Anyone else find the VFR King of the long distance tight twisties ?

It is all about "Street" use vs. "Track" use.

People really do not seem to understand there is only some much you can do on the street before the envelope is pushed too much. I would think you all agree you can find that on a VFR if you want, so why get a bike that goes so far beyond if you are not a track junky? Just does not make sence.

A good friend bought a Busa. I took it out, and i have to say what a great bike it was. But what a Busa costs in price, maintenance, and insurance does not justify what I would lose if I replaced my VFR with such a bike.

Some people are shocked when they find out how low my insurance is and my bike did not cost an arm and a leg. I tell them pay for what you need, not what you don't!

I read a great review on the CBR1000RR. Sounds like an awesome bike! until one of the final statemnts from the tester went somthing like this: "The last 3 rpms before the readline should never be used on the street, because the bike becomes a full race machine".

However, I am glad to see some other SV650 afficionados LOL!

I would love to see the Tail of the Dragon shut down, and a battle between a VFR and an SV. On a closed road like that, and everything being equal (Rider 80%, bike 20%) What a fun shootout that would be!

BZ

 

I think that in order to answer the original question, we need a member who owns both a vfr and a pure sports bike to travel the same set of twisties on both bikes and make some observations. Does the comfort of the vfr allow them to continue through the course faster as the day goes on? Or does the more aggressive bike maintain its superior performance?

Maybe I'll head out today and pick up a new 675... I have wanted one for a while, and now I have an experiment to complete. The kids won't mind if they have to go hungry for a while.

 

[Over the longer haul, I'd rather be on the viffer then.]

That may sum it all up right there.

But if comfort is the only factor, perhaps we would prefer Gold Wings?

 

I have both an 02 vfr800 and an 03 600rr, In no way, I will repeat in no way will the vfr ever outrun the 600, but for comfort the 800 is the way to go , I leave my 600 setup with soft rubber tires and use it for fast runs, and the 800 for the comfort runs and riding the wife

 

My thoughts exactly. I just took my new (to me) VFR for a 2hr spin. At NO POINT was I wishing for more power. I'm still in that "honeymoon" phase with it, so I'm still pretty much in awe of the thing's mid-range power. And I swear it's getting LIGHTER the more I ride it!

 

Gold Wing? LOL I'll be in a S2000 before that...

 

While generally agree the 600rr with ESP like handling will out speed the VFR most times especially on the smoother roads and at higher speeds, when going out with Pirate (Arrr Arrr ) riding guy's in our never ending Alpine Region roads given equal Sport Tyres (have Powers) have found 3 situations where the VFR appears to have an advantage.

Firstly many multiple chains of low speed cornered winding roads (indicated 15-20mph bends) on normal road surfaces. The VFR sling shots away out of the corners perfectly every time just using mid range ( 6>9k )thrust, when in front over time have put easy distance on following 600's when behind have seen the 600RR's & R6's slow suddenly getting caught out in the wrong gear especially as the day and hundreds of miles wears on also the scenario that prompted this thread.

2nd the "real world" road surface when ripply and bumpy seems to make some 600 riders slow down dramatically complaining (afterwards) about how thier bike is bounced around giving them the odd "moment" when the VFR through the same section is perfectly planted, it may be they have left their suspension on a track day bias but a valid observervation none the less.

3rd over distance the 2nd set of injectors and smaller tank capacity has the 600's down to slow speed tootling ( time to chime in with jokes about the faster bugs hitting the backs of their helmets ) in an effort to make the next Servo, have seen more than one run out in the middle of nowwhere after being a little too enthusiastic for too long, a situation I have never seen on a VFR only ride.

