Honda VFR800

The Honda VFR800/Interceptor is a motorcycle introduced by Honda Motor Company in 1998. The original VFR750F was produced to follow the VF750, a machine with camshafts prone to failure. Accordingly, the VFR750F motor was over engineered to salvage Hondas reputation and ensure such failures did not reoccur.

Physical characteristics
Rather than a development of the previous VFR750F, it had a detuned and longer-stroke power plant based on the RC45. The RVF750R RC45 engine being a development of the VFR750R RC30 which itself was derived from the original VFR750F RC24. Power and torque figures were up on the previous model but the torque was the real improvement. From 6000rpm the rider is propelled on a steady wave right up to the 11750rpm red line.

The braking system departed from the normal front and rear independent arrangement and Honda fitted their DCBS linked braking system. In this system, the front brake lever applies pressure to four (in later models five) of the six front pistons. The rotational movement of the left caliper when engaged actuates a secondary master cylinder and applies pressure to one of the rear pistons. The rear brake pedal is directly attached to the remaining pistons (two in the rear, and one or two in the front). One of the benefits of this type of arrangement is the mitigation of fork dive under heavy braking.

The sixth generation began in 2002 and featured dual underseat exhausts and available Anti-lock braking system (ABS) in addition to the DCBS. It was the first generation of VFR to feature chain-driven rather than gear-driven cams plus VTEC valve-actuation technology. In contrast to the automotive version of VTEC, where the cam timing is changed to suit the engine rpm providing a broad spread of power, the simplified motorcycle version employs only two of the four valves per cylinder when operating at lower engine speeds.