The VFR750F Comeback
Three generations of Honda's VFR750F, from the gear-driven 1986 RC24 to the single-sided RC36 and the NR750-styled RC36-2. How Honda rebuilt the V4's reputation, plus what to check when you buy parts.
Menu Book No. 2 · Honda V4s
In Menu Book No. 1, Honda's first V4 sport bikes ran into trouble with worn cams and a bruised reputation. This book is the comeback. Over twelve years and three generations, the VFR750F went from damage control to one of the most respected all-round motorcycles of its era.
The theme: over-engineered on purpose
Honda didn't patch the old VF engine. It started over. The goal was a bike so well built that nobody would question Honda's V4 again, and the company sweated the details right down to shaving grams off the valves, pistons, and rods. Everything in this book grows out of that decision.
Honda VFR750F, first generation “RC24”
- Engine
- 748cc V4
- Cam drive
- Gears
- Wheels, 1986–87
- 16 in / 18 in
A 1987 VFR750F with aftermarket exhaust and turn signals. Photo: Heineken, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The first VFR was shown to the press at the 1985 Bol d'Or and went on sale for 1986. The cam chains were gone, replaced by gear-driven cams that put the VF's top-end problems to rest. It also got an aluminum twin-spar frame that used the engine as a stressed member, a six-speed gearbox, a 180-degree crankshaft, and a full fairing. Compared to the VF750F, it made noticeably more power and weighed about 20 kg less.
The racing world noticed right away. Fred Merkel won the 1986 AMA Superbike title on a VFR-based Honda, and Bubba Shobert won it again in 1988. In the U.S., Honda also sold a 700cc VFR700F alongside the 750 in 1986 and 1987, another “tariff buster” like the VF700F before it. A 1988 update brought 17-inch wheels, stronger forks, bigger carbs, and a revised fairing.
Owner's notes: The 1986–87 bikes run a 16-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel, which limits modern tire choices. Valve clearances on these early bikes are set with screw-and-locknut adjusters. If you're buying engine parts, confirm whether you have a 750 or a 700: the VFR700F uses a shorter stroke.
Watch it
An RC24 VFR750F out on the road. Video: StockCarTV on YouTube
Honda VFR750F, second generation “RC36”
- Engine
- 748cc V4
- Swingarm
- Single-sided
- Valve check interval
- 16,000 mi
A 1991 VFR750F with custom paint, gold wheels and an aftermarket exhaust. Photo used with the owner's permission.
For 1990 the VFR was redesigned again, and it borrowed the RC30's signature piece: a single-sided Pro-Arm swingarm, which lets you pull the rear wheel without touching the chain or axle. It also got a new frame, cartridge-damped forks, and wider wheels for modern radial tires. Valve adjustment switched to shims under buckets, with the inspection interval stretched to 16,000 miles.
The trade-off was weight. The RC36 gained about 17 kg over the bike it replaced, and it leaned further toward sport-touring than pure sport. For a lot of riders that was the point: it went fast, handled well, and could cover serious miles.
Owner's notes: The longer valve interval is a big plus, but on a high-mileage bike, ask whether the valves have ever actually been checked. Honda lightened the Pro-Arm swingarm partway through the run, so check your year before you buy a replacement.
Watch it
The RC36 VFR: review, specs and history. Video: DA_Garage on YouTube
A used-bike review of a 1993 RC36 Interceptor. Video: Practical Enthusiast on YouTube
Honda VFR750F, “RC36-2”
- Engine
- 748cc V4
- Fuel tank
- 5.5 gal
- Fuel
- Last carbureted VFR
Photo: villemk, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The final VFR750F kept the RC36 model code but changed roughly 200 parts. The most obvious was a sleek new front fairing that looked a lot like Honda's exotic NR750. Underneath it got a lighter frame and swingarm, new brakes and wheels, a new silencer, adjustable rear rebound damping, a revised riding position, and a bigger fuel tank, up from 5 to 5.5 gallons. Honda claimed it was about 10 kg lighter than the bike it replaced.
It was also the last carbureted VFR. The 1998 VFR800 that followed used a fuel-injected engine derived from the RC45 race bike, not a bored-out 750.
Owner's notes: The 1990–93 and 1994–97 bikes share a model code, but the frame, fairing, wheels, and brakes are different. Always confirm the year before ordering bodywork or chassis parts. And don't assume 750 parts swap onto a VFR800; very little carries over.
Watch it
The 1994–1997 VFR750 reviewed. Video: Men and Motors on YouTube
Honda V4 parts at JTL Powersports
We part out real donor bikes and list the parts as they come off, so every listing tells you exactly what bike it came from. Browse our Honda parts to see what's listed today. Keep reading with Menu Book No. 3: The Modern VFRs.