I really hope you enjoyed this video, and all the others we do. Now why not join us to talk about the VFR and any other bikes, as well as kit, places to go and biking advice at our friendly Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/bikesocial We've got loads of industry experts there too, so it's a friendly place to be, and somewhere you can get some really useful tips. Cheers, John
:D This bike sounds perfect when being sung on track. Almost as if it's engine started out in a V4 sports bike (Wink Wink). Gotta love having a bike you can throw around on track without much worries. Prolly costs less than most modern fairings alone.
I used to do track days with no limits and would occasionally see an older fella with an old CBR600F, the first "jelly mould" model so I reckon 88 or 89? He would always embarrass the rest of us on our much newer more powerful bikes.
Proud owner of a red VFR 800 FI from 1998. Brutal build quality: first chain changed at 60,000 km, still bright red paint, no rust after 25 years. Widely underrated, but the 1998 for the European market has an engine with fantastic torque, exceeding both those for the US market, the catalyzed 2000 version tested by McGuinness, and the VTEC itself. She drinks a lot (13 km/l at all speeds) but I love it. History will prove her right. And this video is a proof.
It really is a testament to Honda build quality. My own VTR has 66,000 and still feels the same as it did 26 years ago. Watching John rag your bike was a treat!
Early 90s to mid-2000s was the golden era of Honda for me, with fantastic , jewel-like build quality that probably made the other 3 Japanese manufacturers weep. I have a Blade, a VFR750 and an SP1 from that era and they all look like they have just rolled off the production line and ride like they are just run in, with not much more than a weekly clean and an annual DIY service.
Having had the privilege to meet John. He's an absolute legend and gentleman, on and off the track. Thank you for an awesome video. Keep on riding John.
I have a long association with VFRs having owned 6 - one VTec and the rest Fi's. Still have a low mileage 2000 Fi which I rarely use and just cannot part with. I ride much more modern bikes now but this video reminds me just how brilliant these actually were..... in fact ARE still !!! Superceded as the greatest all rounder by GS and others these days. Just fantastic hearing your bike at full chat on a race track and so very well made that the motor letting go was, in reality, not a real risk. As JmcG said ride it to France after its thrashing on tour with luggage and pillion, no worries. Totally and utterly brilliant. Am hanging on to mine forever now ! And its coming out for a rare blast this weekend as a result of this clip. Much more on your bike please..... its a real treat seeing machines from this period still living and in regular use 🙂 I must make more of an effort .....
I have a 98 VFR like that one. I often think of changing it for something more modern, but then I take it out and the V4 growl grabs me. I’m going to keep it for as long as possible and have touring plans in the pipeline. It’s only done 29k so loads of life left!!
I have a 2000 VFR with about 65,000 km on it and I sure wouldn’t sell it for that price. Gen5’s are great bikes with v4 engines, gear driven cams and single sided swing arm, built to last. Mine is going to easily outlast me.
I just bought a 97 VFR with 50k on the clock 3 weeks ago, absolutly astounded by the build quality, its like its come out of the showroom, i also ride a 2001 bmw R1150GS which has 57k on the clock, the motor is great on it but the build quality in places is a bit ropy, peeling paint, alloy corrosion etc. I think honda's of the 90's were at peak build quality.
This has brought a new level of respect to my bike. I will always look at it now and say 'John McGuiness has given his seal of approval.' Thank you and please do a Dyno test.
I’ve owned two VFR’s, an FL and an FV which I’ve owned from new in 1997. Apart from a reg/rectifier and back shock it’s been totally dependable. I’ve toured it, track day’d it and used it as a courier bike. No camchain or belts to worry about, it runs like a Swiss watch. I checked the shims at 36k miles and only one was slightly out. Brilliant bike, great all rounder and one of the best engines Honda has ever made.
Legend racer gets on what is ( no disrespect ) an old banger compared to some of the machines he has ridden and has a massive smile on his face as if he had just taken out a 100 grand one off Ducati. Top guy.
Brilliant video featuring such a great ambassador for motorcycling. Took me back 15 years when a pal & I hired two identical bikes , each on costing 4x your purchase price, for a quick 7k km lap of New Zealand. With his already at 100k km. & mine at only 70k km, there was some concern that our enthusiastic riding may break something. Needless to say, they never missed a beat.
I had a VFR 800 Fi for a long time which I serviced myself . NEVER let me down and when i brought it , it had done 6,354miles on the clock. Sold her with 106, 874 miles covered " Brilliant bike & I still miss having it in my garage.
Definitely! I had mine on a dyno recently and it’s putting out 114bhp at the wheel. it’s a 2002 5th gen pre vtec, with 20k miles on it. It’s a fantastic bike! just had the suspension serviced by maxton and the handling has been transformed.
I've got a 99 red VFR and take it on the track. I bloody love it, and end up using it more than the blade I've bought since. Was lucky to get a 1 owner 10,000 mile model and have done another 10,000 since. Please do a dyno run and thanks for showing how good these bikes still are. Finally John McGuinness you utter legend and what a cool bloke. Brilliant
01:37 it changes from 99,000 miles to 100,000 miles. The 10 year old kid in me was in tears watching that. Every car my Dad had we had to cheer when it ticked over another 1,000 miles. And he bought me my FS1-E in ‘75. Cheers Dad, a life time on bikes and I still remember those journeys. Oh yes and to Bennetts and Mr McG, thank you so much for putting a video together that references so much about love of bikes across all generations and backgrounds
my bro's 162,000 miles 2003 honda hornet 600 only goes upto 100mph now instead of 140mph haha. He bought this engine secondhand with 43,000 miles on it, fitted the engine himself and done 119,000 miles with it. Oddly the original engine did only 25,000 miles, mostly from the previous owner. Still runs perfectly even though the valves clearances have never been adjusted by him. He checked the clearances recently and the tolerances are only just within range. He changes the oil every 5,000 miles with fully synthetic castrol power 1 racing & a k&n oil filter.
