Hello all, New to the VFR forum, mainly as I have always liked the look of the VFR, and would have bought a yellow VFR800Fi if only I had a license at the time. New I have the license and have been riding for a few years I am considering a change of bike, possibly to VFR but need to do my research!
Hi and Welcome to the Forum. I take it you also enjoy skiing! When it comes to choosing a new motorbike - it is very easy to get overwhelmed by the seemingly unlimited choice of rmanufacturers, models and options. So before considering specific motorbikes you may want to work out first what it is likely to be used for. It is important to be realistic - whilst we may all dream of setting off some day on a round the world trip and rush to buy a hardcore adventure bike, if most of your riding is actually going to be trips on fully paved roads down to nearest shops then there are loads of more affordable bikes which can cover that duty. As for VFRs they are the consumate all rounder, solid, well built, but generally cheap to own and run, and if you can find one with luggage they make a competent two up tourer. Obviously they are no match for a hard core race machine but can still make decent progress. Likewise whilst they are not an ideal choice for long trips on unpaved roads, a comptent rider can usually make reasonable progress on a typical gravel tracks. Sadly prior to the 7th Gen (1200) VFR model, electrical gremlins have left many VFR owners stranded. Honda finally got around to installing more reliable charging systems onto the 7th & 8th Gen VFRs. However many owners of 6th Gen and earlier models quickly realised the answer was to replace the stock Regulator Rectifier with a decent Shindengen RR before it had a chance to melt wires, boil batteries, and kill stators. When it comes to choosing between VFR models, there are loads of earlier models still providing great service, but the march of time has seen parts availability become increasingly an issue for them, with some owners having to resort to purchasing a parts bike to keep a similar bike running. Indeed even the newest 6th Gen models are now well over 8 years old, so it probably won't be very long before most Honda dealers cease carrying any specialist parts and accessories for them. Within the VFR generations, Honda have always endeavoured to make every new model better than its predecessor, if only to ensure that Honda would get plenty of follow on sales. The counter part to this is these bikes are immensely strong, so don't let mileage alone, unduly influence your choice. A newer but well maintained high mileage bike may make a better choice than an older model with far less miles, especially as some spare parts are now becoming unobtanium. Good luck with the search - and don't forget to post up pictures if you buy a VFR. SkiMad
