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HONDA VFR800 (1998-2001) Review

Published: 24 November 2006

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"Consumate all-rounder that looks great and goes better"

Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Riding

"Consumate all-rounder that looks great and goes better"

Overall Rating 5 out of 5

The Honda VFR800i is the best version of the best motorcycle ever built according to some. Honda VFR800i is a consumate all-rounder that looks great and goes better whether you’re on a track day, commuting or heading on a two week holiday with pillion and luggage. Honda VFR800i is an evolution of the VFR750, which started life as a sports bike but ended as a super sports tourer.

Ride Quality & Brakes 4 out of 5

The Honda VFR800i is capable and stable in any situation. Nimble enough for the road no matter how fast your mates are. One step more towards the touring camp than say, a CBR600F. 90% of the time that’s great but if the fast group on track days is your aim, a Honda VFR800i is probably not the best machine for you.

Engine 4 out of 5

V-four layout is unusual – it’s more costly and no more powerful than the all-conquering in-line four. But the Honda VFR800i feels and sounds far more exciting and produces more grunt low in the rev range. Competitors like Triumph’s Sprint beat the Honda VFR800i for power and torque, though.

Build Quality & Reliability 4 out of 5

Not as good as people would have you believe – but still well above average. Rectifier issue (Honda’s Achillies heel) can cause the Honda VFR800i to stop, potentially with a boiling battery. Non-Honda units are cheap and solve the problem before it occurs – later Honda units also work well on the Honda VFR800i.

Insurance, running costs & value 3 out of 5

As it’s the pick of the Honda VFR750/800s used values are high. The later Honda VFR800 V-Tec model was heavier and needlessly complex. People know Honda VFR800is last and are happy paying top money for clean bikes, even with average or above mileages. At least you shouldn’t lose much when you sell. Find a Honda VFR800i for sale.

Insurance group: 14 of 17 – compare motorcycle insurance quotes now.

Equipment 5 out of 5

Honda VFR800i carries rider and pillion better than most machines except dedicated tourers and some big trailies. Superb headlights and decent mirrors. Honda VFR800i centre stand is nice in these weight conscious days. Clocks include fuel gauge and ambient temperature – impressive for the time the Honda VFR800i was made.

By MCN Staff

Owners' Reviews

35 owners have reviewed their HONDA VFR800 (1998-2001) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your HONDA VFR800 (1998-2001)
Summary of Owners' Reviews
Overall Rating 4.7 out of 5
Ride Quality & Brakes 4.6 out of 5
Engine 4.8 out of 5
Build Quality & Reliability 4.5 out of 5
Value & Running Costs 4.7 out of 5
Equipment 4.5 out of 5
5 out of 5

Probably the best all round bike ever...

12 March 2018 by PTP

Year : 1998
Annual servicing cost : £200

A truly reliable and fun machine, not the most exciting ride out there, but for £1,500 it’s about as good as you can get. I use it for commuting and it does exactly what I ask of it. With a Delkevic exhaust it sounds great, especially higher up the... Read more rev range.

Ride Quality & Brakes
5 out of 5
Stable and predictable handling. No it won’t keep up with a super duke around Brands Hatch, but unless you are a track day regular how many times are you going to ask this if a VFR?
Engine
5 out of 5
Exotic enough sound and plenty of grunt far earlier in the rev range than my 1998 blade.
Build Quality & Reliability
5 out of 5
Excellent finish, fork leg lowers have needed some attention, but that’s not unusual for any 20 year old bike. It’s a bike I don’t worry about when I get on first thing in the morning as to if it will start or not.
Value & Running Costs
5 out of 5
The £200 covers an oil change and set of OEM brake pads I fitted this year.
Equipment
4 out of 5
Under seat storage is minimal. Take a rucksack!! Heated grips are a must for winter..
Buying experience

Private sale. £1,500 with 44k in the clock. Good cosmetic and mechanical condition. Don’t expect to lose any money on it if I ever come to sell her...

