Build quality, torque, 5th gear performance, high speed crusing .
Disadvantages:
VF reputation for chocolate cams .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Firstly, I must apologize to all owners of the Honda CBR 1000 F , because this review is not about this bike. This site ' CIAO' does not list all the different model ranges of bikes you may be looking for. This problem is ongoing, and I personally have'nt sussed out how to change this yet ??!!!. So unfortunately will have to ride yet another review on the back of another product, this is the closest I can get .
Firstly a brief history of the VF range, 1980's, as far as I can remember, there were 3 models of this very under estimated bike. VF500, VF 750, & VF 1000. The VF 500 was a superb machine, an all rounder, no problems, The VF 1000, the same, But the VF 750 due to some design flaw , used to destroy its self by way of the camshafts and followers, major engine damage resulted, on a regular basis , and this led to a BAD reputation for the rest of the range. I used to read all the road tests, so knew this not to be true of the 1000.
The time was 1989, I was doing OK ish, had a house etc,etc, ( Funny how this was the last boom time for house prices, Ads for loans, remortgages, credit cards, blah,blah,blah ) just like today (boom time ) just watch out, I predict the bubble WILL burst again soon. Took me 10 years to pay off all that previous shit.
Because I had a house , credit companies were licking my arse to borrow more and more, so I thought , Ok , I need a large bike , and you couldn't get much larger than the VF 1000, at the time. (did the deal, bought the bike ,on credit.) Well......., It was only another £ 100 odd on top of the ...... mortgage, endowment, second mortgage, overdraft, credit cards, electric , rates, water, previous loan defaults, bailiffs knocking the door , blokes with clip boards (dont answer the door !!!! ).
So anyway I needed to take my mind off all my worries at the time and used to blast off on the old VF for some relaxiing / exciting thrills. To try and forget all my credit worries !! . The bike was a dream to ride , It was smooth, powerful , effortless performance (for me ) , I was once crusing through town, thought I was doing 40 - 50 , looked down to the speedo , and was shocked to see I was doing 85 mph !! . At 100 mph it was just ticking over, you could twist the old throttle open , and it would still strain your guts & neck all the way up to around 150 mph ! . On the open roads you could leave it in 5th gear and weave in and out of traffic , making your way to the front of the slow buggers, acceleration was more than enough.
I know there are limits, Todays missiles on two wheels , will blast it into the sceanery, for half the engine size, I was once very embaressed by being blown away by a GSXR 750, ridden by a nutcase / ace rider, had to red line the thing just to keep with him ! , not worth it , gave up the ghost. Used to play with porsche 911's , no problemo, I would say that nearly all cars had NO chance ! .
The bike never missed a beat once, was totally realiable, (serviced it regulary of course) Tyres and drive chains used to suffer of course, but with 575 lbs of weight and 120 bhp on tap this was not unreasonable. The riding position / half front fairing were a very good combination for high speed crusing, would eat the miles with no effort at all, fuel consumption was also not a problem. Wind buffeting blasted right over your head, due to the angle of the screen. Took a bit of effort to haul its weight over for tight bends, you realy did have to shift your body weight over to line it up for bends ! . The dash was good , glowed red at night ( keep those eyes on the road ! ).
Finaly the credit shit caught up with me in the end , and I had to sell my lovely VF to pay off the boring debts, I dont know ........... what's the point in working if you cant enjoy yourself, once in a while......... that's life I suppose ( just remember ........ hold fire with your extensions and loan shit, cos it all going tits up Soon !!!!) Cashman44
