Why is the bike so heavy?

Discussion in '8th Generation 2014-Present' started by GatorGreg, Sep 16, 2016.

  1. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Good question with good answers. It is what it is and there's a VFR (Interceptor?) in my garage as it rains right now.

    IMHO, the Japanese (with a few exceptions) don't use engineering design or materials any more "exotic" or innovative than necessary. They are very good at meeting function, cost, reliability, and value objectives.

    Using BMW as an example, the brand almost everyone likes to slam, they have always had some very interesting products. I've owned three of them, all high performance machines that I ran hard including track use. Not one single time did any of the three need to go in a shop because something broke or didn't work right. Just book maintenance and a lot of tires were the bulk of my costs to own. I'm probably the least brand loyal person on earth. I just get what I want and don't care if it's a Honda, BMW, Apple, Maglite, or giraffe. One certainty though is that I will never own another General Motors product as long as I live. FWIW.
     
  2. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    I still have doubts if the v4 and sssa weigh more, maybe for the rigidity factor it sorta makes sense on a structure basis, thing is when looking at this behemoth of a swing arm on the CBR vs the VFR sssa unit, I doubt very much there's not but a few ounces "if" , one needs to take in account axle and chain tensor too. On the V4 platform, if it's so heavy, why is it used in motogp? Aprilia using it in WSB, yea I believe it's all in the little things that add up, Frame and sub frame made for two, all the electrical bs, different materiel etc, easy to get rid of 40lbs if you start trimming the fat, but that would cost money, and since the VFR was never, after the first gens, made for competition, it never got the goods, even though its a great bike deserving the attention. Guess Honda left that part for us to figure out huh.
     
  3. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    The SSSA is not used in MotoGP. It is on WSBK bikes, as these are based on production motorcycles.
     
  4. Sniper

    Sniper New Member

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    How much weight did VTEC add?

    The weight, and less top end power is enough of a turn off for me to not buy a G8.
     
  5. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    OOTV I new that ;) I was referring to the V4 platform, there's a lot of speculation the v4 is heaver. maybe in street versions. but not so when we get into the sport versions. I believe the move away from the SSSA was a cost for what you get in rigidity and build ease. even race bikes tend to watch what they say, bang for the buck.
     
  6. REEK

    REEK New Member

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    If my IPA damaged brain remembers correctly, wasn't the original function of the SSSA for quick tire change? And atleast for Ducati, then once that was seen not to actually be a real factor, they tried to go to a traditional swing arm for weight savings. I think early 2000's. But sales dropped with their 999 traditional swingarm bike so they went back to SSSA for sales number purposes. Weight penalty is worth the cool factor!
     
  7. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Not to mention the SSSA was staple for the RC series too, so it can't be all that bad. As times and materiel change with price and design, things like this move around.
    That being said, Whats interesting here is there seems to be an ideal weight for just roaming around on the street vs. the track. As nibble as the CBR is at the track, it's a lousy street bike. When on the freeway it's lightness is felt, doesn't feel planted nor stable, yes doable but? Now add the VFRs weight, yes it's a bit porky on the track, but doable, but makes for a great street bike, so that magic spot that's like 40lbs away isn't all that far off, LOL run around on empty I guess. Maybe another reason why the Tuono is also good as an all a rounder too at + or - at the 460lb range. any thing lighter gets silly, especially the SMs, Oh the fun yes, but? the street isn't a race track, yet I get it, What a contradiction that was. bottom line I guess, there's compromises in everything.
     
  8. VFR4Lee

    VFR4Lee Member

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    I wanna know why it has LESS power than the original 800 in the year 1998. :crazy:
     
  9. jhenley17

    jhenley17 New Member

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    Much tighter emission and noise regulations on the same basic engine, I'm sure.


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  10. 01ragtop

    01ragtop Member

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    For a bike that isn't raced, why does the weight and or power matter? Don't get me wrong, when seconds matter, I understand the need to keep the weight down, but on a bike like the VFR? It's more than nimble and powerful enough to handle the street and then some. So Honda didn't engineer out some added weight where they could have, would you pay the price for the R&D? Most already complain the 8th gen is too expensive. What exactly would a reduction of 40lbs gain you?

    Sure, 30 to 40 more ponies would be fun on the straights, would it make you any faster in the curves?

