Honda kills the VFR after 2007

Nailer45 · 11-22-2006, 9:10 PM

As reported in motorcycle mags, Honda is killing the VFR ...That means no more V4 ,100hp engines and no more interceptor...I for one am very upset at losing a legend all due to the lack of sales because the SQIUDS,STUNTERS want 115-150hp 600cc race replicas so they can ride around town ...

I have had a honda V4 interceptor since the intro in 1983...I now have to find another brand that makes a reliable v4 that has that rumble in the exhaust and that can be ridden 300-600 miles in a day without having a back doctor on call 24/7.....

Hammer · 11-22-2006, 9:12 PM

Go buy 2 new ones and ride one and put one up for later

evl_twn · 11-22-2006, 9:15 PM

Too bad they never built the VFR I wanted...

CBRVFR · 11-22-2006, 9:19 PM

They killed it in '04. Guess I'll keep mine.

gt702 · 11-22-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

They killed it in '98. Guess I'll keep mine.

Fixed it for you

I expect I'll be happy with my '94 for some time to come, it only has 38k, or so, miles on it, so just getting broken in. And I have most of the parts to build what they should have built to replace it

If I ever get the time to put it together

gt702 · 11-22-2006, 10:09 PM

I guess I should add it is sad that the name and lineage is going away. Unfortunately I expected it to happen at some time. With the '98 Honda really left the niche, making the bike bigger and a little plusher ... then it was underpowered and heavy compared to what you could get just a little further up the displacement range. And they made it so complex that I'm sure the profit margin was pretty slim compared to other bikes out there.

Be sure to voice your dissatisfaction and desires to Honda, if you feel inclined.

CBRVFR · 11-22-2006, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt702

Be sure to voice your dissatisfaction and desires to Honda, if you feel inclined.

Or try to explain love to a Buick.

Repeater · 11-22-2006, 10:50 PM

Wonder when the rc 51 will go? The VFR needed a 1L motor and no Vtec.

I really love riding the rc (friends bike). It would be cool to see a duck killer come out of nowere

Custom900 · 11-22-2006, 10:51 PM

Ride an FJR and you'll forget all about the VFR. Yammie makes a sweeeeet sport touring bike.

gt702 · 11-22-2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Custom900

Ride an FJR and you'll forget all about the VFR. Yammie makes a sweeeeet sport touring bike.

Too big for me, but that is one of the bikes the VFR800 really competes with, and what helped kill it.

I preffer the 750 VFR's which in effect are just a bit bigger than the 600's (of the time) with more torque.

oldfogey · 11-23-2006, 4:56 AM

Well, I like keeping vehicles until they're old anyway. Looks like my viffer is a keeeeeeeper.

Nailer45 · 11-23-2006, 5:15 AM

I guess the only good thing out of this is that now the value of a VFR will go up due to supply VS demand.. I myself am a fan of the V4 engine ..Inline 4 motors to me just have no character and sound like bumble bees in heat when you get up in the high rpms...

CBR?? Never....

evl_twn · 11-23-2006, 8:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldfogey

Well, I like keeping vehicles until they're old anyway. Looks like my viffer is a keeeeeeeper.

Mine's an '86. I doubt I'll ever sell it.

Heavy-Dee · 11-23-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nailer45

I guess the only good thing out of this is that now the value of a VFR will go up due to supply VS demand.. I myself am a fan of the V4 engine ..Inline 4 motors to me just have no character and sound like bumble bees in heat when you get up in the high rpms...

CBR?? Never....

I doubt the price will go up.

I'm guessing that Honda will now introduce something for this niche. Maybe kill the VFR and slim down/redesign the ST1300 or something.

CBRVFR · 11-23-2006, 1:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy-Dee

I doubt the price will go up.

I'm guessing that Honda will now introduce something for this niche. Maybe kill the VFR and slim down/redesign the ST1300 or something.

I don't know.. They've been rigorously abandoning niches. 650 Hawk NT gone, though Suzuki and Kawasaki are proving a market for it, Superhawk 1000 gone, though Aprilia and Ducati have lots of sporting liter twin streetbikes, VFR gone due to lack of sales. How long will they continue to make the RC51? Or the ST 1300 for that matter? There's not that many of those around.

