New and have been lurking!

I have been riding street motorcycles since I was 15 years old. Started on 74 Honda 550, Honda Ace 750, and then moved on to Buells, 2004 12S, 2005 12SS, and now currently own a 2009 Buell 1125R, and a 2009 Buell 12R.

With the recent issues with Buell motorcycles and the availabilty of ordering parts I am seriously considering a 2010 or newer VFR 1200 F. I live in Michigan and no dealer I talk to is willing to allow me to ride this Beautiful motorcycle before committing a large sum of money. I feel like I have done a fair amount of research, but still have a few out standing questions. Another bit of information, I have attempted to turn all of my sport bikes in to sport touring bikes.



So on to my questions, I found a dealer with a new stock 2010 VFR 1200F who has qouted me $13,500, plus tax and title. He said he would be willing to give me Honda accessories for dealer cost installed, but the prices he qouted do not seem any lower than what you can find on line. For example :
Air deflector set $133.36
Heated grip set $267.61
Attachment kit $15.26
Saddlebag set $1069.82

Does this sound like a fair deal to you guys? I have seen used 2010's for as low as $8500, put that one got snagged the first day it was posted.

My second question is about the learning ECM's, I know I read some where on this forum about this but now can not find the thread again. I was just curious what every one was using to help tune their aftermarket exhaust. I have been looking at the DAM, and the Weirkess GP.

Thanks for any helpful advise. I am sorry if this is one of those newby post that annoy other people, and I am asking questions that have been asked a million times before.

Cheers
Brad

 

:welcome: to the VFR World
You are in the right place
I am not a 7th gen guy so hope other will chimp in shortly. There are a few memebrs here that have been tinkerlink with the 7th gen quite a bit.
Make yourself like at home, those bike you got are beast. Do you check with Chiropratic after each ride?

 

Welcome....!

 

Welcome aboard.

I think the product you are referring to is the Bazazz?

Good luck in your conquest. Not sure what thread you were previously reading, but I always found this one to be helpful, even though I don't own a 7th Gen.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/7th-generation-2010-present/37405-1-year-later-review.html

 

Scubalong I am no stranger to some long miles, even with out a chiropractor!


But I also like to carve it up!


I have another question for those of you coming off or still currently owning sport bikes. My 1125r is 138 hp to the rear wheel and only weighs in at 390lbs, Am I going to be satisfied with the performance of a 600lbs 144hp bike? Does it truly handle so well that you don't notice a difference?

 

I bought a new 2010 DCT model in January 2012 for $11,500, after seeing the standard on sale for $9999. It was a good deal. I ordered my several extras online and installed myself with no issues. $13,500 sounds steep for what is now a three/four-model-year-old machine. Shop, negotiate hard, $9999's what I would be willing to pay for a 2010.

 

+1
Also you might want to create a new thread in 7th Gen section and hope you get better response. I rode my buddy Bueill at work and that monster is SICK a lot of torque and vibration :hss:

 

