View Full Version : Vfr 800 v-tec
I am very close to getting one of these.
Took one for a test ride and it just seemed a perfect road bike.
I never thought I would be interested in a lardy touring bike but while sports bikes are great on the track the ones I have had seem to get unsettled to easily on our uneven roads.
I have heard the servicing is expensive but I am sure I can get an independent mechanic to do it a bit cheaper.
Been offered a 2006 model with panniers, FSH and 13k for £4500.
Any reason why I shouldn't get it?
Luckypants
15-08-12, 11:55 AM
No, I'm on my second. :) I don't consider it a 'lardy touring bike', it goes well enough through the twisties to keep up with most riders/bikes. Servicing is no different to any bike, except for the 16K valve clearance check which can be lengthy due to the VTEC making it a complicated job. Honda have a set charge (used to be £500 not sure these days) as if a shim needs changing it can get pricey on labour. I got mine done by an independent for about £180 IIRC. It will only get pricey if a shim needs changing, which is a rare event on the V4.
_Stretchie_
15-08-12, 12:42 PM
I never thought I would be interested in a lardy touring bike but while sports bikes are great on the track the ones I have had seem to get unsettled to easily on our uneven roads.
I don't consider it a 'lardy touring bike', it goes well enough through the twisties to keep up with most riders/bikes
He's not kidding, you want to try keeping up with him whether he is two's up or not... It can shift and corner
I have heard the servicing is expensive but I am sure I can get an independent mechanic to do it a bit cheaper.
The 16K valve clearance check which can be lengthy due to the VTEC making it a complicated job. Honda have a set charge (used to be £500 not sure these days) as if a shim needs changing it can get pricey on labour. I got mine done by an independent for about £180 IIRC. It will only get pricey if a shim needs changing, which is a rare event on the V4.
Honda build. Many people on the BlackBird site report that clearances are still good at 60k, I know it's a different bike but it's a Honda tourer so I would think this is the same
Thanks Mike. Do you have Honda Luggage on yours? Is it any good?
The valves were supposed to be done on my Fireblade but every mechanic I took them to said unless it's running rough don't bother as they are very rarely out.
The valves were supposed to be done on my Fireblade but every mechanic I took them to said unless it's running rough don't bother as they are very rarely out.
I cringe every time I hear this I really do...
If they're due to be checked at a given mileage, say 16,000 miles and you don't manage until, say 20k, you'd be exceedingly unlucky for it to cause you a problem. But you're a much better rider than me if you can feel or hear a tight exhaust valve, and if it gets too bad, and you end up dropping a valve none of those mechanics will say anything much more helpful than "Blimey, you've been unlucky, you really don't see that very often!"
Jambo
Luckypants
15-08-12, 01:10 PM
Do you have Honda Luggage on yours? Is it any good?I have the Honda panniers and had them on previous bike. They are made by Givi so quality is good and the colour match is excellent. Coming back from France we got rained on big style, roads flooded and all that jazz, not a drop got in the panniers - I am a fan. The locking system is secure so quite happy to leave them unattended on the bike. One pannier will just hold a full face helmet, so it's handy to put them on to go to race meets etc then dump helmets into panniers - although if you have the topbox, it will swallow two helmets. For full on touring two-up, the panniers only maybe a little small but we managed two weeks in France this summer with a pannier each for clothes and tankbag for other stuff, not overly loaded as you can see
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/s720x720/269598_4462465239786_1658140945_n.jpg
Finally I'll say that the panniers to not limit the bikes capabilities, filtering is fine as the mirrors are still the widest part of bike, clearance is good on corners as pegs go down before panniers. The VFR is a sports tourer and the luggage reflects that, it still allows you to do this...
kBydUbbRzN4
If a valve tightens up. The hot gasess soon put paid to the valve and seat.
Find another mech .
