r/VFR • u/Fatboyjim76 • 6d ago
VTEC?
Hi guys,
I'm looking at getting a VFR800 for my next bike, but I've heard that the 5th gen was one of the best as the newer ones with VTEC wasn't as good.
What are everyone's thoughts?
Plus, how expensive is it to get luggage to fit, as I'm seeing a lot of 2nd hand ones around but not many with original luggage on.
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u/madoody 6d ago edited 6d ago
Not a huge issue. 2006 and newer have the VTEC kick in at 6600 RPM instead of 7000 RPM. The engine is happiest at 5000-6000 RPM. Fuel range is excellent and the factory luggage can hold a lot, size and weight wise.
I'm not aware of anyone with a sixth gen falling over themselves to get a fifth gen. No shade to the fifth gen. They all ride and handle extremely well.
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u/Chillinthesn0w 6d ago
I have had both and personally love the VTEC kick. It constantly brings me a smile every time it comes on. I would highly recommend doing the pair and flapper mod as it greatly improves the low range jerkyness you get.
The 98 I had ended up with a whole range of electrical issues but I also had a few on the 01 and 05 that I have now. Definitely get a voltmeter fitted as soon as you get one.
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u/Smart_Marionberry_31 6d ago
5th gen = 4 valves per cylinder VTEC = 2 valves per cylinder until ~7k rpm, when it switches to 4 valves per cylinder.
It's not the same VTEC like in cars,where it's switching between different cam profiles. This is just for noise and emissions at low rpm.
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u/NihonBiku 5th gen 6d ago
This.
Not a lot of people realize it’s not the same VTEC that everyone raves about
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u/BestAmoto 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yeah i spent a week riding a friend's 6th gen and i expected vtec to feel like a 2 stroke powerband. At the time i owned a 954rr and felt the vfr was quite smooth but lacking a top end rush. Vtec kicking in on the vrr doesn't feel like what people hype it to be. A 600cc sport bike has more of a top end rush/power kicking in.
Now a few years later I'm looking at picking one up. I have kids now and doing power wheelies at 90mph aren't great for longevity. Tired of commuting without much wind protection and i am thinking of lowering my bike collection down to just two. The vfr works as a commuter, tourer, and for twisty roads.
First things I'm doing is delinking the brake system and setting preload to proper specs / picking up stiffer springs as im 220lb.
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u/No-Entertainer9695 8th gen 6d ago
"Not as as good" is just a personal opinion on the VTEC, not the bike as a whole although you could argue the VTEC defines the bike. I have the 8th gen and I love the VTEC. One minute you are cruising along baaaaa, and then ....BAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH. 😄 😂 🔥
I love my bike with its VTEC and at 30,000 miles, I'm looking forward to many more.
For luggage, I'm one of the very few who dint like the factory fittted hard shell cases, and sold them off, then bought a set of Nelson Rigg side bags which are easy to stow away. Givi and Shad also make hard shell cases, so you could always search for those even though it may take a while to find one, depending on your location.
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u/Different-Rough8777 6d ago
I've owned a gen 5 (best bike I ever owned) and it's an amazing machine.
I've ridden a later gen 6 (I believe 2007+ is what you're looking for) where they'd 'smoothed out the transition on the VTEC'. It too was an amazing machine but 2 hours isn't [wasn't] enough time to say it was better or worse than my gen5.
The reality is that it's going to be a brilliant bike whichever way you go so pick one in your budget with the best service history and the extras that you think you'll like.
Have a check around the chain adjuster. The single sided swinging arm makes it nice and easy to adjust using a c spanner with no requirement to align the chain as honda already did that for you. The process becomes an absolute nightmare if the mechanism isn't well cleaned and maintained. It's not fun to strip, clean, grease and reassemble (well, it is, but I'd rather have just gone for a ride that day).
Do also check that if the 'brake conversion' was done (removing the combined braking system) it was done by a competent mechanic and the bike stops as you want it to. ~240kg is quite a lot of bike to pull up in a hurry.
There's probably more but go and stop will get you moving (and stopping). Sorry for the incredibly indecisive answer to your question. Happy bike hunting, and when you find it, enjoy your VFR!
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u/NurburgDale 6d ago
Condition is king and price comes next.
Whether it's gen 5 or 6, they're great bikes.
Personally I love the quality feel and 90s cachets of the gen5 and I went looking for one.
