like no other, and sounds way cooler, but then I've added some goodies too. Not bashing a 6th gen, it is what it is, and that is it's definitely not a VFR of the past. Honda thinking they needed to mess with a good thing? not priceless Still think there's room for 2 models, one sport, one touring.
As far as Freddie goes, he' gets the latest from Honda, so no surprise, would you turn down a new model bike? like it's been said a many times its 90% rider and 10% bike, he'd out ride us on a VF500. The dude just has skills.

[Moby]

Thanks guys. So what I've gleaned so far:

1) The 5th is sportier, the 6th is more touring
2) Fuel economy isn't particularly different
3) During the first few years of VTEC the 'jump' was reportedly quite sudden, but still perfectly usable
4) After 06 the transition has become a lot smoother
5) 5th owners think the 6th is namby pamby and over engineered
6) 6th owners think it's the dog's bollocks
7) The two camps rarely agree
8) Both camps long for a 7th Gen so they can unite in taking the piss out of that instead
9) Ultimately, I have to make the choice myself
10) VFRs are the top, regardless of which one you choose.

Does that about cover it?

[Moby]

Originally Posted by PorscheBob

So, the analysis of this thread seems to indicate to me that fifth generation bikes are/should be going up in resale value.

Attention all 5th generation owners....especially '98/'99 owners...if you sell your bike (horrible thought) jack up the price by at least 30%.

The '98/'99 VFRs are going to be collectibles!!!

But...you can't have mine.

But seriously does that mean the 98/99 5th is better in some way to the 00 or 01 5ths? And if so, how?

Or is it just cos that's what you own?

I'm looking at a '00 5th at the moment, 23K miles, around £2,000 ($US 4,000). Well serviced etc

Sound any good?

[RVFR]

Yellow 00 version is the best 5th, but that's after a red 97 4th

[R.W.]

Originally Posted by Moby

Thanks guys. So what I've gleaned so far:

1) The 5th is sportier, the 6th is more touring
2) Fuel economy isn't particularly different
3) During the first few years of VTEC the 'jump' was reportedly quite sudden, but still perfectly usable
4) After 06 the transition has become a lot smoother
5) 5th owners think the 6th is namby pamby and over engineered
6) 6th owners think it's the dog's bollocks
7) The two camps rarely agree
8) Both camps long for a 7th Gen so they can unite in taking the piss out of that instead
9) Ultimately, I have to make the choice myself
10) VFRs are the top, regardless of which one you choose.

Does that about cover it?

LOL, You have gained a lot of knowledge and obviously did your homework in such a short amount of time, I can't really argue with any of your top 10

Originally Posted by Moby

But seriously does that mean the 98/99 5th is better in some way to the 00 or 01 5ths? And if so, how?

Not to much of a difference, Over here in the States the 98 & 99's have a Choke "fast idle lever" and the 2000's & 2001's have catalytic converters and better mirrors, other than the 2000's being yellow there isn't to much of a difference.

Originally Posted by Moby

I think I've decided to go for something like a 2001 VFR800, as I think I'd get on with it the best of all and I marginally prefer it's looks to the 750.

[junktionfet]

Someday I want to ride a 4th or 5th gen to see what it's like. We've had some mad nice weather here this week so I've been riding the hell out of my new '06. I'm so glad I bought it because it is proving to be so satisfying to ride/toss-around/rev-up/etc. I'm guessing that my bike inherited some of those traits from its ancestors.

[Desblaze]

Like all you guys have said. each to his own. We all have different taste and thats what makes the biking community so great. For me tho I love the look of the 6th Gen Vfr. The 5th gen may have been a great bike to ride but for me its not all about the performance. If it doesn't have the look I just can't ride it. Sorry guys but the earlier models (5th gen) just look so old and out dates. Hey I don't like the look of naked bikes but a lot of them sell don't they.

Originally Posted by Moby

Thanks guys. So what I've gleaned so far:

1) The 5th is sportier, the 6th is more touring
2) Fuel economy isn't particularly different
3) During the first few years of VTEC the 'jump' was reportedly quite sudden, but still perfectly usable
4) After 06 the transition has become a lot smoother
5) 5th owners think the 6th is namby pamby and over engineered
6) 6th owners think it's the dog's bollocks
7) The two camps rarely agree
8) Both camps long for a 7th Gen so they can unite in taking the piss out of that instead
9) Ultimately, I have to make the choice myself
10) VFRs are the top, regardless of which one you choose.

Does that about cover it?

Moby, you've hit the nail on the head there. Think your summing up just about covers everything. You are so right about point 8 as well

Btw, you wanna buy my '02?

[stellenbrav]

I ride a 06 vtec. The styling was what sold me on the bike. I haven't riden a previous generation VFR so I can't compare but I have owned other sportbikes, all in-line 4's.
The vtec does nothing for me, neither good or bad, I can take it or leave it. If you ride aggressive and don't want the "surge", simply keep the bike above 6400 rpm. The surge has never really bother me except for the first time I hit it and thought something had went very wrong with my brand new bike.
I personally don't like over-complicated engines but I love this bike and I can't think of anything I would rather ride.

[fotomoto]

Originally Posted by Moby

Thanks guys. So what I've gleaned so far:


Does that about cover it?

Yup. Now never, ever ask again!

Since you're in England, I'd suggest checking the exhaust on any pre-cat exhaust system (86-99). They tend to rot out in your rainy climate. The post-cat systems are stainless steel and should hold up much better.

[XRayHound]

tl;dr, but my 2 cents on the VFR VTEC is if it actually WERE the same system as the more advanced car VTEC iterations (perhaps coupled with the pneumatic valvetrain tech) then it would be highly desirable; as it is, it's simply choking the engine below 6400RPM.
Now, with real multiple camshaft profiles like in the genuine VTEC systems, you could have hooligan torque and screaming top end in a way Yamaha's YCC-I can only dream of delivering.
Disclaimer: Have never rode a 6th gen VFR and probabaly never will. YMMV.

[reg71]

Originally Posted by Moby

So would you (and others) say that if I'm going to buyt a Vtec model I should aim for a later one and not the first few years (02, 03, 04); have they got better and if so when did they start improving?

Also, does the Vtec give substantially better fuel economy?

I ask as someone looking to buy my first VFR and not being sure whether to go for a late 5th or a 6th.

Any help appreciated

I borrow my opinion a bit from a guy I know who I rode with last year. He wrote the book about VFRs that sells on this site. When I spoke to him of the new bikes he told me he disliked the VTEC and why. His rationale was, they added gadgetry that did not advance the motorcycle, and when the transition came in during a curve, it could potentially be dangerous to a new rider, and damned annoying to him. I rode a friends and the VTEC didn't bother me. It was no WHAM BAM kick in the pants either, it was just a little surge that happened. I think it's probably not a big deal if you go either way, BUT I do not think it's worth paying extra to get a new one if you find an older one with lower miles, etc... Hell, if I had run into a 4g for $3000 (how much I had saved) that's what I'd be riding and tellin all the 5g guys why it was just fine and didn't need linked brakes or fuel injection.