Hi all, ~11 year rider here from SoCal; after doing a lot of research I settled on the VFR as my next bike (hopefully a bike I'll keep for a long time/forever?) Just got my first VFR800, a 2014 standard version with low miles. I've only ridden it once to get it home, but it was a great ride! A few things I need to learn/address - the front brake/wheel makes a buzzing sound after the front brake is applied until it comes to a stop - haven't seen that one before. Also - I bought the bike intending to ride together with my wife, but it didn't come with the pillion seat - only the rear seat cowl. Turns out, it seems there aren't a lot of 8th Gen pillion seats on eBay, so I'll be making a WTB thread soon. Thanks for having me; looking forward to learning more about the bike, and riding it more and more. Cheers!
Welcome Indri. The '14 VFR 800 is a great version to have. Regarding your brake noise: does the sound only happen when the brake is applied? Does it go away when you release the brake? If you still have the contact information of the previous owner, you should ask if the pillion seat is tucked away in a closet or the corner of the garage someware. If you strike out with pre-owned options, they look to be avilable from Honda https://www.babbittsonline.com/oemparts/p/honda/77300-mjm-d01za/seat-assy-pillion-type1 If you havent already, introduce yourself and post up a photo or two of your VFR in a new forum in the "Introduction" section.
Hi Indri and Welcome to the MadHouse When you get time please create a post in the "introductions" section to say Hi to the rest of the folks on here and tell us a bit about you and your riding history. Extra kudos if you include a photo or two of your new VFR -as the folks on here really like photos. It is easy just click on the "upload a file" link and follow the prompts to select and upload an image. After 8 generations Honda had indeed pretty much got the VFR recipe right and banished the electrical gremlins which many earlier VFRs suffered from. You may have spotted there is a large West Coast contingent on here scattered from Canada down to Mexico. If you update your forum profile to include an approximate location (city/town is ample) you may find plenty of folks to ride / meet up with for a blast on PCH or Rossi's Driveway(Hwy 229). As for the brakes making a buzzing noise - that is a new one on me and it certainly does not happen with my 8th Gen. So it makes sense to investigate further just in case something in or near the calipers is working loose. Obviously the noise may be coming from other nearby components, so closely inspect for loose mounting bolts on the caliper, forks, front mudguard and cable connections. Is the buzzing consistent all the while the brake lever is applied or does it change frequency with the change in speed? I ask because if something (lump of road tar) gets trapped under the mudguard, then under braking it might press on the tyre(tire) tread and as that is corrugated it could generate a buzzing noise which would change frequency as you loose speed. If the noise only happens during braking you may need to head to a vacant (quiet) parking lot, and arrange to ride past an assistant a few times to try and better identify the source of the noise. If that fails to identify the source then speak to the seller or just get a local motorbike shop to check it out. Never take risks with brakes or tyres. Good luck with the VFR - take care ATGATT SkiMad
Thank you all for your responses! I'll make another thread in the Introductions area. Unfortunately, no rear seat to be found from the prior owner - the owner before him seemed to have lost it. These are the most helpful responses to a rather vague question I've ever received on a forum. I would describe the sound almost like an extremely fast ticking noise - so fast it almost sounds like a continuous smooth buzz. During my ride home, the buzzing noise would start immediately upon applying the front brake, and would not stop until the wheel came to a halt - even after removing pressure from the brake lever. Frequency did not seem to change as speed decreased - but I may have to listen hard again. Makes that a headscratcher for me. I did not think about something stuck under the mudguard, or aftermarket rotors. Thank you for the tips. I will investigate and report findings.
Outside North America we only got what you call the Deluxe model of the VFR800 2014-2017 I am not therefore sure if your Standard VFR800 has the same seat as we have this side of the pond. If it was a deluxe model I suspect the part number for the pillion(rear) seat and related mounting bungs would be 77300MJMD01ZA Parts fiches in Europe do not cover North American models so I am not sure if this link to the deluxe equivalent will help but it should give an idea of what you are trying to source. https://www.bike-parts-honda.com/ho...800FE/Frame/SINGLE-SEAT-2-/72862/F_23/2/16448 In theory the pillion seat is still available from Honda dealers but obviously at eye watering prices even before you add in international shipping costs ... In Europe this site has them listed as still available. https://www.cmsnl.com/products/seat-assypillion_77300mjmd01za/ You may find the seat is potentially available in the States from David Silver Spares.. but may be a back-order item. https://www.davidsilverspares.com/parts/by-part-number/part_77300MJMD01ZA/ On cost grounds you may be better off calling or emailing around motorcycle dismantling/breakers yards to see if they are parting out a wrecked VFR800F. Good luck SkiMad
Hi Indri and welcome. I bought a 2014 Interceptor about one year ago and it's the nicest bike I have ever owned. I ride to work almost every day on it. One of the biggest requirements for me is how well a bike does two-up, now that I am remarried to a woman that loves to ride. She didn't know she did before she met me : ) The rear seat is broad and flat and there is plenty of room to the footrests. She has nothing but praise for the rear riding station on this bike. I bought the OEM Honda bar risers to bring the reach up a little. The other thing I have used for many years for two-up is "Love Handles" (posted link). I can't see riding two-up without them since I discovered them. It makes your passenger feel very safe and connected to the ride. I get compliments all the time from other riders that have never seen them before. Check them out I know your wife will love them : ) Motorbike Pillion PAL / Motorcycle Passenger Love Handles for Holding on for sale online | eBay
The 8th gen is the sweetest of all gens of the VFRs in my mind. I was all ready to trade off my 6th gen on a used 2015 model that was low mileage (I think it was about 15K km) came with factory baggage and white. Everything I wanted. But after riding it for an hour, I was quite sore. Seems they have changed the ergonomics between the 6th and 8th gen. There is too much cramping of the lower legs for me and my tired bones. So I spent some money on my baby and am still riding it with 227,000 km...all mine. Welcome to the forum. As you can see, there it talent here who will answer your enquiries if posted in the Mechanic's Garage section. A great bunch of guys and a few gals.
Congrats on the 8th gen. This is being sold on the classifieds that might work for you and your wife. https://vfrworld.com/threads/corbin-seat-from-‘14-vfr.60908/
Just noticed that seat link. I would not do that to my 8th gen. It would need leopard fur accents to make it look right.
Actually I don't have the lighting installed yet. I started to, but it was going to take a few days to sort it out to find mounting spots on the bike. I would need to remove all bodywork and the tank too. Just not willing to give up use of the bike right now as I ride it to work every day. I plan on making a serious attempt at it again when I tear the entire bike down for it's valve inspection in the future. There just is no great mounting locations for LED's on these bikes. I'll figure something out but it won't be what I was envisioning originally.
