First Ride Thru the Twisties

So, I'm off from work for the week and decided to take my new VFR through the local mountains. Four hours later, I have to say it was a total blast! I've done this ride plenty of times before on my ZX6R (which is an amazing machine) but I had just as much fun on the VFR. I like the low end power even better on the Honda even though it's not as flickable into the corners. Besides, who am I kidding? I'm no Casey Stoner and even if I were, I'm old enough to know that the public roads are no race track. That being said, the VFR is plenty fast and handles great! I've read quite a bit about the VTEC kick mid-corner but had no such problems. I try my best to get my corner speed dialed in before the lean then keep a steady throttle until the corner starts to open up. Then smooth roll on and off I go! I love this bike!

 

Awesome! I really dig reading stuff like this... I haven't had the chance to ride mine yet. Next weekend, next weekend...

BTW, glad to read that it's just as much fun as newer bikes.

 

It may not have great power, but the power it has is very easy to use. I love my VFR! Especially after I fixed the suspension and the fueling.

Sometimes I think, "Heh-heh . . . I can hang with the pure sportbikers in the curves . . . and I can ride this way for 500 miles a day . . . heh-heh!"

Not in the straights, though, if some guy on a supersport wants to dial it up. But who wants to accelerate hard in the straights? Where's the Big Fun in that?

 

Good stuff guys.

As far as 'riding hard in a straight line' goes, there's really no place to use even a VFR's power on public roads. I mean seriously. You're on a bike that will hurl you from zero to double the speed limit in a tick over 10 seconds, at the end of which you can be tossed in the back of the LEO's sedan and hauled off to the pokey while your bike is impounded. Definitely no fun in that scenario.

I try to ride 'the Pace'. Don't use much throttle, don't use much brake, but dang those corners are fun.

 

Good stuff!

Yeah the 2007's transition to the 'tech is all too sweet. Here's to a truly great bike:cheersaf:

 

My understanding is that Honda smoothed out that 'kick' in the 2007 - one of the main reasons I went with the 2007 myself. I hit that VTEC mid-corner plenty of times with no real problems. I can feel it ramp up and know pretty much when to twist the throttle more.

Sounds great man. Glad you're enjoying this part of riding the VFR.

 

Awesome! Nice to hear you're diggin that bike.

From what I'm hearing I'll consider myself lucky the bike I fell for was an '07, since I was suffering from buck fever when I pulled the trigger on mine, without ever really doing my homework on the "cons" (what few there are...) of the v-tech bikes. I took my time learning where it kicked in, and I pay closer attention to the R's before I lean her over. But I don't miss the raw power my ZX11 had at all. Most of my buddies are riding 'Busa's, 1100, 1200, and 1400 Ninja's, or 1000 Gixers and CBR's, and I'll tell ya- I have NO problem keeping with them on the open roads. In fact, I'm usually leading... If most of them had been riding as long as I have It may be a different story, but It just goes to show what an ample machine can do compared to much more powerful equipment when in the hands of an experienced rider.

Truth be told I'd put my money on the VFR anyway- most of those superbikes can't corner for shit. By the time you're 60 or 70 miles into the twisties the other rider would be exhausted from pushing one of those pigs through the corners that our bikes just glide through...

 

Um... Huh? :crazy:

Most of 'those superbikes' will run circles around a VFR on the track, and it isn't all about the power. I love my VFR, and I can stay with pretty much anyone on any bike; but I don't have any delusions about the bike being better than - say - a current generation GSXR1000 or CBR1000RR (or ZX10R, or....). Seriously.

 

No bro! On the track they'd kill it. I'm talkin about in the twisties with regular folks. Track and racing is a world I have no clue about, but riding all day/weekend in the mountains I can attest to. I remember how I'd feel after pushin my ZX11 around compared to the VFR, and it was exhausting.

 

Gotcha, and yes, the VFR is definitely less physical to ride. Still though... any of them will corner better at the limit.

 

But in the real world - on 2 lane hiway - our VFRs are 'jes fine.

Although I must say riding a 748 Ducati in the twisties is more exciting!

Nevertheless, at the end of a 400+ mile day I feel great. The Duc rider, not so much . . .

 

+1 to Alaskan - well stated. The VFR didn't win all those awards for so many years for no reason.