It's been 4 years since MCN has been sending out teasers about a new VFR but this one is gaining speed. Apparently it will be announced formally in October. I'll believe it when I sit on one
The rumors are everything from V4 1000cc to V5 1200CC, paddle shifting (barf), shaft drive (er, maybe) and two versions to choose from as below:
And the GT version with adjustable windshield, lower pipe (should have kept the high-pipes from the old model IMO), and bags:
I'd like to think I am open to change but giving up the gear driven cams and adding VTEC on the last generation was a big mistake. Hopefully they make things right!
And hopefully they open a dealership in my city of over 1 million people....
I would dearly love to see the VFR800 replaced with a VSR1000. Since VFR stands for V Four Racing, the VSR would be a V Six Racing! Honda could make a V-6 easily enough, bring back the gear-driven cams, keep the EFI, go back to a low pipe(s), and replace the overweight single-sided swingarm with a normal one. I do believe it could easily be as popular as the original VFR750! I'd be first in line to buy one...
I loved my '98 VFR800FI. That incarnation was the best VFR ever made in every aspect....except maybe looks in which the '97 had the edge. The sound was awesome too with the hi-mount TwoBro pipe. It sounded like an Indy Car, similar to a Ducati but better; snarly and meaner, yet more sophisticated sounding at the same time. The later dumbed down VFR without the gear driven cams and the Vtec was nowhere as good as the original 800.
I don't like the direction the new one is headed in. If I wanted a ST1300, I would buy one.
I also think your series of the VFR was the best....gear driven cams and without the toast-your-passengers-butt high pipes. The new one shown above has gone back to the low pipe, but still has the tiny, almost useless, passenger seat. My wife and I do a lot of touring whenever we can, and she wouldn't last an hour on that seat, not to mention the knees-up position forced by the high passenger pegs. Nope, I'll stick with my good old '91 VFR750.
It sure does look like Honda is trying to make things very difficult for the aftermarket pipe manufacturers!
HYPERR wrote:I loved my '98 VFR800FI. That incarnation was the best VFR ever made in every aspect....
That all depends on your perspective of course. I do love my '96 because in a couple of aspects IT is the best VFR ever made. It is physically smaller to sit on than the '98 and feels significantly more sporty to ride. The '98 of course was slightly more comfortable because of it's larger size. There are a lot of comments out there about the greater power of the 800 but running my 4th generation VFR against 5th and 6th gen VFR proved that there was nothing between the accelleration wise up to some pretty crazy speeds. As for looks I still think that the white '93s had them all beat. They are still a good looking bike today.
HYPERR wrote:I loved my '98 VFR800FI. That incarnation was the best VFR ever made in every aspect....
That all depends on your perspective of course. I do love my '96 because in a couple of aspects IT is the best VFR ever made. It is physically smaller to sit on than the '98 and feels significantly more sporty to ride. The '98 of course was slightly more comfortable because of it's larger size. There are a lot of comments out there about the greater power of the 800 but running my 4th generation VFR against 5th and 6th gen VFR proved that there was nothing between the accelleration wise up to some pretty crazy speeds. As for looks I still think that the white '93s had them all beat. They are still a good looking bike today.
I thought that the '98 was actually a little sportier than the '97.... I think Honda thought so too as they re-introduced the Interceptor name. I'm pretty familiar with both as I debated back and forth between a leftover '97 and the all new '98. I ended up with the first '98 in my state and rode home in freezing temp. But anyway, yes they were both phenomenal bikes. I still think your incarnation is the best looking VFR ever, as it mimicked the outrageous Oval Piston Bike. The '98-'01? VFR did one thing far better than any other VFR before or since, and that was to have an incredible sounding exhaust note. With the 2bros system, my '98 sounded outrageous. It really sounded like an Indy Car.
Yay, Honda today (Sept 5th) released another 5 motorcycles models...hopefully that means Honda will start releasing more 09's soon...like the VFR/VSR/VXR
Now we are up to this many from Honda as of today:
Sport Touring
• 2008 Honda DN-01 (very late release 2008 model)
• 2009 Honda Sport Touring Motorcycle Models To Be Announced
Scooter
• 2009 Honda Ruckus NPS50
• 2009 Honda Metropolitan CHF50
• 2009 Honda Scooter Motorcycle Models To Be Announced