Honda VFR750F: history, specs, pictures

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1990 honda Vfr750f.jpg
Honda VFR750F
Manufacturer
Also called Interceptor
Production 1986 - 1997
Class Sport touring
Predecessor Honda VF750F
Successor Honda VFR800
Engine
748cc Liquid cooled, four stroke, 90 degrees V-four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder
Bore / Stroke 70.0mm x 48.6mm
Top Speed 149 mph (240 km/h)
Horsepower 102.72 HP (76.6 KW) @ 10000RPM
Torque 54.58 ft/lbs (74.0 Nm) @ 8000RPM
Fuel System carburetor. 4x 36mm keihin cv
Ignition digital
Spark Plug NGK CR9EH-9 '90-97
NGK DPR9EA-9 '86
Battery YUASA YB12A-B '86
YUASA YTX12-BS '90-97
Transmission Gear box: 6-speed
Clutch: wet plate multi-disc
Final Drive Chain: 530x112
Front Sprocket 16T
Rear Sprocket 43T
Suspension Front: 41mm showa cartridge forks, no external adjustment,
Rear: pro-link single sided swingarm, adjustable preload and rebound damping
Brakes Front: 2x296mm discs 2 piston calipers
Rear: Single 256mm disc 2 piston caliper
Front Tire 120/70VR-17 '90-97
110/90-16 '86
Rear Tire 130/80-18 '86
170/60VR-17 '90-97
Wheelbase 57.87 inches (1470 mm)
Length 85.83 inches (2180 mm)
Width 27.56 inches (700 mm)
Height 46.65 inches (1185 mm)
Seat Height 31.5 inches (800 mm)
Weight 460.77 pounds (209.0 Kg) (dry), 244.0 kg (wet)
Oil Capacity 1.0 Gallon (3.80 Liters)
Oil Filter K&N KN-303[1]
Recommended Oil Honda GN4 10W-40
Fuel Capacity 5.55 Gallon (21.00 Liters)
Fuel Consumption 6.00 liters/100 km (16.7 km/l or 39.20 mpg)
Related Honda VFR700F
Competition Suzuki GSX-R750
Yamaha FZR750
Manuals VFR750F Service Manual
More Manuals

Brochures ·

The Honda VFR 750 was a sport-touring motorcycle produced between 1986 and 1997. The fully-faired motorcycle was powered by a reliable 98 horsepower (73 kW) liquid-cooled DOHC V4 engine. The 1990-onward models sat atop a single-sided swingarm.

It was introduced as a complete redesign of the VF700/750F models to address some of the camshaft and bearing problems that had been associated with the first generation Honda V4 engines and improve Honda's negative image concerning this engine. The new VFR750F featured greatly improved power output, lighter weight, a lower center of gravity, a wider front tire and a slightly longer wheelbase.

The VFR750 received many positive reviews and awards while in production, including winning the Best 750 cc sport bike award from Cycle World six years in a row.

In 1986 Ron Haslam took a standard VFR750F to third place in a soaked Transatlantic Challenge race at Donnington Park.

"Tariff beater" 700 cc versions were available such as the VFR700F in the US market due to the 1980s Motorcycle Tariffs.

Engine[edit | edit source]

The VFR750 series all used a 750 cc 16 valve DOHC liquid cooled 90° V4 engine with carburetor-based fuel induction, the bore/stroke remained the same for all 750 models at 70.0 x 48.6 mm (2.8 x 1.9 inches). The engine is made of aluminum alloy with the crankcase being divided horizontally. Lubrication was via a wet sump and chain driven dual rotor oil pump, an oil (air) cooler is also fitted. Transmission is 6 speed constant mesh, wet multi-plate clutch with chain drive to the rear wheel.

The V4 engine is highly reliable, with few known faults. The gear-driven camshaft system removed any concerns about cam-chain maintenance. Valve adjustment on early models was by screw and locknut, changing in 1990 to shim and bucket, access was simple making the adjustment process painless on the very rare occasions when adjustment was needed - engines are known to reach well over 50,000miles without any need to adjust the clearances.

Pre-2000 VFRs sometimes suffer from an overheated regulator/rectifier, a $100 part. While the replacement part is an improvement over the original, it has become commonplace for owners to buy a $10 CPU fan and glue it onto the rectifier. Spliced into the tail-light bulb wire, it provides extra cooling to protect the sensitive electronic unit.