@@bennettsbikesocial It breathes ok. It's got a couple of weak valve springs, on the inlet valves. Still runs very good though, and uses hardly any oil. Must be because of the 5,000 mile oil changes from 43,000 miles with fully synthetic oil that's made it last for so long, and has been regulary thrashed nearly every day too. On all the gearboxes i have taken off i have found the oil ways on the input and output shafts did not line up with the oil ways on the gear pinions from factory. By lining them up, the gearboxes last much much longer. You should also replace the oil pump no more than 50,000 miles. When you turn the oil pump by hand it feels very stiff and graunchy when they get to 50,000 miles plus.
Having owned 4 vfr800fi 5th gens and currently a 2008 vtec vfr800 i can say they're brilliant fun even though theyre on the portly side of the weight equation. Gear driven cam engines just rock. Saying all that my current 2008 vtec model is ok once youve spent money sorting its quirks. 1 tooth smaller on the front and plus 1 on the rear sprocket helps alot, junk the boat anchor pipes and fit something light and obviously the sound is way better. Saved 7 kgs off the exhaust and junking the rear footpegs. Power commandor 5 fitted and tuned to perfection on the dyno and now itll pull smoothly from as little as 2700 rpm with no fuss. I fitted an adjustable yss shock, racetech .95 fork springs and set up the ride height 10mm higher in the rear and lowered the forks through the clamps 5mm and she turns in like a different bike now and is a different bike to ride. Spend the money on the right mods and shes great.
This is a great video. Motorcycle youtube gets so repetative and formulaic, but who saw McGuinness spanking a vfr800 around snetterton as it clocks 100k coming? Some good real world bike maintenance related stuff too. Nice
Truly a legendary bike, I loved my '08. It's a good thing they are reliable because they are cramped and difficult to work on, and the linked brake system on my bike was very complex and difficult to service. What a great bike to ride though. I did several long trips on mine, it always got great mileage and with the generous tank I could comfortably go 300km without worrying about fuel. And the sound, oh man what a sound.
Awesome to see! My 7th gen (1200f) is at 36k miles, wish it had geared cams but still, feels good to see the over engineering could get me so many more years if I take care of it.
Great video and awesome to see a 100k miles bike still doing well. Good old McPint such a top man and what a TT legend. Love to see the dyno and maintenance work
Got a gen 2 with 70,000 miles still runs sweet. Just had loads of electrical problems like you said I'd fix one and end up with another and and another etc etc, but will never sell it.
Soichiro Honda surely would have been proud to see a Honda cracking 100'000 miles, doing 12'000rpm at full chat out of a corner. What a way to set a milestone, what a bike, what a rider!
Just a brilliant, loved the video, shows what older bikes can do if they're regularly serviced etc. Honda engineering is just the best! Totally agree with using Hagon and Wemoto, I've used them both over the years and received fantastic customer service from them both. Those laps with 'McPint' on the VFR was magical, never under estimate an 'old bloke' with 23 TT wins on an old-ish Honda!
Brilliant video - what an honor to have your classic VFR roll the clock over to 100,000 miles while being ridden by a legend! Just hilarious that he's passing all the other, and I suppose "sportier" bikes on a VFR with a luggage rack! 🤣 The VFR IMO hit its apex with the 5th generation - brilliantly threading the needle between just enough sportiness along with long haul touring capability. Take it to the track and clock it over 130, then ride it home and the next day set out on a week's long tour on it. Sadly the market's moved on - but for those that know those bikes, they can be had for a song now - and as John says, "what a testament to Honda engineering"! And the sound - oh that lovely growl of the V4 along with the whine from the racing derived gear driven cams. 👍 Thanks for the video - well done.
Brilliant video , I've got a few bikes but love the FI its the motor I've got 39000 on mine but a mechanic friend looked after a dispatch riders it had 300,000 on it all it needed was regular oil changes absolutely bullet proof cheers again Chris
Great video of a great bike. My 1998 VFR 800 (in red of course) has done 26k and goes great and sounds great, especially with the stainless steel exhaust fitted a couple of years ago. I've had it 20 years and it will be my last bike of the many I've owned. Usually service it myself apart from the linked brakes, and the stainless exhaust after reading horror stories about snapped studs. Did the valve clearances a while ago and they hadn't changed from the factory settings.
Hey John. Do you still have this at the moment / plan on doing any more content? Its been super interesting what youve put up so far. Just picked up one of the last 750s myself. Had one previously, then moved to the VTEC, didnt get on with it and moved back to the 750 again.
I hated the linked brakes on the VFR800 it tended to squat, I liked to front brake hard in a straight line before throwing it into a bend, those brakes made that uncomfortable for my riding style.
I think the Bar End Weights are Glued in at Factory, had the same Problem with the Wifes MT03 and my MT07 Tracer, (Now Sold), a right Pain in the Arse when it comes to fitting Hand Guards.
When I was a young'un in the 80s I was convinced a bike was worn out at 30000km. I used to buy new, run it for a year or so, then replace with another new machine. I changed my habits after clocking nearly 60,000km on a RF900 while my kids were little and riding time was rare. That bike showed me that with good maintenance and especially work on the suspension, the newness never wears out. I replaced that in 2014 with a 99 VFR with 76000km, fixed the suspension, steering bearings and clutch, and rode that to 105,000km then sold it for a change. I tried a new 8th gen VFR but that offered nothing that my 15 year-old bike didn't already offer. I currently own a 2005 ST1300 with 125000km, and another 99 VFR with 90,000km. I have no intention of selling either as they run perfectly and handle well, and just don't depreciate. It helps to be able to do basic servicing like fork seals, head bearings and brakes. Having more than one, older bike, reduces the fear of being rideless if the work goes wrong.
