Gearbox differences - apart from the ratios which have been discussed/covered already, here`s the difference in the gearbox design -
The VFR cluster has round `peg` type engagement dogs
The RVF has more `square` (trapezoidal?) dogs
This, incidentally is why, if you want to change from VFR to RVF ratios or vice versa, you have to swap the whole gear cluster as individual pinions are not interchangeable between the two types of gearbox.
Most gearbox failures are attributable to the fact that the dogs on the inner side of both sliding gears, being part of the thin outer wall of the selector fork channel rather than the cog itself, are inadequately supported and, under duress, first twist and finally break out of the channel wall altogether - if this happens at high speed the whole gearbox can go off like a hand grenade (trust me, I`ve been there!).
The RVF design is slightly more robust than the VFR but still prone to the same problems if abused sufficiently.
My uprated gears (VFR only) are made from better material, more effectively hardened and, critically, have a selector channel wall thickness nearly twice that of the OE Honda gears...
Rick
