Jack of all trades? (Honda VFR800i)

Member Name: marco2001

Product:	Honda VFR800i
Date:	05/08/01 (1729 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Flexibility, Build quality

Disadvantages: Not radical enough for some

The thinking man’s sports bike. The best motorcycle in the world. The greatest all rounder. These are just some of the comments the media have lavished on the VFR800, but are they really justified?

I’ve ridden one these bikes for over a year now, and 6000 miles down the road I must say the journos might just be right. So what’s the deal here? Is it really the Rolls Royce of bikes?

Well, not the Rolls Royce, but maybe the Mercedes. You see, the VFR is a very well built, beautifully finished bike. It has very good range, performance and handling and excellent reliability. It’s easy to ride and comfortable, and provides sports bike thrills and solid touring ability. So, why hasn’t everybody got one?

In a way, this is really the VFR’s downside, such as it is. I have to paraphrase the press here and say that it is very accomplished at most things, but doesn’t really shine in any one area. If you’re an R1 rider, it just wouldn’t give you the adrenalin rush you’re used to. If you ride a Pan you might find the VFR a little less compliant on longer trips.

In short, if you’ve a particular leaning toward touring or ‘scratching’, then the VFR may not be the bike for you. But many of us like the idea of being able to lean a bike through the twisties one day, and then perhaps to set off for a longer touring ride the next. Do a long trip on an R1 and after a straight 100 miles or so you’ll be reading the last rites to your backside. But try to follow an R1 through shocking bends on a Pan and you’ll soon be in the hedge. On a VFR though, you’ll get very respectable performance in both areas.

This brings us to the other point that’s sometimes quoted – that it can be a little boring or bland. I now believe this is more down to the rider than the bike. Basically, the Honda is almost too good. It’s often the li
ttle foibles that give a bike character – Italian bikes perhaps being the best examples of this. There will always be people who like these little foibles, but then there will always be those who enjoy the refined air of an extremely well sorted motorcycle.

Perfection at last then? Well, not quite, although I must say it is hard to find fault. Let’s start with those linked brakes. Are they that bad? Actually, no. For those of you not in the know, the system works by automatically applying a little of the rear brake if you’re braking with the front and vice versa. This offends the purists, but in reality it is subtle and when using both in normal circumstances the effect is negligible. Perhaps in the iciest conditions the linked brakes might be slightly detrimental, but then it might be best leaving the bike at home. My opinion is that some people are quick to criticise a system which (for me at least) works fine, although maybe not bringing much to the party.

The fuel injection can tend to be a bit snatchy at low speeds, so it pays to keep the chain well adjusted to avoid jerky trips in heavy traffic. However, throughout the rev range power delivery from the RC45 engine is impressive, smooth and sweet with satisfying induction roar, although with muted exhaust note from the standard pipe. The gear change is a little clunky, also becoming a little tiresome in traffic, but not overly so.

Apart from this, we’re really into the picky stuff – but perhaps this is just down to personal opinion rather than actual faults with the bike.

Honda have steadily developed the VFR over a period of 15 years or so – and it shows. It is a stylish sports bike and a (very) solid tourer. And it does all that’s asked of it in an almost understated way. It’s not raucous, and it’s not a plodder – and that’s the brilliance of this machine as it almost sets it’s own unique
standards.

This is the bike for those who like variety and quality, and at less than £7000 on the road for a brand spanker, they’re a bargain.

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