I bought a new VFR in 1988 to despatch ride. It was one of the first Hondas with a three year warranty, I was determined to kill it. 130k miles in three years, driven in London traffic and thrashed up and down the country. It went to the island, Dutch TT and spent most weekends wearing down the hero bumps on the pegs and changing head race bearings due to the amount of time it spent on the back wheel. I sold it when it ran out of warranty then saw it a year later being ridden by another despatch rider. It was on a 177k miles. 15:28 That too was run on rock oil :)
@@bennettsbikesocial Not sure on your age group but the VFR predecessor was the VF750F that suffered major valve train and cam issues with huge warranty claims. Urban myth says the VFRs were deliberately over engineered with a 3year warranty in an attempt to get their reputation back. I read somewhere that they no longer have gear driven cams?
I had a black '98 VFR, Gen 5, same as this one, but pre cat so even better. Rode all over the back roads in British Columbia. Absolute bullet proof rocket ship, doing the valves would cost more than the bike, so I never touched them. I honestly always felt like the bike was mocking me, "is that the best you got". Well here is the answer, put a legend on the bike and he says what a testament to Honda engineering. Enough said. Cam.
My first ever bike was the Gen 4 VFR and I had a Gen 6 afterwards and now riding the Tiger Sport 1050. I still miss that Gen 4 and the character of the engine. Forget the V-TEC that the Gen 6 onwards have, the Gen 4 had all that torque on tap at any rpm, not to mention it didn't suffer from the overheating issues that started with the side placed radiators. Happy with my Tiger now but my Gen 4 VFR will always hold a special place in my heart.
My gen 6 had 200.000 km on the counter when I traded it in for the tiger. Engine was still going strong but the electrical gremlins left me feeling worried every time I went on a longer ride - would I make it back on my own power or not. Just not a very good feeling when you set off to go touring
Great to see McPint giving it beans on the track. I had a VFR Anniversary Edition (Silver fairing and red bodywork) new in 1998 ( I think), took it to track days at Silverstone and Donnington and absolutely loved it. Not as extreme as a true track bike, but much more comfortable for an old guy with a dodgy back!
Great video. As a previous VFR owner making me wish i hadnt sold it. And given the prices i see them going for now that ones worth more than £500 even at 100k!
love the vfr i was put off by what the service cost would be. i can do the basics. oil and filters pads. doing the valves. a lot of money i would guess. great video with the legend on your bike taking over an amazing 100000 miles.👍
Oh my god you don't need to ask we all want to see the VFR on the dyno!!! That was awesome and that's why people buy hondas over other manufacturers because their engines are bulletproof.
Yup, my CBF600N8 is just about to clock 125,000 miles and will have the shims checked and throttle bodies balanced, along with new spark plugs. The mechanic does this every 25,000 miles. I do the rest. Oil and Honda filter is changed every 5,000 miles - Castrol fully synthetic Power 1 Racing 10W-30 oil. New radiator at 75,000 miles and I think the bike would now benefit from the original rear shock being replaced.
McGuiness the legend having a laugh, brilliant. Im a Kawasaki man myself and have an 03 ZZR1200, bought it with 65k in the clock 2 years ago with replacement aftermarket shock and Black Widow slip on cans. Added Karuser panneirs and Hepco & Becker top box plus Bagster tank bag for TT kast year. Its still a rocket ship. When my daughter and I arrived on the early morning ferry we did a lap 2 up with luggage and we were doing 3 figure speeds up the mountain mile with ease and so stable. It also clocked up 71k on the turn round at the end of my 4th run on Ramsey Sprint at the TT. Thats where I confirmed rhe clutch was slipping slightly, new plates and springs since. I still beat 4 Hyabusas on the day in the unlimited class with a best run of 7.72. My first ever go on a sprint. Also just started my first Bennets policy two days ago so will be looking for more of the bike social stuff on TH-cam now. TT diaries were good during this year's TT with my three favourite TT racers, McGuiness, Hicky and Dom the bomb.
When my ex wife did her test about 20 years ago her instructor had a 1989 vfr 750. Back then it had 80,000 on the clock. I still see him around the town giving lessons and he's still using that same bike. God knows what the mileage is now but if I get the chance I'll ask him, I wonder if it still has the original motor?
I enjoyed that. I've had two VFR750 and did track days on one of them at Cadwell Park. On one of those days Phil Read, and several others who were doing some sort of vintage race series, asked if they could share the track for a practice. We obviously said yes. (This was the Ixion Internet motorcycle group) The old fellows were riding aging 250cc racers against our Fireblades and 900cc Ducati but they carried so much corner speed they were lapping far faster than any of us. Come to think of it, one of our group had a 250cc Aprilia and he was having no trouble keeping up, so perhaps there is something to be said for light and nimble.
John is a real gent, what a way to pass 100K miles 👍 I met him at a PB Trackday a few years back. I have a vid of me following him from my VFR800Fi poor video but was worth it. (Search McPint Rockingham) Even though he rode an RCV during the lunch break the boys voted mine the best sounding bike of the day 😁 I'd be interested in your HP dyno run. If you fancy checking out an updated version, minus 30kg +23hp with Carbon wheels let me know 👍
I had a 98 like this one and commuted from yorkshire to london every week. I found it a bit soulless. did not sound as nice as yours. Been thinking about getting another one or the v tec version. This video sold the earlier one. Great honda engineering.
It's actually refreshing to see an insurance company giving back a little, and interacting socially with it's members. It belies the money suckers I'm used to.
This is testament to prove the 5th Gen is a way more capable motor than the crappy pointless V-tec, I've advised countless buyers to steer clear of the V-tech models.
Just awesome. When I saw you on this bike a while ago, I fancied getting one myself. Cheap as chips and look how strong it is after all these miles. Great video as always John.
in my 40yrs riding i have all ways been with bennets i never read the renewal and god knows where it is, it seems i have been missing out.. i will check out your facebook page..🙂
The value of your bike just went through the roof. Own two 99s, an 04, and an 08. I can't get enough of the experience. Many feel the weight when atop Sybil or Sylvia at a standstill. Underway, those 600 riders said all that disappeared.
I used to love when a gsxr 600 or r6 pull up at a light and I'm on a 91 vfr750 tuned and engine upgraded with jets and power commander fuel program and custom exhaust tuned to the bike adjustable shock and front forks and they see you 2 bike length off the jump and you can't reel it in on the 8th because the v4 valve is a torque monster
All good stuff! Great to see McG's smooth style, with nary a knee down. A great testament to Honda engineering too. Interesting about the VTEC malarkey; for a road bike, I prefer not to have it, especially in the wet! And yes, I'd like to see how many gee-gees are actually going through the rear tyre...PNB
I had a yellow VFR of the same year for something like 6 years when Iwas young and dumb- I literally never topped up the coolant and the bike rode like a champion til the last day I saw it. Being older I would definitely do regular maintenance on it if I had one now but good lord, you can't break these things. Fantastic machines
what an awesome dood. I drove by his house when i was in Moorcomb a friend of mine knows him ... too scared to knock on his door and say hi.... a true legend
I test rode one of these vfrs back in the day thinking I was going to love it … coming from a Kawasaki zx6-r G2 it felt flat, like it wasn’t revving enough, almost boring. And the linked brakes didn’t inspire confidence and meant it didn’t dig the front end into the tarmac like I wanted it to. Ended up with a bandit 1200 of all bikes which I loved 🤷🏼♂️
John McGuinness what a hero. I have a 04 VFR and love it. Everyone should try one. They are bargain secondhand machines. Would be great to see how much power your old VFR puts out😊
I had exactly that model of VFR and loved it. Fabulous build quality and ultra reliable. Unfortunately eyesight problems meant I had to give up biking for a while and so I sold it. Wish I hadn't now.
I take my 91 750 on the track, Hagon shock and updated front forks, it’s brilliant although there’s no way I’d run road tyre pressures at the track, 30/32 gives much better grip, your tyres have chewed up because the pressure in them is way too much, my M7RR’s get balls on the edges but don’t chew up like that , you can see the front isn’t using all the tread because it’s too hard.
Just over 90k on my '98 FiW. Would never use a Hagon shock. Mine has a Nitron. Not surprised by anything John said. Looked after these are stunning bikes, but early models do have problems with R/R and corrosion of the instrument PCB.
Happy with Honda! My ‘99 Blackbird passed the 120.000 km, and I live next to the German border. So we see some ‘action’ together. No problems at all (knock wood), still 290 km/h on a good day, loving it wholeheartedly!
I really hope you enjoyed this video, and all the others we do. Now why not join us to talk about the VFR and any other bikes, as well as kit, places to go and biking advice at our friendly Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/bikesocial
We've got loads of industry experts there too, so it's a friendly place to be, and somewhere you can get some really useful tips.
Cheers, John
No problem for a Honda!
John McGuiness Should Have Beat Joey Dunlops 26 Isle Of Man TT Record 😈
I have a R reg black VFR with 19,600 miles on the clock, love mine just don't get on it as much as I'd like.
:D This bike sounds perfect when being sung on track. Almost as if it's engine started out in a V4 sports bike (Wink Wink). Gotta love having a bike you can throw around on track without much worries. Prolly costs less than most modern fairings alone.
John is a legend. Imagine all those expensive sports bikes being overtaken by a £500 VFR!!
I used to do track days with no limits and would occasionally see an older fella with an old CBR600F, the first "jelly mould" model so I reckon 88 or 89? He would always embarrass the rest of us on our much newer more powerful bikes.
When you watch videos of the advanced groups there's always some who really shouldn't be in that group.
@@1000sofusernames 👍
There were no cobwebs left on that bike 😂😂😂
Stevens?
Proud owner of a red VFR 800 FI from 1998. Brutal build quality: first chain changed at 60,000 km, still bright red paint, no rust after 25 years. Widely underrated, but the 1998 for the European market has an engine with fantastic torque, exceeding both those for the US market, the catalyzed 2000 version tested by McGuinness, and the VTEC itself. She drinks a lot (13 km/l at all speeds) but I love it. History will prove her right. And this video is a proof.
Loved my ‘98 VFR, so I understand. Best all-round bike I owned , but “senior” now. Enjoy your awesome bike!
It really is a testament to Honda build quality. My own VTR has 66,000 and still feels the same as it did 26 years ago. Watching John rag your bike was a treat!
Early 90s to mid-2000s was the golden era of Honda for me, with fantastic , jewel-like build quality that probably made the other 3 Japanese manufacturers weep. I have a Blade, a VFR750 and an SP1 from that era and they all look like they have just rolled off the production line and ride like they are just run in, with not much more than a weekly clean and an annual DIY service.
Ive got a Firestorm too.. I keep pulling it to bits every year though!
Its not very "Standard" anymore.!! lol.!
@@griffspeed join our owners group VTR1000 Firestorm owners!
If you aren't in there already👍😉
totally agree! I have this vfr , a valkyrie and a 01 blackbird. The bird is the best, just amazing engineering @@rogerwredford
Having had the privilege to meet John. He's an absolute legend and gentleman, on and off the track. Thank you for an awesome video. Keep on riding John.
John is such a good guy. So humble. Great vid. Crazy miles on that Honda. And still reliable and track able. Any vid with John is worth watching.
What an honor, to have John ride your bike to check its limits, at a 100K no less! Of course we want to see the Dyno results! ✌
I think this video needs to be proof it's not about Dyno results.
@@needbettername8583 Fair point. I'm still interested to see the Dyno data.
I have a long association with VFRs having owned 6 - one VTec and the rest Fi's. Still have a low mileage 2000 Fi which I rarely use and just cannot part with. I ride much more modern bikes now but this video reminds me just how brilliant these actually were..... in fact ARE still !!! Superceded as the greatest all rounder by GS and others these days. Just fantastic hearing your bike at full chat on a race track and so very well made that the motor letting go was, in reality, not a real risk. As JmcG said ride it to France after its thrashing on tour with luggage and pillion, no worries. Totally and utterly brilliant. Am hanging on to mine forever now ! And its coming out for a rare blast this weekend as a result of this clip. Much more on your bike please..... its a real treat seeing machines from this period still living and in regular use 🙂 I must make more of an effort .....
The nicest Johns in Motorcycling! We had a great a day with you guys! Long live the mighty VFR!
So glad you enjoyed it! All the best, John (the not fast one)
I have a 98 VFR like that one. I often think of changing it for something more modern, but then I take it out and the V4 growl grabs me. I’m going to keep it for as long as possible and have touring plans in the pipeline. It’s only done 29k so loads of life left!!
I have a 2000 VFR with about 65,000 km on it and I sure wouldn’t sell it for that price. Gen5’s are great bikes with v4 engines, gear driven cams and single sided swing arm, built to last. Mine is going to easily outlast me.
I just bought a 97 VFR with 50k on the clock 3 weeks ago, absolutly astounded by the build quality, its like its come out of the showroom, i also ride a 2001 bmw R1150GS which has 57k on the clock, the motor is great on it but the build quality in places is a bit ropy, peeling paint, alloy corrosion etc. I think honda's of the 90's were at peak build quality.
Same! Mine has 56000 Kilometers and its my daily driver.
Of only honda made a v4 nakedbike like the tuono. They should revist the rc30
@GaijinGamerGirl dream bike is a tuono factory 1100v4 so yeah pretty much. (Russian bias)
This has brought a new level of respect to my bike. I will always look at it now and say 'John McGuiness has given his seal of approval.'
Thank you and please do a Dyno test.
Spot on ! Same here 🙂
I’ve owned two VFR’s, an FL and an FV which I’ve owned from new in 1997. Apart from a reg/rectifier and back shock it’s been totally dependable. I’ve toured it, track day’d it and used it as a courier bike. No camchain or belts to worry about, it runs like a Swiss watch. I checked the shims at 36k miles and only one was slightly out. Brilliant bike, great all rounder and one of the best engines Honda has ever made.
John McGuiness is an absolute legend
John McGuiness Should Have Beat Joey Dunlops 26 Isle Of Man TT Record 😈
Legend racer gets on what is ( no disrespect ) an old banger compared to some of the machines he has ridden and has a massive smile on his face as if he had just taken out a 100 grand one off Ducati. Top guy.
Brilliant video featuring such a great ambassador for motorcycling. Took me back 15 years when a pal & I hired two identical bikes , each on costing 4x your purchase price, for a quick 7k km lap of New Zealand. With his already at 100k km. & mine at only 70k km, there was some concern that our enthusiastic riding may break something. Needless to say, they never missed a beat.
I had a VFR 800 Fi for a long time which I serviced myself . NEVER let me down and when i brought it , it had done 6,354miles on the clock.
Sold her with 106, 874 miles covered " Brilliant bike & I still miss having it in my garage.
Such a humble guy john , nothing but respect , great rider one of the best ever 👌
Definitely! I had mine on a dyno recently and it’s putting out 114bhp at the wheel. it’s a 2002 5th gen pre vtec, with 20k miles on it. It’s a fantastic bike! just had the suspension serviced by maxton and the handling has been transformed.
I've got a 99 red VFR and take it on the track. I bloody love it, and end up using it more than the blade I've bought since. Was lucky to get a 1 owner 10,000 mile model and have done another 10,000 since. Please do a dyno run and thanks for showing how good these bikes still are. Finally John McGuinness you utter legend and what a cool bloke. Brilliant
01:37 it changes from 99,000 miles to 100,000 miles.
The 10 year old kid in me was in tears watching that. Every car my Dad had we had to cheer when it ticked over another 1,000 miles.
And he bought me my FS1-E in ‘75. Cheers Dad, a life time on bikes and I still remember those journeys.
Oh yes and to Bennetts and Mr McG, thank you so much for putting a video together that references so much about love of bikes across all generations and backgrounds
Thank YOU for your kind words! All the best. John (not the famous one, sorry)
Proud owner of a 96 VFR, 70,000 miles.....this bike is faster than me, but, at 82 years young, it serves me well......great video..!!
How effortless does does John make this look. Looks like he’s out for a Sunday ride out, top man.
100,000 miles..and it sounds sweet. The bike has clearly been looked after!
Thanks! The first owner did a good job, and while it has been a pain to work on, it's still going strong. Cheers, John
why do you think its a pain to work on? My 1994 vfr750 hasnt been very hard compared to cbr’s in the past
@@prehistorymystery th-cam.com/play/PLEmXSigXaptyswcPc2tliSo6POESJg5h2.html
my bro's 162,000 miles 2003 honda hornet 600 only goes upto 100mph now instead of 140mph haha.
He bought this engine secondhand with 43,000 miles on it, fitted the engine himself and done 119,000 miles with it.
Oddly the original engine did only 25,000 miles, mostly from the previous owner.
Still runs perfectly even though the valves clearances have never been adjusted by him.
He checked the clearances recently and the tolerances are only just within range.
He changes the oil every 5,000 miles with fully synthetic castrol power 1 racing & a k&n oil filter.
Something's not right there! Still, glad it's still running. My first thought was valve clearances. I assume it's breathing okay?
@@bennettsbikesocial It breathes ok.
It's got a couple of weak valve springs, on the inlet valves.
Still runs very good though, and uses hardly any oil.
Must be because of the 5,000 mile oil changes from 43,000 miles with fully synthetic oil that's made it last for so long, and has been regulary thrashed nearly every day too.
On all the gearboxes i have taken off i have found the oil ways on the input and output shafts did not line up with the oil ways on the gear pinions from factory.
By lining them up, the gearboxes last much much longer.
You should also replace the oil pump no more than 50,000 miles.
When you turn the oil pump by hand it feels very stiff and graunchy when they get to 50,000 miles plus.
Having owned 4 vfr800fi 5th gens and currently a 2008 vtec vfr800 i can say they're brilliant fun even though theyre on the portly side of the weight equation. Gear driven cam engines just rock. Saying all that my current 2008 vtec model is ok once youve spent money sorting its quirks. 1 tooth smaller on the front and plus 1 on the rear sprocket helps alot, junk the boat anchor pipes and fit something light and obviously the sound is way better. Saved 7 kgs off the exhaust and junking the rear footpegs. Power commandor 5 fitted and tuned to perfection on the dyno and now itll pull smoothly from as little as 2700 rpm with no fuss. I fitted an adjustable yss shock, racetech .95 fork springs and set up the ride height 10mm higher in the rear and lowered the forks through the clamps 5mm and she turns in like a different bike now and is a different bike to ride. Spend the money on the right mods and shes great.
John’s a real star ⭐️
Always wanted a VFR, even though I’m disabled and couldn’t ride it anyway.
Never say never.
This is a great video. Motorcycle youtube gets so repetative and formulaic, but who saw McGuinness spanking a vfr800 around snetterton as it clocks 100k coming? Some good real world bike maintenance related stuff too. Nice
The thing is when he got off he looked like he genuinely enjoyed riding it and was full of praise for the engineering.
Truly a legendary bike, I loved my '08. It's a good thing they are reliable because they are cramped and difficult to work on, and the linked brake system on my bike was very complex and difficult to service. What a great bike to ride though. I did several long trips on mine, it always got great mileage and with the generous tank I could comfortably go 300km without worrying about fuel. And the sound, oh man what a sound.
That was VERY impressive. Can't go wrong with a Honda. Great to see McGuinnes caning it round Snetterton.
Awesome to see! My 7th gen (1200f) is at 36k miles, wish it had geared cams but still, feels good to see the over engineering could get me so many more years if I take care of it.
help me decide 800 or 1200? My heart say 1200, but look how fast the 800 goes.....
Great video and awesome to see a 100k miles bike still doing well. Good old McPint such a top man and what a TT legend. Love to see the dyno and maintenance work
Got a gen 2 with 70,000 miles still runs sweet. Just had loads of electrical problems like you said I'd fix one and end up with another and and another etc etc, but will never sell it.
He looked as he was cruesing even with the rev counter at 11 thou. It was so smooth
Soichiro Honda surely would have been proud to see a Honda cracking 100'000 miles, doing 12'000rpm at full chat out of a corner. What a way to set a milestone, what a bike, what a rider!
Ive got a '98 gen 5 in red with 53k on the clock.
Your video sums the bike up perfectly, thrash it round a track, and its got a luggage rack on it.
I sold my 1998 VFR800Fi at 200,000km and it was still sweet as. Terrific bike!
Great video as always. Just shows you you dont need to drop 10-15K on new metal. SC28 here... Love it.
Just a brilliant, loved the video, shows what older bikes can do if they're regularly serviced etc. Honda engineering is just the best!
Totally agree with using Hagon and Wemoto, I've used them both over the years and received fantastic customer service from them both.
Those laps with 'McPint' on the VFR was magical, never under estimate an 'old bloke' with 23 TT wins on an old-ish Honda!
Thanks so much! All the best, John
Brilliant video - what an honor to have your classic VFR roll the clock over to 100,000 miles while being ridden by a legend! Just hilarious that he's passing all the other, and I suppose "sportier" bikes on a VFR with a luggage rack! 🤣 The VFR IMO hit its apex with the 5th generation - brilliantly threading the needle between just enough sportiness along with long haul touring capability. Take it to the track and clock it over 130, then ride it home and the next day set out on a week's long tour on it. Sadly the market's moved on - but for those that know those bikes, they can be had for a song now - and as John says, "what a testament to Honda engineering"! And the sound - oh that lovely growl of the V4 along with the whine from the racing derived gear driven cams. 👍 Thanks for the video - well done.
Thanks for watching! Cheers, John
"Then I had to do him again at the hairpin" - racer mentality. JMcG what a legend.
And yes, dyno that thing.
Brilliant video , I've got a few bikes but love the FI its the motor I've got 39000 on mine but a mechanic friend looked after a dispatch riders it had 300,000 on it all it needed was regular oil changes absolutely bullet proof cheers again Chris
Great video of a great bike. My 1998 VFR 800 (in red of course) has done 26k and goes great and sounds great, especially with the stainless steel exhaust fitted a couple of years ago. I've had it 20 years and it will be my last bike of the many I've owned. Usually service it myself apart from the linked brakes, and the stainless exhaust after reading horror stories about snapped studs. Did the valve clearances a while ago and they hadn't changed from the factory settings.
20 years! Nicely done!
John is such a character !
I was just going to write that!!!!! Gutted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey John. Do you still have this at the moment / plan on doing any more content?
Its been super interesting what youve put up so far.
Just picked up one of the last 750s myself. Had one previously, then moved to the VTEC, didnt get on with it and moved back to the 750 again.
hey, i have a 2001 have 120,000 km and still have the original clutch and no valves arranged yet and still drives like new top bike!! nice video.
I hated the linked brakes on the VFR800 it tended to squat, I liked to front brake hard in a straight line before throwing it into a bend, those brakes made that uncomfortable for my riding style.
Similar experience for me too
John McGuiness is a legend. But what a modest well-grounded guy. No ego and actions speak louder than words. Really enjoyed this video. 👍🏼
Thanks for watching! Cheers, John (the other one)
Love that it passed someone just before it hit the 100k!! A beast of a bike and rider
I think the Bar End Weights are Glued in at Factory, had the same Problem with the Wifes MT03 and my MT07 Tracer, (Now Sold), a right Pain in the Arse when it comes to fitting Hand Guards.
I had a 2001 VFR800 until recently and it was a fantastic bike. Solid as a rock, great handling and fast as I wanted. Great vid!
In praise of the VFR. I have a 750 from 1990. Reliable, looks like new, and still pretty fast. Honda engineering!
When I was a young'un in the 80s I was convinced a bike was worn out at 30000km. I used to buy new, run it for a year or so, then replace with another new machine. I changed my habits after clocking nearly 60,000km on a RF900 while my kids were little and riding time was rare. That bike showed me that with good maintenance and especially work on the suspension, the newness never wears out. I replaced that in 2014 with a 99 VFR with 76000km, fixed the suspension, steering bearings and clutch, and rode that to 105,000km then sold it for a change. I tried a new 8th gen VFR but that offered nothing that my 15 year-old bike didn't already offer.
I currently own a 2005 ST1300 with 125000km, and another 99 VFR with 90,000km. I have no intention of selling either as they run perfectly and handle well, and just don't depreciate. It helps to be able to do basic servicing like fork seals, head bearings and brakes. Having more than one, older bike, reduces the fear of being rideless if the work goes wrong.
Well said! Yes - with fairly basic maintenance there's little reason for a bike to 'age'. Cheers, John
I bought a new VFR in 1988 to despatch ride. It was one of the first Hondas with a three year warranty, I was determined to kill it. 130k miles in three years, driven in London traffic and thrashed up and down the country. It went to the island, Dutch TT and spent most weekends wearing down the hero bumps on the pegs and changing head race bearings due to the amount of time it spent on the back wheel.
I sold it when it ran out of warranty then saw it a year later being ridden by another despatch rider. It was on a 177k miles. 15:28
That too was run on rock oil :)
Blimey - that's some proper hard work!
@@bennettsbikesocial Not sure on your age group but the VFR predecessor was the VF750F that suffered major valve train and cam issues with huge warranty claims. Urban myth says the VFRs were deliberately over engineered with a 3year warranty in an attempt to get their reputation back.
I read somewhere that they no longer have gear driven cams?
I had a black '98 VFR, Gen 5, same as this one, but pre cat so even better. Rode all over the back roads in British Columbia. Absolute bullet proof rocket ship, doing the valves would cost more than the bike, so I never touched them. I honestly always felt like the bike was mocking me, "is that the best you got". Well here is the answer, put a legend on the bike and he says what a testament to Honda engineering. Enough said. Cam.
My first ever bike was the Gen 4 VFR and I had a Gen 6 afterwards and now riding the Tiger Sport 1050. I still miss that Gen 4 and the character of the engine. Forget the V-TEC that the Gen 6 onwards have, the Gen 4 had all that torque on tap at any rpm, not to mention it didn't suffer from the overheating issues that started with the side placed radiators. Happy with my Tiger now but my Gen 4 VFR will always hold a special place in my heart.
My gen 6 had 200.000 km on the counter when I traded it in for the tiger. Engine was still going strong but the electrical gremlins left me feeling worried every time I went on a longer ride - would I make it back on my own power or not. Just not a very good feeling when you set off to go touring
Love the sound of that v-four. Great video
Sounded sweet on track. Hard to beat a VFR! Not surprised John liked it. A phenomenal racer and a true bike Enthusiast. 😎👍
Great to see McPint giving it beans on the track.
I had a VFR Anniversary Edition (Silver fairing and red bodywork) new in 1998 ( I think), took it to track days at Silverstone and Donnington and absolutely loved it. Not as extreme as a true track bike, but much more comfortable for an old guy with a dodgy back!
Great video. As a previous VFR owner making me wish i hadnt sold it. And given the prices i see them going for now that ones worth more than £500 even at 100k!
love the vfr i was put off by what the service cost would be. i can do the basics. oil and filters pads. doing the valves. a lot of money i would guess. great video with the legend on your bike taking over an amazing 100000 miles.👍
Get a Haynes manual and they're okay to do yourself, honest! Cheers, John
Oh my god you don't need to ask we all want to see the VFR on the dyno!!! That was awesome and that's why people buy hondas over other manufacturers because their engines are bulletproof.
Yup, my CBF600N8 is just about to clock 125,000 miles and will have the shims checked and throttle bodies balanced, along with new spark plugs. The mechanic does this every 25,000 miles. I do the rest. Oil and Honda filter is changed every 5,000 miles - Castrol fully synthetic Power 1 Racing 10W-30 oil. New radiator at 75,000 miles and I think the bike would now benefit from the original rear shock being replaced.
McGuiness the legend having a laugh, brilliant.
Im a Kawasaki man myself and have an 03 ZZR1200, bought it with 65k in the clock 2 years ago with replacement aftermarket shock and Black Widow slip on cans. Added Karuser panneirs and Hepco & Becker top box plus Bagster tank bag for TT kast year.
Its still a rocket ship. When my daughter and I arrived on the early morning ferry we did a lap 2 up with luggage and we were doing 3 figure speeds up the mountain mile with ease and so stable. It also clocked up 71k on the turn round at the end of my 4th run on Ramsey Sprint at the TT. Thats where I confirmed rhe clutch was slipping slightly, new plates and springs since. I still beat 4 Hyabusas on the day in the unlimited class with a best run of 7.72. My first ever go on a sprint.
Also just started my first Bennets policy two days ago so will be looking for more of the bike social stuff on TH-cam now. TT diaries were good during this year's TT with my three favourite TT racers, McGuiness, Hicky and Dom the bomb.
Thoroughly enjoyed the video, thanks. Just reinforces what I've heard about these bikes, and I'm gong to have to buy one now!
When my ex wife did her test about 20 years ago her instructor had a 1989 vfr 750. Back then it had 80,000 on the clock. I still see him around the town giving lessons and he's still using that same bike. God knows what the mileage is now but if I get the chance I'll ask him, I wonder if it still has the original motor?
‘There’s some bloke out there on an old VFR who thinks he’s John McGuiness….’
I enjoyed that. I've had two VFR750 and did track days on one of them at Cadwell Park. On one of those days Phil Read, and several others who were doing some sort of vintage race series, asked if they could share the track for a practice. We obviously said yes. (This was the Ixion Internet motorcycle group) The old fellows were riding aging 250cc racers against our Fireblades and 900cc Ducati but they carried so much corner speed they were lapping far faster than any of us. Come to think of it, one of our group had a 250cc Aprilia and he was having no trouble keeping up, so perhaps there is something to be said for light and nimble.
