6th Gen for 2up sport touring????

Thanks Chicky,
I am guessing the stock seat is probably very similar to my 919's seat and we've logged many an eight hour day on it. Not pleasurable by any means, but doable and certainly nothing that would prevent me from buying a 6th gen.

 

I switched from a Katana 600 to a 6th gen. My wife actually likes the seat on the VFR. Much more comfortable, and it doesn't have an angle to it that throws her into my back when braking.
Grip tape on the sides of the tank would go a long way, when it comes to braking with 2-up. Less slide is never a bad thing. LOL
I think the stock suspension is adequate as it sits, but I could see how getting it modified to your weight and riding style could dramatically improve it.

 

I am sold on Techspec tank grips, have em on my 9'r and they do their job of keeping the driver from sliding. I have also had good luck with wrapping an eight inch wide swath of tool box drawer liner around the pillion section to keep her from sliding. Drawer liner is very similar to the "triboseat" material and can be had for next to nothing.

 

I am 190lb +105lb girl and we ride our '03 all the time with a loaded set of Givi v35's and it has plenty of power and suspension left for more weight. Previously had a 1997 and it had 69,000 miles and we rode it all the time as well with no problem.

 

Thanks Rex, I bought an '08 last weekend... cheers!

 

A few thoughts on this.

I live high in a ski resort on the Swiss/French border in the Alps and often carry a pillion during summer tours. The 800 VFR has no shortage of power when riding fully laden with two up - at altitude or elsewhere. You may need to stir the gears more than the litre plus bikes but they make a very capable tourer. If you opt to fit helibars they provide a more upright riding position which greatly reduces the load on your wrists and makes long cross Europe runs far more comfortable.

You will find adjusting the suspension for solo/two up riding is a lot easier with the ABS models, as its a quick no tools required change. Just add/subtract a few clicks on the preload adjuster. (The non ABS versions require a bit of wrenching).

If the bike is fitted with the official honda top box and hard luggage panniers/carrier system, this provides your pillion with grab rails and a decent back-rest and has ample carrying capacity for two on long tours - assuming you are sensible. Unladen these bikes are a bit top heavy, so its important to balance loads between the panniers and put any heavy stuff right at the bottom of the panniers. The 45 litre top box is vast - plenty big enough to hold a two person tent, sleeping bags and loads of extra stuff, but don't be tempted to fill it with really heavy kit as it can make the bike quite a handful.

If you are carrying an adult pillion and loads of luggage, it will put the bike close to its all up max load weight! So don't get carried away with the packing, and check your tyre pressures. When the bike is fully loaded, I find that upping the tyre pressures by a couple of pounds front and rear improves the handling - but each to their own.

(Keeping up with friends riding an FJR was not a problem.)

 

Thanks for the advice Skimad4x4! I am only using the side panniers at this point, but a top box could be in the future.

 

I just purchased a 2009 VFR 800 from the classified here. Have completed 3 rides in 2 weeks. Last one with 2 up, and frankly that was the main reason I bought it. I already own and ride a CBR 600RR and LOVE that machine for the track, high performance canyon carving, etc., but not for 2 up.

My impressions are pretty positive on the VFR! I'm rapidly becoming quite attached to that machine. Especially with 2 on board it just does a better job (handles help) with it's added weight and seating position. Haven't had it on serious twisties with 2 up yet, but so far seems like it will be very much at home. The gal I had on the back weighs only about 105 lbs, so perhaps not so friendly with more weight, but I think it will do very well overall.

 

Best suggestion for Sports Touring on your VFR especially 2 up with gear is to invest in an after market rear shock with reservoir, had found the stock shock turns pogo after 3 or so hours of hard riding through twisties on a hot day.

 

Thx for the info. Is there a specific rear shock you would recommend for the VFR? How long does it take for the "Pogo" mode to settle back down on the OEM shock?

Thanks again!

 

Jet, Check out Daugherty Motorsports. Jamie can probably set you up with an inexpensive solution that will fit your needs. For less than the price for an aftermarket shock alone, I was able to setup both the front and rear. I grabbed an VFR ABS shock of of eBay for about $40, and sent that to Jamie to have it re-valved and re-sprung. It was one of the best investments I made to date. The main reason I grabbed the ABS shock was for it's remote preload adjuster, it wakes it easier to adjust ofr the different weights I ride with, with work gear, without work gear, with the wife, etc.

 

My wife does not have enough 'padding' to sit on that pillion seat for any length of time, so we would be heading back home after 20-30 minutes. As for power, yeah - I think the VFR800 is fine for 2-up. I'm ~205 and she's ~ 120, so that would not be my biggest problem. We tried that on a kawi 1600 meanstreak and I bought a better seat - but she didn't like that either. My solution: I bought a convertible and she's okay with that. I save my VFR for 1-up and love it that way.

But - if you want to use the VFR for 2-up - I recommend a better pillion seat. Just my 2 cents.

 

The seat is more of an issue than power and handling for us. Even with the Sargent seat the pillion section is still not that comfortable. I may just go to a upholsterer and see what they can do. The wife likes going on rides but she just can't stay on for long periods of time, which limits our riding distances. Although she was able to endure 3 full days of riding for last year's R3 event!