How Honda Killed their Greatest Motorcycle Engine

This is the story of Honda's production and racing V4s and how they ultimately killed it
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Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

[tomschneider]

Quick story on how I recently reacquired my old VFR…….I purchased a VFR700 new in ’88 as a non-current from a Honda dealership in the Twin Cities. In 1999 I traded it in at a different Twin Cities Honda dealer on a new VFR800. Fast forward to December of 2023 and I’m searching FB Marketplace for Rupp minibike parts (I restore them). I see a listing for an ’86 VFR and looking at the photos it seems to have the same minor mods that I had done to my old bike (HRC sticker placement, red lever covers, turn signal stalks removed). I reached out to the seller with the VIN and sure enough it's my old bike. He had bought it from the dealer where I traded it and had it ever since. It had actually been off the road for ten years and he recently had the tank etched and coated, carbs gone through, all fluids replaced and new tires and battery installed. It only had 17K miles on it…..5K more than when I traded it. We worked out a deal and it’s now back in my stable of bikes. It's a joy to ride and makes me feel like I'm 31 again!

[brucelange]

In 45 years of riding, my VFR 750 was the best bike I ever owned. It wasn't the fastest, or the best handling, or the best for touring, but it was unquestionably the best balanced of all the bikes I've owned. The comment that it was "a bike that made me a better rider" really resonated.

[GleepGlop]

The gear driven cams sound so good to me, anyone else?

[richardho]

I owned a VF750 Interceptor when they came out in ‘83 but the issues with the camshaft wear got me down. But when the VFR750 came out I got interested in the V4 again! I’ve owned a VFR750FM since new, it’s a ‘91 model and still runs like a brand new motorcycle, even with 150, 000kms on the clock. It never uses a drop of oil between services, starts first time, summer or winter and still looks and runs like a modern sports bike. I’ve also owned 5 FireBlades and a CBR1000F during this time and they’re all been moved on, but my VFR is still in my garage and it’s my favourite motorcycle of all time. Ride safe. 🏍️💪🇿🇦

[sanderstoutjesdijk]

I now own 6 Honda V-4's, a VF750C bought new in 82, a VF750F from 1985, a red/white/blue VFR750 interceptor from 86, two RC30's and a vfr800 interceptor from 2006, so you can call me a fanatic. Ever since my first glance at the V-four engine in 1982 I've been hooked on the looks of the engine but even more by the way it runs. So smooth, power at all RPM's and the VTEC system on the VFR800 is far better than everyone thinks: you get two bikes in one, by having torque at lower RPM's and performance at high RPM's and it doesn't kick in as sudden as they say. You can predict it pretty well. It's a real shame Honda abandoned the V4 engine for street use, it was their finest hour!

[keltanf]

I currently own a VFR800, it’s been an absolutely fantastic bike. I put over 9, 000 miles on it in a year of ownership!

[liberate]

Ok here goes, I started biking in 1990, I had Yamahas 3 Kawasakis and one Suzuki . My last Kwak ( which was a mongeral to work on ) suddenly died on me, in 2001, I had to find a cheep bike quickly, the only thing I could find was a 1990 VFR 750 with 80, 000 miles on the clock, that looked like it had had an extremely hard life, I reluctantly bought it and……….. that’s when the second phase of my life as a biker began ! It was epic ! The engin was incredible ! It had torque it had high end power ! It sounds like a 60’s muscle car but returned 50 to the gallon! Way more than my perky 600’s did . It was comfy to ride and everything made sense ! It’s servicing was easy and the bike was easy to work on !
It even had ridiculous things I had never seen on a bike such as a centre stand ! A fuel gauge ! And even a clock ! I kept that bike for 2 years until the electrics went at 104, 000 miles, I had no garage to take it apart and work on . This bike had to sit outside in English weather the entire time I owned it. So it went to a guy with a garage and a bit more mechanical savy than me .
Two years later I had bought a house with a garage and started saving for my next bike . In 2006 I got myself a 97 VFR with 14000 miles on it, replaced the pipes to liberate that V4 sound and replaced the regulator rectifier . Aside from servicing, that’s all it needed. 18 years later what am I riding now ?
THAT SAME VFR 750 ! It has never let me down !
It even had to sit in storage for 8 of those years while I worked over seas ! All I had to do was replace the battery and the old fuel and it started on the 3rd go and has ran without a hitch ever since! I can see why Honda don’t make these any more, they want to sell motorcycles, in a period of 11 years I had bought and owned 7 bikes then I bought this one and in a period of 18 years I haven’t needed to buy another one !

[national_superbike]

My 86 VFR750 is still one of my favorite bikes for distance riding. So comfortable and great handling. An all time classic.

[thomashadley]

I have to say as someone who owns a VRF800 VTEC, it gets so much hate from people who have never ridden one. I've heard the earlier VTEC bikes had a more noticeable engagement, and maybe that's where it all stems from, but it's not any more jarring than the torque curve on most inline 4 sport bikes. I have put thousands of miles on it and it's a fantastic bike. It's a shame that Honda discontinued the VFR800, because it's honestly the best all-round bike I've ever owned. And I have a CB750, the OG all-rounder.

