Well, I punked out of the Blackbird purchase - the day before my flight I was filled with a dose of reality that I was kidding myself that I could ride 1,000 miles in a day and a half, plus work was starting to back up.
So, a couple days later the phone rings and it's the owner of this 2000 7,000 mile VFR800 that I've been trying to call for 3 weeks with no answer - she'd been out of town. To make a very strange story short, she'd bought the bike in her name for some scoundrel who made like 6 payments 2 years ago and it'd been sitting at the car dealership where he works for the last year and a half - she'd been making payments this whole time! So I go to look at it and it's perf. Book is $5,400 and I offer her $4,100 over the phone - she reluctantly accepts just wanting this whole mess to end. Day of the purchase I ride it to her house where we plan to leave it and go to the bank to pay loan off and get my title, but on the way I notice strange noise from the clutch - kind of a chirping. I tell her I can pay $3,600 today, giving me $500 to replace clutch and suprisingly she agrees. After returning from a perfect ride 50 miles home I found a VFR forum where I search up a dozen posts of the exact same noise - turns out it's a normal noise from the airbox, some flapper in there. WOW WHAT A DEAL!!!
I'd like to offer up a comparo between my '94 CBR and this 2000 VFR for those interested.
Even though the VFR is only 100 lbs less, it feels much smaller because it's also shorter. Sitting position feels more like an SV650 or 919 - you sit much higher and closer to the front of the bike and reach to the bars is closer especially since I transfered my Genmars from the CBR (sorry Andrew) - if it wasnt fully fared I'd swear I was riding a standard. Legroom is no comparison, VFR has much more.
Power is close in a quarter mile - from 6,000 rpm on both bikes feel about the same, but the VFR has much better low end grunt - the power delivery is totally seamless with just more power from 7,000 on, probably thanks to the fuel injection (main reason I changed bikes). After just 300 miles I will never ever ever go back to a carb'd bike. Advantage for the CBR was you don't have to shift as often thanks to more torque.
Handling is no comparison in turns - VFR turns much easier, holds a line at least as well and is suprisingly more stable at speed - I've had it to 120 so far and it's like a total rock, as is the CBR.
Brakes although linked are not nearly so obvious. In fact I thought they had been delinked until I tested them on the center stand - interesting how Honda has dumbed them down since 1993.
Bike came with aftermarket pipe, and it sounds just like two sport vtwins together - but what is really cool is the sound of the geared cams - kind of a whistle.
At this point the bike has way exceeded my expectations - I thought it may feel underpower, but because the power delivery is so much better it actually feels faster than the CBR, although it's probably very close. Here's the bike, sorry for the long post.

 

Congrats to the new bike ! Its a real good looking bike, and the yellow paint is also very nice. I have only heard and read positive comments regarding the chassie and engine on the VFR 800. Looking forward to read more reports when you have used it more.

 

Very nice! I'm pretty sure my next bike will be a VTR as well. Are you keepin your CBR as well?

MDFF

 

Congrats on the new bike. I have a couple of freinds who also drive VFR's, but only the older 750 models. I have thought about replacing my CBR with a VFR V-tec when time comes, and I have heard the the VFR 800 and the V-tec are very similar in terms of handling and power, I would very much like more of your thoughts comparing the CBR with the VFR.

They are very strong bikes, and I have just read about a british bloke who drowe some 412,000 miles on one engine and 440,000 miles on another engine, all on the same VFR750!!!!

Now if that ain't stability and reliabillety I don't know what is...

PS. If anyone have tried the new VFR VTEC please share the experience

 

One thing I didnt mention is the shifting - it's like butter from idle to redline - I can't get over how easy shifts are.

 

My cousin has a -01 VFR 800i, and I have rode it on both road and track. It´s not a bad bike, and I have recommended it to people on forums who ask what bike they should buy.
Very much bike for the money, cheap insurance, (as is the CBR), bulletproof quality, stylish design...............
But, I wouldn´t trade it for my CBR, even thou it´s newer, lighter and all that. The only thing I would have traded is the info board/gauges, it´s very nice on the VFR. I´m a carpenter, and I´ve had some trouble with numb fingers, so I´m sensitive to vibrations. V-engines is a nono to me. Also, I sit more protected from wind on my CBR, but, sadly, with a sharper angle on my knees. I did´nt like the engine brake on the VFR, or to be straight, the lack of engine brake. I can´t agree with you that the VFR feels faster than the CBR, perhaps on a very curvy road/track, but in accellerations and passings the CBR is much stronger. I may have misunderstood you, but did you claim that the VFR was more stable at high speed than the CBR? Absolutelly not, in that case! My CBR felt like a missile and the VFR like a balloon that you blow air into and release without making a knot... (OK, that´s overdoing it, I know, sorry). I have rode an early Blackbird too, and I would have taken a `Bird over a VFR every time, But hey, that´s me
As long as YOU are happy, the VFR is the best bike for YOU!!!

 

Hmmm, strange. I've tested a couple of VFR's and the chassi performs VERY well both on twisties and on highways at above sensible speed. I like the character of the engine to, which is very strong from 7 krpm to redline and it pulls very well at low rpm's to. As I remember it the chassi also feels far more nimble and compact compared to the Hurricane. Both bikes have their pros and cons. The only thing that I could possibly miss on the VFR is a couple of horses, but still, it has more power than one really need and is by no means a slosh.

 

Actually, as far as Japanese sportbikes it's pretty expensive - in 2000 msrp was $9500! and now it's over $10,000 - I'm not sure I agree it's a lot of bike for the money when there are so many excellent bikes near that price. I agree vtwins can vibrate some, but I don't notice any vibrations with this v-four - I think it's smoother than the CBR. And yes, I own both bikes and accellaration and stability at any speed are every bit as good if not better than my CBR1000. I'm not trying to ruffle feathers, but there are many posts of people looking for possible upgrades from their older CBRs, and I'm here to say the VFR is an excellent replacement for those looking for EFI and a better chassis.

 

Tried to make some comments up here. All I can write is my own experiences of the VFR 800, and the balloon comparision was very very far from the actual facts and not seriously ment. I am very much in love with the "heavy" feel in my CBR and I suppose I´m loyal to it... Everyone does´nt like the same things, and a person who tests a motorcycle can´t tell someone else that he/she will love that bike just because the tester did. The taste is like the ***, devided. (all swedes will recognice this saying, right R1000?)
Please don´t read what I write as the absolute truth and honest to God, I don´t think that what I believe is the absolute truth!
Almost all my purchases has been emotionally decided, and almost never something that´s been considered as "Best" by the majority... What can I say? That´s me...

 

I´d like to say 2 things. First, a bike´s purchase price is´nt the whole story. It´s when you sell it again that you know how much bike it´s been for the money. Here in Sweden people tend to pay more/ask more for a Honda than a similar bike of other brand, especially the VFR, and even more so for our CBR´s. If the purchase price would be the only criteria, no Harley´s, Ducati´s or BMW`s would ever have been sold...
Second, the EFI in the VFR is excellent!! I´ve tried the YAmaha FJR 1300, and I did´nt like at all the efi in that one. But I can´t imagine that the Blackbird´s EFI is any worse than the VFR´s?
And the part about the power and steadyness VFR vs CBR, it was my cousin who pointed this out to me before I had said anything. Maybe his VFR was sick, or perhaps your CBR is?
I´m sorry if I stepped on toes, I just wanted to point out that everyone might not like the VFR more than the CBR[&o] The taste is like the ***, devided..........