Shamu at the track

Thanks Meatloaf,

The only reason I even mentioned the R6 was to say that I wasn't expecting it to be like that. I've ridden big bikes on track and know they can still be fun in capable, just in their own way. The R1200GS, for example, is a lot of fun.

The VFR1200 simply wasn't. I was shocked, I really wanted it to be good.

The R6 also came up in comments just to put the VFR's power-to-weight ratio into perspective. Most people have some concept of what the R6 looks like and feels like and it's mid-capacity so it's a good benchmark when talking numbers.

You know, it's been AGES since i last road a last gen VFR. I don't remember much about it other than that I was a bit bored, it was capable but unexciting.

As for riding one with all the work done to it? I'd never say no to a free motorcycle ride! But in all seriousness, why not just buy a current CBR600RR? It's equally as comfortable, about half the price, gets around the same fuel range and is actually fun and exciting to ride. Seriously, I promise it's comfortable. If it's not, a couple hundred bucks will get you higher bars and lower pegs. That'd be less than putting the optional luggage on the VFR. Or, just stick to your current bike, it's more capable than the new one.

 

Well said. Thank you.

 

This comment speaks to me for several reasons... I'm currently considering the new VFR1200 and I own a fully tracked out CBR600RR. I've test ridden both the manual and automagic versions of the VFR but haven't had the chance to track one. After purchasing it, I'm sure it will see it's fair share of Miller Motorsports Park.

In order for my 600RR to be a competitive race machine I have aftermarket rear shock, front springs with both compression and rebound valves. Aftermarket exhaust with a tune. Rearsets, clipons, bars, etc... And that's a bike built for the track. Without the suspension upgrade I was bottoming out suspension and pushing through corners, etc...

With that said I'm hoping to use the VFR as a canyon carver... Riding with my friends from Salt Lake, through every mountain pass in WY, ID, MT, etc... I'd like to have hard luggage so I don't have to worry about rain and sometimes snow destroying my stuff. I'd like to have more power than my 600RR because on the street I often ride 2-up.

After test riding the VFR, there are a few minor changes I already plan on making, which seems very common for ANY bike off the showroom floor. I'm planning on throwing a can on it along with a PowerCommander of some kind to wake up the glaring lack of power in the lower RPM's. I'll also throw some new springs in those forks to accommodate my larger than average frame.

What I'm wondering is do you think the VFR would still suck as bad as you imply with some of the basic suspension tuning done, and a simple can + tune?

 

Wow! no surprise on all accounts, good job Wes. nothing like telling it like it is. That said, to each their own . Yea I figured it was meant for those silver sorta foxes that wish they where. that and the crazy gota have the latest greatest (if they only knew) with money to burn. Your also so right about the 600rr. I rode one the other day thinking Humm and came away totally surprised in a good way. LOL it still needs more bottom end IMO to make it a great all a rounder, but man once you get a feeling for weightlessness, you really don't want to go back. I still need to try a vfr1200 paddle shifter version, though.. maybe in 5 years we'll be able to pick em up for cost, which would be about right in the first place. all that, I'm still liking the Ducati street fighter, But $$$ egads, There is hope for me yet as there is a 4th gen waiting & trying to get my attention again

 

Warren brings up a point in what I was trying to come to words with earlier but simply couldn't find the words that I was wanting to. You ask why not just run a current CBR600RR... It just doesn't provide as much needed as a daily rider for some of us. We simply need a little more than a bike meant to go fast and turn fast. For those that live near town and have a short (5-15 mile commute), it may be feasible to turn a full sport bike into something we can commute with on a daily basis. For others of us like myself, it doesn't offer what is needed especially when longer distances are involved (20-50 miles one way). I need the storage that my OEM hard bags offer. I can get throw over bags for a CBR or the like but they frankly look like shit. Even with the bags I still often have to ride with a backpack for additional storage and could probably put a top trunk to good use. That I can't even begin to get with a 600cc sport bike.

Another reason for the VFR is the versatility for those of us that can't afford to have a purpose built bike for each purpose we need or want. I would love to have a 600cc or 1000cc sport bike just for going out and doing track days or canyon carving but can't afford it. My VFR allows me to tour and commute comfortably, utilize it for when I need to travel for work, yet still go out and hang with my friends when we decide to do spirited riding. Is it perfect? Not at all. One of the big things behind the VFR for many years is that it has been voted motorcycle of the year countless times. Almost all of us customize our bikes to suit our purposes a bit more than it did out of the factory. Those of us that cruise/travel/commute more raise the bars, change sprockets for increased MPG, and add storage. Those of us that ride harder get it tuned for our desires both in the suspension department and power delivery department. Others find a balance in the middle to suit their needs.

