What: 2007 VFR800 Anniversary Ed.
Where: Castro Valley, California
Why: Well-farkled, well-loved, low mi.
Price: $6900

I normally won't feature bikes here which push the price envelope much above the market, but there's more here than meets the eye. For starters, this example shows only 4400 miles and sports my personal must-have Anniversary mod: white wheels. But wait, there's more….

The list is tasteful, including SBK exhaust, Sargent seat with white piping,  Heli-bar risers, ASV levers, color-matched side cases and even color-matched crash bobbins. The mature owner describes the bike as "original owner bike in collectible/showroom condition." 

The Anniversary Edition models have finally come into their own, with values holding at $5000+ for nice examples. This one is a cut above "nice" and our seller has priced it accordingly. It seems to me that if one is interested in this model, this is what one should be searching for. I would be proud to have this one glistening in my garage.

Reader Michael S. sent along this comparison of a Honda promotional photo and his project, a 1986 VFR750F, under the title: "Life imitating art." When you get to this point you know you're fully committed to your project!

Earlier this week I spied a perfect weather forecast for Thursday, so I planned a solo day-ride in the Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin. With a busy summer and four projects in the shop, I decided I was in need of a personal day on two wheels. Lacking a suitable VFR (!) I loaded the Triumph Bonneville onto the trailer for the 2-hour drive to New Glarus, WI where I unload, ride all day, and return in the evening for a relaxing drive home, avoiding four hours of boring saddle time. It all makes for a long day — 200 miles in the truck and, in this case, 320 miles in the saddle.

While enroute to New Glarus I came upon this surprise gas price in Janesville WI; below $4. Later that evening, on the return drive, it was even lower at $3.86. Interestingly, everywhere else on my travels that day prices were about $4.30. And, back home in Illinois, you can add about $.75 per gallon thanks to the state's higher fuel taxes.

The Driftless Area offers endless rural roads with light (often non-existent) traffic, hills, curves and long, pastoral views. I sometimes map out a route, but it's just a suggestion and deviations are common. Every intersection offers another teasing road curving off into the hills. This is Amish country, their clip-clopping buggies and neatly dressed children waving from grassy lawns adding to the charm of the ride. Just watch your lane positioning — their "horse emissions" can be a slippery surprise.

My first break was for a light lunch at one of my mandatory stops, the Log Cabin restaurant in Baraboo for a bowl of homemade chicken & rice soup, coffee and a slice of fresh, warmed pecan pie with ice cream. I prefer the quaint, shaded cemeteries along the route for butt-breaks — I found this one on a breezy hilltop outside Elroy, boyhood home of moto journalist Peter Egan. I like the peaceful setting and interesting history told by the grave markers and I could wander about for an hour, but I'm here for the roads, so I saddle up and move on.

The comfortable and easy-going Bonneville is well-suited for exploring these byways, and over the winter months I completed a couple of modifications that I was anxious to try out, including a "de-restricting" camshaft and re-flashed ECU. These woke up the 900cc twin, as promised, and deliver the extra bit of performance that the factory left on the table. Even so, there's many favorite twisties where I longed for the feel and music offered by the Interceptor's V4. Another day.

Here's a look at my hybrid navigation system, combining a paper route taped to the tank and a modern Garmin Zumo XT. But, I've ridden these roads for 50 years, so these are just nice extras, not at all needed. I have a map of the Driftless Area permanently etched in my mind, and these quiet counties have changed very little in those decades. I like that.

Today marks the mid-point of our riding season here on the top half of the globe. Here's a 5-minute video reminder to get out there and enjoy our very special machines.
​​(credit: Stahlkatze)

What: 1987 VFR700 F2
Where: Hugo, MN (Minneapolis area)
Why: Rare blue/gray, clean, original
Price: $3800

In the U.S. market, the 2d-gen VFR was offered for 1986-87, and the '87 was available only as the 700cc F2 model. Of the two color choices, Pearl Crescent White was, by far, the most common, with relatively few arriving in Candy Wave Blue with gray accent, seat and wheels, as shown in this very original example.

Our seller is of limited words and photographic expertise, but the basics sound good — "clean 2-owner…all original, no scratches, never down." Just what a smart buyer is looking for, complete with passenger seat cowl. The $3800 price seems in line with what's being offered.

What: 2010 VFR1200F
Where: Naperville IL (Chicago area)
Why: Clean, stock, fair price
Price: $5500

In the world of Grand Touring motorcycles, the 7th-generation VFR1200 holds its own against European and other Asian competitors. Powerful (170 HP enough for ya?), fast, stable and impeccably dressed, for the discerning few this V4 is their mount of choice.

This example is waiting for its next owner not far from the V4 Dreams complex and appears to be a completely original one-owner, showing 24,000 miles with no accident history and fresh rubber. No mention of the optional saddlebags, but a great-looking example and realistically priced.

SOLD: $15,700

The NC30, or VFR400R, was the third generation of the VFR400 series and is often referred to as the smaller sibling of the 750cc RC30, as the two models share looks and basic mechanical architecture.

This example sold recently via eBay auction out of Canada and is a UK-spec model. It is represented as a "near-mint unrestored survivor" and shows 20,465 miles on its MPH-numbered speedometer. Other UK-specific features include larger turn signals and the addition of an oil cooler, and this is one of only two color schemes available. The seller says that the bike is a no expense spared example with maintenance up-to-date and sports a Scorpion exhaust.

The winning bid shows the value of an original survivor bike, which was used but loved, and being a gray market import from England solidifies its rarity in North America.

Reader Peter R., from the far south of England, recently needed a few carburetor parts and shared a bit of his V4 history. Peter once raced a full HRC race-kitted RC24 in the World Endurance Series in 1986-87 and later the RC30. "I wish I'd kept the old VFR," he laments. Peter was kind enough to send along some photos. Here's a partial listing of his V4s:
(1) VF1000R
(4) RC24 (still has one)
(3) RC30
(1) NR750
(2) RC45 (still has one)

SOLD: $2651

This 1986 VFR700F should have fetched more than the final bid, and the reason for the give-away price was lazy marketing. 

This bike shows 28,600 miles in original condition, complete with seat cowl and centerstand, and appears to be in above average cosmetic condition with a unique repair to one of the plastic panels.

The original listing included all of 18 descriptive words with incorrect mileage and engine size. So...I tried to get more details on the bike by sending a personal email to the seller with six basic questions — three were answered (15 words) along with four additional photos.

It will forever remain a mystery to me why some sellers consider it an imposition to actually provide pertinent details on an unknown machine that they expect to sell for thousands of dollars, sight-unseen, to a potential buyer hundreds or thousands of miles distant. I hope this isn't becoming the new normal in our virtual selling world. In any case, well bought.

Reader Phil R. has been on the hunt for his ideal V4, a VF500F. We've been in contact for several months as he sought out advice and encouragement before finally located this beautiful example in Wisconsin. I can see that Phil is off to a fine start — there's a lot you can do with some metric tools, a dead-blow hammer and a tall can of WD-40.