Nice video there. I was surprised at just how well it handled especially seeing how comfortable it is. The bike I looked at only had the side panniers which IMO looks a lot better than the top box. It's unlikely I will ever have a pillion so I expect they will carry enough for a week away on my own.
Jambo, I get your point, called the local Honda dealer and they quoted £450 for the 16k service. Will just make sure I get one that has low enough miles or has already had it done.
suzukigt380paul
15-08-12, 01:53 PM
the vtec is a good bike,but one step back from the older 800 pre vtec,the vtecs are very pricey on having the shims done and the vtec valve clearances involve taking the cams out to check them,to do the valve checks and adjustments properly might involve up to 8 hours work,if you only take the covers off and check but dont put shims in the non vtec valves it will take alot less time but your only getting half the job done,some people do 100k with out touching them at all,some people have cam chain and tensioner problems at quite low milage,i run a 800 pre vtec(a real vfr)no chains or tensioner,no vtec valves,slightly more hp,and i would only have the valves checked every 40k or so(but that not what honda recomend)both bikes being around the 110 hp give or take they will do a honest 155mph, but petrol consumption on most v4 honda's aint good even when driven at sensible speeds,35mpg aint unusual,45mpg means driving like a saint,and when you compare my 929 blade and bandit 12 which if you ride at a steady 90mph on a motorway will return 55mpg,any case enjoy your new bike
Luckypants
15-08-12, 03:10 PM
The bike I looked at only had the side panniers which IMO looks a lot better than the top box. It's unlikely I will ever have a pillion so I expect they will carry enough for a week away on my own.
In this configuration it is very very good. Two weeks camping is no problem. In the video you can see my camping kit and all clothes for a week on the IoM, the bike still is fun to ride when loaded like that.
Buy one :takeabow:
I really must spend some time on a VFR, I get the feeling we'd get on :)
If I were to buy one with full luggage, can I remove the top box rack and just leave the pannier racks on?
Luckypants
15-08-12, 07:08 PM
Yes as long as you get the original pillion grap handles to mount over the pannier stays. I am not sure if you need different mounting bolts for the panniers, they be shorter. Quiff can tell you, he fitted his own top box. If you get all parts then no problem :)
Sent from my phone.
STRAMASHER
16-08-12, 07:45 AM
Can't believe nobody has commented on the sound they make.
Dreadful!:p
Add cans though and its glorious. At any revs. One of the best sounding things on the road, any of the big V4's. Well apart from the new 1200. Ruined it with a narrower angle. Sounds like a weedy BM boxer. :(
And the fuel consumption is negated by a great big fuel tank. Job jobbed.
Luckypants
16-08-12, 08:26 AM
Can't believe nobody has commented on the sound they make.
Dreadful!:p
Add cans though and its glorious. At any revs.
Yep, standard cans and its wiffle, wiffle, fart....
But with cans..... see previous video and this one...
tSGSybPPG54
And the fuel consumption is negated by a great big fuel tank. Job jobbed.
Well I generally get 42-45mpg riding the twisties of North Wales and touring recently was getting around 50mpg. 200 miles on a tank (21 litres) is perfectly feasible. If you use the VTEC and ride it like a sportsbike, expect low 30s or even less!
_Stretchie_
16-08-12, 08:45 AM
Can't believe nobody has commented on the sound they make.
Good point, look at LuckyPant's signature
I actually liked the sound of it with the standard cans on, I have gone off loud cans a bit, put the standard one back on my GSXR for a quiet track day and left it on there.
keith_d
16-08-12, 12:50 PM
The VTEC think seems to be a bit of a love-hate feature. It works for me, often kicking in just as I'm setting up an overtake. But if you spend a lot of time hanging off the bike in corners for maximum traction on the exit that little jump would be a nightmare.
Checking the VTEC valve clearances is a pain because you need to take the cam out, put special pins into the bucket, replace the cam, measure the clearances, remove the cam, replace shims, replace the cam, check the clearances, remove the cam, take out the pins, replace the cam, then put the covers back on. My local mechanic recommended running a compression check when you replace the plugs. This isn't perfect, but it will indicate if a valve isn't seating properly.
