Honda VFR800
Encyclopedia
The Honda VFR800, also known as the Interceptor, is a motorcycle
introduced by Honda
in 1998. It is a successor to the VFR750F (1986–1997), which was preceded by the VF750.
From its first sales in 1986, the VFR750F scored highly on many press reviews. While it was originally intending to be a sports bike, the introduction of lighter competitors (including the nearly 30 kg (66.1 lb) lighter GSX-R750
) prompted Honda in 1990 to transition the VFR into a mid-sized sport touring
bike, a category of which the VFR became the de-facto benchmark
. However, by 1997, Triumph
and Ducati presented Honda with significant sports-touring competition, so Honda responded with a redesigned VFR800 in 1998.
Rather than being a direct development of the previous carbureted VFR750F engine, the VFR800 engine was a detuned and longer-stroke power plant based on the fuel-injected RC45 race engine. The RVF750R RC45 engine, although a development of the VFR750R RC30 and originally derived from the VFR750F RC24, was very different as the gear drive to the cams was moved from the centre of the engine to the one side, similar to the CBR250. Tuned for road use in the VFR800, fuel injection provided excellent driveability and power was slightly increased over the VFR750. The most noticeable change, however, was that the torque
figures were substantially improved from the previous model right up to the 11,750 rpm red line
. All VFR800 models use fuel injection
instead of carburetor
s for fuel-air mixing. In 2000, Honda updated the fifth generation VFR (RC46) with a catalytic converter
, oxygen sensor
s, and an EFI system that would enter closed-loop mode under highway (cruising) operation.
The VFR800 bodywork covered a frame derived from the VTR1000 Firestorm. It incorporates the VFR trademark single-sided swingarm pivoted
from the aft of the crankcase
, using the engine as a stressed member of the frame.
Honda fitted its DCBS linked braking system
, a departure from traditional independent front/rear motorcycle braking
systems. In this system, the front brake lever applies pressure to four (in later models five) of the six front piston
s. The rotational movement of the left caliper when engaged actuates a secondary master cylinder and applies pressure to one of the rear pistons. The rear brake pedal is directly attached to the remaining pistons (two in the rear, and one or two in the front).
The sixth generation VFR (for the first time marketed only as the "Interceptor" in the USA) was introduced in 2002. For the first time it featured dual underseat exhausts, an optional anti-lock braking system
(ABS) in addition to the DCBS, and optional hard luggage. It featured chain-driven cams rather than the traditional VFR gear-driven cams, and was the first motorcycle to have Honda's VTEC valve-actuation technology. The implementation of VTEC was seen as a bid by Honda to meet tightening noise and emissions standards in Japan and abroad while improving the peak horsepower of the engine. Similar to the automotive version of VTEC-E the simplified motorcycle version of VTEC employs only two of the four valves per cylinder when operating at lower engine speeds. All four valves per cylinder were engaged above 6,800 rpm. This is initiated by an electronically actuated oil spool valve, which send oil pressure to the lifter actuators, which then move the engagement pins into place above the valve stem, allowing the remaining two valves to open. This design allows for variable valve timing as well, since the cam lobe profiles could be made different. It is speculated that the duration of valve lift and overlap on the below and above 6,800 RPM valves differ. After some criticism of the abruptness of power transition, Honda lowered the VTEC activation rpm threshold to 6,400 rpm in 2006. The VTEC disengages two cylinder valves when the engine speed drops again below 6,100 rpm. For 2009, there were no significant changes to the VFR800.
. the VFR800 continues to be sold.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
introduced by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
in 1998. It is a successor to the VFR750F (1986–1997), which was preceded by the VF750.
From its first sales in 1986, the VFR750F scored highly on many press reviews. While it was originally intending to be a sports bike, the introduction of lighter competitors (including the nearly 30 kg (66.1 lb) lighter GSX-R750
Suzuki GSX-R750
The GSX-R750 is a 750 class sport bike motorcycle from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 1985 and can be considered to be the first of the modern racer-replicas with many race-derived technologies and the looks of a Suzuki Endurance racer at an affordable price.-Air-cooled...
) prompted Honda in 1990 to transition the VFR into a mid-sized sport touring
Sport touring
A Sport touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle that blends the performance of a sport bike with the long-distance capabilities of a touring motorcycle, while providing comfort and relative safety to the rider....
bike, a category of which the VFR became the de-facto benchmark
Benchmarking
Benchmarking is the process of comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and/or best practices from other industries. Dimensions typically measured are quality, time and cost...