    Maybe I'm missing something. I just don't get this issue of weight or power on the vfr. There are too many low weight high power alternatives out there; did you buy the wrong bike?
     
  11. jhenley17

    jhenley17 New Member

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    I bought this bike to have fun and commute on. I don't want lighter weight and more power to shave my lap times, I want it to have more fun. I'm happy enough as it is, but with a little more power than current 600s and 480-500 pounds, I would have paid MSRP without hesitation.


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  12. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    Excellent - this prayer entitles me to sleep in late tomorrow and skip church :glee:
     
  13. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    If your Q's are directed to me I think you may have misread the intentions of my original post/question. I didn't mention anything about the power of the bike - I'm quite happy with it. I didn't want a SuperSport or expect the Interceptor to perform like one. As I stated earlier, I'm not complaining about the weight - but you have to admit this bike has a little bit of junk in her trunk :bootyshake2:
     
  14. Bubba Utah

    Bubba Utah Member

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    I like the G.M. promise! Nor would or ever had! G.M. destroyed the Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac name brands!
     
  15. Bubba Utah

    Bubba Utah Member

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    It's like a lost love! You have to let go and move on! Though I may be a stalker since I really want the Sv1000s back. I almost had one before buying the VFR with 1100 miles. I am not a fan of 'Used Goods" and should not have sold mine with the optional full fairing, gel seat and other goodies. It also had front and back adjustable pre loads and damping on both ends. love what I have, but miss what I was stupid enough to let go. That's life.
     
  16. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    Haven't seen anyone mention the linked braking equipment, that's not insignificant.
     
  17. Arnzinator

    Arnzinator New Member

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    Keep in mind the OP is referencing his 2014 VFR. That did away with LBS, dual radiators, lighter exhaust & few other weight savings compared to Gen 6's.
     
  18. Sniper

    Sniper New Member

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    Lee, Honda has bought into the Wussification of America, Big Time. That's why you get traction control on a bike that has less HP than its 15 year old ancestor.

    Did you see the vid of the pretty boy that gets out of his "job", wearing a prestine white shirt. He then dons his Ace jacket, trying very much to look the part. We used to call those guys "posers". He gets on his scooter, complete with an automatic transmission. (Then pretty boy gets off scooter) test rider then t takes the scooter down a gravel road that has been processed to the point where it's smoother than any concrete highway I've ever been on.

    That's Honda's target audience.

    I've started buying old bikes. Back when bikes had balls. Lee, buy a 990 Super Duke. Fast, light , comfy, rowdy. But keep the VFR.
     
  19. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Amazes me how many people pay money for a VFR then go on line and bitch about how they decided to spend their money. There isn't a perfect bike.

    It also amazes me how some people write that the 8th gen. is somehow inferior because it allegedly lost less than 10mph on the top end speed. Why does anyone want to go that fast anyway? The 8th gen. engine is happier at the full rpm range than any other generation and it makes the bike much easier to ride. It matters less what gear the bike is in most of the time. That, to me, is worth something. Going in the single digits faster on top end is worth nothing to me. :courage:
     
  20. 01ragtop

    01ragtop Member

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    Not specifically aimed at you. I read your question as more of technical understanding. My questions are general, and not meant to put anyone on the spot. The VFR is a fine motorcycle, if you take away the 7th gen, one that hasn't received a lot of development in almost 2 decades. I know, yes, some things have changed, but I think we can agree that most all of the refinements have been evolutionary not revolutionary. Again, 7th gen aside.

    What made a great street bike in 1998 makes a great street bike today, that's why there are so many guys on here still riding 5th gens. Some of them would argue, wrongly in my mind, that the 5th gen is better than the 8th. So Honda refined and restyled a good street bike, gave it better brakes, good looks, shaved some weight, added some features, etc and called it a day. Lazy on their part, perhaps, but this isn't a big section of the market. But they end up with a great street bike with a strong reputation for very little investment.

    There just isn't enough competition in this market segment to warrant cutting edge R&D. Combine that with the current philosophy at Big Red,(they don't seem to be putting a whole lot of R&D into the flagship CBR as of late) and the 8th gen is what you get. If you want quality buy a Honda, if you want cutting edge, well that's, apparently, not what they do anymore, sadly.
     
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