DO I WANT a Power Commander??

Long time lurker. Question: Do i want a VFR with a power commander? I've been searching hi and low and finally found an 04 with 10k for round 4700.00. Never wrecked, pipes, couple bells and whistles. Has a power commander.

I guess bottom line. Do i want a bike with a power commander or do i want one that is "stockish" any pro or con?

I appreciate the info and knowledge on this forum.

Y'all will pretty much determine if i buy. I'll definitely post pics.

 

For the 6th Gen, a Power Commander is a MUST. It eliminates the FI jerkiness issues and it smooths out the VTEC transition on the pre-2006 models. If it didn't come with one, then it would be on your "to buy" list and it runs around $300. Good luck with the purchase and let us know how it goes.

 

Many ride without one but if the bike come with one then that a plus
As Stewart said it does help smooth out the throttle.

 

If it comes with one then I dont see whats the problem...If you like the bike, run it with the power commander and without... then decide what you like better.... I think it would be better to have the option rather than buying the bike then realizeing that you would like to have the PC.

 

fair enough. also, do i want abs or not. this one would have abs as well as a stabilizer...

sorry to piece meal my post... abs/pc/steering stab 10k/ 4700.00

thanks again

 

Power Commander: yes
ABS: yes
Steering stabilizer: I wouldn't pay extra for it

$4700? Sounds pretty good to me.

 

I would bargain down to $4500
I think it is a fair price with some goodies

 

SO, this would be the first bike i'm buying with one (power commander) already "integrated" and i have a somewhat sour taste in my mouth regarding engine mods and electric mods...

i read alot of good sh_it about them but really don't know how to take it.

ALSO...maybe i'm not really a "good" enough rider to notice.

if i'm an "average" rider to "extended" new rider or whatever title you want to asign, will i notice?


at the end of the day. **** every one listen **** it's not about what the power commander can get me, it's about getting a great unit that is going to leg out the many years i plan to own it... consider this, as weak as it sounds, my mid life crisis. so clearly i may not be able to even discern the differences.

thanks again.

Also, i don't think the dude is going to budge below 5k.

 

Pfft - walk away. I see bikes just as good here for less than 5 and newer than 04 all the time. Unless this thing has all the farkles, or you live in California where everything is expensive, just bide your time until another VFR comes along.

 

Blatant: I am very much like you, I want any used bike that I buy to be as stock as it can possibly be.
Power commander is fine....as long as it's tuned properly. If it's just got a some extraneous map slapped in it, then chances are the bike does NOT run as good as it could. Dyno tuning a PC is the only way to do it and make it run totally "right", but just having the PC is a plus I would say. It's always said that from 06 on the throttle transition got better....I say BS to that because my 07 was the jerkiest most unsmooth machine in the off/on throttle transition I ever owned. Had I kept it, it woulda got a PC, no question. My 98 VFR is 100x smoother in the same transition.
ABS?? Unecessary. But if it has it, and you want it, then OK.
Steering stabilizer? I'm on my 2nd VFR, had a 6th gen first and now I have a 5th gen, I ride very hard, I have never once experienced the need for a stabilizer on these bikes....they are very stable machines. Maybe at 10/10ths on a track you might, but in everyday riding, don't need it. But again...if it has one, there's nothing wrong with that.

 

In '06 it was the VTEC transition that got changed, I don't believe it was the throttle. Like you, my '07 was unpleasant and in my opinion, unridable at slow speeds until the PC went on. I too owned a 5th Gen and it was smooth and did not require a PC. With the PC, my '07 is as smooth as my 5th Gen ever was.

 

Yes you may be right....we were talking about two different "transitions". I was referring to the slow speed, parking lot type on/off throttle situations. The 07 bumped and jerked and drove me nuts. As far as the VTEC transition on that bike, it wasn't too bad, but I still maintain that VTEC on a motorcycle is completely useless. I do not know what the reasons all were that Honda utilized it starting in 2002, but in my opinion, from a purely subjective functionality standpoint, and as a rider that got SO SICK of feeling it kick in and kick out....kick in and kick out.... it was just plain annoying. And when Honda utilized it in 02, the bike GAINED zero HP, but LOST some torque....I do not deny that there are things on the 02-up models that are better than my 98, but the engine to me ain't one of them.

 

Blatant, if that bike is in really good condition I would buy it. The goodies that are on it are all pluses and make it a better than stock bike. Most of the goodies you won't know that their there unless you remove them and ride without them. Obviously you can't remove the ABS but the only time you might realize that is there is in that extreme situation and it might just save your ass. PCV improves drivability and if you wanted to experiment someday you could load a different map and see how that affects the FI. Steering stabilizers aren't cheap and you could sell that if you like. In your earlier post you mentioned it had a pipe on it. Do you know what make? Not that it matters, it's a plus. You also mentioned the asking price is $4700 but later mentioned you didn't think that he would budge under $5000. If you haven't seen many VFR's in your area I am inclined to think that this a good deal for under 5k.
That's my take. John

 

For what its worth, the ABS option added about $750 to $1,000 to the original sticker price.

So maybe its "fair" to say somewhere in the $4500 range is OK?

Its your money, blatant. Don't let us tell you how to spend it. Are you getting a steal? Probably not. Are you being totally screwed? Not at all.

Don't let the PC influence you one way or another. Its on there now. You don't want it, unplug it. Done.

 

Agreed. If you find yourself at the slower speeds, then I found the FI to be unacceptable which is why a PC was must for me.

Coming off a 5th Gen to my 6th Gen, I agree that it was not necessary. I think it was more of showing that they could do it since VTEC is pretty common on the car motors. The way my bike runs right now, I don't even notice it.

 

thanks everyone, that bike is still there. I'm going with my gut on this one so i'm sorta holding out, something about it doesn't sit well. I like the look of the 6th gen better. My 5 gens were so good that i'd be disappointed if the newer one had a bunch a crappy bmw style quirks. Twitchiness etc.

guess i'll be holding out a bit longer.