Honda VFR 800 Fi
Wonder why the bike has gained so much popularity? Some say that the VFR 800 Fi has all you need for all round motorcycle. Well, look at the facts about production and the tens of thousands units shifted year after year. The design has gone through 15 years of refinement to satisfy you!
Ok, let’s see..
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Riding position? They definitely got that right. The position is natural without the need to stretch to reach the handlebars. To improve things further and to take some strain off your wrists and back most VFR riders found the handlebar risers necessary to improve the comfort. In fact 78% of VFR riders that took part in our survey found them essential to optimize the seating position. The rest had probably never got them fitted to appreciate them. If you are one of them, do yourself a favor and get them right away. They do not have to look out of place. The picture on the right shows how well these handlebar risers blend in after you've fitted them on your VFR 800 Fi. |
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And for the bottom..
The seat has a perfect shape and density and is very comfortable for both rider and pillion. Unlike on the Honda's BlackBird the foot pegs are nicely placed for the rider and aren’t too high for the pillion.
21 litres tank gives you a lot of miles before your next petrol station. Going long distance you are most likely to stop for a drink or snack rather than refuel.
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This is an object lesson on ‘How to Build a Motorcycle’. Very reliable and versatile, ready for anything, whether commuting, touring or sport riding. Track day? Not a problem, your face will surely smile. The bike will definitely surprise you on its capabilities. At the end, this is the very fine engineering on two wheels. The V-four engine delivers beautifully from middle range. In the low range it lacks some power when you compare it to other 955cc-plus motorcycles. So you need to change down two gears to have the same drive. As a result, you will drive the engine 30% harder but on VFR it won't take the 30% more effort to do it. |
VFR 800 Fi facts
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Above 6500rpm it’s like sitting on a little turbine. The sound is magnificent and it’ll be even better with a louder silencer. Ok, if we talk about improvements, the higher windscreen will be a bonus too. Finish is superb, typical for Honda, very tidy and in perfect working order even after 40,000 miles. Steering is precise and nimble, the clutch, gearbox are light and very responsive. This machine will satisfy an experienced rider as well as a newbie since it handles so well. The suspension is rather soft but the damping controls it so the feel from the tires is exceptional. As for the luggage it will easily accommodate large cases as in the example shown in the hard luggage section. |
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VFR 800 Fi seems to be the perfectly balanced bike ready for anything and from sport touring motorcycles it would be the number one. If you were to weight the running costs against what you get out of it you would know the answer. I think Honda VFR 800 Fi had reached the perfection before the V-Tec version. I guess I’m not alone in this opinion. The later versions seemed to go towards sport rather than touring capabilities. The V-Tec is very beautiful but the seat is only comfortable for the rider. From 2001 until 2005 the VFR suffered the ‘hiccup’ at the transition from two to four valve operation which annoyed many owners. Only in 2005 this was improved by employing many other electronic gismos but it took them just too long.
Lastly in 2016 Honda launched the new VFR 800F and not surprisingly, the new bike is based on the VFR 800Fi model which gained so much popularity and respect over the years. Yet again, Honda’s effort to attract customers to new VFR seems pointless as the old bike delivers everything that you may possibly want to ask from a sport touring motorcycle.
All in all the bike reeks of quality. The bike is so refined that not many out there can match.
Do you own or have you ever owned Honda VFR 800 Fi?
Share your honest words about this motorcycle!
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Love my 98 VFR 800Fi 
I’ve had mine over a year now. Love it! Had an R6 Yammy before which was dangerous for my license. This is way more comfortable, not much slower and sounds …
62 Retired
Bought a 2006 VFR seven years ago . Too fast and bars to low for me sold it. But last year found a 2000 model 28,000.miles .Put bar risers on it fell in …
62 Retired
Bought a 2006 VFR seven years ago. Too fast and bars too low for me.. sold it. But last year I found a 2000 model, 28000 miles. Put bar risers on it and …
Chris walsh
I've got a 1998 vfr800 fi,I have to say it's a cracking all round machine,it seems to do everything well,it's fast enough,comfortable enough, handles well …
VJMC ad guy
I have a 1990 VFR750, love the handling. But when it gets hot (I ride in SW Florida) the gas percolates in the carbs causing low speed/idle problems after …
Tenko
Had my 2001 VFRfi1 since 2002 it has done 67000 miles oil and filter changed every year plugs have been changed 4 times and the chain changed 3 times it …
Marian
Got me a VFR800 fi from 2001 only 4 weeks ago.
Previous bikes I owned were from "hell no" to "yes!"
Which bikes were under my bum? From GS500, SV650, …
do it all motorcycle
Bought 2000 model used with 9000 miles on the clock, in good condition and sporting a blue flame exhaust and higher screen
Changed tyres from Bridgestones …
One of the best all rounders over made
I've had 5 up to now , they are amazing you either love or hate the engine, I love it.
