Honda Vfr..Why I love a V4!

[@Grahamvfr]

Note!! Apologies for not mentioning st11/13 v4s, I've not much experience of them. Also see link to fortnine video which heaps praise on v4 kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4C3q2OFoZ2ZgqMsi=NCHR1AywGqYC5UgQ

[@trevorphillips3055]

I learnt to drive and passed my driving test in my mother's Saab 96 v4. That had a 1500cc v4 originally used in the Ford Taunus. It was a quirky car but great fun to drive. That was where my interest in vee engines started.

[@Grahamvfr]

Oh that's brilliant, passing test in a V4 Saab, more exotic that my dad's Anglia 1200 super. Big Saab fan btw, in the 90s I had a rare 900 turbo sensonic, proper manual box , but no clutch pedal (auto hydraulic clutch).

[@lbrowns32]

Love the VFRF1200 V4 but the 1985 VMax was the machine that turned me on to this engine which I still have and LOVE!!!

[@Grahamvfr]

Yes i too love that yam V4 engine also... good shout 👍

[@davidlutton4560]

Hi Graham. I share your love for the V4, having owned a 750 and two 1200s and equally lament the fact that Honda has left the 'V4 party'. However, Honda missed a trick back in 2010, where the VFR1200F received less than positive comments from the biking press and buying public, not helped by the fact that it's performance fell short of Honda's previous flagship bike, the Super Blackbird, its lack of electronics, poor fuel range for a sports tourer and mixed views regarding the looks department, hit sales very badly, which resulted in only a 7 year run for the bike. Nevertheless, what lay beneath all that debatable 'negativity', lay a machine which not only represents tremendous value for money today, but is one on the greatest, uncomplicated sports touring engines on the road today, coupled together with Honda's renowned build quality. Anyone privileged to currently own the VFR1200F, would be best advised to hold on to it, as it will undoubtedly be a future classic with increasing values in the years to come. I just wish I had heeded my own advice!! Take care for now. David

[@Grahamvfr]

I guess it would be fascinating to hear what the designers would now say about the vfr12, having the benefit of hindsight. What would they change, how would they market it etc. suppose we'll never know😏. Just on the blackbird thing though David, remember apart from top speed (no limiter on blackbird), i would say it was a 'perceived' drop in performance which didn't help. Thanks again for thoughtful input.

[@BMCMOTOUK]

Lovely machine!

[@Grahamvfr]

Thank you , I do enjoy it😊

[@BMCMOTOUK]

​@Grahamvfr It does look fantastic. If I had the space my garage would be full of the bikes I like lol

[@Grahamvfr]

@@BMCMOTOUK 👍🙂

[@flightlessboid]

Back in the day, owned a '95 750 VFR (cheese grater version) what an amazing ride. After a few long distance trips, my wife on the back, felt it was time to switch to an ST1100. For us it was a mistake. Whether riding single, or with two, never felt comfortable with the extra weight. Just wasn't our cup of tea, and sorely missed the VFR.

[@Grahamvfr]

Yes we all change bikes at sometime and then miss the previous bike, you'll have to get yourself another one 👍. Thanks for watching.

[@oliverwells7043]

When I was a kid (I'm late 40s now) my father had a VF500 Interceptor II and then an RC36/2 VFR750. Those bikes seemed so fast and sounded so incredible at the time, I wondered why Performance Bikes had that cover on their magazine with Trevor riding the RC36, knee down smoking a pipe, in a flat cap... 20 years later I rode it and when compared to the NC29 I had at the time the VFR was fat, slow, sluggish and incredibly heavy. Compared to the SRAD 750 I had it was an absolute boat. Looking back, the V4 journey at Honda was kind of sad - they made those early VF bikes as their main superbike range, but encountered reliability issues that tainted the brand. In response they turned the V4 into something that was only offered in premium sports tourers (VFR) and exotics (RVF), plus the beautiful but largely unobtainable little 400s in Japan. So, cos your everyday rider couldn't afford an RC30 or RC45 their main V4 offering was no longer a sports bike... Right in the middle of the 90s sports bike craze! I guess they had the CBR range by then. Sure, the VFR750 sold, but then it morphed into the 800 and REALLY embraced the 'old-man-bike' image, at least in Europe. By the time the 1200 came along it was like Honda didn't know what the V4 meant to them. It's very fast, It's very powerful, but It's a tourer. Or is it? It's huge and comfortable, but It has no range. Then it felt like they then ignored the V4 until Aprilia came along and proved that people still love that engine layout if it's offered in something that is appealing, so Honda made a really feeble attempt to re-introduce the VFR800. It was 20 years out of date and nobody bought it. Regarding the 1200 - I'd love a go on one. Would I buy one? Nah, I'd choose a Bandit 1250 or a Fazer 1000 if I wanted a reliable sports-tourer because they aren't confused about what they are offering me. Anyway, there's no denying that that's a cool bike Graham. I still stop and check the 1200s out if I ever see one, they are a rarity. Have fun.

