Honda Vfr750f
HONDA VFR750F
'94 PREVIEW
AN NR750 FOR THE MASSES
HONDA’S VFR750F is ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST ALLround motorcycles, offering an excellent balance of comfort, handling and performance. For 1994, the VFR receives a host of changes, including a revised fairing and a claimed 22-pound weight loss.
The most obvious changes are to the fairing, fuel tank and tailsection. All that remains from the ’93 VFR’s fairing, says Honda, are the front fender and turnsignal lenses. Styling is similar to that of the oval-piston NR750, with a recessed headlight, louvered side vents and glossy red paint.
According to Honda, the intake ducts positioned over the turnsignals flow cooling air around the airbox rather than into it, for reduced air-intake temperature and a denser airfuel mixture.
For the most part, the dohc, 748cc, 90-degree V-Four is unchanged. It does, however, receive 34mm flat-slide Keihin carburetors, new camshafts, modifications to the intake ports and a redesigned 4-2-1 exhaust. The previous system’s
exhaust-collection chamber has been eliminated, permitting the addition of a neatly tucked-in centerstand. The muffler’s flexible joint was retained, allowing the redesigned, largervolume canister to pivot away from the machine to aid rearwheel removal. For improved shifting, the transmission’s shift fork, drum and gear dogs were reworked.
Minor changes were also made to the aluminum frame. Newly designed swingarm-pivot plates combine with other refinements to produce a 3.3-pound reduction in overall frame weight. Seat shape and footpeg positioning were altered to lean the rider slightly more forward, further enhancing the VFR’s sport-oriented nature. Suspension modifications are mostly limited to weight reduction, although the rear suspension’s linkage ratio was revised for improved stability at high speeds. The 41mm cartridge fork is 21 ounces lighter than the previous design. NR750-style wheels and new, 11.7-inch front-brake rotors complete the modifications.
Like the RC45, the ’94 VFR750F’s price has not yet been set. The new bike should be in dealerships by March or April. □
