2001 Honda VFR800Fi ~ What a great motorcycle

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by cinelliguy, Dec 14, 2013.

  1. cinelliguy

    cinelliguy New Member

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    So a few month ago I ran in to this other motorcyclist. He has owned many many motos, me really only two, a 1974 Dunstall Norton and a 1994 Ducati 900SS/SP. Both bikes are very well sorted, many happy miles on each. Well, the Norton, I must include many unhappy breakdowns mixed in with the happy miles. ...Moving on. So I ask this other guy what is his favorite motorcycle. He says without hesitation, Honda VFR 5th gen. I ask him to tell me more, I like and respect this guy, I want to know. So after the conversation I set out to buy a 5th gen VFR and after a while I find a 2001 14K miles, nice shape and buy it.

    The VFR has been sitting a while so I drop it off at my shop, they start cleaning it up, tune up including valve clearance check, all in spec, no adjustment needed, refresh front fork with Racetech with gold valves, refresh the rear shock, rebuild clutch master, replace all brake and clutch lines, tidy tail, grip warmers, basically get the bike's act together.

    Mind you, I have ridden this bike maybe 10 miles, no mountain roads (twisties). Basically just a ride to see if the thing is sound. So I call the shop this morning, ask how it is doing. Bike is ready to go. So I pick it up, head off to the mountains that run along the San Francisco peninsula. My experience is mainly on the Ducati, a very active ride, very involving, stiff and a good amount of torque under 7K.

    So, now on the VFR, I get settled in, get a feel for it. Totally smooth ride, great brakes, decent handling, very forgiving. I also noticed the amazing shifting smoothness unlike the Ducati's rifle bolt-action shifting. This bike is so dang easy to ride! I can not believe it! Such a total pleasure!

    Anyway, just wanted to share my total pleasure in this motorcycle and can not wait for the next nice long ride!

    ~ Guy
     

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  2. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    Welcome to the forum!
     
  3. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Welcome to The World Guy! Seems we have very similar taste in vehicles! The Duc (Mine is a 95 900SS/SP) does require a little more muscle and attention but where as the 01 VFR seems to just want to do what you're thinking! A few people thought I was crazy when I bought the 01 for use as purely a "sport" bike, as I already had the 09 and the Duc. However the 01 does seem to be a bit better in the twisty stuff than both of the other bikes. That being said, I won't be giving any of them up anytime soon!
     
  4. vfrcapn

    vfrcapn Member

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    Welcome, great looking bike and great area to ride.

    Overlooking PA on Skyline Blvd, about 10 years ago.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Mohawk

    Mohawk New Member

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    Welcome & you are correct. A friend of mine went to a bike meet a couple of weeks back with another friend, we both have Viffers & rave about them, his is a 6th gen, mine a 5th. So friend #2 let's friend #1 borrow his ZXR750 on the way to the meet & friend #1 is ecstatic, it's everything he thought it would be. So on the way home they swap bikes, friend #1 had never ridden either bike before & on the way home checks his speedo, 120mph ! Thought he was doing 80 ! Could not believe this comfy armchair 6th gen was keeping up with our mate on the ZXR750 who was trying to lose him & he didn't even notice the effort, but had on the ZXR on the way to the meet! So yes great bikes ;)
     
  6. marriedman

    marriedman New Member

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    Damn! Must be nice to be able to buy a bike and drop it off to farkle it out - so jealous! Congrats on choosing the VFR BTW.

    lol, I think that is the best description of a Duc tranny I have ever heard. Welcome to the forum!

    I know you said you had the bike "refreshed", but I'll still be throwing this out there. You are going to want to replace the R/R with a MOSFET one:
    http://roadstercycle.com/

    Unless you want to install thicker wires, I would also recommend a VFRness. A friend of mine did a whole new wiring job for my bike, but the VFRness works for many people.
    http://www.wiremybike.com/vfr-specific-parts-2000-2001-vfr-parts-2000-2001-vfrness-p-270.html
     
  7. Outboard John

    Outboard John New Member

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    Welcome Guy. You forgot to mention one of the best sounding engine/exhaust notes ever!
    John
     
  8. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Hi and welcome to the MadHouse:welcome:

    That is quite a fleet of bikes you have there.