You know it'll do 45 mpg and nearly 200 to a tank. Handling at …
Best bike ever for me, and I'm just buying another
The VFR 800 FiY was my 'return to biking bike'. I bought it brand new in 2001 and had put 12,000 faultless miles behind me by the end of 2003 when an uninsured …
Silver VFR Proud Owner
I bought the 2001 Honda VFR 800 FI 2 months ago.
It had 30.000Km on the clock, akrapovic low-exhaust, HID headlight’s, a custom led taillight, custom …
5th Gen Viffer Pilot
I purchased my one-owner 2001 VFR 800FI with only 1800 miles on it from a soon retiring businessman in FL, had it shipped to my home in western NC. When …
CraigT
I bought a 2001 VFR800FI after selling my 1200 Bandit, I needed another bike as my son had passed his test and wanted to ride together. At first I was …
1998 VFR800Fi in Red
I'm now 50 and have owned numerous bikes over the years. Ive always bought from new and they've always been naked bikes. I bought my 1998 red VFR 800 2 …
Trevor J Moore now 77 Have done Ulster road racing.Last 200+ bike GSXR1000K5 Now much slower and older.. Not rated yet
I now own 2 vfrs. first a 1998 vfr 800 Good but for me all roads head to Ulster To watch what is left of the road racing I have just aquired a 2002 vfr …
Pohmnz Not rated yet
Mine is a red 2000 FIY RC46. Bought it in 2020 with 120000 kms (76000 miles?).
Chased electrical gremlins for a while which is an earthing problem and …
65 and will never retire (I actually like my job) Not rated yet
I bought the very first VFR750 to hit the local Honda dealer in 1983, sold it and 30 years later bought a used gen. 6, sold it and now own a gen. 8. I …
Engineer Not rated yet
I bought my first Honda VFR in the early '90s which it was a '86 model. I let a friend borrow it and he laid it down and it was totaled. Here it is 25 …
Ray5162 Not rated yet
Took it as a swap on my 1500 wing that I’d left standing for 3 years and was very sad. VFR is growing on me, drives like a Ducati 999 I had (!!!!). Just …
Yes, 2 of them, Not rated yet
Best bike ever.
Glennis Not rated yet
Have 2 X 750,s 1992 and just acquired a 800Fi 1998.. Spent 2000 pound total buying em in last 6 yrs...had loads of great classic bikes cbr,fzr,gsxr. But …
James marshall owner rider Not rated yet
Simply stated it's an amazing machine that the last 22 years has spent trying to replicate. Hindsight is always 20/20 but even honda in 2020 is modeling …
Six Honda VFR's Not rated yet
Hi All, I was riding @ 16 and I'm 67 today. I have had 18 bike over the years and sports riding is my thing. The six the title refers to is 1984 VF1000 …
Honda VFR800 Fi Not rated yet
Hi, I own a range of VFR's, namely
1994 VFR400 NC30 with 54000 kms
1997 VFR750 RC36 / 2 with 87000 kms
1998 VFR800 Fi with 251000 kms
2001 VFR800 F1 …
Yep... I'm hooked Not rated yet
I own a stock 2002 VFR800 with 75,000 Miles, a 2004 ST1300 with 35,000 miles equipped with Two Brothers Exhaust, BAZAZ Dyno Tune, Penske Shock & Competition …
Happy to ride it Not rated yet
With this machine it's easy to find a connection between the road, bike and rider.
Hango Not rated yet
I have owned a new 2006 VFR and took it all around Europe. It is a brilliant bike. Now I have also own a 2001 VFR and both are top quality, no other bike …
'98 VFR800 = new perfection Not rated yet
I've owned 12 bikes since my first one ('85 CB700SC).
I usually keep a bike for 18 months max because it just doesn't check all the boxes for me. …
Forever Fifth Gen Not rated yet
The brother of an old girlfriend is a very deep pocketed bike fiend, who at any point in time owns about half a dozen of them. A few years ago at a party …
99 fith gen Not rated yet
Well always wanted a VFR, looking for 4th gen but this can up. This yellow 800 fi is basically like new and a credit to its former keeper who had it since …
Honda VF800 my first large bike Not rated yet
I have owned my 1999 Honda VFR 800 for nearly 6 years now. I found it for sale in a small bike shop in Melton Mowbray after about a year since passing …
200th bike and it's a vfr Not rated yet
I started riding an old 1964 Raleigh moped in 1975....fast forward to 2015 and having owned and ridden some 200 plus motorcycles I bought my first honda …
Kevan Not rated yet
Bought VFR800F1 in 2010. Haven't looked back. If you want a lot of fun but want performance and comfort. Go buy one! It will be the best thing you do! …
Proud 2001 Honda 800FI VFR owner (as shown above) Not rated yet
I've had my bike for a few years now and this article definitely explains how fun it is to ride. It passes effortlessly and I would not want a higher …
vfr 800 fi Not rated yet
i had this for about 5 years i have 59000 on it is still strong and i am going to dragons tail on it and this bike has tons of power better at 6500 rpm …
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