We all know what they say about oppinions, but here's mine anyway. I'm a sportbike guy to my core, but I also like long distance riding with the wife. I bought my new leftover 2010 manual last year when they were blowing them out and I paid $11,500. I was happy with that price although I saw them going for under $10K after I bought mine. So I agree that $13.5k is too much at this juncture, although you may have a hard time getting the same deals that were out there last year because I think the big dealer incentives from Honda are gone, but I don't know that to be a fact. As for if you'll be happy coming off the Buell and onto a VFR12...I'd say no. It's a great platform on which to build an ST, but out of the box it has issues that need addressed before it will handle like your Buell. Stock tires and suspension are absolute crap for "serious" sport riding. With that said, some luck and shopping got me a set of Mich PR3s, Ohlins springs, and a Penske shock for under a grand and the bike is absolutely transformed and I can now ride it in a manner that will scare more than a few sportbike guys. There are some low speed fueling issues, although some of us are more sensitive to it than others. I added a Two Bros Juice Box for a measley 2 bills and It's greatly improved. I also added a Corbin seat with backrest for the wife's benefit, a set of Heli Bars because I'm gettin' old, and a GPR Ti slip-on, cuz I'm not that old yet. ;-} The fuel economy sucks, although I suspect you're used to that. The fuel guage is a joke. And depending who you ask, the cruising range is a little short for LD riding. I can get 185 out of a tank with the wife on the back. I'd prefer a little more, but I'll learn to adapt. And let us not forget it calls for premium unleaded. I gave up my R1 after seven years because I just can't be trusted with that much hp in my right hand and getting too old to be running from the cops all the time. I rode FJR1300s for years, but they were never sporty enough for me and I always wished for a sportier sport tourer, and no, the C-14 didn't really do it for me either. Through lots of work I now have the sportier ST I always wanted. At $11.5k, I could afford to turn it into what I wanted. It's a real pleasure to ride now and I was not really a fan when I first got it. There are plenty of people who are totally happy with the bike right out of the box. But if you are truly a sport rider, I suspect it's shortcomings will become obvious quickly...especially coming off a sub 400 lb (can that be right?) Buell. The VFR12 is a torquey beast though, which is alway good for squirting out of corners.

YMMV

 

Understand the hesitation on plucking down 10G without a good long test ride. Unfortunately, dealers are just as hesitant to let you slice and dice with their brand new livestock for free. the best you could hope for is to find a dealer that has a used VFR1200 that they are more willing to let loose. Even then, not even a 3hr test ride is going to tell you everything about the bike and whether you are going to be happy with it long term. This is why I went thru 9 bikes since I got back riding 3yrs ago.

Haven't owned a Buell, but I was seriously considering the 1125CR as a replacement for my Aprilia RSV1000R Factory. I so loved the Rotax twin and the Brembo/Ohlins on the ape, but it would have been difficult to sport-tourer-ize it. In the end, the parts and service concerns scared me off the Buell, and I found a almost showroom stock '07 SV1000S. Gotta have a Twin.

The VFR1200 is an entirely different beast, and frankly, there is no telling if you will take to it. To you, it would probably feel like an Acura RLX, when you've been driving Mustang GT. It was my first V4, which took some getting used to at first, but I am liking it more and more now. If you've been tweaking sportbikes into ST's and are fine with the slightly relaxed sportbike posture, then you'll feel right at home with the VFR's ergos. Personally, I look at the VFR1200 not so much as a sport tourer, but as a gentlemen's sportbike that I can easily hang hard luggage.

The price you quoted are not great. I won't tell you how much I bagged mine for, but suffice it to say, patience, persistence, and frequent checking of CL, ebay, etc. do pay off. Also, lot of riders are willing to travel a bit to save a bundle. Good luck.

 

And once again DD tells us of his FJR daze..

BB sez try another dealer for a new 1200 or the many for sale sites. Many of the farkles you like can be obtained on line and are pretty much plug and play. Too bad about the Buells and the drying up of parts availability. Best damn thing HD ever did until they screwed Eric Buell..

When the 1200 were just coming out, lots of nay sayers kind of like the nay sayers when HD went from knuckleheads to any kind of other head. (pun intended?) Most here were just going by spec and hadn't seen one, ridden one and were comparing the bike to the 750 and 800cc VFRs.

Parts for the 1200? I can still get parts for a 91 VFR I have..

Maybe consider a "regular" VFR for not as many pesos.. Hell of a bike..

 

Isn't it odd that the dealers won't let you test drive their "expensive" new bikes worth what they are yet if you go to GM, Ford or Chrysler dealership to buy a 50K vehicle they throw that keys at you.

 

Cars don't fall down quite as easily.

 

Was that really called for?

 

I, for one, am glad to hear an FJR rider saying it isn't sporty enough for them. I've always had high regards for the FJR, and so it was a serious contender when I was looking to replace my C14 with a sportier ST. After a couple of test rides on two different vintages of FJRs, I concluded that it is best ridden at 4/10th my max pace. At that pace, it felt neutral and livelier than the C14. Pushed a bit harder though, say at 6/10th, the FJR started to feel a bit out of its element. I don't ride more than 6/10th on the street. That's reserved for Track Days. The VFR12 OTOH feels much more composed at the same 6/10th. bear in mind I weigh 175lbs, so most stock suspensions (especially Japanese ones) are dialed for very close to my wt.

