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Review of the 2007 Honda VFR 800 Interceptor:A true legend....but |
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Author: Len S, 2011-09-02, viewed 184 times. | ||||||
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This is my 3rd bike. I bought this as an upgrade from my 2005 ninja 500R in April 0f this year (2011). Here is the VFR truth from me a pumped up first time VFR owner. | ||||||
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The legend...a vfr 800abs. Appearance - To look at this bike is pure joy. Smoothe sporty lines with a fit and polish not matched by other manufacturers. Every detail of this bike is perfect! The QC process at Honda for this machine must be intense. Everything is fit, polished and made of high quality materials. Its taken me a while to adjust to the nods and passers who stop to look and ask questions. Since the Honda VFR has no engine size CC decals - thats the number one question...what size is that¿ The engine - Ive heard it called ´The jekyl and Hide engine´ and to a degree it is indeed that. The V-Tec kicks in and suddenly your on a different beast. For day to day drving this engine is perfect. Crusing from light to light with ease, the bike is well behaved, smoothe and quiet. There is a ´flat spot´ around 5000rpm if you roll on slow....otherwise its not noticible. If your driving slowly and roll up to the VTEC it actually sounds funny...making a deep bahhh noise....switching through the gears up as you hit VTEC is somewhat entertaining too as it launches for just a second before you clutch up a gear. Make no mistake though. If you open this bike up it flys. You will barley notice the vtec and hopefully be concentrating on the rushing cars coming your way as you go from 0-60 in 4 seconds and smash speed limits in 2nd gear. This bike cruises just nice at 135KM/hr and is sleeping and bored at posted highway speeds but will happily oblige to whatever mood your in. Suspension - This bike rides nice. It should..its big and heavy. Like the cadillacs of old. Love the quick adjustable rear suspension and adjustments are felt. The single swing arm looks great and works better. Ive hit some monster pot holes and other then a curse under my breath for not avoiding it instead...the bike just eats em up with no loss of control. Even with two on board I have never bottomed out this bike. Brakes - Ive heard many complain about the linked ABS system but for a non knee dragger....I love it. Splitting the brakes means I grab the front and get a little back and vice versa whether I like it or not. Keeps the bike very balanced and stable under most conditions. I have no complaints with the system. The feed back is good and the bike has plenty of stopping power and is smoooth smooth smooth. Transmission - The gearing is near perfect and shifts flawlessly. The ratio is spread nice. So now that ive said all these nice things - here is what I dont like. Comfort - Dont be fooled..this is a sport bike and not the touring bike they claim it to be. I upgraded the seat to a Seagent within a week of buying the bike. That helped but rides of over 4hrs become painful. I also added handle bar risers to attempt more comfort. I am overall disappointed with the foot to seat to handle bar configuration. At 6 foot I expected to fit this big bike better and not be uncomfortable. Not the case at all. My ninja 500R was more comfortable. My wife hates being a passenger on this bike and complains endlessly about how uncomfortable it is. This bike runs HOT ! - On a summer day the heat comming from the side mounted radiators is a killer. Also the routing of the exhaust is such that a heat shield sits between your right leg and the exhaust. Paseengers will also complain of the heat at stop lights due to its under tail routing. Its Ok on the move but city stop and go and you get hot real fast. Maintenance cost and effort - This bike is expensive to maintain. Everything is expensive to replace and a pain in the arse to do. Fit and finish come at a cost. An oil change on this beast will take you an hour+ easy the first time as you struggle to remove the million fasteners that make this bike look so good. This bike is a boat. Very heavy and not easy to handle at low speeds...great on the open road but crappy in a parking lot at the mall. I have almost dropped this bike several times just coming around a corner and having to stop quick due to a car or whatever. HEAVY Machine!! Vtec isnt all its cracked up to be and I wish the bike was in four valve operation at all times but I guess it does what it was desiged to do. Save me gas Dollars Dollars when just cruising. Overall if I had to buy again Im not sure it would be the VFR. I love the bike and have had a great 16000KM this season...I just cant get over the lack of comfort which is the main reason I wanted a bigger bike and this bike in particular. |
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