I have a confession...I may be a V4 addict.
I started riding in '82 on a new CB125T, and have been a Honda fanboy ever since. My V4 addiction started in 1984 with the VF500F, which I'd seen in magazines and had to have. After that I have had a succession that includes the 83 VF750F, two VF400Fs, a VFR400 NC24, four RC24/26 (two of each), then a 99 800 bought in 2014, then a second 99 bought in 2022, a 2009 in 2024 and finally the 1200 bought last year. I have also owned two ST1300s and an ST1100 which definitely should be considered part of the VFR family, as well as a VTR1000F. To add a little variety I have also owned a couple of 150cc Vespas and a 300, as well as a Suzukui RF900 and a Yamaha MT10SP.
Terry from New Zealand
Terry from New Zealand
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Very well spotted. That was outside the flat where I met my wife for the first time, so sometime around 1989 or 1990. OK I officially feel old now.rc24dk wrote: Mon Sep 07, 2026 6:35 am Hi Terry. Nice little detail that the shots of the VFR400 seems to be taken from the same spot as the VFR750. Nice bike, that 400, by the way.
I have been in a chemicals/processing based industry for my working career, and this has involved a lot of problem solving and a pretty decent understanding of pressures, vacuums, flow and temperature. I have tried to apply that to my motorcycling to get a reasonable fundamental understanding of how bikes work and what the effects of modifications may be. I'm still working on improving my electrical knowledge (RIP Grum).
A couple of early articles in 1980's, probably Cycle or Cycle World, set me on the path to suspension modifications and fork adjustment. One of these was a step-by-step modification of a 1986 VFR750F where the bike was modified with Progressive Springs, Cartridge Emulators and a Fox Twin-Clicker shock, and I copied that on my own VFR700 soon after. The Twin-Clicker was pretty harsh until I had some comms with Fox and they recommended adding additional drilled holes in the compression valve. That bike also showed the effects of changing the ride height both with stiffer springs but also the adjustable length shock clevis. It is true that you only know what you have ridden, and until you start to tinker, you won't know whether what you have is as good as it could be. Improved suspension helps you relax and ride smoother, and pays you back on every ride.
Since then I have enjoyed changing the suspension on my other bikes; one thing I have leared is if you have more than one bike, you can afford to screw something up and not be rideless, which takes a lot of worry away from modifications. My 96 Suzuki RF900 got the full treatment, RaceTech springs and compression Gold Valves, and a refurbished Ohlins shock. The RT instructions from back then are a whole lot more useful than the current "just use these shims" level of guidance, When I sold that my first 5th gen got some DMR parts in the forks and one of his modified 929 shocks, my VTR got the same treatment as the RF900. I have even modified the FSC600 Silverwing scooter as well as my STs.
My current fleet is similar: the yellow 5th gen has Racetech parts up front with a VTR1000 reboud adjuster and a Nitron R3 shock, the red 6th gen has Racetech parts up front plus a DMR CBR shock (which is currently out for service) and the 1200 has a mix of Racetech, DMR and stock parts up front and a Nitron rear shock.
I am quite prepared to do my own servicing up to a point; I will happily synchronize carbs or throttle bodies, and have pulled cams and tensioners to do valve shim adjustments, and have replaced thermostats, clutch plates and alternators. I even pulled the engine out of the RF900 on my own (and refitted it afterwards, maybe that's where the back ache came from...). I have a pretty good collection of service manuals and other documents that I have amassed over the past few decades if anyone is looking for such things.
A couple of early articles in 1980's, probably Cycle or Cycle World, set me on the path to suspension modifications and fork adjustment. One of these was a step-by-step modification of a 1986 VFR750F where the bike was modified with Progressive Springs, Cartridge Emulators and a Fox Twin-Clicker shock, and I copied that on my own VFR700 soon after. The Twin-Clicker was pretty harsh until I had some comms with Fox and they recommended adding additional drilled holes in the compression valve. That bike also showed the effects of changing the ride height both with stiffer springs but also the adjustable length shock clevis. It is true that you only know what you have ridden, and until you start to tinker, you won't know whether what you have is as good as it could be. Improved suspension helps you relax and ride smoother, and pays you back on every ride.
Since then I have enjoyed changing the suspension on my other bikes; one thing I have leared is if you have more than one bike, you can afford to screw something up and not be rideless, which takes a lot of worry away from modifications. My 96 Suzuki RF900 got the full treatment, RaceTech springs and compression Gold Valves, and a refurbished Ohlins shock. The RT instructions from back then are a whole lot more useful than the current "just use these shims" level of guidance, When I sold that my first 5th gen got some DMR parts in the forks and one of his modified 929 shocks, my VTR got the same treatment as the RF900. I have even modified the FSC600 Silverwing scooter as well as my STs.
My current fleet is similar: the yellow 5th gen has Racetech parts up front with a VTR1000 reboud adjuster and a Nitron R3 shock, the red 6th gen has Racetech parts up front plus a DMR CBR shock (which is currently out for service) and the 1200 has a mix of Racetech, DMR and stock parts up front and a Nitron rear shock.
I am quite prepared to do my own servicing up to a point; I will happily synchronize carbs or throttle bodies, and have pulled cams and tensioners to do valve shim adjustments, and have replaced thermostats, clutch plates and alternators. I even pulled the engine out of the RF900 on my own (and refitted it afterwards, maybe that's where the back ache came from...). I have a pretty good collection of service manuals and other documents that I have amassed over the past few decades if anyone is looking for such things.
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Saint Stephen
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Terry, you may be a V4 addict, but that Suzuki says, not entirely. Maybe you're a suspension perfection addict? Anyway, great to see you here.
I think both photos were taken by my girlfriend (and fellow rider) at the time, but the 400 is at the now defunct Pukekohe race track, where the University Motorcycle Club had a track day when we were all meant to be in lectures. The 750 was on a city street where my parents and I lived.rc24dk wrote: Mon Sep 07, 2026 6:35 am Hi Terry. Nice little detail that the shots of the VFR400 seems to be taken from the same spot as the VFR750. Nice bike, that 400, by the way.