What: 2005 VFR800 Interceptor
Why: Low miles, all-round rider
Where: Ottawa, Illinois
Price: $4500

This VTEC 800 looks like a nicely-optioned example of a very useable sport tourer. It shows only 8300 miles and sports some nice extras, like factory luggage, Delkevic slip-ons, aftermarket seat (Corbin?) and aftermarket windscreen. The seller, Scott, is a man of few words, but states the original seat and exhaust is included. I wrote for more details, but, again, few words: "It has a scratch on the left side. It can be easily touched up. Tires have some age on them. But they have tread. Runs perfectly."

I suspect that this is simply mid-western straight talk from a mid-western straight shooter, as the bike is located about 1.5 hours southwest of Chicago's O'hare airport, so a possible fly-n-ride opportunity. And, I would say the asking price of $4500 is just about right.

Back in the heyday of print magazines, I devoured at least four each month, including Rider. Upon fetching the magazine from the mailbox I would immediately get comfortable and open to the last page, where would be found the "Retrospective" column, penned by Clement Salvadori. I enjoyed the informal, opinionated, entertaining accounts of an eclectic selection of classic motorbikes.

​Clem was a modern renaissance man who lived with purpose and conviction, ivy league educated and serving as a Viet Nam-era Army Green Beret. His friend and long-time editor, Mark Tuttle, offered his personal remembrance:

"Sad news, especially after hearing of his wife Sue passing a few months ago. If there was ever a full life well lived, it was Clem's. I had the honor of being his editor at Rider for many years (which he tolerated but didn't always relish), and in 50 years of publication he was by far the magazine's most popular contributor. When Clem didn't have a pair of handlebars or a keyboard at hand, he was generally reading a travel book of some sort (or taking a nap), having touched feet and tires in more than 70 countries on six continents. He called himself the "Literary Motorcyclist" on his business card, and I always looked forward to reading his Road Tales columns and countless travel stories written for Rider and many other publications. I will miss his boisterous laugh, his story telling and even his infamous sneezing attacks, which could be heard in the next county. Mostly I will miss just riding with the guy, which always felt more important somehow. Godspeed Clem! I hope you made arrangements for the cats."

Spotted on my local Facebook Marketplace, this is a new, in the wrapper, set of Leo Vince carbon slip-ons for the 2002-12 VFR800. Adaptor pipes and other mounting hardware is included. $800. These are also listed on eBay for $860 with shipping included.

As far as I can determine, Leo Vince no longer supplies mufflers for the Gen-6, so the classifieds might be your only choice these days. A quick check on eBay brings up only one other comparable, used, for about half the price. There's a few more new examples, but located in Japan with higher prices.
I have no affiliation with this sale.

What: 1994 VFR750 "Custom"
Why: I got nothin'
Where: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Price: $2800 OBO

Satirist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg once quipped, "It is impossible to have bad taste, but many people have none at all." Georg lived a few centuries before motorcycles existed, but were he with us today, I'm sure he would point to this situation as validation.

The colorway is enough to put me off my lunch, but those chrome bullet speakers on a sport bike, paired with open exhaust, is an indicator that this seller may have been dropped once too often as a baby. Predictably, there's also LED lights mounted, "with remote." Our seller notes, "bill of sale," so not sure about the title situation, not that I would actually operate this baby on a public road…or on my trailer for that matter. The ad includes a walk-around video for your enjoyment. Good luck with the sale.

Bill arrived around noon, but our work session was delayed for a bit while I ogled Bill's stunning Italian Red survivor. This is, of course, the only year that Honda combined this brilliant red with white wheels, giving the classic '90's sportbike look. I was first impressed by the low 17,587 miles but even more so with the very correct details of an original survivor and the obvious loving attention lavished on this bike for the past 36 years. The only variations from stock are the Delkevic carbon slip-on, a perfect Corbin seat and a bobbed rear fender. Not pictured, but included, is the passenger seat cowl.

Eventually we did get busy with the task at hand, beginning with the removal of the tank, seat, tail cowl and side fairings, affording access to the carbs and fuel lines. This was fairly new to Bill and I'm happy to share any knowledge I can, so that's where the "gab" came in. Things progressed well and, once primed with fuel, the "new" carbs fired up and ran well, the Delkevic singing its perfect V4 score. With everything accessible, we replaced the tank-to-pump fuel line and filter. The rear brake fluid was a little dark, so we did a quick flush. By the time we got everything buttoned up. the day had moved on, leaving too little time for a two-bike local test ride, which Bill completed the next day, reporting "bike is running great."

It was a pleasure to meet Bill and share some wrenching time on such an exceptional machine. An afternoon well spent — we're already thinking of pairing up for a Gen-3 ride in Wisconsin's Driftless Area. What a rare experience that would be.

