This is my commuter bike, my 2003 Honda VFR800
V4 POWER
Have you ever ridden a V4 before? There’s nothing else quite like it to be honest. My VFR may not be the fastest bike, it may also be a bit heavy, but wow does it just feel a certain way and I LOVE it. The V4 engine is the reason why I bought the VFR. It has good torque down low with a nice punchy mid range and once that V-TEC kicks in (yo) it really starts pulling nicely! Now I’m not going to pretend it’s as torquey as a V2 or as high strung up top as an inline 4. But it is a great compromise for all power everywhere and is absolutely amazing for every day riding, commuting, and touring.
The VFR is comfortable, economical, reliable (after beefing up the electrical system) and is relatively powerful (enough). A great addition to my garage and a bike I will keep for a long time!
Specs & Features
SPECS
Horsepower: 110 (bhp) @9,600
Torque: 60 lb-ft @8,500
Wet Weight: 530lbs
Seat Height: 31.7 in
Fuel Capacity: 5.5 Gallons
1/4 Mile: 11.4 seconds
Top Speed: 150 MPH
FEATURES
Single sided swing arm
Side Mounted Radiators
Hydraulic Clutch
Linked Brake System
MODS
Delkevic Slip on Exhaust
Even a stock VFR sounds pretty good, and I will admit ANY exhaust sounds amazing with the VFR800. However, none sound quite as good as the delkevic. You guys know I don’t even cheap out on my motorcycles, especially with an exhaust. I could have boughten an Akrapovic exhaust like my CBR. But in my opinion the Delkevic sounded better, and looks better too. I admit the Akra would be better quality, but I couldn’t resist the sound of the Delkevic!
DynoJet Power Commander 5
Even though I only have a slip on and K&N air filter. I did also do the PAIR, Flapper, & Snorkel mod AND I did an o2 sensor delete. It only makes sense to get a tune for the bike. I haven’t custom tuned the VFR (Yet!) but I am currently running the Cozye map and it has been working well enough for the time being. It’s definitely smoothed out the power delivery and added a bit more power to the bike (nothing crazy just 1-2 hp probably). Once I get it custom tuned I will expect to see a 5 horsepower increase.
VFRness
The electrical issues with the VFR are unfortunately the biggest chink in its armor. Long story short it’s a smart idea to upgrade the electrical system because the stock wiring is terrible. When I got the bike it was completely stock, so I went ahead and got the recall done (whole new wiring harness!) and I went ahead and installed the VFRness which adds in some fail-safes into the VFR wiring. I will eventually add a Mosfet Rectifier but for now the VFRness will have to do.
Sargent Seat
I got a INSANE deal on this seat. $100! in BRAND NEW condition. One day I was on the VFR facebook page when some lady said she didn’t like it and it was new and just wanted to get rid of it I jumped right on it and wow I couldn’t be happier! The seat is really comfortable, it looks AMAZING, especially with the red stripe. Also underneath the seat there is a small compartment where I put my registration and a small tool kit. Also it works with the stock solo-cover which is awesome!
T-Rex Frame Sliders
The VFR is a heavy bike. A single drop would easily destroy the expensive fairings and be terrible to replace. The T-REX frame sliders are the absolute top dog in frame sliders for the VFR. They are so durable and absolutely stunning build quality. I remember when I picked them up, they just have a great weight to them and I definitely trust my bike with these. It’s cheap insurance!
Link: They appear to be discontinued 🙁
HeliBars
The stock bars are decent, but I wanted a little extra. I like HeliBars because they re-use the stock cables and lines. These make the bike actually a lot more comfortable and give you more leverage which in my opinion makes riding in the twisties more enjoyable.
Puig Double Bubble Windshield
My stock shield had scratch marks on it so I wanted to replace it. I decided to try a double bubble. To be honest I’m not super impressed with it. It does help a bit with the air but I noticed that now instead of the air hitting my shoulders and chest it hits my head which can be quite annoying. Overall though it looks REALLY good so I can deal with the headblasts. And to be fair the wind is only bad above 100 MPH where I am usually tucked in anyway.
K&N Air Filter
My VFR was completely stock when I bought it, except for this Air filter. When I went to inspect it there was a whole mouse nest in it! I went ahead and cleared it away and cleaned and re-oiled the filter. Luckily there wasn’t any damage. I got lucky!
Heavy Bar Ends
The VFR is already a very smooth bike, but I decided to add on bar end weights to make it just a little bit smoother 🙂 Plus they look nice!
Oxford Heated Grips (sport)
Heated grips on a commuter bike is a necessity! Oxford grips are awesome, they’re easy to install and work very well! Plus they have safety switches built in where if you leave your bike on they will automatically cut off. I actually find the sport grips more comfortable than the touring ones which is why I went with the sport.