[richardohnstad]

I bought an '86 VFR750 in 1998 at the age of 61. I loved the look, feel and sound of it, but 10 years later my knees didn't like it for anything over a 300 mile day. To this day I still have seller's remorse. The motor was incredibly smooth.

[richienotsorich]

I am the original owner of a 1986 VFR750. I put 2400 miles on it before getting hit in the fall of 1988. I stored it for decades before finally restoring it. She's getting very close and will be one of the quickest antiques on the road. It handled excellent and cruised its absolute best at 130 MPH. That was NOT a struggle by any means being you can easily be going 100 MPH in 3rd gear with three more to go. It truly was an amazing machine for its time.

[teljla]

I had a 1998 VRF800, and it was the best bike I've ever owned. I'd still have it to this day if it weren't for someone on a cell phone crashing into the bike at an intersection, sending the bike into oncoming traffic and sending me to the hospital. The bike was totaled. I loved everything about that bike - the ergonomics, the full fairing, the linked brakes, the hydraulic clutch line instead of a cable, the single-sided swingarm, the camshaft gears instead of a chain, etc.

[rangerlongshot]

Dude, it's Mick Doohan not Mike. It realize you guys who get everything from the internet might not know him but he did win five 500cc World Championships in a row.

[doghouse]

I did some drywall work for a guy in 84, he couldn't pay me, and he had a garage full (2 complete, 4 more boxes of CBX 1000 parts, 3 bare frames) I took them instead of money. FF to 86 and I had 3 complete (but not perfect) CBX 1000's and one that was bare bones for racing. I hated the way these bikes handled and ran. I traded all of them for 1 86-VFR1000r. I put over 100, 000 miles on that V-4 in the 3 years I had it, and it was still smooth when I sold it. That was one of the best bikes I ever owned, only to be topped by my 98 R-1. I had a bunch of FZR's, Hurricanes, Speed triples, R-6. My fave was still that VFR.

[manfredbettin]

From Germany: In '97 I bought a '89 RC24 with the RC36 motor. Since it came out in '86 it was my dream bike. Sitting and riding was just a dream, fit like a glove.
I turned it into a real sports tourer and drove it for 8 years, for 120.000 km. The day I hit the 100.000 km in 2001 I let it run: top speed 236 km/h on external digital speedometer. The best bike I ever had, of course in pure pearl white.

[surferdjnj]

I have a Red 2007 VFR0800 with VTEC. Once your used to it, the valves kicking in is a blast. I'll never sell it, it's absolutely timeless, and to this day people pull up next to me like, "Nice bike man" Just one sticker on each side the rest is metallic red. Actually metallic silver paint with a red clear. Looks amazing. The 1200 It had a centrifical transmission. They just screwed it up so bad. I hope this bike lasts forever. Personal record is 967 miles from FL to NJ straight thru. Bike is amazingly comfortable.

[Krosis_]

Got a red '14 VFR 800F as my first bike, put around 12000km on it and it's been amazing. Sure, I keep looking at new bikes, but I just can't find a good enough reason to get one.
It has all the power I need, nice torque, VTEC gives it a unique character and it has a riding position very well balanced between a naked and sports bike, with a suspension setup to match.
I use it for everything, from commutes to long trips to agressive runs on B roads and I never feel anything is missing.

At low rpms, the engine (with an Arrow exhaust) sounds like a big cruiser and when you push it past 7k into VTEC, it just roars to life.
You do feel the weight of the bike when pushing it around, but as soon as you start moving, it feels just right.

It's such a unique and well refined bike, it makes me happy every time I take it out for a spin :D

[cbennet]

Over the years I owned three generations of VF/VFR bikes and they were by far my favorite bikes. Sure, the gixer would murder them most years but the torque, smooth handling, and comfort to ride long distance was amazing! THANKS for this video. My heart skipped a beat every time a model I owned popped up on the screen. Bring it back Honda!

[jonnyretro]

Great video! I am a bike tech for 23 years and of all the bikes I have rode the 1999 vfr800 is still one of my favourites.
The Vfr400 grey import (jdm) was my first track bike and it's liniar power delivery drawn me away from my beloved 2 strokes. If only I stayed with the

[schwalbae]

I'm currently still using my first "real" motorcycle as a daily, my '98 VFR 800 and what a terrific machine it is, especially considering what you have pay for one. Having a 98hp (power was increased to 106 in '00) crotch rocket capable of 250kph with one of the best sounding engines of all times for under 3 grand is something that can't easily be found anywhere else. The only inconveniences imho are somewhat poor fuel consumption, the notoriously hot running engine and lack of ABS in some situations (and sometimes the CBS, too, as bleeding was a proper nightmare lol). Oh and did I mention it has a single sided swing arm? God I love that bike 😅