Admittedly have kept the VFR's advantages unfairly focused :wink: but ths is a VFR site :tongue: and the type of riding I most enjoy and one the VFR performs brilliant at. :biggrin:

 

the 600 doesnt have to lean over in the turn as much so its gonna go in and out faster than the vfr ever thought it could, have put it on 1000s for the same reason,this is where the 600s make up most of there ground, at Daytona this year the 600s were doing laps in the minute and 40 and the 1000s were doing in a minute and 38 , this is a lot of top end around the banks ,the 600s were making the time back up in the corners, as far as stability same reason less weight big advantage, the only place I could think the vfr could get it would be top end with bigger displacment, I think you need to ride one and you will instantly see the difference

 

how is riding double ?

 

riding double is just fine on the vfr, I dont go on any hot runs riding double with the 600:spy:

 

I've done the FS school, & Freddie uses the VFR for 2 up instruction, & yes he's a fast & faster than the others on the "SCHOOL" bikes in which are CBR600RR's not 1ooo's.
I'm old school rider/racer & I learned a lot from the FS school.

Besides I'm crazy & he's freak'n nuts.
worth every penny though.

 

here's one for you,
the VFR800 is no RC30 or RC45(ck new member forum) I own my share of VFR's & RC's but my last sport bike purchase was a '06 Triumph ST Sprint. & after tired of waiting about the long over due VFR upgrade to 1000 cc's I went with the sprint. My feeling about the bike is
1. It smokes my VFR in speed & handleing in the canyons(slow & fast corners)
2. it has a "NON" linked ABS so it retains a true MC feel.
3. I turn quicker lap times @ the track.
4 I take it on 800 mile trips @ a whim & its just as comfortable as my VFR.
5. I can take my KTM 625 in the canyons & smoke everything until the straights, but usally so far ahead by the time they catch up were in the turns again with me pulling away again.

point is it's the rider, the rider the rider, the only benifit of the VFR is the over all package & it's not the only one out there now.
So of the promised 3 yrs ago to bring it to 1000cc or more & hasn't, the Nymph is getting more saddle time, the 800 has been dropped to my daughter riding it (until I get the VFR built 1000 motor up & running in my other VFR800 enginless chassis & should Dyno around 140 plus :biggrin: ). Then I'll re evaluate what a Modern VFR can do :first:

 

OMG!!!!!! An ancient thread!!!

 

OMG, had forgotten about TAZ.

Don't mention Taz to NorcalBoy, I accidentally mentioned Taz to him once but think I got away with it. :wink:

 

Run em out of Gas.

 

The VFR is more comfortable over any distance than a pure 'hardcore' sportbike of any size, and may require less physical effort to maintain a given pace - within the limits of the bike. What that suggests is that the rider will be exerting less energy at that pace than the rider of a pure sportbike. So... given equal riders in equivalent physical condition, the rider on the VFR might be able to maintain a given pace for a longer distance. If that makes the VFR the 'king of long-distance twisties', then yes.

I've said this in other places; but it applies so I'll say it again. I love my VFR because it fits me perfectly, has plenty of power, and handles well enough that I can ride as fast as I want to ride without feeling uncertain about anything the bike does. I've owned a few pure sportbikes, and while they were fun when I had them I'm no longer young.

Yeah. King of the long-distance twisties just might fit.

 

Yep! I've got 226 miles out of my 6th Gen before. But the fuel light on my 1198 comes on at about 91 miles...:crazy:
Can you put fuel in a camel-bak?
:focus: +1 and 100% agree with foothill's take on the matter.

 

The best I have ever seen on my 5th gen is 245 miles with a couple of teaspoons left in the tank. The best mileage I have had on tour while loaded is 52 mpg at altitude.

I remember one 180 mile day ride in San Diego, when I was returning to base after a day in the twisties . A buddy I had left with on a 1198S was parked on the side of the road just before home. We both tanked at the start. He had done similar mileage but had filled up once mid ride.

All he could say was "I ran out of F............ing gas, I ran out of F.........ing gas. I got 98 miles on the F........ing tank. F..........ing Duck!" Mind you his pace is higher and he is even bigger than I am but............ come on. 98 F.........ing miles!!!!

The Best Bike for Twisty tours........... a contender for sure!