Having been spoiled by great handling liter sports can be either a blessing or a curse, depending on your POV.

 

So the answer is find a less expensive bike and spend some money on suspension upgrades. I mean I am already planning on spending at least $2000 in bags, grips, and wind deflectors. I guess that is another part that kills me, if your selling this bike as a sport touring bike why are the hard bags extra?

Any one in Michigan want to trade bikes for a couple hours? I willing to let you ride the 1125R or the 12R. The 390lbs on the 1125R is dry weight, so add 15lbs for fuel, oil, and coolant, and another 200lbs with me on it and we are still just over 600lbs. HP to weight ratio is insane, pulls like a freight train. All parts have to be ordered online from either American Sport Bike in Californina or Erik Buell Racing in Wisconsin. I do a lot of my own wrenching, but I like the idea that there is a Honda dealer in every major city in the US. I want bullet proof reliabilty!

 

Ahmmmm. Like... are you suggesting I tend to drop mine?

I hear ya, but my argument is that you can damage a car as well be it door dings, rubbing cubs or what ever. The dealership only needs to insure the bikes for this type of thing and or have you sign an agreement making you responsible for damages and then take a credit card as a deposit. I don't disagree with what you said, but it is doable to allow someone to test drive a bike they intend to buy, especially one where the customer is laying out a fair chunk of cash.

BTW. My dealership did not allow it either which did not impress me. Then again, mine was still in the crate, and I didn't even have a learners licence, nor had I ever ridden a bike before. So I guess their reluctance was understandable.

 

Honda is so eager to sell this bike to anyone for cheap they will let you ride it if you insist I think. I know I wouldn't have bought one without a test ride and they jumped at letting me ride. Okay the 100 hp version but you get the idea after an hour or so. I was sold and the dealer went bankrupt a few weeks later.
So I bought one elsewhere and they knocked 1000 euro off without me even asking.

Later they tried to get that back through service bills but that didn't take long. I haven't set foot in there since.
From what I hear 10k or 11k USD is quite possible.

And best leave any Honda mods in the shop. They're crazy expensive compared to other Japanese brands.
I have the top box. Cost me an arm and a leg but I figured it was worth it until I saw the rusting base plate and until I bought another helmet which won't fit in it.

 

The dealers call their own shots. Some have test bikes that are rideable, some don't. Basic horse sense on this one. No endorsement and no ride, Get spotted as a looky-loo or a tire kicker or one of those dudes who spend entire Saturdays hanging round their favorite retail store looking at computer stuff, photo stuff and bikes. Maybe some day one of the real smart guys will combine the three and they will be lined up at the door before opening time..

There are insurance and liability issues to contend with as well. Shops and dealers get very used to spotting a joy-rider. Just walking into a shop or dealer and asking to ride one bike or another is a tell.

Also very difficult to ride a bike whilst still in a crate even though many here can do just that we being the best, fastest , most knowledgeable and well dressed dudes on the planet.

I hope this doesn't sound like some plot that promotes exclusivity. Just the other day, a dude in a gun shop would not let me test fire a 50 caliber machine gun. I showed him and didn't buy it.

 

Ain't that the freakin' truth.

 

the Suzuki demo truck was at my local dealer and it test rode a Hyabusa today...def not trading the VFR12 on the short around town, 10 bike test ride i was able to get a few impressions and the VFR wins hands down in that situation just on the low rpm power advantage over the busa( was never able to it over 5-6 k rpm but that's what it's like riding in the NYC suburbs on a thursday afternoon)...VFR is more comfy, better brakes, less vibes...the busa shifts smoother..dash was hard to read, too busy
but it's strange, even when Honda has the demo rides as they did when the VFR was new, none of the dealers in my area participate