Standard cans are fine when the VTEC kicks in, but a little bland the rest of the time. Not bad enough to need replacing, but a bit unexciting.
Just my thoughts,
Keith
_Stretchie_
16-08-12, 01:11 PM
I would presume that, like the car version, it doesn't just kick in at predetermined X revs, so it shouldn't really be a case of someone having to keep an eye on their revs at roundabouts.
It monitors things like engine revs and how open the throttle is so in the case of my car, if I have my foot on the floor it kicks in about 3.5k but if I'm cruising the motorway with light throttle I could be doing 4k but the vtec not shifting in yet
christopher
16-08-12, 01:58 PM
I would presume that, like the car version, it doesn't just kick in at predetermined X revs, so it shouldn't really be a case of someone having to keep an eye on their revs at roundabouts.
It monitors things like engine revs and how open the throttle is so in the case of my car, if I have my foot on the floor it kicks in about 3.5k but if I'm cruising the motorway with light throttle I could be doing 4k but the vtec not shifting in yet
If only. On the VFR800 the VTEC kicks in at 6400rpm on the 2006+ models, compared to 6800rpm in previous years.
I was looking to buy one (2007 model, went to Ipswich with cash in hand ready to buy but it turned out to be a dog). Ended up with a 2006 GSX-R750 instead, which I find both comfier and more economical, and a heck of a lot more fun (but having followed Luckypants a lot, the VFR's sure can shift and be thrown around with the right rider!). Maybe when I'm due a pipe and slippers I'll go back to looking at a VFR ;)
_Stretchie_
16-08-12, 02:02 PM
Bloody hell, I just assumed (ass+u+me) it would be the same technology.
Ha haa, pipe and slippers, LP will batter you (then make you buy him cake)
christopher
16-08-12, 02:10 PM
To be fair, it's not as noticeable as some people make out (or at least those I rode weren't). It is certainly smoother on the later models, and the 2004 model I rode kicked when the VTEC came in but it wouldn't unsettle me and after a decent few miles you'd ride around it knowing it's there etc.
Plus they hold their money well so if you didn't get on with it you could probably sell it for not much less than you paid a few months down the line.
The V-tec in my car (Civic type R) kicks in at 6000 rpm no matter what. That is a much more noticeable step up than it was on the VFR.
The whole pipe and slippers thing is the only thing putting me off at the moment. I think I should hang on to riding a sports bike while I am still young enough.
mister c
16-08-12, 03:29 PM
I was offered one as a straight swap for my Daytona on Ebay.
I rang my mate at Honda who said that they are a perfectly capable bike for everything you want. He asked how many miles, when I said 44000, he laughed.
He proceeded to tell me that a major service cost just under £1000 :smt103 As Keith d says the heads have to come off 3 times to do the valve clearances. Needless to say, i told the bloke no.
Luckypants
16-08-12, 04:00 PM
He proceeded to tell me that a major service cost just under £1000 :smt103 He was stretching the truth a bit there I think. Back in the days when the VTEC first came out there were folks getting big bills like that due to the labour involved, so Honda came out with a decree to all dealers that the valve check service was fixed price at £500. I don't know what the price is these days as I have not asked in a while. The fixed price made it expensive for the valve check but cheap if shims needed changing. Dealers made money but customers were not needing a mortgage for a service either.
For the record, I don't believe the cams need to come out for the clearance check. You do the check, put in a special tool to lock in the VTEC valves and check their clearances and clearances of non-VTEC valves again. If a shim needs changing, we are into cams out and multiple clearance checks again which is time consuming and thus expensive if paying hourly labour rates. It is for this reason Honda made the edict above.
