Couple of Questions from Potential Buyer

I have been seriously considering the new VFR1200 but have a couple of questions for you owners.

1. I hate vibration on a bike. I know most have some but I did read that there is some buzz in the bars that tend to make your hands go to sleep. How bad is it and do you feel it anywhere else i.e. pegs or seat.

2.How is the heat management? Do you feel a lot of heat on your legs or anywhere else on a warm to hot day?

Thanks for your input.

 

You might want to read this post............
http://vfrworld.com/forums/7th-generation-2010-present/37405-1-year-later-review.html

 

I read that post but I would like to get more than one opinion although he was very detailed.

 

Make them let you take it for a ride. I know they will tell you that they don't let anyone take sportbikes for a ride but inform them "No ride = No Sale". Remember cash rules. He who has the cash makes the rules.

 

Yes, true enough. When I bought my ZX14R last month the dealer had quoted me prices on the two bikes I was trading in and then when I showed up after a 4 hour trip with them on the trailer and unloaded them and they sat down to do the paperwork all of a sudden one of the bikes had mysteriously dropped in price by $500. I told them I was going to put the bikes back on the trailer and drive back. They came to their senses and the deal was back on. You just have to stand your ground and let them know there are plenty of dealers around.

 

Always, always, ALWAYS get their business card and write down what they said and date it on the
back of their business card. Just relying on lips flapping is not good enough.
Carry on ~

 

That is a good idea if you are in the dealer. For me I was 250 miles away and speaking on the phone. What I should have done is have him put it in an email. I won't make that mistake again and will actually try to deal with a local store.

 

Bob, I'm a brand new owner, having just picked mine up less than a week ago. Weather here has been a real rollercoaster and they threw more salt down Monday morning because we had black ice everywhere. So I only have the 28 mile ride home from the dealer, in the cold, through the twisties to speak from. I was wearing pretty thick gloves since it was in the 30's outside and I found myself "aware" of the vibration. I think the fact that I was really aware of it at all kinda speaks volumes, since I was wearing thick gloves, and this is coming from a guy who rides a 125cc 2-stroke on the street all summer long! In fact, I was wearing all my winter riding gear and pretty much felt the vibes everywhere to some degree. I didn't find it offensive, and I'm inclined to believe some of it will go away with miles. But I remember thinking 'hmmm, that's funny...I could swear I remember reading some Honda techno-blurb about this engine configuration being so smooth it doesn't need counterbalancers'. I'll be waiting to see how it feels after break-in and with regular street gloves, but right now, it's noticeable, but not horrible. Seems kinda low frequency. As for the heat, I can't say, because the dash said 39*F all the way home. Again, Honda claims they've got that well in hand, but that's what they say about the vibration too. I'm still pretty jazzed about the bike though, as it seems to have its fair share of good qualities. I'm looking forward to rain tomorrow to wash away what is hopefully the last salt application of the year here, so I can get some serious riding in.

Just my $.02,
D Dave

 

Thanks Dave, I appreciate your comments. I wish some of the other members would chime in about the vibration as I'm torn between this bike and the Ninja 1000. The Ninja has serious vibration if you ride it hard, if you ride it easy then it's not too bad but I want a bike for the Georgia mountains and you tend to ride hard in the twisties.

 

I've had the vfr1200 since the first of December and now have about 3000 miles on it. To me, the very slight vibration it has isn't in the least bit annoying and I wouldn't have even noticed it if it hadn't been for reading some complaints about it. Typically, inline-4s have some engine buzz that is higher frequency and to me, the buzz is annoying. The VFR1200's slight vibration is a lower frequency more like a v-twin. And to me, the lower frequency vibration isn't annoying or even noticeable unless I think about it. For example, the Superhawk, sv650 and KTM 950 I had vibrated much more than my '08 cbr1000rr, MV Agusta 910, '03 z1000 and 2 XX's. But, the v-twin vibration was far less annoying than any of the inline 4s. YMMMV BTW, of the inline 4s mentioned above, the z1000's vibes were by far the most annoying.

 

RE: heat management, it hasn't been warm enough here for me to give any feedback on that yet.

 

Well Fellows, I took a demo ride on a VFR1200 today and sad to say this isn't the bike for me. Number one I didn't like the bar position (too low) I know that can be fixed for around $300. with Heli risers. I mostly was disappointed in the power delivery. I have read how you can Z Bomb it and get the power back but even when I went past 6000rpm I was unimpressed. I will say that the handling felt great the brakes felt great I hardly noticed the vibration (and I was looking for it). The bike felt lighter than it is. I was not happy with the seat as it forces you to sit close to the tank to get to the bars and then the seat is not all that comfortable (that also I know could be fixed). I really had high hopes that this would be the bike I was looking for but alas the search continues. I think I will taking another look at the Ninja 1000 as it has the type of power delivery I like which is nice torque down low that gives really good acceleration from the get go. I would say that even though the VFR makes more power and torque the Ninja 1000 would romp all over it at most any roll on contest.
Sorry guys just my opinion and I'm glad so many of you love the bike as that is what motorcycling is all about.

 

No need to apologize that the bike isn't for you. In a previous post you mentioned buying a zx14r last month, was it a 2012? Did you not like it? I would've expected it to have the power and smoothness you're looking for. I haven't ridden one. But, from what I've read, I would've expected it to be a really nice bike.

 

Oh Yes, the 2012 14R is a fantastic bike and I plan to keep it for a long time but I was looking for a bike for the mountains and the 14R needs to be able to stretch it's legs. Not that it wouldn't handle the mountains, I was just looking for something better suited to them.

 

Double Bubble Post. I really like the 1200 vfr it's a great smile maker.

 

I'm a 5'8" 54 year old rider. Buzz on the bars I don't notice any buzz but I don't put a lot of weight on the bars. Pegs are fine it took me a little while to get used to the location but now I'm fine with the location. The seat is the best factory seat I've sat on and I've spent over eight hours in the saddle several times. Ride in the FL panhandle and with temps near 100 and humidity the same I don't notice any real hot areas but do feel the heat when the fan kicks on at stops. When I first started riding the 1200 vfr I would put my right heal next to the exhaust which wasn't good but I've corrected my posture so it's fine. My bikes before the 1200 VFR where a 2009 Truiumph T100 and 95 Harley FLSTN which had lots of shake rattle and go.