4 out of 5

Irritatingly irreplaceable

31 August 2017 by Sniffingswede

Year : 1998
Annual servicing cost : £180

4.5 would be a better rating as it ain't perfect (what is?), and it's not the best at anything. Glorious, elastic, flexible engine.Even after 10k miles (I bought it at 19k about 18 months ago) I never get tired of that hard knuckle of midrange that... Read more starts around 6k and only tails off just before the rev limiter. And the sound? Oh my. With full stainless system with carbon end can, it starts as a lovely lumpy tickover, to a general burbly loveliness when doddering about, to a hard, even, purposeful moan. Just wish it had the adjustability and quality of my old CBR600F's suspension, and was a bit less lardy, and a bit less serious. The CBR was a rock at any speed, despite being lighter. You can tour on it, but I haven't, and it hasn't made me want to. I'm 41, and after 60-70 miles my legs are complaining to the point where I'm taking my feet off the pegs and stretching them out, but that's probably just me. Main problem with it is that it's nigh on 20 years old, and after so much searching I can't find anything to replace it. I think it's exceedingly handsome from any angle, and even with the miles and the age, its detail is a testament to the the fact that when Honda built it, they were not trying to balance the books to a tiny price. I still I ride it every day in all weathers and all seasons, and there is no visible corrosion anywhere, save for a bit of aluminium whitening on some barely visible areas.

Ride Quality & Brakes
4 out of 5
Brakes have never needed more than two fingers, and I've never locked up either end since I've had it, even when the roads are icy. Linked brakes are on loads of modern bikes now. They were a good idea then and still are. Suspension is fine, but bumps are not as controlled as they could be. 20 year old suspension though, so it's going to be tired.
Engine
5 out of 5
Perfect for the road. Just enough power to feel exciting, with vibes that are never annoying, just a pleasant reminder of having something working underneath you.
Build Quality & Reliability
4 out of 5
Loses marks on the reg/rec. Replaced with a MOSFET unit and never had a problem since.
Value & Running Costs
5 out of 5
Little more expensive as I've done two oil changes, and replaced the chain and spark plugs.
Equipment
5 out of 5
Fuel gauge, dual trips, clear dials. Almost docked it a mark because there is no gear indicator, but it felt unfair to punish it for inability to count gears.
5 out of 5

Hard bike to beat for overall value

23 April 2017 by GinVFRman

Year : 2001
Annual servicing cost : £500

While tending more to sport than touring per se, this bike does a wonderful job of both. Raised the bars slightly to achieve a more upright position. Helps alot on longer hauls. Why Honda chose to adopt VTEC and drop gear driven cams is frankly... Read more incomprehensible. The 2001 was the last of their fifth Gen VFR'S, and is the best bike they've ever made in this man's opinion.

Ride Quality & Brakes
5 out of 5
Some riders don't care for the linked brakes but I don't even notice them. Braking is great. Ride might be a touch soft, but on longer hauls it helps.
Engine
5 out of 5
Bike engines don't get appreciably better than this one. Smooth power delivery across the band. Revs freely and breathes well. Little in the way of vibration. A great motor.
Build Quality & Reliability
5 out of 5
Exceedingly well designed and well executed machine.
Value & Running Costs
5 out of 5
You can pick up a fairly low mileage Fifth Gen for a few thousand bucks, and it represents one of the great bargains in the world of motorcycling.
Equipment
4 out of 5
Equipping the bike with hard bags would have been nice. It IS supposed to be a sport-tourer after all.
Buying experience

Purchased privately. Was originally bought by a Navy man who passed it on to his son, who sold it to me. Had 6,000 miles on it when I bought it from him in 2016.

4 out of 5

Better than average.

20 February 2017 by Shane

Version : Fi1
Year : 2001
Annual servicing cost : £1,400

The sound.Lovely off beat burble. Scorpion end can fitted, OE was a bit flat. Downside is those linked brakes,work perfectly but in long term ownership they require the dedication of an amphetamine fed cat to change fluid and bleed properly. Just far... Read more too complicated a system for long term/high mile use.

Ride Quality & Brakes
3 out of 5
My arse needs a break before i run out of fuel on a long run. Once did 650 miles in one day. Never again without a better seat.
Engine
4 out of 5
Not as torquey as i thought but you get used to it. Eats my sons CBR6 and gets eaten by a real sports bike.
Build Quality & Reliability
4 out of 5
Exhaust eventually rots away, mine now sounds like a dumper truck on methanol. Stainless replacement sitting in the shed to be fitted this spring. Gulp! Fork legs past their best and the wheels have that white surface corrosion that needs a powder coating firms attention. Always been reliable and put up with my half arsed cleaning and maintenance,though i change oil regularly.
Value & Running Costs
4 out of 5
Higher if serviced at a dealer. My costs were the rough sum of service items, tyres,chain and sprockets etc worked out over a three year period. Average 11000 miles a year.
Equipment
5 out of 5
Michelin pilot road 4's have me scraping pegs in the summer, not sliding or dodgy in the winter. Love them. Double bubble screen was a waste of money, Honda had it right (6ft2 me). Scottoiler does save money but makes a hell of a mess.
Buying experience

Private sale,paid £1700 and it was a fair sale. The bike was near mint when i bought it with 30k, now 77k and cough cough, well used.

