What: 2010 VFR1200F DCT
Where: Cathedral City, California (Palm Springs)
Why: Low miles, mature owner, fair price
Price: $5900 opening bid

Showing only 8066 miles, our seller is calling it quits on two wheels. That's unfortunate, but it does make his lightly-used and nicely-fitted VFR available to a discerning buyer. The bike features a Two Brothers muffler, custom seat, factory saddlebags and fresh Michelin GT tires. The original exhaust is included and will be required if the owner wishes to use the saddlebags.

The VFR1200F is world-class sport touring at its highest level and represents the absolute best value in that market segment. With its multiple personality of daily rider and 150 HP mile-munching sport bike, it can be everything most riders need or want. Some lucky buyer will get $16,000 worth of motorcycle (new w/extras) for a song.

Yesterday Patti and I hitched up the trailer and made the one-hour drive to Carpentersville, Illinois to have a look at a potential project bike, this 2002 VFR800 VTEC. We liked what we saw, the price was right, so it followed us home.

The 800 will be officially tagged Project 23. Mike, the seller, decided back in 2002 that this new hi-tech Interceptor model would be just the ticket for him and grabbed it new off the showroom floor. He ordered up the optional saddlebags and top case, mounted them up and never looked back. The passenger seat cowl is still in the box, never used.

Mike has ridden his VFR all over the eastern U.S., racking up 36,000 pampered miles. This bike has no accident history and is completely stock with no modifications, additions or subtractions, and has always been serviced professionally, with paper receipts since new. The tool kit and owner's manual are in place. Cosmetically the bike is easily a 9.0, and with year-old fuel in the tank, she fired right up and ran beautifully. We've been enjoying a warm spell here in the hinterlands so I was able to get out yesterday for a mid-winter test ride with mild temps and clear roads. The bike is comfortable, smooth, fast and stable. The VTEC kick at 6800 RPM is a blast, like a little turbo boost. I've always been a fan of the VTEC engine.

The plan at this point is to go through the mechanical checks, tuning, and cosmetic detailing. I'll be selling off the luggage and mounts separately to bring the bike to an original look. I have a set of bar risers to mount up and maybe add heated grips. This is an unmolested example of the first-year VTEC and I'll want to keep it that way.
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While perusing ADVrider the other day, I came across a post by dole555 on the VFR800P (Police). Built off the fifth generation platform, the 800 has been used by police forces around the world for years but are especially common in their homeland of Japan. Dole555 has been researching details on the police version, also known as the RC49. Here's some of what he's dug up:
• Made from 2001 to 2008, stopped production for emissions reasons.
• Models 2001-06 had black mirrors, and 2006-08 had chrome mirrors.
Main differences from RC46 are:
• Engine detuned for peak HP and torque at 1000 RPM lower than stock. (80 HP at 9500 RPM, 50 lb/ft at 7500)
• Delinked brakes.
• Ventilated rear disc.
• ABS front and rear.
• Heavier flywheel.
• Exhaust mounted lower, high bars, forks lowered in the triple.
• Bigger oil cooler (3 rows instead of 2).
• Beefier rear subframe.
• Cutout on the left fairing over the radiator for better cooling. The fan is not inverted, it is still sucking the air in.
• Heat shields over rear cylinders between seat and tank.

2019 is upon us — lots to look forward to; new projects and fresh adventures. It also means that auction season is here, beginning with the big one, Las Vegas. This year Mecum is offering 1750 motorcycles over four days; January 22-27. They're featuring the 235-bike MC Collection of Stockholm, all at no reserve. Bonhams is offering 128 lots on January 24th. No V4's from Bonhams that I found, but Mecum has three from the MC Collection.

1992 NR 750
Estimated at $75,000-100,000 value this is one of only 300 NR's offered to the public. The auction's description notes that the NR once ran over 200 MPH for a full hour on a banked track, a testament to its endurance racing focus. No mileage noted.

1988 VFR750R RC30
This is a first-year model RC30, with only one mile shown on the odometer. Never been started, originally sold in the UK. Mecum's value estimate is $50,000-75,000.