[@Grahamvfr]

Thank you for the comprehensive/ thoughtful comment. Yes Im sure i have that PB magazine in my loft 🙂. I personally don't think there is any confusion with the V4/ Vfr. You are right the Vfr on sports terms couldn't compete with mid late 90s 750s (well on track anyway, a road rider on UK roads would never get away from a well ridden V4 750) but having ridden srads, there is a world of difference but as you say the cbr took the sports role then. I try to stress the purchaser (see previous video buyers guidance) of a vfr12 needs to know what they are buying, as I did when I traded in my own Fazer 1000 (fantastic bike but I started more high speed touring). There was also no confusion in the designers mind for the vfr 1200, (I've watched the interviews) it can capably tour yes , but it was always required to have a very sporty persona, and indeed it feels like and has the performance of a comfy sports bike. Try to get a go on one, but they are quirky and need riding hard to appreciate that sporting edge . Thank you for watching 👍👍

[@MrSlurry]

It's funny, you get online or watch KZbin about the last 750 and the comments are always "they should still make this - I'd buy one!" but when they did nobody bought it. They made the original so well that it survived 30 years and made any update redundant

[@Grahamvfr]

@@MrSlurry Good point!

[@marktintinger7492]

I am from South Africa and ride a 2014 VFR v4 crossrunner , bought it new and have done 40.000 kms on it 2 up with my wife , the power of this 800 always amazes me with its overtaking power when needed and can cruise all day long a 120 kms per hour and has never missed a beat.😊

[@Grahamvfr]

Great to hear from you down there, we have a South African lad in our riding group. Not ridden a cross runner, but have heard the V4 800 works really well in it. Your input is much appreciated 👍

[@garyt123]

Never had a V4 before the 1200.... however, in 1988 I briefly had a (very frightening) RG500 Gamma (Sq. 4 / U4). It was 1 year old and I swapped it for my 1986 GSXR-750 with a mate who was scared shitless by it. Only took a couple of months until I too was daunted by the Gamma.

[@Grahamvfr]

Never had the pleasure of the rg500, loved the way Suzuki used to start the rev counters at 3k. Had a very brief blast on a V4rd, but unfortunately it was a rough one ... great bikes,

[@garyt123]

@Grahamvfr Yeah, the GSXR had the same identical clocks.

[@andyrawlings5369]

Hi Graham myself done plenty of miles on the v4 hondas 750 , 800 and the 1200 my view for a road bike the v4 engine is the best one and the triple engine a close 2nd. Yes its a shame honda dont produce one any more if they did i am sure they would be a large order list .

[@Grahamvfr]

Yea it would be great to see a new V4 model.

[@bampie1]

I had two VFR1200X DCT and loved them had to let the las one go as it was too heavy for me. Test rode this bike and hated it, turned out the tyres were shot.

[@Grahamvfr]

oh that's a shame😢. Thank you for watching though 👍

[@bampie1]

@@Grahamvfr Just put it out there that the dealer lost a sale and it put me off the bike because they couldn't be bothered to put decent tyres on the bike for a test rise.

[@Grahamvfr]

@@bampie1 What is it with dealers lately, they seem to just expect sales, with no effort on their part..shocking!!!

[@bampie1]

@@Grahamvfr That dealer will no longer let you test ride used bikes only demonstrators. I asked what I should do if I want to buy a bike without a test ride. I was told buy the bike ride it home and if you don't like it bring it back and they would refund me. Needless to say I've never been back.

[@TheZanshen]

I have the vfr 1200x dct and it’s superb. I had the manual vfr 1200x and changed to the dct . Will keep it until it dies as no other bike out there that comes close to it in my opinion. How can Ducati produce a V4 to meet the emissions but Honda can’t or won’t.