5 out of 5

Perfect for me; why would I want any other bike?

29 January 2017 by g

Year : 1998
Annual servicing cost : £400

Finest Sport-Touring bike ever conceived. It's V45 based motor is excellent. Would I recommend? A friend reported finding a low mileage, excellent condition example for sale at an astounding price; I told him run-not-walk to buy it. Read more

Ride Quality & Brakes
5 out of 5
Smooth confident rides on twisty back roads at reasonable speeds are what it does best; neither me or the bike are track stars, so warp speed is not my thing. I did hold it at 120 MPH for 2 minutes once on a safe rural road and was surprised at how absurdly smooth and absolutely NOT scary it was.
Engine
5 out of 5
Outstanding motor; the FI is managed very well giving smooth response at every speed and in every gear. The cooling fan often makes itself known in slow traffic but i tend to avoid such situations; I run Evans coolant so it will never boil.
Build Quality & Reliability
4 out of 5
Everything on my bike has fared well; however my previous Honda Sabre V45 suffered the infamous regulator/rectifier failure a long way from home. I was saddened to find that problem had not been resolved on the VFR800. It is possible to upgrade the R/R to a unit similar to that used by Yamaha. I did that a few years back and now ride further with greater confidence.
Value & Running Costs
4 out of 5
I do all service myself; major expenses are tires, oil & filters. A Scott oiler greatly reduces chain wear/adjustment.
Equipment
5 out of 5
It is all good. I have heli-bars for a bit less of a crouched riding postion. The 2000 year mirrors on riser blocks allow one to see more than ones elbows. Upgrading the headlight bulbs to 55W H4 was easy and worthwhile. I had a gel pad added to the stock seat. A K&N cleanable air filter has worked well. Evans coolant gives confidence in longevity and minimizes coolant checking. A Givi wing rack with side and top box is superb for long distance touring. A Givi windscreen flips the air blast away better than the stocker. I settled on Metzeler tires after trying others: I will be going to their BC-01 series this year (2017)
Buying experience

It was a leftover in 2000; the price was good. Sad that more riders could not recognize the value of this terrific machine.

5 out of 5

After owning 40+ bikes i have found the one!

05 December 2016 by Mark Williams

Year : 2000

comfortable, powerfull enough, excellent sound with aftermarket can, brilliant brakes when bled correctly, good vision at night and decent tank range also handling very good. Read more

Ride Quality & Brakes
5 out of 5
my dual linked brakes are spot on as i regularly bleed them and clean the pistons when i change the pads, no brainer really.
Engine
5 out of 5
Excellent ;-)
Build Quality & Reliability
4 out of 5
only flaw as with most Honda's is the regulator rectifier, get a relay fitted for heated grips/sat nav etc and your'e all good to go.
Value & Running Costs
5 out of 5
only consumables as with any other bike, depends on how much mileage you do....
Equipment
3 out of 5
Limited underseat storage but as you will never break down with this bike you dont need tools...
5 out of 5

One of Hondas best

20 August 2016 by Michael

Year : 2000
Annual servicing cost : £200

I've had all types of bikes ranging from sports, big sports touring, modern retro etc but keep coming back to the old faithful 5th generation and best model Honda VFR made. Read more

Ride Quality & Brakes
4 out of 5
Linked brakes are good but down on outright stopping power.
Engine
5 out of 5
These rack up high kms with simple maintenance. On my 4th VFR800fi and although they could do with another 30hp and 40nm of torque nowadays there's just something special about this 5th gen gear driven camshaft engine. Fit a staintune highrise pipe and you have one of the best sounding bikes still today.
Build Quality & Reliability
5 out of 5
Runs like a swiss watch. Simple mods make the charging system reliable
Value & Running Costs
5 out of 5
Valves rarely go out of adjustment
Equipment
5 out of 5
-
5 out of 5

13 year test on 2001 VFR

20 July 2016 by VegasVFR

Year : 2001
Annual servicing cost : £100

does everything well enough. smooth, quiet, yet great V4 hum as the rpms rides. i have three givi bags and a custom windscreen. two HIDs, and two HPLEDs. Handles very well in wet and windy weather. Styling is still appealing. i have had it since... Read more 2003. i road test bikes, but this is still the only one in my garage. I do get 49 mpg on regular. AMSOIL makes it run smooth. Worst feature: center stand hard to get on when you have givi bags with stuff in them.

