Comments on: MD Best Buy: 1998-2001 Honda VFR800i (Bike Reports) (News)

By: Mark Clow

Mark Clow — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:52:54 +0000

I totally agree that the VFR is a nice bike but I gimme a 1st gen FZ1 for the same kind of money (or a ZRX).

By: VFR_Serenity

VFR_Serenity — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:59:06 +0000

This was a great article. It’s making its way around the internet.

I”m glad to see that I’m not the only one who thinks the Gen5 VFR is the sweet spot of mid-displacement asian sport/tour motorcycles built in the last 20 years.

I’ve ridden many bikes but nothing has made me turn my head enough to compete with this bike -especially at this price point.

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By: JohnA in LA, CA USA

JohnA in LA, CA USA — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:43:59 +0000

Have a ’98 with 124,000 miles on the clocks. Have never even taken it out of the state. Love the viffer but ride my Pegaso around town now.

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By: vegasvfr

vegasvfr — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:54:47 +0000

When I was getting back into riding after my MSF course I rented everything I could get my hands on. You can read all you want but you never know a bike until you ride it. When I rented the 2001 VFR it just felt like i rode it forever. That was in 2003 when I bought it when they were closing out the rentals. I still have it as my only bike. I road test a lot of motorcycles as I am a feature editor, but for the type of riding I do and for the money it is a sweet ride especially when setup with Ohlins, GIVIs, and HIDs. For a starter bike that you may never get rid of, you would be a fool not to buy one.

By: jimbo

jimbo — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:45:21 +0000

That’s one of if not the best looking VFs ever. Great job! I have no problem with the mismatched wheel colors, may even prefer it. Adds a little drama, excitement for the eye to digest.

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By: jimbo

jimbo — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:38:39 +0000

Had a VFR750 w/ OEM white wheels: Yes, awful to keep clean. The black wheels look better anyway (contradicting the owner above).

I had a ’00 VFR800i whilst also owning a ’98 Ducati SS900i, and overall preferred the 900 for greater torque and lighter weight/better flickability. But the 800 absolutely screamed on top end, almost shocking to me. The 900 had two mechanical issues within about 11k miles (Luigi forgot to thread the valve inspection hole so it leaked soon after purchase, Munroe Motor’s co-owner and race team owner Matt Prentiss fixed it on the sidewalk in a few minutes, likely the best motorcycle wrench I’ve ever met…fuel leak, source forgotten, maybe the tank petcock, fixed myself).

I agree, 98-01 VFRs are likely the best overall vintage. Gabe’s advice to get another makes sense.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 04:17:32 +0000

PS: for those with a touring slant, corbin makes/made a sweet set of those color matched beetle hard bags for the gen 4′s SAME as they did for the gen 5′s…

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:42:18 +0000

i like the 5th gen, but having thought the matter through, got a low mileage 4th gen in the stable. personally, i consider the ’94-’97 VFR’s to be the sweet spot and the last of the V4′s for a few reasons. if i may… #1, all the same gear driven cam goodness, but a TRUE 750cc displacement same as the racebikes. if you recall, in-line with soichiro ethos, V4′s started out RACING predominantly then only later MORPHED into touring. #2, the 4th gen is the only iteration deliberately modeled after the legendary oval pistoned NR750 (all red & naca duct). the only other mass produced bike that can claim inspiration from the NR is also a legend… ie. the ducati 916 (the polar opposite of a VFR800). #3, in combination with style of the frame and the double headlight, just add the 8-spoke “HRC style” rear wheel from an even older 3rd gen, and you’ve got much of the style from the RC30/RC45 homologations sans the high price of admission. #4, though the 5th gens were called 800′s (a misnomer this), they were in fact only 781′s. for all the added girth/bulk the VFR received with the 1998 redesign (final swan-dive off the cliff that is sport-touring), it never really got the increase in displacement or power to offset this increase in size. advantage: 1995 VFR750… lean and mean with no added caffeine.

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By: Wilson R

Wilson R — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 14:36:35 +0000

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By: Alain

Alain — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 01:16:50 +0000

I would say the VFR 1998-2001 (fith generation) were very special with gear driven cams…

I’ve owned four Honda V-four (84 & 85 Interceptor 750, 90 VFR750, 03 VFR800 and presently have a 09 VFR800), but never had the fith generation and I guess I missed something!

I still think the sith generation has a better frame, better suspension/brakes but are missing the gear driven cams!

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