HELP with choice

[Jono]

Well for what it's worth, I owned a VFR for just over 3 years (Not the Vtec, a proper one)! And I loved it to bits, went two up touring around Scotland, went abroad with mates who were on all sorts of different bikes and commuted regularly to work on her. She didn't miss a beat throughout my ownership :bow: , and I found her a very comfy bike to ride long distance on. Before that I owned a Yamaha 600. I went to the 800 as a progression really, and then to the Blackbird again as a progression. Having been so impressed with the VFR it just had to be another Honda for me, and I to was a bit concerned with the size of the 'Bird, but when I had a test ride it felt just like a grown up VFR, very easy to handle on the move, very comfy, and loads of power on tap. Been two up and abroad on her and I love it to bits, and thats how I compare it to the VFR, a grown up bigger version. Personally I wouldn't entertain a Vtec VFR, I don't think you could beat the model before (Biased opinion obviously) , but you won't be disapointed with the Blackbird. :beer:

 

[canary]

Not meaning to offend fella, just telling it as I found it

:k

None taken mate, just love mi viffer :B

 

[ianrobbo1]

I too have owned and loved a viffer, it's a bit unfair to compare then really, they are both good at what they were designed to do "exept imho v-tec"
as for slow!! I've seen some birds put to shame by at least one well ridden "yellow" VFR, it's not the bike so much as the rider!!

 

[Jaws]

I am lucky enough to get to play with all sorts of bikes, and as much as I hate to do this Canary, but I have to agree pretty much with what Nige said.. No idea how you can say the vfr does the same gas miles as the Bird !

But......

Like everything in life, the more we use something so it is the better to use.

I only get to play on most bikes for a few days.. a week at most, and as such quite possibly have not figured out how to get the best from the vfr's I have had in my grubby hands

So far though, the couple of times I have taken a vfr down to southern Germany, cruising at 90 to 120 mph (ish) on a bird and a vfr seems to be chalk and cheese .. in fact the term cruising at 120ish on a vfr is a bit of an oximoron as I found it a real strain..
I just cannot get the gas miles out of the things...

 

[Bikerbaby]

biased asking the BB owners club

i think u have ur mind made up

 

[dhekalia]

Brad, I have owned 2 pre vetec VFR's and I loved then, nearly bought another when I saw the Bird, wouldn't change now The bird is better than the VFR. It is smoother, more comfort for both pilot and pillion more, having said that the wife always thought the VFR was ok but finds the Bird better. I find the Bird easier to ride slow around town. I would recommend the Bird but I won't put down the Viffer (pre VTec) because it was a good bike IMHO. For me commuting to and from work 115KM round trip, and the occasional jaunt with the wife I think the Bird beats the Viffer.
Take them both out and have a play. You will know after a good ride which one you prefer.
Enjoy what ever you choose.
dhek'

 

[Theoldgit1]

Have to say, I've had a VFR for a few years now, and old 1990 model one. Tried the Vtec, thought it was shite....
Bought a 2000 Blackie...Thinking it would be the natural update to what the VFR was.
And found...When I adjusted the levers to suit my wrists, (ie, in a straight line from arm to fingers when reaching for the levers) the bloody levers fouled the fairing. So I needed some bar risers then. c7u8

Then found that the linked brakes caused me real issues, the bike won't stop as well as the VFR (even with it's 2 pot calipers). I almost dropped it doing a feet up U turn, feathering the rear brake, the screen made my head rattle (put a double bubble on), and it was crap, and I mean crap on fuel, but that was, I think, because I was trying to ride it from 2,500rpm upwards, like I do the VFR.
Mate up the road has a Blackie too, I can pee all over him except dragging up hill onto motorways. Downhill, there's nowt in it.

Had a CBR1000F before the VFR, just too heavy, but a lovely mile muncher.

VFR corners better. More feedback. I weight 13 stone, been riding since I was 14, legally since 16, I'm 48 now, so experience isn't an issue.

Also found the way it just increases speed apparently on it's own means I spend tooooooooo long checking the speedo out when I should be looking where I'm going. The VFR being a bit less smooth, I tend to have a good idea just how fast I'm going. For a novice, I think this might just be a good thing?

But to be really honest. The VFR is used every day, the Blackie stays in the garage. Which means, I guess, that I prefer the VFR. Blackie's a lovely bike, and I'm not writing it off just yet, but cost wise there isn't much in it.

Wouldn't touch a Vtec with a barge pole though. :wank:

 

[Barryboy]

My two-pennyworth for what it's worth, based on the fact that I have upgraded to a 97 carburettor Bird two months ago after 4 years with a VFR750. My budget is such that I have to avoid the newer bikes but I believe that the following is valid.....

Power, speed etc. The Bird beats the VFR, although not by as much as some would have you believe. The VFR is a very fast bike (bearing in mind it's not an out-and-out sports bike) in its own right, but the Bird has much more punch in the 60 to 90 range - right where it's most useful, meaning you rarely need to change down to overtake, which is a huge bonus to a lazy bastard like me. Quite honestly to make use of all the power of a Blackbird in the lower and higher speed ranges means you are either accelerating too bloody fast or hitting some dangerously high top end speeds. I don't do track days so have no comment to make although I am quite prepared to accept that both bikes are so good that very few riders could test their limits properly.

Handling. Again not much in it. For me the smaller physical size of the VFR gives it a slight edge in town, simply because I am quite short and I have a 29" inside leg. I can manage OK, but it was easier to put my feet down on the VFR. Out on the open road there is no problem. The VFR was also a bit lighter, making getting it in and out of the garage less of a pain.

Can't really comment on service costs etc. as I've not done anything yet on the Bird. I can tell you, though, that changing the front two spark plugs on a VFR is a right twat of a job. Insurance is heavier on the Bird, as you would expect.

Weather protection is indeed better on the Bird, and very welcome too. This is not surprising as Honda made this a priority during the design stage. You can still get very wet and cold, though - don't think it's a car....

Would I change back? Only if circumstances got pretty dire, but if I did change from a Bird it would only be back onto a VFR - in my considered opinion nothing else comes even remotely close in my price bracket. I would look for a good used VFR800i pre-Vtech, probably in yellow.

However when I get to 100 and too old for proper biking I will be trading in my Bird for a nice Pan.....

 

[TRUNCH]

I had..........

a lovely VFR 800, great bike really was. However I went to get it MOT'd and while I was waiting at the bike shop I laid eyes on the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.....yes my Blackbird. "Take it for a spin Frank" said the shop owner.

I did, came back and immediatley began doing the paperwork etc.

The next day she was mine..... a real love story!!!



NUFF Said.........Enjoy your Blackbird anything else just aint right!!

 

[canary]

You go to fill up at same time, for run to dover two black birds one viffer same amount of litres, near end of journey all flashing at same time needing fuel. Thrashing nads of with mate on bird on many occasions, want fuel same time. nuff said. :dunno: