Honda VFR750

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The Honda VFR 750 was a sport-touring motorcycle produced between 1986 and 1997. The fully-faired motorcycle was powered by a reliable 98 horsepower (73 kW) liquid-cooled double overhead cam(DOHC) V4 engine. The 1990-onward models sat atop a single-sided swingarm.

It was introduced as a complete redesign of the VF700/750F models to address some of the camshaft and bearing problems that had been associated with the first generation Honda V4 engines and improve Honda's negative image concerning this engine. The new VFR750F featured greatly improved power output, lighter weight, a lower center of gravity, a wider front tire and a slightly longer wheelbase.

The VFR750 received many positive reviews and awards while in production, including winning the Best 750 cc sport bike award from Cycle World six years in a row.

In 1986 Ron Haslam took a standard VFR750F to third place in a soaked Transatlantic Challenge race at Donnington Park.

"Tariff beater" 700 cc versions were available for some models in the US market due to the tax laws in place at the time that penalized imports with larger displacement.

1 Engine
2 Suspension
3 Models
4 External links

[edit] Engine

The VFR750 series all used a 750 cc 16 valve DOHC liquid cooled 90° V4 engine with carburetor-based fuel induction, the bore/stroke remained the same for all 750 models at 70.0 x 48.6 mm (2.8 x 1.9 inches). The engine is made of aluminium alloy with the crankcase being divided horizontally. Lubrication was via a wet sump and chain driven dual rotor oil pump, an oil (air) cooler is also fitted. Transmission is 6 speed constant mesh, wet multi-plate clutch with chain drive to the rear wheel.

The V4 engine is highly reliable, with few known faults. The gear-driven camshaft system removed any concerns about cam-chain maintenance. Valve adjustment on early models was by screw and locknut, changing in 1990 to shim and bucket, access was simple making the adjustment process painless on the very rare occasions when adjustment was needed - engines are known to reach well over 50,000miles without any need to adjust the clearances.

Pre-2000 VFRs sometimes suffer from an overheated regulator/rectifier, a $100 part. While the replacement part is an improvement over the original, it has become commonplace for owners to buy a $10 CPU fan and glue it onto the rectifier. Spliced into the tail-light bulb wire, it provides extra cooling to protect the sensitive electronic unit.

[edit] Suspension

Early models sported anti-dive (adjustable on some models) on the front forks and a dual swingarm with remote hydraulic preload adjustment, changed in 1990 to a single-sided swingarm which remained with the bike throughout its life, and leads to the bikes' distinctive looks. The arm was derived from the ELF race-bike Pro-Arm development work and has the advantage of allowing rear-wheel removal without the need to remove the drive chain and rear axle, and allows chain adjustment to be made very simply with no concerns about maintaining wheel alignment.

[edit] Models

VFR model years for each generation (note that the VFR750 ceased production in 1998 with the introduction of the VFR800):

1986 to 1987 - VFR750FG/H
- New model based on a complete redesign of the VF750, full fairing, gear driven camshafts, single color paintwork, 16 inch front and 18 inch rear
- Bore & Stroke 70.0 x 48.6 mm
- Compression ratio 10.5:1
- Carburettors 4 x 34 mm CV type
- Power (claimed) 105PS @ 10,500 rpm
- Torque (claimed) 56.4 ft·lbf @ 8,500 rpm
- Front tyre 110/90 V16
- Rear tyre 130/80 V18
- Wheelbase 1480 mm
- Seat height 795 mm
- Dry weight 199 kg
- Fuel Tank 20 litres
1987 to 1993 - VFR750R (RC30)
- New model based on the RVF750 endurance racer with the engine based on the VFR750F, a single sided swingarm homologation machine for Formula1 and World Superbikes.
  Crank changed to 360°
- Front tyre 120/70 (17" rim)
- Rear tyre 170/60 (18" rim)
- Wheelbase 1410 mm
- Rake/trail 24.5°/91 mm
- Dry weight 185 kg
- Power 94 bhp @ 11,300 rpm
- Torque 47 ft·lbf @ 9,800 rpm
- Fuel tank 20 litres
1988 to 1989 - VFR750FJ/K (RC24)
- Minor redesign with fairing redesign, stronger fork legs, a more reliable ignition system and 17 inch wheels front and back.
  A clock and fuel gauge were also added.
- Power (claimed) 105PS @ 10,500 rpm
- Torque (claimed) 56.4 ft·lbf @ 8,500 rpm
- Front tyre 110/80 V17
- Rear tyre 140/80 V17
- Wheelbase 1480 mm
- Dry weight 203 kg
- Power 87.5 bhp @ 9,700 rpm
- Torque 47 ft·lbf @ 9,000 rpm
1990 to 1993 - VFR750FL/M/N/P (RC36)
- Major revamp, new frame, swingarm and bodywork with wider wheels to accept more modern tyres, gain of some weight and loss of some power with gains in the midrange.
- Front tyre 120/70
- Rear tyre 170/60
- Wheelbase 1470 mm
- Dry weight 216 kg (476 lb)
- Power 98.5 bhp @ 9,700 rpm
- Torque 53.9 ft·lbf @ 9,000 rpm
1994 to 1997 - VFR750FR/T (RC36)
- Bodywork revision followed Honda NR design cues, lighter and more responsive, gain of RC30 style cartridge forks.
  Last of VFR750 Models before replacement by the VFR800 in 1998
- Bore & Stroke 70 x 48.6 mm
- Compression ratio 11:1
- Carburettors 4 x 34 mm VP CV type
- Front wheel 120/70 ZR17
- Rear wheel 170/60 ZR17
- Wheelbase 1470 mm
- Rake/trail 26deg/100 mm
- Fuel capacity 21 litres
- Colours (UK)
- 1994: red, black, aquamarine
- 1995: red, black, silver
Related models from Honda include the VFR400 NC30 and RVF400 NC35, VF1000R, VFR750R RC30, RVF750 RC45, NR750 and VFR800.

[edit] External links