This explanation was provided by David M. Matthew, a long-time VFR Lister. As David was saying, "To know what VFR stands for, we need to back-track into history first."VFxxxF
VF= Vee 4 as in a 4 cylinder engine in a V-4 configuration (Not in-line 4)
F=Honda's designation as a street/sport bike (Designed as a street bike first, racing 2nd as in CBR600F-2/3, yes we know it's raced but...)VFxxxR
VF=Vee 4 as in a 4 cylinder in a V-4 configuration (Not in-line 4)
R=Honda's designation as a racing bike, though homologated for "minimum sold" to the public to be legal for racing in some organizationsVFxxxS
VF=Vee 4 as in a 4 cylinder in a V-4 configuration (Not in-line 4)
S=Honda's designation as a street bike (V-45S, Sabre)VFxxxC
VF=Vee 4 as in a 4 cylinder in a V-4 configuration (Not in-line 4)
C=Honda's designation as a Custom street bike (V-45C, Magna)In 1986 the "Focus" of the interceptor changed to a platform for Honda's Superbike hence the VFRxxxF which meant that is was still a street bike first but with the intention to be raced. After that we see a split into two (2) bikes, the VFRxxxR (RC30) pure race bike that they had to build 500 copies of to make them legal for Superbike racing and the VFRxxxF street/sport bike.
Also note that the RVF designation of the RC45 and it's little brother, the current RVF400R. RVF's came from the "Parent Design" of the "Works" bikes used in World endurance and some European "Superbike" (production) racing series that have sported that prefix sense 1982-ish.
Oh and of course VTRxxxF is the new V-Twin street/sport bike. The "Super Hawk" will "be dubbed VTR1000SP" according to Motorcyclist 5/97.