Ride Quality & Brakes
5 out of 5
rides very well even on bad roads. had others wanting to ride mine back on a trip. brakes are upgraded to EBC HH+ pads. Front and rear shocks have been upgraded. Front with heavier fluid, and rear Ohlins, all set up at the race track.
Engine
5 out of 5
love the quiet at start, and mid-range V4 hum at rpms. engine horsepower and torque curve is linear like an electric motor. Good torque from 2500 up. 4000 is a good rpm for cruise, and hot weather. i live in the desert and larger radiator option would be nice but i have not had it overheat yet. they say keep it below 240 degrees F. The cam driven engine is much better than the VTEC.
Build Quality & Reliability
4 out of 5
i only had a needle bearing changed at 45K. no rectifier problems even in this heat. i did put a 10$ computer cooling fan on it.
Value & Running Costs
5 out of 5
Overall it is a start and go bike. i don't do any repairs per say. Once in a while something needs attending to but it is every other, or every third or fourth year. I have 45000 miles on it so far. Runs better than the day i bought it. No plans to change.
Equipment
4 out of 5
great all around bike. i modified mine. HIDs, HPLEDs, custom touring windscreen, 3 givi bags, tail lights that go on during deceleration, and flashing lights when i apply the brakes. i put on six extra lights, and lots of reflectors. They see me at night and at day. i put a fan on the rectifier. i have a light telling me what my voltage is. i run pilot road 3s, came from pilot powers. loved them both. only 5k on the 3s, look brand new. great in wet weather, good stopping power, always in control, no drama. Easy to add accessories as no CAN-BUS.
Buying experience

i was renting bikes, and this was one of the rentals they were selling. i rode this one and a VTEC and chose this one, 13 years ago. still the only bike in my garage.

5 out of 5

Not the newest but the best

30 April 2016 by Dutillieux J

Version : VFR 800 fi
Year : 2001
Annual servicing cost : £150

Never had a problem, performs well in every category Read more

Ride Quality & Brakes
4 out of 5
A real all rounder, a 200 miles trip is easy, suspension is comfy
Engine
4 out of 5
Perfect except in low rpm (under 3000) not so much torque
Build Quality & Reliability
5 out of 5
100% reliable
Value & Running Costs
5 out of 5
-
Equipment
5 out of 5
-
Buying experience

I found it the best VFR

5 out of 5

2001 Honda VFR800Fi

20 April 2016 by fasTTer

Year : 2001
Annual servicing cost : £100

Been riding 40+ years, the 5th Gen VFR is the best all-around motorcycle I've ever owned or ridden. I've nothing negative to say about it. Read more

Ride Quality & Brakes
5 out of 5
-
Engine
5 out of 5
-
Build Quality & Reliability
5 out of 5
-
Value & Running Costs
5 out of 5
Oil, Oil Filter, Air Filter, Coolant, Brake/Clutch fluids, Chain cleaner
Equipment
5 out of 5
All I've added is a power outlet, a throttle lock, and a truck.
Buying experience

Bought my first VFR in 2001, sold it to a friend after 26K miles. Bought my second 2001 VFR in 2012 with 1245 miles on it. Currently about 6K miles.

Read all 35 owners' reviews in full

Facts & Figures

Model info
Year introduced 1998
Year discontinued 2001
Original price -
Used price £1,500 to £3,000
Warranty term (when new) Two year unlimited mileage
Running costs
Insurance group 14 of 17
Annual road tax £88
Annual service cost £290
Performance
Max power 108 bhp
Max torque 61 ft-lb
Top speed 155 mph
1/4-mile acceleration 11.3 secs
Average fuel consumption 38 mpg
Tank range 145 miles
Specification
Engine size 781cc
Engine type 16v V-four, 6 gears
Frame type Aluminum twin spar
Fuel capacity 22 litres
Seat height 800mm
Bike weight 208kg
Front suspension Preload
Rear suspension Preload, rebound
Front brake Twin 296mm discs
Rear brake 256mm disc
Front tyre size 120/70 x 17
Rear tyre size 170/60 x 17

History & Versions

Model history

1998: Original Honda VFR800i introduced.
2000: Honda VFR800i gets minor update; slight frame changes, modified clutch, refined fuel injection, more durable electrics, improved mirrors, HISS security system.

Other versions

Honda VFR800i Anniversary: Sold in 1999 – identical to the regular Honda VFR800i except for special colour scheme.

Photo Gallery

  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Riding
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Side view
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Instruments
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Front view
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Front view
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Rear view
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Engine
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Engine
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Engine
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Riding
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Riding
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Side view
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Side view
  • Honda VFR800i motorcycle review - Side view

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