I'm happy to be corrected on the above with verified facts, but that is my understanding of the situation based on my own research into the issue.
keith_d
16-08-12, 05:56 PM
For the record, I don't believe the cams need to come out for the clearance check. You do the check, put in a special tool to lock in the VTEC valves and check their clearances and clearances of non-VTEC valves again....
I'm happy to be corrected on the above with verified facts, but that is my understanding of the situation based on my own research into the issue.
There's quite a nice set of pictures here:
http://members.home.nl/jfknippels/inspecting_valve_clearances_rear.htm
They clearly show the slide pin stopper which fits inside the bucket. You can only remove the bucket to install this with the camshaft out.
Specialone
16-08-12, 06:17 PM
That whole pipe and slippers thing is a load of bolox, I know I'm not a great person to be defending them as I ride like a pipe and slippers rider, but most tourers including my sprint are stupidly powerful, so go like stink.
Mike on his vfr would embarrass many a sports bike rider and he's old lol
They just cover miles a lot better IMO, oh and btw, a triple sounds just as good :)
Thanks mate, I'll have to take you up on that. Been offered a VFR at a good price though and I am a Honda fanboy but it may all fall through.
Just looked on Ebay and the Sprints are about the same price as the VFRs so it may be a tough decision.
Oops, just realised I replied to the wrong thread.
suzukigt380paul
16-08-12, 10:46 PM
For the record, I don't believe the cams need to come out for the clearance check. You do the check, put in a special tool to lock in the VTEC valves and check their clearances and clearances of non-VTEC valves again. If a shim needs changing, we are into cams out and multiple clearance checks again which is time consuming and thus expensive if paying hourly labour rates. It is for this reason Honda made the edict above.
I'm happy to be corrected on the above with verified facts, but that is my understanding of the situation based on my own research into the issue.[/QUOTE]no keith_d is correct the cams have to come out to check the vtec valves and have to go in and out several times,up to 8 hours work,about £55 a hour plus shims and buckets,thats right the vtec valves dont have shims you put different size buckets in them,so thats about £530 +shims +buckets+a full service so we are getting up to £800 or more if you look after it like mr honda intended,
and as to mpg,just filled my vfr up,150miles,and 17liters of petrol,so thats 39.7mpg,and can get it even lower some times
Hmmm, not liking the sound of £800 servicing, I spoke to the dealer about it after the test ride and he said it#s about £450 and only needs doing every 16k.
I am a bit worried about weather I should have all this done on my car as that has V-Tec as well!
MPG isn't really an issue, I wont be commuting on it or anything, 150 miles to a tank is pretty good.
suzukigt380paul
16-08-12, 11:41 PM
Hmmm, not liking the sound of £800 servicing, I spoke to the dealer about it after the test ride and he said it#s about £450 and only needs doing every 16k.
I am a bit worried about weather I should have all this done on my car as that has V-Tec as well!
MPG isn't really an issue, I wont be commuting on it or anything, 150 miles to a tank is pretty good.£450 that'll be to just do the valves,dont forget a service on top of that,so according to the honda schedule valves every 16k and the normal service(engine oil & filter etc)every 8k,and dont forget what ever price they say it will be plus vat,and not that all owners do the valves that often or even ever sometimes,my pre vtec just gets normal maintenance and oil and filter every 4k ish using fully synthetic oil,and that cost me about £40 a throw and about 30 minutes,as to the valves maybe every 40k,as the engine has done 35k and had the shims done twice,and i dont expect them to change much now the engine is run in
and the other expense with a vtec is spark plugs,ever 32k they are due for replacement,that'll be another £74,or if you fit and buy then on the bay about £12 each
suzukigt380paul
17-08-12, 06:55 AM
If only. On the VFR800 the VTEC kicks in at 6400rpm on the 2006+ models, compared to 6800rpm in previous years.
