Sports Tourers

Most popular Sports Tourer: Honda VFR800

The VFR800 has been one of Honda’s best-sellers ever since its launch in 1997. That success means there’s no shortage of secondhand bikes about.

Dealers reckon it’s a paragon of reliability. It’s never been recalled and problems have been limited to isolated examples. Build quality is exceptionally high and most bikes are left standard, too, with the possible exception of added luggage or an aftermarket exhaust for cosmetic reasons. Honda’s own heated bar grips are a popular accessory.

Because the VFR is so versatile, buyers and sellers vary hugely as well. One might want a commuting bike, another a sports tourer. Either way, the VFR is likely to have a high mileage. Average annual distance for a comparable bike is about 6000 miles. Many VFR owners cover double or treble that.

Go for the one with the fewest miles – you’re unlikely to pay a premium for it, and since there are so many on the secondhand market you shouldn’t have trouble finding the right one at the right price.

One controversial addition to Honda’s sports touring range was the Combined Braking System (CBS). CBS operates both front and rear brakes simultaneously, no matter which is used. More experienced riders were initially sceptical about the benefits, claiming it might rob them of feel. But the system works well and is especially good on the VFR800. It feels odd at first, but most owners quickly adapt and many say it’s better than a conventional system.

Many VFRs are offered secondhand without their passenger grab handles. They’re easily unbolted if the owner doesn’t take pillions and just as easily lost, too.

With a 21-litre (4.6-gallon) tank and at least a 35mpg average, the VFR is capable of a useful 160 miles between fill-ups. Restrained riding can stretch this to as much as 210 miles.

The bike’s 153mph top speed just pips its nearest rival, Triumph’s Sprint ST, which manages 148mph, if ultimate performance is important to you.

The current secondhand VFR800 market is depressed, with bikes going for as little as £3500. And their prices should fall farther with the launch of the new VTEC VFR800.

As long as the bike is serviced regularly, it should run smoothly indefinitely. The engine is a jewel of over-engineering – something Honda got into in the 1980s when its VF750s ate their cams thanks to a poor tensioner design. The firm was forced to go the expensive, but much more reliable, route of gear-driven cams – though camchains reappeared this year.

The current V4 motor’s origins can be traced back to the RC45 World Superbike of 1994, though bored out to 781cc and tuned for more torque.

Side-mounted radiators allow more cool air to flow directly on to the engine than with a conventional front-mounted radiator.

It also allows the engine to be placed farther forward in the frame, to improve turning and stability thanks to a near-neutral centre of gravity.

The huge attention paid to the detail of the VFR’s engine makes them virtually bulletproof. If you’re in the market for this peach of a bike the only pip is the exhaust. The complex pipework costs a fortune to replace, so watch for a rusted system.

Sports Tourer bargain: Honda Super Blackbird

With interest in super-fast sports tourers waning thanks to crippling insurance costs and

ever-more speed cameras, the value of big bikes such as Kawasaki’s ZZ-R1100 and Honda’s Super Blackbird has been falling over the last year.

Now, just £3400 will buy you a good, used Blackbird capable of almost 180mph, and of touring huge distances, or mixing it on winding roads.

But before you start handing over wads of used twenties, check with your insurance broker to see if the premium makes sense.

When it comes to looking at the bike itself, make a beeline for the speedo and check the mileage. Though the Blackbird is well up to covering huge mileages, and many do, anything above an average 6000 to 8000 miles a year will devalue it further.

There are basically two models to look at – the pre-1998 carburated one, and the later fuel-injected version.

Though modifying Blackbirds is uncommon, some owners fit carb or fuel injection kits with aftermarket exhaust cans. That means it’s important to see proof the bike has spent time on a dyno, to ensure everything has been set up correctly. And you’ll need the stock silencers if the ones fitted are race-only, otherwise, the bike could fail its MoT.

Rear shocks can suffer because of their exposure to road grime, and many owners fit huggers to protect them.

Ground clearance isn’t the best on Blackbirds, so check the underbelly of the fairing for scrapes.

And examine the tank for tankbag damage to the paint, which is common.

The later, fuel-injected bike has better engine manners than the carbed model and doesn’t have the annoying flat spot in the mid-range. Prices for a fuel-injected model start at about £4400.

Despite its 24-litre (5.3-gallon) tank, the Blackbird only manages 180 miles between stops. It’s not very efficient either, averaging 31mpg against a ZZ-R1100’s 33mpg and the Suzuki Hayabusa’s 38mpg.

The difference in prices between private sellers and dealers is small on early bikes, so it makes sense to buy from a shop for extra peace of mind.

Ducati ST4

Like the ST2, except it boasts a 916 engine rather than the older motor from the 900SS. As well as the decent engine, you get fresh, sporty handling and clean looks.

Price: £3400-£5550

Kawasaki ZZ-R1100

Once the emperor of top speed, now a portly plodder with sporting pretensions and squidgy suspension. Still a very capable tourer with great comfort and poise, though.

Price: £2000-£5500

Triumph Sprint ST

The closest rival the VFR800 has and a very capable bike in every department. Similar top speed and handling capabilities, but it feels like a larger bike.

Price: £4000-£6400