[@Grahamvfr]

That's a great sentiment, nice one 👍😊

[@justintante]

Hi Graham It's a long time ago when I had a VF500F. A superb bike that could easily out corner the rival RD350YPVS. I sold it and bought a Triumph Acclaim (Honda engine) which I quickly sold on and bought another VF500F in the new HRC colours. The only engine configuration I like as much as the V4 is the square4 with twin crankshafts which the RG500 has. Best, J

[@Grahamvfr]

Yea they were a cracking bike to ride, I'd like to restore one, but rarely now and too expensive unfortunately. Yea love multi cylinder 2 strokes, check out one of my favourite restos ,if you haven't seen it already kzbin.info/www/bejne/kISsoZSAoNiFjKssi=k7ywU2b95SxOQOPI

[@hbor77]

Yesterday, I saw a post on a new 2025 Honda VF1000. That might look interesting. Looking at our lovely VFR's, I think that Honda might have been to futuristic with the looks in 2010 because I still find it a stunning bike. Love the looks and also the way how they assemble the fairing parts. It is so smooth! But looking at 2025, there might be an oppty to add an additional bike in the garage as I don't want to sell the VFR :D

[@Grahamvfr]

Yes I wish I could less cynical about those posts Henk, but at least we can hope. Would be great to see a new one launched, even though couldn't afford one 😏

[@rickrandom6734]

Where did you see this post? Recently youtube has been flooded with fake AI made pictures of nonexistent bike models.

[@Grahamvfr]

@@rickrandom6734 Yea I saw it on KZbin, looks a bit clickbait type.

[@JIMWSMITH]

The engine is an absolute peach as we all know just pulls like a train and is super smooth. Is the 1200 the best road engine they ever made ? I now own a st1300 another fantastic v4 but with less bhp but very linear power compared to the 1200. Its super smooth and will sit at 30 mph in 5th no problem. With bags of torque. Honda have made some fantastic engines over the years yet somehow get unnoticed quite bizarre really.

[@Grahamvfr]

It would be a fantastic subject to discuss ie which is the best road engine Honda have built'?. I'm sure if a said the V4 1200 , I'd getting a torrent of other opinions. Yes I imagine the st13 V4 is a different (but no less entertaining) animal. Cheers 👍

[@JIMWSMITH]

@@Grahamvfr That subject should definitely be discussed. V4 rule 😃

[@garyt123]

There is a Ryan F9 video that delves into the trend towards twin cylinder engines over fours (inline or V4).... he mentions something about the ratio of _unburned fuel_ permitted in some of the new US, EU, and Japanese, regulations. Said unburnt fuel _hides_ between the piston crown and the 1st compression ring, which leads manufacturers to the easy (and cheap) solution of just reducing the number of cylinders, as opposed to employing more complex and expensive _offset_ pistons with narrower bores to maintain power while complying with the regulations. I don't profess that this _is the actual reason,_ but it seems logical to me.

[@Grahamvfr]

Yes it's a great video that Gary, I put a link to it in my pinned comment. Not sure I fully grasp it all, but it is interesting. Cheers 👍

[@adriani6760]

Sorry for the question which is not about this video, but i notices that you get down the original deflector (for windshield) and put something after market? i might have the opportunity to buy one deflector but now am not that sure anymore :( . wasn t good enought? worth it or not? Thank You

[@Grahamvfr]

I preferred the look of the Honda deflector, but it wasn't any better than cheap one. However I had issues on full lock due to it catching my heli bars . I would buy it yes 👍

[@julianmorris9951]

I can see the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers pulling out of Europe along with the car manufacturers, the EU are determined to kill the petrol engine, therefore I don’t see anything special in the pipeline from Honda or anyone else, people talk about a new blackbird but it ain’t gonna happen, I’m looking at the var next or the last of the zzr1400, something to keep long term 🤔

[@Grahamvfr]

Don't listen to the doommongers I have a loft full of old bike mags, and each decade has a different story of ' the end of the motorcycle '. It's a long way off. As one caveman said to another caveman. " What will we do when the flint runs out"

[@julianmorris9951]

@@Grahamvfr let’s hope so🤣 please Honda make a blackbird 🙏🤣

[@Grahamvfr]

@@julianmorris9951 Still great bikes , blackbirds 👍👍👍

[@djrichylaurence8991]

It's the looks that put me off. That fairing is horrible even if it works.

[@Grahamvfr]

Yes , a lot of folk are undecided about the looks, but thankfully Ive had handsome bikes in the past, but now ability is more important to me. Thank you for watching 👍

[@mikem.7544]

With all respect, its really hard to follow what your saying with the accent. Had to stop 1min in.

[@Grahamvfr]

Really sorry to hear that. I also had to edit some background noise out, and it's had an effect on the audio 😏