I've often said (and others) that the VFR lacks in excelling at any particular style of riding. Instead it offers the some of the greatest compromise when lumping everything together for touring, commuting, aggressive riding, cruising, power delivery, style, ergonomics, and so much more. To me, this is what the VFR is about. This is what the 7th gen needs to live up to and be capable of with relatively little changes needing to be made. This is what I question about the 7th gen VFR. Does it have the potential to satisfy the needs of many and provide the versatility that many also desire?

 

+1 on Mr. Loaf's observations...

I love taking my VFR to the track and using it against modern tackle. Last year in the same week I rode a track day on a Saturday, commuted to work all week and then jumped on and rode 550 miles to Vintage Days at Mid-Ohio, proving once and for all the versatility and broad range of this bike.

 

re:

A couple of you are asking if simple mods will fix the problems. I'm not sure I can answer that, not having ridden a bike with the mods. I mean the fundamentals of a good motorcycle are there: engine, frame, etc. As it is right now it emphatically does not work in a performance environment. Could it be made to work? Sure, but at what cost? There's many other, more capable bikes out there for far less money.

 

Perhaps that sheds more light on the subject and what the VFR is. What would be the cost of setting up a Ducati 1198 to tour the country comfortably? For the VFR you can change the fueling with a Power Commander and custome tune, upgrade the forks to something quite capable, and replace the rear shock for around $2k.... the same thing that almost anyone spends on any bike they track to improve it.

Again, I think your review of the bike was great on the track. However perhaps that simply isn't how the bike should be reviewed. The VFR of today and yesterday simply isn't what it was of yesteryear. It is no longer the repli-racer of the 80's and early 90's. The path of the VFR has changed throughout the years to become a sports-tourer instead of a sports bike and it seems like things are moving more towards touring now for the ones that like to twist the throttle less often than so.

I think I speak for many of us around here that we are glad to see the honesty you've given in your review of the bike. We're happy to be able to read what you've said whether it be positive or negative. Not only that, but you've stuck by your words and openly discussed your experiences with many of us in a place where many are obviously biased towards the machine. We need more people like you around. There are many of us on the fence with the bike and its hard to get a straight answer on what the bike is and is not capable of, the goods and bads, etc. Short of owning the bike it is almost impossible to tell whether the media hype is honest or not since they are all regurgitating the same BS over and over. Its always nice to get something from those not being pushed by mother Honda for praise. What is even better is now we have information from someone that has actually pushed the bike's capabilities a bit which has been hard to come by since many in our community are still breaking their bikes in and getting familiar with them.

 

I for one would have thought in this day and age that given the short comings of this bike (given the weight and history) that more thought would have gone into it. VFR( Visually Fucking Ridiculous) is the term of the day for this thing. At the price I assumed (and quite wrong= fool) that it would be a land yacht with uber power and the needed hardware to back up such a package. Sounds like it is not any fun at pace with friends or at any other speed. I thought in time I would warm to it but given the price tag I am back to older better bikes for a fraction of the cost.

 

wow....nice review..... I thank you for you honesty Wes, good thing I'm not trading my old 86 for one.. all though for me I just put around and get where I am going in a not so high rate of fuel consumption.... did Honda make this bike and gear it towards the 45 and up crowd? sounds like it ....

 

This shouldn't make a difference but in case some of you don't know, Wes Siler is gay.

 

I guess thats something you would know from first hand experience.

 

Thanks. The reason we took it the track is, well, because we had a trackday booked and because I wanted to be able to ride it outside the cops/bad drivers/pot holes that plague the northeast. It's also usually an easy environment to get dramatic pictures at, something I completely failed at this time.

All we're trying to do here is describe our experience and put it in context to hopefully help inform your purchasing decisions. I'm glad you guys are prepared to listen to voices outside those the bike manufacturers' marketing funnel.

:smile:

 

I try not to guess about most things. This information seems to upset you. By responding in such a negative manner, and being from the South one might conclude all Southerners are redneck crackers who date thier own sisters to prove their masculinity.

 

Excellent points Meatloaf.

Another item to add to the CBR vs VFR debate is the gas tank. On my 5th gen I can get about 160-180 miles before getting 2 bars on the gas guage. Try even going 160 miles on the CBRs. I hate having to fill up every time I see a gas station.

 

2wheel:

Don't toy with Badbilly; it will end poorly for you brother.

"This message sponsered by the "Bubba Zanetti Foundation", "Promoting Logic & Reason since 2001".

BZ

 

HAAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAAAAHAAAAHAHAAAAAHAHHAAAAAA

Nice trolling dooood

 

I think that many of us are not only prepared, but also want and desire such voices. Its not easy to come by, especially with such a new model and the DCT's just now beginning to trickle into the public. A bike like this presents a different challenge for us in that it is something totally new. This isn't like the R6/CBR updates that come out every few years with new exhaust and slightly upgraded suspension. This is a drastic entire redesign from what has had a but a few major changes since 1998. Those seeking unbiased, straight information on a 5th and sixth gen are able to do so quickly and in abundance however we are left with nothing at this point and time for the 7th gen short of a very few articles including this one.