BRUCE IN BRIEF

The whine from the induction, the whizz of the gear driven cams, the throaty nature of the V4’s exhaust note. From an audible point of view no other bike could cut it against the wee Honda that also stole the crown of being the torquiest of bikes in this mix. Don’t get me wrong it still felt like a procrastinator in terms of power delivery, but it was the most bearable and usable of the bunch when it came to 0-60mph soirees. I used to race one of these when I was 17. It was heavy, underpowered, but yet brilliant in the corners, just like this example.

It took very little time to feel wholeheartedly at home with the VFR through the bends, scratching my knees like the performance was going out of fashion. I was in my happy place, supported by a stable, easy-going classic Honda that transported me back to a very happily misspent youth. But brilliant handling aside, the motor was the real hub to this machine; it offers more depth and character than any inline-four. As for the rest of the VFR’s package, it’s nothing all that special in honesty. The brakes do an average job of stopping you, just as the basic clocks keep you in line with what’s going on. Personally, I prefer the looks of the RVF400, with its 17in rear wheel, but VFRs are cheaper and pretty much every bit equal performers in terms of handling and power. Look hard enough and you can still find the odd bargain.