Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127663
" ID G R IN :IMPRESSION'· 1994 Honda VFR750F : ~. By Kit Palmer Photos by Kinney Jones hoever came up with the 1l .1~~""· adage if it ain't Droke, don't fix it obviousl y isn' t employed . -"....' ' ~ 4 at Honda. Take the VFR75O, for example. Here 's a motorcycle that since its 1983 debut has been a favorite among sportbike enthusiasts the world over. And, ever since the bike' s first major overhaul in 1990, it has been considered by many weekend sport riders and everyday commuters as the finest sportbike in its class, while others go as far as saying that it's the finest allaround streetbike - period. We w on't argu e with either assesment But despite the VFR's success, Honda wasn't read y to rest on its laurels and felt the need to move on and "improve" or "fix" the VFR750, again. An impossibility? Evidently not. It seems to us that improving the popular VFR750 would be like trying to improve chocolate-chip ice cream, but th e engineers and designers at Honda did, in fact, accomplish what they set out to do - the y've made the VFR750 even better. This seemingly far-fetched goal was achieved by putting the VFR on a diet. . . When all was said and done, the VFR lost some 22 pounds, giving it a claimed d ry we ight of 465 pounds. It's still no t the lightest bike in its class, but it is lighter non eth eless. Plus, Honda managed to squeez e ou t two mo re horsepower at peak rpm from the VFR's V-four motor, so now you have a bike that is more flickable and faster. What else could you ask for from what is already one of the most user-friendly spo rtbikes in the world? Th e VFR 750F has an all-new a nd extre mely eye-catching look for 1994, wit h its NR-derived styling an d bright red and black color scheme . All tha t remains of the 1993 VFR750 are the front fender and the turn indicator lenses - the rest of the bod ywork is all-new. Not only is the new plas tic attractive, but it's functional as well. The fairing has been d esigned to yield bett er internal ven tilation and cooling efficiency, or, in oth er words, better "air man agem en t." According to Honda, the cooling air has been more efficiently channeled aro und the rear cylinde r bank and the exhaust pipes. The heat produced by the pipes tha t normally collects und er the seat is now evacuated through large side du cts in the seat cowling. All the bodywork was designed with trimming unwan ted weight in mind,' as well . Honda claims th e new bodywork weighs 1.9 pounds less than before. Much of this has to do wi th the redesigned lower cowling that is m ould ed of lig h tweig ht a nd durable black resin and has smaller fairing stays. The VFR also comes w ith a removable rear seat cowling. Hidden beneath the new fairing is that engine - th at electric-smooth and powerful OOHC 9O-degree V-four powerplant that has for all intents and purposes mad e the VFR750 one of the most respected spo rt/streetbikes on the road. Since its debut in 1983, the VFR's engine has seen continual upgrades and careful refin emen ts rather than ma jor re construction. So it comes as no surprise that this year's engin e features a handful of revisions, most notabl y the ad dition of a new set of high-performance VP carburetors, for which in take port shapes and ca ms ha fts were finely tuned; and the ad option of. an all-new 4-into-1 exhaust sys tem. The carbs are the same, moreefficient 34mm slanted flat-slid e mixers used on the Honda CBR600F and CBR900RR sport bikes. The new exhaust system has two main advantages. For one, it permits the use of a centerstand; and secondly, it's lighter. Other engine changes include redesigned shift fork, d rum and gear dogs to improve gear-shift action; slightly altered crankshaft balance weights for reduced vib ration, and thicker piston pins for more durability. Our test bike cam e equiped with a heavy-duty RK O-ring chain. . The V-four engine is nestled in essentially the same frame configuration that was developed in 1990, but construction is slightly dilierent to help reduce overall weight. Honda cla ims the frame is 3.3 pounds ligh ter than that of last year's VFR. The main frame spars are attached to redesigned, lighter pivot plates and fea lure reshaped upper and lower crossmembers. A redesigned seat rail structure is lighter, as well. The seat shape and footpeg position were altered to lean the rider sligh tly more forward than before, giving it a more sporty feel. Little has been changed in the suspension department. The linkage system in the rear has been increased slightly near the end of the stroke.to improve stability at higher speeds . The Pro-Arm cast aluminum swingarm looks unchanged, but casting thickness was increased in key locations for more rigidity. Both front and rear suspensions feature external adjustability. The shock offers both preload and rebound damping adjustments. The damping adjust-