Honda VFR750F RC36. For acquired taste.

Having now owned two RC36's, i may try to say something about this unique motorcycle though so much have been said already, that it it pretty hard to come up with anything new so i may tell you some facts about VFR that many may not know.

1. Rear wheel bearing set can cost up to 300 euros with postage, and requires skill to replace

2. Cam gear drive can be loud. I mean, really loud on certain rpm. It turns peoples heads on the street. Cam gear drives save lives. On some VFR's it's not that loud and on others it is. With that exhaust note it gives you a real race feel, or drives you crazy. Earplugs do not help, it's that kind of noise.

3. Starter clutch bolts can come loose on their own. It sounds like a conrod failure. Ask me how i know. I posted a video about it on Youtube. You have to tighten them like, yearly or so. 

4. Clutch can make a loud rattle when cold. It sounds like a Ducati for a while. You can tone it down by richening the idle mixture. Many VFR's run too lean on idle, which makes them run hot and erratically when cold which makes clutch discs rattle.

5. Summer city riding for longer than fifteen minutes is not for you. You can do it, but cooling fan screams and the whole engine is fighting for it's life against overheating.You have switch the lights off in the city to save all power for the fan. Again, richer idle mixture helps.

6. The rear frame gets really hot on summer rides. Like, finger-burning hot. Most of the electric components are attached to it. The battery is right above the rear cylinder block exhaust pipes, can get really hot. I have seen people make a hole on rear fender to vent the area under the saddle.

7. You have to remove the radiator if you want to change spark plugs or adjust the valves. 

8. VFR750F RC36's use only two row oil cooler. That's one of the reasons they run hot. Earlier RC15 and RC24 used three row cooler. You can do the mod. Honda went back to three row coolers on late models. You can also use the four row cooler from VTR1000SP1, if you can find one.

9. It is surprisingly fast for it's claimed hp. It is faster than old CBR1000F SC24, which has thirty claimed horses more. I have owned four SC24's. RC36 hits 240 km/h with ease, with full pannier set and 88000km on clock. Really impressive for 102 claimed hp. My guess is that this at least partly because it's gear driven cams do not lose their timing when old, like chain-driven cams do.

10. It is possible the best motorcycle ever built. A true pleasure to ride, but it's not for everyone.