For sport tourer fans, especially fans of the venerable VFR800, there’s ample good news, for Honda have introduced a brand-new VFR800F. The legendary VFR800F is completely updated with sharp, contemporary looks, a brand-new telescopic fork, Pro-arm swing-arm, wheels and bodywork. Additionally, it gets adjustable seat height, standard-fit traction control system, ABS, heated grips and Honda’s unique new self-cancelling indicators. The new bike continues to use a V4 engine that has been re-tuned to boost bottom and mid-range output. The 782-cc liquid-cooled 90-degree V4 VTEC engine with 16 valves and DOHC now pumps out 105.9 PS at 10,250 RPM and 75.1 Nm of peak torque at 8,500 RPM. VTEC valve timing still operates one pair of inlet/exhaust valves per cylinder at low RPM, and then switches to four as the revs rise, but the transition is now seamless.

The PGM-FI fuel injection – with 36-mm throttle bodies – has been remapped to suit the engine’s new performance parameters, with the company now claiming a fuel economy of 19.4 km/l. Honda’s Traction Control System (TCS) is fitted as standard equipment. It’s operated from the left handlebar and a single mode covers a wide variety of riding conditions and situations. On the chassis front, the diamond triple-box section aluminium twin-spar frame is unchanged; a revised die-cast aluminium subframe is significantly lighter than the previous model. In total, kerb weight is reduced by seven kilos to 242 kg.

Completely new are the aluminium single-sided Pro-arm swing-arm and 43-mm Honda Multi-Action System (HMAS) telescopic fork. They feature stepless spring preload adjustment and 108-mm wheel travel; the HMAS gas-charged rear shock operates through a Pro-Link suspension linkage with remote spring preload and stepless rebound damping adjustment.

In essence, this would be a great bike to bring to India for lovers of sport touring machines. We hope the boffins at Honda are listening to our prayers and decide to bring the new VFR800F to our shores soon.

Story: Nusheen Bhathena