gear or chain driven cams?

I had to sell my '98 about 2 years ago. When the 6th gen came out, I was very upset they ditched the gear driven cams. I thought it gave my bike just a little bit of soul. Sorry...getting misty eyed. I'm now thinking of getting another VFR, as there is no better bike. My problem is this....should I get another '98-'00 or should i get an '06-'07. I tried to read up over the years to gain a better perspective on the VTEC and why. I need to hear from my fellow Viffers just how you feel....on the topic and on the 6th gen overall package.

 

ooo this out a be good.. Me being a 4th gen owner can't comment much, but if ya had too, 2nd choice should be what you had. 1st choice is what I have..

 

Great bike ...the 3rd and 4th generations are what got me into VFR's.

 

I sold my 5th for a 6th and haven't regretted it once.

 

Oh man you sure like to start an argument don't you. But seriously both are great bikes. I ride a 6th, I believe it has some advantages in refinement over the 5th but there are a lots of 5th guys who think I talk treason. I would say try them both and go with what you like. The 5th will cost less but it is older so you need to be more careful in checking it out but there are lots of good deals out there if you are patient.

 

Okay, I can offer my experience; I have a 5th gen AND a 6th gen. Like Grinder said, the later gen is more refined and smoother in operation. I love the gear whine of my '99, but the VTEC boost of the '06 is awesome! My '99 has a PC, K&N and 2Bro full exhaust (I like to think of it as my budget mid-life crisis "italian sportscar"), so the refined manner of my fully stock '06 is even more apparent. I did get to ride an '00 that was fully stock, and it was still not as silky as the '06. You have a tough choice to make, brother. Good Luck.

 

well put, yea 6th gen a bit more refined, yep 5th gen a little bit on the rowdy side there, I hope that helps

 

General rule of thumb is 6th is more touring oriented, 4th & 5th more sporty, I always watch my words when it comes to threads like this and the 6 generation riders, Because they are like China, Don't want to wake a sleeping giant and there is just to many of them. :lol:

 

2000 VFR is the bestest EVAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'll say that you should get a '98-'01 VFR, but I am a bit biased.

:biggrin:

 

I own a 1st gen and a 6th gen. i do like the gear whine but my 06 is orders of magnitude better in all aspects of performance. i am thinking of getting an 2000 almost bought one but it sold before I called. my fault couldn't make up my mind. got made for me. so when i saw the pearl white 6th Gen I was in love (lust) and bought it.

 

I have only been on my 06 since November, but it's a blast to ride.. So what part of Arizona are you in ?

 

I now own an 04', but have ridden at one time or another the 86',97',99' and now 04'. The 5th does feel lighter and gear whine rocks, I just wasn't going to buy a bike older than my last on general principal (an 01 FZ1).

I did spend 7k on a virtually new bike with mods, and some want to stay 3500-5000k so you can't go wrong either way.:yo:

You'll certainly get more respect around here on an older bike:hail:

 

I bought my y2k bike when the vtec bike was introduced in 02. I asked a bike mechanic friend about the vtec motor and his reply was " why would you want the complexity of a vtec?" I could'nt answer his question, therefore I have the 2000 vfr, plus I like the looks on other bikers faces when they hear the gear driven cams in my bike when I stop for fuel or a rest area.

 

I still prefer my 4g (I've had it for nine years now), it's the bike I really wanted those years ago and my opinion hasn't changed. I wouldn't mind having a 5g in yellow and i don't care for the look of the 6g at all (personal choice, of course). I like the hooligan aspect of the 4g; not particularly refined, not many doo-dads and i can keep up with pretty much anybody. Plus the gear-driven cams make a sound too sweet to live without.

 

You cannot go wrong with any generation of the VFR. I still have a preference for the 2k Yellow VFR. While the 06 does have a VTEC engine, the brakes and suspension are more refined than the 5th Generation. You can look for a low mileage 2k VFR and spend approx $3k on suspension & brakes upgrades: penske rear shock & Race Tech Gold valve kit - Tires and wheels - Galfer SS brake lines), Sargent or Corbin seat, heated handgrips. Also, remember there are are no factory bags for the 5th generation and the alternatives are really pricey (also may want Power Commander, K&N, exhaust upgrade) - I am still in favor of getting a 5 Gen VFR only because of the difference in maintenance cost - the 5th generation is cheaper to manitain. I gotta admit though when you add it up the numbers favor getting a leftover 2006. I love my 2k VFR, but being someone with a frugal nature I think the 6 gen is the better investment. The scheduled maintenance cost would be the only thing I would be concerned with. Plus if you get it new you can be the one to break her in. My vote is to get the 6 generation.

 

All this may be true, I've had the Race tech and penske suspension done last spring,there's no way Honda's stock suspension can match good aftermarket parts, ebc or dp hh+ brake pads are a great improvement also inexpensive, K&N better than stock, sargent for sure is better than stock, I don't think the average rider needs braided lines unless he's on a track, do the new vfr's come heated grips? sooner or later all these parts are gonna have to be changed so what makes the 6th gen better than the previous? My RKA soft saddlebags are great quality and way cheaper than factory hardbags, I did like the hardbags on my old st1100, but not enough that I would pay the dollars for the 6th gen prices for hardbags.I like all vfr's, maybe in the end whatever generation bike we own we are gonna modify it to suit our needs.

 

Regarding comments on not needing to mod the gen 6. Like all bikes it has some issues. I have changed a few things to suit me, helibars, zero gravity screen and added saddlebags. The suspension while being better than a gen 5 is still a bit soft for me (215lbs with gear) so I will probably change the fork springs at some stage. Also on my wish list is a sargent seat, the stock isn't great. There are a few other things on the wish list but they apply to pretty much any bike so not an issue for comparison purposes. I still say you are best to go with the one you like the most. Its kind of like icecream, chocolate isn't better than vanilla its just what you prefer.