John is a real gent, what a way to pass 100K miles 👍 I met him at a PB Trackday a few years back. I have a vid of me following him from my VFR800Fi poor video but was worth it. (Search McPint Rockingham) Even though he rode an RCV during the lunch break the boys voted mine the best sounding bike of the day 😁
I'd be interested in your HP dyno run.
If you fancy checking out an updated version, minus 30kg +23hp with Carbon wheels let me know 👍
If you do a dyno run, try and find someone with a good low mileage well looked after one…. As a comparison on the same dyno and day!
I had a 98 like this one and commuted from yorkshire to london every week. I found it a bit soulless. did not sound as nice as yours. Been thinking about getting another one or the v tec version. This video sold the earlier one. Great honda engineering.
Good film. Got my CBR600F up over 60k miles with 8 Track days on it. Good to know it hopefully got many more left.
Oh that sweet sound of rev matching !! ❤ And to top it all off with John McG on top of it....
It's actually refreshing to see an insurance company giving back a little, and interacting socially with it's members. It belies the money suckers I'm used to.
Beautiful to hear on song, excellent vid lads 👍
What a joy to see the legend giving the vfr a spanking…. Great video well done 👍😊
Thanks for watching!
This is testament to prove the 5th Gen is a way more capable motor than the crappy pointless V-tec, I've advised countless buyers to steer clear of the V-tech models.
What an absolute legend, that was mega! Looked like a lot of fun too!
Just awesome. When I saw you on this bike a while ago, I fancied getting one myself. Cheap as chips and look how strong it is after all these miles. Great video as always John.
Thanks very much Mark! Cheers, John
in my 40yrs riding i have all ways been with bennets i never read the renewal and god knows where it is, it seems i have been missing out.. i will check out your facebook page..🙂
Thanks so much, and look forward to seeing you on the group!
I ride my 06 in Florida through the hurricanes, afternoon tropical storms and 35c+ and it’s never missed a beat in the 50k miles I’ve clocked up
This is why ive got a Honda motorbike. They do have a bullet proof engine and reliability providing they are serviced and looked after.
The value of your bike just went through the roof. Own two 99s, an 04, and an 08. I can't get enough of the experience. Many feel the weight when atop Sybil or Sylvia at a standstill. Underway, those 600 riders said all that disappeared.
I used to love when a gsxr 600 or r6 pull up at a light and I'm on a 91 vfr750 tuned and engine upgraded with jets and power commander fuel program and custom exhaust tuned to the bike adjustable shock and front forks and they see you 2 bike length off the jump and you can't reel it in on the 8th because the v4 valve is a torque monster
All good stuff! Great to see McG's smooth style, with nary a knee down. A great testament to Honda engineering too. Interesting about the VTEC malarkey; for a road bike, I prefer not to have it, especially in the wet! And yes, I'd like to see how many gee-gees are actually going through the rear tyre...PNB
I had a yellow VFR of the same year for something like 6 years when Iwas young and dumb- I literally never topped up the coolant and the bike rode like a champion til the last day I saw it. Being older I would definitely do regular maintenance on it if I had one now but good lord, you can't break these things. Fantastic machines
what an awesome dood. I drove by his house when i was in Moorcomb a friend of mine knows him ... too scared to knock on his door and say hi.... a true legend
Excellent video ! Great review of affordable bikes that ain’t the 2023 model … so refreshing!!!
I test rode one of these vfrs back in the day thinking I was going to love it … coming from a Kawasaki zx6-r G2 it felt flat, like it wasn’t revving enough, almost boring. And the linked brakes didn’t inspire confidence and meant it didn’t dig the front end into the tarmac like I wanted it to. Ended up with a bandit 1200 of all bikes which I loved 🤷🏼♂️
It's tough to find a good condition original Bandit 12 now... I've tried!
John McGuinness what a hero. I have a 04 VFR and love it. Everyone should try one. They are bargain secondhand machines. Would be great to see how much power your old VFR puts out😊
We used vfr engines in our rally buggies, we used to teach people oversteer and handling. They got hammering and just took it. Fantastic engines
I had exactly that model of VFR and loved it. Fabulous build quality and ultra reliable. Unfortunately eyesight problems meant I had to give up biking for a while and so I sold it. Wish I hadn't now.
Dyno would be interesting. Mine with K&N filter and Remus exhaust can ran 99 bhp back when it was a bit younger. 110,000 km on it just now.
What did ya think the bike would do? Dissolve or summit? Probably did the engine some good actually being used properly around the circuit!
Dude: my VFR's done 100,000 miles!
Honda Engineer: So you've run it in then....
I have the same vfr but in blue 30k km. I keep looking for what bike get next but... she's my fam now and l cant get rid of her
I take my 91 750 on the track, Hagon shock and updated front forks, it’s brilliant although there’s no way I’d run road tyre pressures at the track, 30/32 gives much better grip, your tyres have chewed up because the pressure in them is way too much, my M7RR’s get balls on the edges but don’t chew up like that , you can see the front isn’t using all the tread because it’s too hard.
Would love to see the dyno and pls pls post the thermostat video!!!
Just over 90k on my '98 FiW.
Would never use a Hagon shock.
Mine has a Nitron.
Not surprised by anything John said.
Looked after these are stunning bikes, but early models do have problems with R/R and corrosion of the instrument PCB.
Inhave a 1998 vfr800 i restored and take to the track regularly. Has over 100,000km too
Happy with Honda! My ‘99 Blackbird passed the 120.000 km, and I live next to the German border. So we see some ‘action’ together. No problems at all (knock wood), still 290 km/h on a good day, loving it wholeheartedly!
The Blackbird's still a great looking bike! Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial thanks John, that means a lot coming from you. Hear hear!