. However, by 1997, Triumph
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is the largest surviving British motorcycle manufacturer, which was established in 1984 by John Bloor after the original manufacturer Triumph Engineering went into receivership...
and Ducati presented Honda with significant sports-touring competition, so Honda responded with a redesigned VFR800 in 1998.
Physical characteristics
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
figures were substantially improved from the previous model right up to the 11,750 rpm red line
Redline
Redline refers to the maximum engine speed at which an internal combustion engine or traction motor and its components are designed to operate without causing damage to the components themselves or other parts of the engine...
. All VFR800 models use fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
instead of carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
s for fuel-air mixing. In 2000, Honda updated the fifth generation VFR (RC46) with a catalytic converter
Catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
, oxygen sensor
Oxygen sensor
An oxygen sensor, or lambda sensor, is an electronic device that measures the proportion of oxygen in the gas or liquid being analyzed. It was developed by the Robert Bosch GmbH company during the late 1960s under the supervision of Dr. Günter Bauman...
s, and an EFI system that would enter closed-loop mode under highway (cruising) operation.
The VFR800 bodywork covered a frame derived from the VTR1000 Firestorm. It incorporates the VFR trademark single-sided swingarm pivoted
Lever
In physics, a lever is a rigid object that is used with an appropriate fulcrum or pivot point to either multiply the mechanical force that can be applied to another object or resistance force , or multiply the distance and speed at which the opposite end of the rigid object travels.This leverage...
from the aft of the crankcase
Crankcase
In an internal combustion engine of the reciprocating type, the crankcase is the housing for the crankshaft. The enclosure forms the largest cavity in the engine and is located below the cylinder, which in a multicylinder engine are usually integrated into one or several cylinder blocks...
, using the engine as a stressed member of the frame.
Honda fitted its DCBS linked braking system
Combined braking system
A combined braking system , also called linked braking system , is a system for linking front and rear brakes on a motorcycle or scooter. In this system, the rider's action of depressing one of the brake levers applies both front and rear brakes...
, a departure from traditional independent front/rear motorcycle braking
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
systems. In this system, the front brake lever applies pressure to four (in later models five) of the six front piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
s. The rotational movement of the left caliper when engaged actuates a secondary master cylinder and applies pressure to one of the rear pistons. The rear brake pedal is directly attached to the remaining pistons (two in the rear, and one or two in the front).
The sixth generation VFR (for the first time marketed only as the "Interceptor" in the USA) was introduced in 2002. For the first time it featured dual underseat exhausts, an optional anti-lock braking system
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
(ABS) in addition to the DCBS, and optional hard luggage. It featured chain-driven cams rather than the traditional VFR gear-driven cams, and was the first motorcycle to have Honda's VTEC valve-actuation technology. The implementation of VTEC was seen as a bid by Honda to meet tightening noise and emissions standards in Japan and abroad while improving the peak horsepower of the engine. Similar to the automotive version of VTEC-E the simplified motorcycle version of VTEC employs only two of the four valves per cylinder when operating at lower engine speeds. All four valves per cylinder were engaged above 6,800 rpm. This is initiated by an electronically actuated oil spool valve, which send oil pressure to the lifter actuators, which then move the engagement pins into place above the valve stem, allowing the remaining two valves to open. This design allows for variable valve timing as well, since the cam lobe profiles could be made different. It is speculated that the duration of valve lift and overlap on the below and above 6,800 RPM valves differ. After some criticism of the abruptness of power transition, Honda lowered the VTEC activation rpm threshold to 6,400 rpm in 2006. The VTEC disengages two cylinder valves when the engine speed drops again below 6,100 rpm. For 2009, there were no significant changes to the VFR800.
Successor
In late 2009, Honda launched a larger model to complement the VFR800, the VFR1200FHonda VFR1200F
The VFR1200F is a sport touring motorcycle from Honda, which has a V4 engine. It has the first dual clutch transmission offered on a motorcycle.-History:Honda announced the VFR1200F in 2009 and unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show...
. the VFR800 continues to be sold.
External links
- Honda VFR800 RC46 (1998-2001) and VTEC (2002-on) model information.