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Honda VFR 800 New Bike | 2003 6th Generation VFR800 Review | 01
In this episode I reveal my latest motorcycle acquisition, a 2003 Honda VFR800 VTEC, and explain a little about why I have bought it.
I used Stu Coupland for the delivery, and I thoroughly recommend him.
S.R.Coupland (07757 220927)
If you have followed my other videos you will see that this bike replaces my 1996 Honda CBR900RR Fireblade which I owned for nearly 2 years. I did really enjoy that bike, but I fancied a change, and having frequently thought about making the Fireblade more comfortable to ride decided that I would go for something more ergonomic. Now, take a deep breath before you go onto the next paragraph… Are you ready?
I also wanted a top box! I had even considered fitting one to the Fireblade! For all of my motorcycling life I had always sneered at top boxes, and wouldn’t consider a bike with one, that was until I bought the Triumph Sprint 1050. It was only after I had moved on from it that I realised how much I missed the top box. Probably more than anything else.
I bought the Sprint with the intention of doing a little light touring, maybe build up to a longer trip. Then came the Covid Lockdown so that never happened. And as the touring ideas disappeared because we had the Campervan, I moved on from the Sprint. However, now that Camper has gone, and our ideas about replacement are becoming a little more protracted, I thought that maybe some light touring by bike might be back on.
But really I wanted the top box 🙂 I do frequently have a pillion, and we do go to East Yorkshire Coast touristy destinations, Scarborough, Whitby and the like. Having a top box means you can leave most of your riding paraphernalia with the bike while you are on foot. Doing the same with the Fireblade was a real faff. Although my pillion did think that the seat and riding position on the Fireblade was better than on the Sprint.
Having decided on a Top Box and a little more comfort it only made sense to get a VFR800 to carry it around. 😂 I have had a couple of the Honda V Fours before, and I know they get a really good press, especially the VTEC engine. I had nearly bought a 6th Generation VFR a couple of times before, even when I got the Sprint it was on the list, but I never quite closed a deal on one.
I bought this one on eBay, and with me it has always got to be a good deal. I had only just missed out on another one from FB Marketplace when I saw this. I could see that it was not well advertised and was on bidding. The images were not great, all from the same view, no MOT and a little bit of damage. But it had been owned for a couple of years by the seller and the HPI check seemed good. Oh and it wasn’t too far away. There is no point in getting a bargain then having to spend hundreds to get it home.
I contacted the seller and found out quite a bit about the bike, all of which was reassuring. I do make an effort to assess the seller as much as the information about the bike when buying without looking. But I have successfully bought at least 6 or 7 bikes like this and it has always worked out, so far! I did make him an offer of exactly £1 less than I ended up paying for it on bidding, to end the listing early. But he was honourable in that he didn’t want to let the existing bidders down, quite a good sign actually. At the end of the auction I sniped it with exactly £1 over the price I had offered, and I beat the next highest bidder by exactly £1 😂 If you are looking for a good “great” deal you have to be prepared to walk away from a number of deals before you close one. If I had gone to see this bike I may have offered up to 20% more, but this is the reduction I am comfortable with if I am buying unseen. This bike might have been worth 20% less when it arrived!
In the event I am thrilled with the bike, watch the video, and you will see apart from a little cosmetic damage, some caused post delivery 😣 it is pretty good.
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