A few months ago I advertised an unused container of aluminum cleaner on FB Marketplace and when the buyer, Rob, showed up I happened to ask him what he planned to use it for.

It was at this point that our worlds began to merge as we shared our moto activities, Rob mentioning that one of his more recent acquisitions is a Moto Guzzi Griso which he'd purchased in the Cincinnati area from a guy named Rick. A dim bulb lit in my memory as I connected the dots to my "Blue Ridge Dreamin'" trip of September 2023, where I rode with a Griso…owned by a guy named Rick…from Cincinnati.

Yep, same bike, now residing in our small town in Illinois. Well, turns out Rob is part of a local group of guys who, for years, have regularly ridden together in southeast Wisconsin and call themselves the "Geezers." All the guys seem to have long moto histories and ride, wrench and live bikes. Rob graciously invited me to join a group ride a few weeks ago and again yesterday.

My day began at 7:30 with unseasonably crisp temperatures but blue skies and bright sun as I swung a leg over the '93 VFR and steered toward the meetup point outside Twin Lakes, WI. This was the VFR's debut with the group so it got its share of attention while we talked as today's riders rolled in. Only nine bikes this morning as we rode to our breakfast stop at the friendly Princess Cafe in East Troy. After fueling our bodies, Rob led us through a maze of twisty Wisconsin backroads toward the southern section of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. We took a butt break in the heart of "The Kettle" along Hwy ZZ followed by a great ride along several of the area's finest roads — twisty, smooth, with pastoral scenery and mostly devoid of traffic on this Thursday morning. One more group stop in Eagle before working our way toward our respective home bases, eventually shedding riders till I was solo for the final ten miles or so, gliding into the garage at 2:30, the trip meter showing 135 miles.

The VFR, of course, was the perfect riding companion. When the curves appear or the speeds pick up, this bike responds with confidence-inspiring ease, true to its VFR lineage. The changes I've made to the bike's ergonomics give these old joints a break, making a day ride like this a pleasant experience.

I've always been, let's say leery, of group rides. Unless you have confidence in all the other riders, it can be more nerve-wracking than relaxing. Not so in this case. After two rides, I have no qualms with this group — they are obviously experienced and capable riders who ride their own rides with poise and skill. I hope I've demonstrated the same, and that they might welcome me in the future.

Paul D'Orleans is well qualified to comment on the state of our sport. Moto historian, author, commentator, rider, collector; Paul lives motorbikes and its culture.

In his latest ramblings on his website "The Vintagent," he touches upon the current value doldrums in our world as he offers this advice to hesitant buyers….

"My advice…if you want a Mk8, or any motorcycle, make it happen. Soon. It's a great time to buy. Sell a bike or two, and get what you want: you only live once. That's not just a cliché, but words to live by.  We have no idea if the bottom has fallen out of the market permanently, or if prices will rise again: I've seen four major price cycles in my 42 years of collecting, and consider this to be another one, but nobody really knows, since so many collectors are dying off and releasing their hordes to the market.  Current values may be the new normal...but at any rate, they are for now.  Live your eff'n dreams."

Sound words based in experience. Folks who try to buy motorcycles as investments are usually dissatisfied in the end. With few exceptions, bikes don't spike in value enough, or often enough, to cover the cost of ownership over the short term, and rarely over the long term. Most enthusiasts are in this thing out of a two-wheeled passion, and we fully expect our hobby to cost some discretionary income.

So, what he said: If there's a bike that's calling you, try to make it happen. Tomorrow is promised to no one, nor is good heath. Bikes are a liquid commodity, relatively cheap to acquire, don't take up much room and are fun to use, look at or just talk about. If you're yearning to experience that CBX, a classic Brit-bike, your favorite V4 or (fill in the blank)…now's a good time to start your search. Have fun!

What: 2007 VFR800 Anniversary
Why: Low miles, near perfect
Where: Wilkes Barre, PA
​Price: BaT no-reserve auction
UPDATE: SOLD $7500+ buyers fee

The one-year only VFR800 25th Anniversary Edition has slowly come into its own since being launched to a lukewarm reception. With an all red model offered alongside the stunning red/white/blue, many of these languished in showrooms for years, offered at steep discounts. But time and the owner-applied white wheels have a way of bringing forth a renewed level of appreciation for the obvious flair this color way provides.

We saw this beautiful Anniversary Edition two years ago here and on the Bring-A-Trailer site, where it sold for $8250+ buyer's fee. It still shows only 4800 miles and is at least a 9 of 10 in the looks department. The seller states, "rest assured that this VFR is perfect and you’d be hard pressed to find any flaws." The 2007 VFR800 offered two major options, neither present here: color-matched saddlebags and anti-lock brakes. The auction ends Sunday with bidding currently at $4900. I would expect this to reach somewhere around the previous selling price, even in today's soft market conditions. Here's hoping the new caretaker gets her on the road for the rest of us to admire.