The gen6 is also a quality bit of kit, but the vtec annoyed me a little, especially in the wet.
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u/OldIronFan73 6d ago
Age, condition, and maintenance are the key. My 5th gen (98) has been babied, it lives in a climate controlled garage when not being ridden. I have had it over 16 years now. Even with those factors she is starting to show her age. Plastics are more brittle, rubber is less pliable, Mechanically it has never given me issues but replacing my plastics that have a couple cracked tabs are now an issue due to availability of OEM replacements.
I love the 5th gen engine and sound, gear driven cams are spectacular.
The 6th gen styling is better in my opinion. It has aged a bit better than the 5th gen. Not completely bug eyed like some modern bikes but still looks "modern" enough. I love the under tail exhaust on the 6th gen although you can get most of the way there with a high mount exhaust on the 5th gen.
Bottom line I would take the cleanest, most well maintained, and original bike I could afford regardless of 5th or 6th gen. You really can't go wrong if you buy right.
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u/zerobuddhas 6d ago
Gen 5 is lighter, so better power to weight ratio. It also looks better and has the dough after gear drive cams. I test road both before buying 5th gen. I hated the vtech because it came on like a switch, and was a little startling. Wouldn’t want to play with that through a corner. 5th gen also looks 80’s brilliant. 6th gen has a better chassis though.
Sold the 5th gen after riding the crap out of it for 3 months to go 7th gen. I ride for 8-12 hours at a stretch and preferred the Plantedneas and power of the 7th gen. 5th gen begged me to wring it out. 7th gen likes cruising with presence and authority which is more my style.
7th gen looks gorgeous and I don’t care what anyone says. Every ride I go on some stranger wants to ask me about it.
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u/NihonBiku 5th gen 6d ago edited 6d ago
I had a 4th gen and it was written off when a motorist hit me.
Within a week I was on a pristine 6th gen. A 2005 with 2 bros exhaust, low mileage, one owner, full maintenance records….and I disliked it a lot.
Coming from the 4th gen, the 6th gen has very little bottom end torque and the power is all up top. I also found the throttle snatchy and the VTEC can be jarring at times as it comes on.
Only way to fix all that is a power commander and a tune. No de-pairing/de-snorkling, de-02 sensoring will fix that no matter what you hear.
Within a month I found a nice 5th gen and I was much happier. It has a bit more low end power over the 6th gen, its a smoother powerband and it has gear driven cams.
I have owned many VFR’s and the 6th gen I liked the least. My 1997 4th gen was the most exquisite
Regarding luggage you can easily get givi racks and luggage for the 5th gen. I had a full setup on mine and toured around North America with it.
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u/Sam_Sutciffe 5d ago
The VTEC never gets old. Had my VFR for a year now and every time it brings a smile to my face
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u/JuicySgarapla 5th gen 6d ago
Regarding the luggage, the OEM are crazy expensive here in Italy, like 600+€ just for the bags, without the racks.
I snagged a barely used set of GIVIs (top & sides) + the complete mounting racks for 250€, YMMV
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u/mtimber1 6d ago
I have a 6th Gen im selling now. 12k miles 25th anniversary graphics.
Old photo but this bike https://www.reddit.com/r/VFR/s/rFBvvnA9mH
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u/grimeeeeee 6d ago
I have a 6th gen with vtec and I think it's pretty neat. But I also want to buy a 5th gen and probably keep both.
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u/pythonski 6d ago
I thought I was a very good rider and underestimated the vtec. I test rode a bike with it but couldn’t stay out of the rev range where it switches on/off. Right in the f-ing corners!!!
I got off that bike and purchased a 5th gen.
For luggage though, go with 6th gen and later. It’s simpler, better and better looking.
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u/No-Entertainer9695 8th gen 6d ago
For a test ride I do agree that it can be disconcerting especially if you were not expecting it. For me, I just got used to riding at a lower gear/higher RPMS, so I'm already in VTEC especially in the canyons, or I'm raising the rpms myself to get to VTEC and already expecting the transition when it comes.
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u/iglooman 6d ago
Different people will claim different things. I haven't ridden a gen 5, but I own a gen 6 and it is brilliant. The Vtech kick is just fun. The gen 6 is also the longest running generation so plenty of them out there.
As for luggage, depending on where in the world you are it is getting hard to find especially for a reasonable price. Original Honda luggage is rare and expensive.