    A big thumbs up for adding a photo with your first post. :thumbsup:At just 14,000 miles that bike has only just been run in, and those sliders suggest it was obviously someone's pride and joy, so it looks like quite a find.

    You are going about it right - take time to get a feel for the bike and it won't be long before the VFR keys are the first ones you will go for, especially if you can enjoy that sort of view!

    Take care



    SkiMad
     
  9. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    welcome to the collective knowledge of what people ride when the like to ride. you'll be hard pressed to find a really negative review of any VFR made in the last 15 years or so. These bikes are known to go 100-200 thousand miles with just routine maintenance.
     
  10. cinelliguy

    cinelliguy New Member

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    @ marriedman ~ will do, great idea.

    @ Outbound John ~ the engine sound is really cool, I think at sometime I would like to change the exhaust to bring that feature a bit more forward. Since I want to ride long distances with this bike I am thinking quiet is best for reducing fatigue? Overall, the sounds the bike make are cool, like it a lot.

    @ others, thanks for the comments. I will try to post and contribute to the cause here.

    Thanks.
    Guy
     
  11. nookiaz

    nookiaz New Member

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    Welcome ! The engine sound is great = the gear whine has no equal! Do get a less restrictive muffler to bring out the sound.
     
  12. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

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    Welcome to the 5th gen madness!
     
  13. marriedman

    marriedman New Member

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    Gotta agree with you there. I have 3 cans for my bike. I have the stock, a 2 Bros high mount carbon fiber, and then a Delkevic low mount carbon fiber. I use the Delkevic for when I am touring with the luggage and the 2 Bros for around town and twisty rides. I don't use the boat anchor stock can. The 2 Bros sounds the best out of the 3, but the Delkevic is lighter and doesn't get in the way of the hard cases. The stock is the quietest of the three, but it also weighs 3 times as much!

    Delkevic are inexpensive and they are actually pretty good. Real carbon fiber too, not a decal like the DanMoto stuff. Pretty good customer service too.
     
  14. cinelliguy

    cinelliguy New Member

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    marriedman ~ you are a smartman too; talk about building in personal choice and flexibility! I totally get that idea and am going to head in that direction.
     
  15. mikesmini1977

    mikesmini1977 New Member

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    Buy a decent quality pipe and make sure you get a db killer with it for when you do long rides so you have the best of both worlds. My staintune highrise pipe is pretty loud which is fun when fanging around but I don't mind a bit of quiet when I go down the highways for a while. Enjoy what I consider a modern classic.
     
  16. Pliskin

    Pliskin New Member

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    Congrats and welcome to the forum.

    You might find the stock seat to be a little uncomfortable in time. The usual choices: Sargent; Corbin; or have yours custom made to fit your ass. My Corbin works for me, but to each his own.

    And to add on to Marriedman's comments about the Regulator/Rectifier, here's a little thread to pass by your time. Definitely one of the VFR's shortcomings, but all can be prevented/fixed.

    http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/39277-How-to-fix-common-regulator-Stator-failures
     
  17. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Welcome and enjoy the best of both worlds with the Duck and Viffer......shoud of NEVER sold my 94 900----:(
     
  18. Skifreak

    Skifreak New Member

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    Welcome Cinellinguy.

    I agree with everyone else. The affection for the VFR only grows once you put on a good pipe and hear the V-4 growl echo off canyon walls.
     
  19. Mark 024

    Mark 024 New Member

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    Welcome aboard,
    I just bought a Ducati Darmah and I had a laugh at the 'bolt action' gear selection as well. The VFR is the best bike ever made.
     
  20. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    A belate :welcome: to the madness :wave:
    Enjoy your new to you ride, she will keep you happy for many years to come :thumbsup:
     
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