My 06 VFR800 vs. My 07 Honda 919

I maybe a few years behind the times but I thought I would write up my comparison between these two bikes- these days they happen to both be parked in my garage. The 919 is "mine" while the VFR800 has the honor of being ridden by my wife.
The bikes:

2007 Honda 919 pretty much stock
101 horsepower, 65ft lbs of torque
460lbs
Renthal Ultra-low bars, motivation USA frame sliders
Michelin Power pure tires
current odometer: 10,500 miles
Purchased new as a leftover in late 2009
*won Cycle World magazine's "Best used Bike" shootout -2011. Probably the 919's only magazine/expert award ever.
Honda 919 Standard/Naked Best Used Bikes- CW


2006 Honda VFR 800
110 Horsepower 59ft lbs of torque
540 lbs
Pazzo levers, 2 Brothers carbon fiber exhaust
Dunlop Sportmax Q2 tires
current odometer: 11,100 miles
Purchased used- in outstanding condition.
Winner Cycle Worlds "Hard Bargains for Hard Times" - and a ba-zillion other motorcycle awards- Once crowned Best street bike of all time.


The 919- People overlook this bike- when someone sees a motorcycle they form an instant opinion- when people see the 919 everyone underestimates it- everyone except those who have ridden a 919. If you are a religious track-day weekend warrior and can only have one bike, the 919 is not for you, if you want to tour 2-up for hours down the interstate, the 919 is not for you, if you want a drag bike, the 919 is not for you, if you want gut-punch low end pull- 0-100 street hooliganism, a powerful commuter, and a bike that is tremendously reliable- DO-NOT overlook the 919. The torque is fantastic and is so plentiful that you can be fairly lazy while riding. The steering is stable, and the bike ALWAYS does what you expect it to do. Maybe I'm like a kid with new shoes, but I believe the bike has responded very well to the Michelin Power Pure tires. When riding it hard I do muscle it around but this is just our relationship, and I have surprised many super-sports with what the 919 can dish out in the twisties, despite its generally lackluster frame and suspension. The brakes are strong- but I can't say I have ridden a motorcycle made in the last ten years or more that didn't have good brakes. You can hear the fuel injectors ticking away, the transmission is solid but has a few familiar Honda clunks, the bike provides mechanical sounds that are function over form. A look at the gauge cluster and you will see it is a very Spartan layout- You get a Speedometer, a tach, and a few idiot lights. The headlight isn't great- I enjoy a good night ride and it is not very difficult to over-ride the 919 headlight. My wife and I have made many 2-up trips on the 919 but it is better at day trips on the backroads than 2 up touring down the interstate as a vacation. Overall the bike is a blast to ride in the twisties, it serves well as an aggressive commuter, and still makes me smile every time I ride it.

The VFR 800- Has been written about and praised by many experts far more qualified than me and for good reason(s). Outside of the Goldwing it was Honda's most costly effort at what a motorcycle "should be". Its awesome- but to get it there you have to be riding it. If you chug around town at 4,000 RPM you will have to wait for the power when you stab it. The wait is short, but the 919 really has the edge here. Have the VFR in the right gear, closer to the magic number of 6,800RPM and it becomes quite a sprinter in its own right. With smoothness I have not experienced in any inline4/tranny combo. The engine is fantastic, I really enjoy the whole atmosphere the V4 engine provides. The transmission on the VFR is very good- actually I love it shifts are quick, smooth, and provide lots of confidence. The gauge cluster is a combination of digital and analog with a big tach in pure dead center. It doesn't have a gearshift indicator- which sort of surprises me- but I don't need to have a screen tell me what gear I am in. The brakes are stronger than I dare to test at max capacity an this is the non-ABS model. I am confident the VFR can tour all day long- though I haven't done any over nighters or distance trips on it. Also as this is my wife's bike, she has not agreed to ride as a passenger on it, but I would worry it lacks the low end power to make a smooth 2-up bike. The headlights are much better than the 919. The VFR800 gives you a fantastic experience every time you're on it but I wish The grunt of the VTEC engine would hit around 4,000RPM not way up at 6,800RPM.


In summary both are great bikes. I am much closer to being able to ride the 919 at 100% of what it is capable of than the VFR, so for now I push the 919 harder when given the opportunity.
Of the two the 919 is like a Saturday night bar brawler and the VFR being a well trained middle weight boxer. Day to day I give the nod to the 919. If you want bags, touring, and a more refined motorcycle the VFR is simply better at all of those things- and it sounds awesome!

Knowing how I ride, and what I know of the two bikes today if one had to go, it would break my heart but I would keep the VFR over the 919.

 

great write up!
does the 919 loft the front wheel up really easily?
who wins in an all out race? you or the wife?

 

Good write up. I actually sold my 919 this spring and purchased an '08 VFR ABS. I'll throw in my comparison

2007 919, bought with 5k miles on her in spring of 2012. I also put on the Renthal Ultra lows, motovation frame sliders, Givi windscreen, cortech saddle bags and tail bag, CRG bar end mirrors, techspec tank grips, Mich Pilot Powers, and debaffled the stock exhaust.
Pros: Awesome low end power, short turning radius, easy to toss around, upright riding position is great for those of us with a bad back, very easy to change oil, extremely reliable, great mileage even when ridden hard, not everybody has one.
Cons: Sloppy gear box (can't tell you how many times I missed 2nd), suspension was difficult to dial in, bad angle on knees (couldn't ride more than a couple of hours without pain), very uncomfortable pillion ergos, inline four transfers a lot of buzz in the handlebars at certain RPMs, I hated the clickety click of the injectors.

2008 VFR800A, Bought in bone stock, excellent condition in spring of this year with 8k on clock. I added Leo Vince carbon fiber slipons, techspec tank grips, zero gravity SR dark smoke windscreen, michelin Road 3's, and OEM hard luggage.
Pros: Great suspension, heavier weight gives a much smoother ride, no pain in knees on long rides, decent wind protection, wonderful sound from the leo's, ultra smooth gear box, much better pillion area, wonderful breaks, arguably one of the best looking bikes on the road IMO.
Cons: A bit underpowered for its weight... especially 2-up, sportier riding position not the greatest for a bad back, Oil filter is a bitch to get too, expensive to have serviced, gas mileage not the greatest.

While I miss the low end of the 9'r, the VFR is much better suited for touring and 2-up riding which is what we do most of the time. If I were only riding solo, and was looking for a great commuter/canyon runner, the 919 is a fabulous choice. Had I been in a postion to have two bikes, I would have kept the 919, and bought an ST or Concourse instead of the VFR. But space is limited and the VFR is a better "all arounder" for my situation.