1990 VFR400R NC30
Little brother to the RC30 and looking just as sexy, this little guy could pull 130 MPH and boasted a redline of 14,500 RPM. Never available in the U.S. Its value estimate is $10,000-13,000.

I don't mount & balance my own tires. I used to back in the day when lightweight tires were mounted on skinny spoke rims, but nowadays I pay the 30 bucks and let someone with expensive machines do the grunt work. In my case that's Bryant at Schroeder Performance. About a year ago Bryant bought a homestead in rural Richmond, Illinois, and moved his family and shop onto the property. A man after my own dream.

Bryant's background is in racing bikes, ATVs and snow machines, but his passion is the custom Harley scene. He's been featured in magazines and has a wall of awards to show for his talents, but like most shops, stuff like routine maintenance, including tire changes, keeps the lights on. 

His new shop looks huge to me, but it filled quickly as he moved in. Back in the corner sits the dyno, set up to handle bikes and trikes. On my last visit I strolled around to look over some of the machines. Mostly big baggers with straight pipes, but there was also a Suzuki drag bike, a vintage enduro and even a Magna V4 on one of the lifts.

I'm guessing in his 50's, the gruff voice earned from a lifetime of smoking, Bryant goes about his work at his own pace, one of those small shops hidden around the world churning out great builds with little fanfare.

This V-twin stuff is a whole 'nother universe of motorcycling......
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A late Christmas gift arrived in the mailbox the other day from Motorcycle Classics in the form of their latest issue, featuring an article on Honda's RC30. We're treated to a detailed background on the model along with some exceptional photos showing this one-owner restored example from all angles.

The writer, Robert Smith, does a great job of putting the RC30 in its historical context; how Europe's Formula TT and America's AMA Superbike rules changes in the late 70's brought the 750cc class to the racing forefront. Then with the advent of World Superbike (WSBK) in 1988, the stage was set for the the appearance of Honda's entry, the VFR750R. The author goes on to explain the relationship of the various designators — VF, VFR, RVF and RS. And that the RC30 was first envisioned for World Endurance racing, which also had a 750cc limit (for 4-cylinder machines) imposed in 1984.

The RC30 enjoyed a successful racing history but seems to be equally cherished and respected as a beautiful street bike, even though only about 3000 were built worldwide, with 300 going to the U.S. (1990 only). The bike pictured in the article has spent its life in the Milwaukee, WI area and has been exquisitely restored by Retrospeed in Belgium, WI. Visit their site for examples of some stunning work.

What: 1991 VFR750F
Where: Binghamton, New York
Why: 10K miles, well-kept
Price: $4500
​The third-gen Interceptor debuted in 1990 and showcased some of Honda's new tech borrowed from the homologated RC30, most notably the Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm, designed in collaboration with ELF and pretty sexy for the time.

But by 1990 repli-race sport bikes were firmly pointed in the direction of the inline-four engine, and the VFR was gently nudged into the new niche of sport touring, even losing the "Interceptor" name. In the process, the third-generation gained some refinement, comfort and weight. But savvy, real-world riders were willing to pay the premium for what Cycle World magazine would consistently crown as a ten-best. The third-gen bikes (90-93) don't get the respect of the updated fourth-gen, but nice examples still represent the class and uniqueness that VFRs are known for.

This example is presented as an unmolested, undamaged VFR with only 10,478 miles. The seller states that the tank is "outstanding" and the plastics "perfect." The photos back that up, and the Italian Red looks great with the correct gold wheels and very 90's grey seat (seat cowl is included). The asking price of $4500 is double the value of an average 1990-92 example (the white '93 holds more dollar value). Our seller sees the value, but will the buyer?

Offered by J & J Motors in Massillon, Ohio we have four, count 'em, four 2014 VFR800's.

These are zero-mile new bikes, all red, three are standard models and one Deluxe. The standards are listed at $4490 (+ $380 destination) and the Deluxe at $4990 (+ $380). Considering the original MSRP prices were $12,499 and $13,499, these represent some super discounts. The bikes are also listed on eBay with slightly different pricing.

If you've been on the fence with a gen-8 purchase, here's your chance!