Okay, so I’ve been wrenching on bikes for a while, and I recently got my hands on a 1998 Honda VFR800Fi. The “Fi” is important – it’s the fuel-injected model. First thing I wanted to do was really dig into the specs. I mean, really know what makes this thing tick.
So, I started by, you know, just riding it. Gotta get a feel for the machine before you start messing with it, right? Felt great, powerful, smooth. But I wanted the details. I started hunting down information, and let me tell you, finding reliable specs for older bikes can be a bit of a pain.
I started looking for a factory service manual, I found one. This is golden. The factory manual has EVERYTHING. Torque settings, wiring diagrams, the works. I highly suggest getting this before starting.
Diving into the Data
The manual I found gave me good details, I started to copy down the information from the specs pages.
I grabbed a notebook and started jotting down everything I found. Here’s some of what I pulled together, just from the top of my head and my notes:
- Engine: It’s a 781cc liquid-cooled 90-degree V4. That V4 is what gives it that unique sound and feel.
- Fuel System: Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI). This was a big deal back in ’98, and it’s still pretty slick.
- Bore and Stroke: 72.0 mm x 48.0 mm, pretty standard for what the bike offers.
- Horsepower: I saw numbers around 110 hp, give or take. I need to get it on a dyno to see what this particular bike is putting down. Because of the age, I’m expecting less.
- Transmission: Six-speed. Nice and smooth shifting, even after all these years.
- Suspension: Front is a 41mm cartridge fork, and the rear is a Pro-Link single-sided swingarm with a single shock. The single-sided swingarm is just beautiful, makes wheel changes a breeze.
- Brakes: Dual discs up front, single disc in the rear. They felt strong, but I’m planning on flushing the fluid and maybe upgrading the pads.
- Dry Weight:It’s about 460 pounds I think? Something like * feels lighter, to be honest.
So, that’s where I’m at so far. I’ve got a solid baseline understanding of the VFR800Fi’s specs. Next, I’ll check things like the air filter, and spark plugs. It’s all part of the process of really getting to know your machine.
