Superbikes, phenomenal rides, great friends and awesome breakfasts My first exposure to large displacement motorcycles was in the early 80's in the US. I remember Honda releasing the V4 Sabre and the tear drop tanked Magna. Both fabulous bikes. I was drawn to the Sabre. Around the same time I fell in love with Harleys too. I loved that eccentric thump and all that chrome and retro styling.
My first big Honda I rode was a CBX 550 (hope I remembered that model correctly) It was a V twin and a lovely bike to ride. I was 18
Fast forward to 1997 when I was living in Dubai and suddenly was consumed with the desire to finally treat myself to a big bore bike. I was initially drawn to the Harleys as I can never ever have enough of that delicious sound. I went to the Harley dealership and test rode a Springer Softtail. I found it utterly crude and almost agricultural. Felt like I was riding a krishi tiller engine !! Disappointed I returned wondering what to do. I had a colleague from South Africa who ran the motorcycle division at the Honda dealership I worked at, who saw my dispair and recommended I start trying out the Jap bikes.
The first bike he asked me to use was a 1100 cc Blackbird XX, then rated as the world's fastest motorcycle. On the Alain highway on a Friday morning I took the black beauty out and discovered what Hondas are all about. The Blackbird has a motor which in my opinion should go into the hall of fame of engines. Phenomenal engine. On that run I decided to really push the bike to see what it could do. In seconds I was clipping at 250 kmph on a empty four lane highway. Cars a couple of miles ahead at that speed came up in seconds. It was scary to pass a truck at that speed, as the wind wake unsettles you. I was flat on the tank peering through the visor as at that speed you simply cannot hold your head up. Suddenly I realised I was being foolish. I thought of my family and how irresponsible I was being as I realised I could easily kill myself that moment. I eased off and rode the Blackbird at 160 for the rest of the run to Alain. That bike and that day changed my perception of motorcycles forever. I was sold on superbikes - hook, line and sinker !!
I came back to my SA friend raving like a madman about the awesome power of the Blackbird. He calmly said, now try this and gave me a VTR 1000. Very different bike, crazy torque and sounded like a double barrel machine gun on the two brothers exhausts it had. Then he asked me to ride a CBR 600. Sweetest superbike I ever rode ! Delightful and charming handler. Then a CBR 900. Manic, cutting edge performance. Then he said I want you to try a crazy machine and handed me the keys to a six cylinder Valkyrie for a week. What a bike ! Cadillac on two wheels I had a whale of a time riding it to work and long distance on weekends
I finally sat across the table and asked him, ok, so what should I treat myself to. He asked me a lot of questions about my impressions about all the bikes I rode. I was floored by the power of the Blackbird but found it to be a dog in traffic. 600 was sweet but after the Bkackbird felt under powered. 900 was too manic and uncomfortable on long rides. VTR 1000 was very very interesting and I was kind of gravitating toward it. He casually looked at me and said "Deepak I know what is the right bike for you but you have to wait a couple of months for it" I asked what it was and he said "Honda's soon to be released brilliant Honda VFR 800. I raised an eyebrow as I hadn't ridden the VF 750 and wanted to understand why he recommended the VFR.
He said given my tastes that were apparent in feedback I gave him he felt I was someone who liked engines and liked comfort and sporty riding but not something too focused on performance while compromising on touring. He felt the 1998 VFR 800 would be the bike for me. I asked more and he explained it had the motor from the now legendary RC45. Detuned for road use. I always knew Soichiro considered the V4 config the finest for an engine and so the idea appealed. Gear driven cams, a V config and touring comfort.
I paid the deposit for the VFR 800. Mine was to be a red. The first red VFR that was to come into Dubai. I think the first lot of VFR's had a silver and a black too which I didn't like.
Sometime in end June 1998 I took delivery of a fabulous red VFR 800. When I look back I can still remember that day as they unpacked my VFR from a lovely metal container and did the PDI. I still have a video of it being unpacked and being prepared for delivery. As I stood there in front of my brand new VFR I couldn't believe I was actually treating myself to something that was soon to go on to becoming the world's finest all rounder motorcycle. An accolade its predecessor already enjoyed.
This is the story of my VFR, the amazing friends we made together and the phenomenal fun we've had over the past 13 years !!
Last edited by DKG : 28th June 2011 at 23:19.
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