Suspension[edit | edit source]

Early models sported anti-dive (adjustable on some models) on the front forks and a dual swingarm with remote hydraulic preload adjustment, changed in 1990 to a single-sided swingarm which remained with the bike throughout its life, and leads to the bikes' distinctive looks. The arm was derived from the ELF race-bike Pro-Arm development work and has the advantage of allowing rear-wheel removal without the need to remove the drive chain and rear axle, and allows chain adjustment to be made very simply with no concerns about maintaining wheel alignment.

Models[edit | edit source]

VFR model years for each generation (note that the VFR750 ceased production in 1998 with the introduction of the VFR800):


Related models from Honda include the VFR400 NC30 and RVF400 NC35, VF1000R, VFR750R RC30, RVF750 RC45, NR750 and VFR800.

First Generation[edit | edit source]

1986[edit | edit source]

1986 Honda VFR750F
1986 Honda VFR750F

The VFR750F'86 750 Interceptor was sold in 1986 and was available in just one color scheme: Fighting Red with Shasta White and Candy Aleutian Blue. The fairing and body work were three-tone. The front fender was solid red. The "VF750" fairing decal was white on red. The engine had a gear-driven camshaft and a 180° crankshaft. The engine was a 748cc DOHC 4-valve liquid-cooled V-4 linked to a 6-speed transmission and a chain drive. The serial number began JH2RC240*GM000001

1990[edit | edit source]

1990 Honda VFR750F


The VFR750F'90 VFR was sold in 1990 and was available in one color: Italian Red. The wheels were white and the seat was gray. The headlight was a twin-bulb system. There was a single-sided swingarm. The engine was a 748cc DOHC 16 valve liquid-cooled V-4 linked to a 6-speed transmission. The serial number began JH2RC360*LM000009.

Second Generation[edit | edit source]

1991[edit | edit source]


The VFR750F'91 VFR was sold in 1991 and was available in one color: Italian Red. The wheels were gold and the seat was gray. The headlight was a twin-bulb system. There was a single-sided swingarm. The engine was a 748cc DOHC 16 valve liquid-cooled V-4 linked to a 6-speed transmission. The serial number began JH2RC360*MM100001.

1992[edit | edit source]

1992 Honda VFR750F



The VFR750F'92 VFR was sold in 1992 and was available in one color: Granite Blue Metallic (Black). The wheels were metallic gray and the seat was gray. The headlight was a twin-bulb system. There was a single- sided swingarm. There was a revised suspension. The "VFR" logo was silver with a purple outline. The engine had an increase in horsepower. The engine was a 748cc DOHC 16 valve liquid-cooled V-4 linked to a 6-speed transmission. The serial number began JH2RC360*NM000009.

  • US Sales of about 1,100 units. Much less than the 4,000 racked up by the Suzuki GSX-R750 or the 2,225 combined sales of the ZX-7 and ZX-7R[2]

1993[edit | edit source]


The VFR750F'93 VFR was sold in 1993 and was available in one color: Pearl Crystal White. The "HONDA" logo was added to the lower cowl. The wing logo was added to the gas tank. The "VFR750F" logo was added to the rear cowl. The wheels were white. The serial number began JH2RC360*PM300001.

Third Generation[edit | edit source]

1994[edit | edit source]


The VFR750F'94 VFR was sold in 1994 and was available in one color: Pure Red. The model was redesigned for 1994 with a new style frame. The serial number began JH2RC360*RM400003

1995[edit | edit source]



The VFR750F'95 VFR was sold in 1995 and was available in one color: Pure Red. The serial number began JH2RC360*SM500001.

1996[edit | edit source]

1996 Honda VFR750F



The VFR750F'96 VFR was sold in 1996 and was available in one color in the USA: Pure Red; but in Canada it came in silver. The serial number began JH2RC360*TM600001.


1997[edit | edit source]

The VFR750F'97 VFR was sold in 1997 and was available in one color: Pure Red. The serial number began JH2RC360*VM700001.


See Also[edit | edit source]


In Media[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 2019 K&L Supply Co Catalog. K&L Supply Co. 2019. 
  2. Suzuki GSX-R a Legacy of Performance (1st edition), Marc Cook, David Bull Publishing. ISBN 1-893618-51X

External links[edit | edit source]

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