I was looking to buy one (2007 model, went to Ipswich with cash in hand ready to buy but it turned out to be a dog). Ended up with a 2006 GSX-R750 instead, which I find both comfier and more economical, and a heck of a lot more fun (but having followed Luckypants a lot, the VFR's sure can shift and be thrown around with the right rider!). Maybe when I'm due a pipe and slippers I'll go back to looking at a VFR ;)we know the gsx is faster and goes round corners better,after all if its the latest 750 you have you have a extra 30 hp,but a vfr aint a pipe and slipper bike and will hold its own against most,with a top speed of only a 155mph which it has NO problem getting up to, and with the right rider goes round corner very well,and of course the pre vtec will still be going strong in 20 years time with 250k on the clock when most other bikes will be in the scrap yard with blown and wore up engines,no disrespect to your suzuki as its a mighty fine bike and will last you years,just that it wont clock up as many miles over its life time,but suppose that aint much of a problem these days when any thing clocking up 15k is thought of as a high milage bike when you trade it in
Luckypants
17-08-12, 08:36 AM
There's quite a nice set of pictures here:
http://members.home.nl/jfknippels/inspecting_valve_clearances_rear.htm
They clearly show the slide pin stopper which fits inside the bucket. You can only remove the bucket to install this with the camshaft out.
Thanks Keith, really good guide and I have learned something.
no keith_d is correct the cams have to come out to check the vtec valves and have to go in and out several times,up to 8 hours work,about £55 a hour plus shims and buckets,thats right the vtec valves dont have shims you put different size buckets in them,so thats about £530 +shims +buckets+a full service so we are getting up to £800 or more if you look after it like mr honda intended,
and as to mpg,just filled my vfr up,150miles,and 17liters of petrol,so thats 39.7mpg,and can get it even lower some times
Thanks Paul, I hadn't realised that the VTEC valves were different like that.
Mine will be going to an independent for the 16K check which is a ways off yet. He was much cheaper on his hourly rate than Honda so my last bike cost much less than the £500 or £800 mentioned.
Just won an ebay auction for this :D
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SS5dHQRQ6uA/UDATWY3WBNI/AAAAAAAACPo/h40qlgPwgQc/s902/2012-08-18
Luckypants
19-08-12, 09:26 AM
Ohh nice, second best colour too! :D
Sent from my phone.
maviczap
19-08-12, 10:35 AM
Just won an ebay auction for this :D
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SS5dHQRQ6uA/UDATWY3WBNI/AAAAAAAACPo/h40qlgPwgQc/s902/2012-08-18
Me want one (pre Vetec), no roomy in da garage, or moolah :(
Specialone
19-08-12, 08:36 PM
Nice one mate :cool:
Picked the bike up last night. Had a 90 mile ride back, mostly on motorways, and mostly in the dark.
Really happy with it so far, I know it's a lot newer than bikes I have had in the past but it just feels so well put together, all the switches and controls feel very precise.
It's fitted with Scorpion end cans which sound amazing.
It needs a new rear tyre so didnt push it too hard but even with the luggage on (albeit empty) it was easy to flick about on the roundabouts.
Wasn't as comfy as I was expecting, shoulders were a bit sore by the time I got back but I think that is because I need to get used to the new riding position.
Trying to remove all the luggage when I got back was a bit of a challenge, I need to learn how to do it properly, and I gave up trying to get it on the centre stand!
Was hoping to go on a proper ride today bit I was called into work :(
Specialone
22-08-12, 06:07 AM
Lol, it takes some knack to put a bike like that on a centre stand for the first few times, dan had similar when he first got his sprint.
Luckypants
22-08-12, 09:23 AM
Foot on centre stand lever, right hand under the lifting grip just behind the pillion peg, stand on the stand lever and lift, bike will go up onto stand.
Just make sure your boot has nothing slippery on the sole, if it slips off you will chuck the bike on it's side (not that I have ever done this in front of a pretty blonde at a petrol station while trying to look cool, no not me :oops:)
Lol, I can see myself doing that!
It weighs a lot more than the Gixer had a good workout moving it around the driveway last night.
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