Honda announced several updates to their VFR800 today in Milan at the EICMA show.
The VFR800 is getting new bodywork, single-sided aluminum swingarm, and 43 mm front forks for 2014. Those new forks feature the company’s Honda Multi-Action System (HMAS) technology, with stepless spring preload adjustment. The rear shock also has HMAS technology, with remote spring preload and stepless rebound damping adjustment.
The motor has also been re-worked, with attention given to cam timing and valve duration/overlap, resulting in more low-to midrange power and torque. Peak horsepower is around 104 hp at 10,250 rpm, and max torque is 75.1Nm at 8,500 rpm. Fuel injection has been remapped, and changes to the exhaust mean Honda’s been able to shave off seven kg there. Overall, from what we can tell, the bike’s curb weight is down about 10 kg, to 239 kg.
The fork lowers have also been redesigned to accept radially-mounted four-piston brake calipers (there’s twin 310mm floating discs up front, and a single 256 mm disc in back, and dual channel ABS is standard). There’s new hollow 17-inch aluminum wheels as well, with a 120/70 ZR17M/C (58W) front tire and a 180/55 ZR17M/C (73W) rear tire.
The lighting has also been upgraded; the VFR now has an LED headlight and taillight. Honda also implemented a new self-canceling turn signal; instead of working off a timer, the signal turns off after sensing the difference between your front and rear wheel speeds. Heated grips are standard equipment on the new VFR800. The dashboard has been re-designed, with digital tach and speedometer and other information fed by LCD digital gauges.
Honda’s offering an interesting accessory for the new VFR as well. For the first time, they’re offering a shift assist system that bolts on and plugs straight in to your motorcycle, allowing for clutchless upshifts.
And what of the NC750 updates? As predicted, the NC700 series got a 75 cc bump in displacement (the bore was increased 4 mm to 77 mm). Peak horsepower is now 54 hp at 6,250 rpm, and max torque is 68 Nm at 4,750rpm. Honda’s engineers also added another balancer shaft to the motor that’s intended to reduce high-rev vibration. Gearing is six per cent taller, making it easier to cruise at highway speeds, and the muffler internals were redesigned so engineers could take advantage of changes to backpressure.
Aside from those changes, it doesn’t appear the NC series (now the NC750X and NC750S) has received any other major updates that we’ll get in Canada. The DCT transmission was revised, but we don’t get those here, and ABS is now standard on the line, but we already had ABS as standard …
GALLERY
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Why can’t u get 2014 Honda NC 750 S with dual cloth transmission????? What is wrong with that?? It is our decision with such option not u!
In long-term prototyping of the technology, Honda discovered the wear characteristics of cloth were inconsistent. Velour was tested for its plush shifting, but it was ultimately not resilient enough. Corduroy was also explored at length, but Honda determined that it was only suitable for use in clutches in such a narrow segment of the market as to be deemed unviable. (Inside sources revealed that Honda was unable to find a decent location for a pocket protector and argyle socks.)
[…] = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Here's something similar from a Canadian source. EICMA: Honda's VFR800, NC750 series get updates – Canada Moto Guide Weather that means it's coming to Canada is another story. In other news, that new CB650F is one […]
Yes, the big question is really is it coming back to Canada? It disappeared in 2009 with the intro of the VFR1200. American press has suggested it’s not going to the States…but might they bring it here anyway, as they did with the CBF600/1000, Varadero? And is the CBF1000 officially dead?
Actually I still prefer the lines of my old ’83 VFR750 to this seemingly ‘Hannigan’ inspired fairing. This VFR doesn’t wallow in the corners though which was half the fun of a high speed corner.
Well ta-dah the exhaust on the VFR moved from up the rider’s ass, to back where it makes sense. Welcome back the future. Fashion finally succumbs to function …… again. Oh, how the motor press loved those high mufflers back in the day, yeesh.
They just got rid of the ‘heated seat’ and exchanged it for heated grips.
Will the VFR800 even be available in Canada? It hasn’t been here for a couple of years!
As a former owner of a 2000 VFR I would love to see Honda Canada bring the new model in. While it does not crank out Hayabusa power, that was never the VFR’s mission. All day sporty riding while on a cross country trip was and looks like it is the mission for the 2014. Honda, Please bring this bike to Canada!
As a former owner of a 2000 VFR I would love to see Honda Canada bring the new model in. While it does not crank out Crazy power, that was never the VFR’s mission. All day sporty riding while on a cross country trip was and looks like it is the mission for the 2014. Honda, Please bring this bike to Canada!
The big question – is it still VTEC?
That 800 looks a lot less ugly than the last one.
But, a bolt on kit for clutch less up shifting? Is it made in the department of redundancy department?