Are they going to pare their streetbike offerings down to CBR 600 and 1000, the 919 and 599 naked versions, the Goldwing and 439 flavors of VTX's and Shadows? Oh, and scooters. Lots of scooters.

It's telling that so many on this board of Honda enthusiasts wouldn't buy a Honda right now.

ND4SPD · 11-23-2006, 1:27 PM

The RC is already discontinued. 2006 was the last year for it.

I'm hoping for a middleweight supersport now that GP bikes have slimmed down.

CBRVFR · 11-23-2006, 1:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

I'm hoping for a middleweight supersport now that GP bikes have slimmed down.

People in hell are hoping for ice water.. I think you are likely to see more VTX's. Maybe a scooter version?

I want to find all those quotes from Mitch Boehm and the other industry "insiders" who were intimating so forcefully that there would be a V5 or at least a liter-version VFR.

Heavy-Dee · 11-23-2006, 9:15 PM

Andrew Treavit even says in this months SR that it'll be interesting to see if there is a resurgance of the 3/4 liter class since GP bikes have gone to 800cc. It'd be sweet to see an GSXR 800 or a CBR 800rr. But as much as the marketers want you to think that your CBR is based on the RC211v, the truth is that it's not even close IMO. AMA, and World racing play more into the type of bike they will build for the masses than do GP. So unfortunately until the AMA Superbikes go to 750's again, it's not going to happen.

HD

gt702 · 11-23-2006, 9:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy-Dee

Andrew Treavit even says in this months SR that it'll be interesting to see if there is a resurgance of the 3/4 liter class since GP bikes have gone to 800cc.

Then the VFR fits Honda's MO ... getting out of niches just before they explode. They dropped the NT650 here and now the SV and Kawi are doing good ... yet they still won't bring back the NTV650 or its variants that they sell elsewhere. They backed out of the SuperHawk and now that is a hot market.

Personally, I think something is likely to follow the VFR, but with a different name. They downplayed the VFR part when it became the Intercepter again. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Nailer45 · 12-25-2006, 3:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt702

Then the VFR fits Honda's MO ... getting out of niches just before they explode. They dropped the NT650 here and now the SV and Kawi are doing good ... yet they still won't bring back the NTV650 or its variants that they sell elsewhere. They backed out of the SuperHawk and now that is a hot market.

Personally, I think something is likely to follow the VFR, but with a different name. They downplayed the VFR part when it became the Intercepter again. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Now i have been hearing rumors of a V4 powered 600cc sportbike or a all new V4 powered sportbike..Hmmmm rumors due have a tendacy to be false..we will have to wait and see...

davef · 12-26-2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

It's telling that so many on this board of Honda enthusiasts wouldn't buy a Honda right now.

Yup, the only one I'd consider would be a 2006 and up 1000RR.

you've been repped!

Oldschoolcbr · 12-28-2006, 2:27 PM

If it does really go away, I don't see it being gone for too long. It's such a poplular Bike, especially the older versions. I could see them reworking it and bringing it back. Remember when Nissan discontinued the 300ZX? That only lasted a few years before they realized thier mistake......it continues to be a very popular automobile.

monkey · 12-28-2006, 3:15 PM

It will be interesting to see if the rumors are true. I remember when they were talking about getting rid of it, then it came out with VTEC. New and improved? Hardly.

When I used to be on The List, all we could talk about was how much we wished they would pare off some weight and give us a little more HP. Then, we get VTEC. What? More weight and less power? No more cam gear whine!? Talk about a neutering! Don't even get me started on the whole R/R issue. The VTEC was more of a step sideways than forward. I sold my '98 last year and still occasionally have pangs of regret. It really was the best of both worlds, and without a doubt, the last of the REAL VFR's.

What I would like to see is the RC51 motor dropped into a VFR chassis. Or, I could go buy a Tuono.

Thanks for listening, Honda. But I guess they never asked for my opinion.