Honda VF1000

The VF1000 range of Honda motorcycles was made from 1984 to 1988. The VF1000 is named after its V-4 998 cc double overhead cam 16 valve engine. There were three main models in the VF1000 range, the VF1000F (also known as Interceptor), the VF1000R and the VF1000F2.

The first of Honda's 1,000 cc VF range, known as the 1000 Interceptor, was launched in the USA and Canada in March 1984.

The Interceptor had a 998 cc 113 BHP 16 valve V-4 engine with double over head chain driven cams. The bike featured adjustable Pro-Link rear suspension with adjustable braced front forks, black and silver cast aluminum mag rims (16 inch front, 18 inch rear), and an aerodynamic half fairing and lower cowl with single rectangular headlight. Three dual-piston disc brakes comprised the braking system with dual discs at the front and a single disc at the rear.

In Europe the "Interceptor" was launched as the FE model in 1984 and reported engine power output was increased to 116 horsepower (87 kW). Features such as Honda's dive control system (TRAC) and adjustable suspension were still present . The VF1000F was discontinued in April 1985.

The evolution of the VF1000F(1) to the VF1000F2 began in April 1985 with the VF1000FF (and subsequent rare FG) model. The styling of the bike changed with new side panels and grab rail. The 16-inch (410 mm) front wheel was replaced with an 18-inch (460 mm) wheel

The VF1000FF was sold in Europe, Australia and Canada. The VF1000FF was discontinued in August 1987.

In March 1984, Honda introduced the VF1000R in Europe. Its styling was a celebration of the V4's racing heritage and the VF1000R was a showcase for the technology Honda had developed on the track with the FWS1000 race bike which was designed for competition in the Daytona 200 and AMA F1 class. The original concept Honda had in designing the VF1000R was that it would showcase and, more importantly, homologate all of the innovative and groundbreaking technology that had been used in the F1 class, for use in the production based classes of the time. This was not to be the case, though, as the finished bike weighed in at nearly 600 pounds with half a tank of fuel, roughly 85 pounds heavier than the VF1000F model, and for this reason was rarely used in competition, and struggled to be competitive when it was used.

Many modifications were made to the VF1000F in its transformation into the "R" version including major engine reworking, major front suspension revision, bodywork revision, and rider ergonomics.

The engine of the VF1000R was the same cast block as in the VF1000F, displacing the same 998 cc's as the standard model, but modifications were required to mount the gear train in each head, used for driving the cams. The crankshaft was also altered, in order to accept a straight-cut gear which would drive the gear train instead of the chain system, used in the "F" model. Each head had 2 gears held by a carrier, which was then bolted into the respective head, driving each of the two camshafts arranged in a dual overhead camshaft arrangement for each head. Total, there were 9 gears required to transmit power from the crankshaft to all 4 camshafts. The camshafts were altered in relation to the ones found on the "F" model in order to provide more power. This arrangement added 7 pounds to the weight of the engine when compared to the chain driven arrangement present in the "F" model.

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