Hello! New West Palm Beach VFR'er! WANT MEETS!!!

Greetings! I'm Kazi and I recently got this amazing '97 VFR 750 from an older gentleman who is filthy stinking rich and owns two BMW superbikes in his garage. I got my almost pristine VFR in this amazing red with only 15k on the clock for $1700!!! It is unabused from what I can see; the chain is in good shape, panels are okay, and the forks were rebuilt and this bike is AMAZING from what I can see.

I'm coming from the car scene and I own a nice eclipse and an old euro spec '95 BMW M3 and man....I know speed but motorcycling is a completely new beast all on it's own. This VFR is THE bike. I only have 2 months of riding experience under my belt but woah....I am in LOVE with this thing.

Long post ahead so please pardon me....

I've already put 300 happy miles on this bike. I'm new to motorcycling....only have been riding for 2 months now. I'm from the car scene and this new world of motorcycling is amazingly different. People are kinder. The close-knitness is even better than ever and everyone is out to help each other regardless of make or model. Where it's the opposite for car folks. I love waving to fellow cyclists even if they're on a scooter!

I'm handy with tools and know my way around a car engine and suspension but...motorcycles...especially this one with full fairings....I don't quite know.

I started out on a shitty knock-off 250 because I didn't know any better and I regretted it....always failing me somehow. I figured it was only a matter of time before I got killed on it so I got rid of it with a quickness!! Not only that...but one time I tried to jump the pile of crap 250 (It was a 2012 btw) and it went from completely dead to possessed by demonic energy and flew forward....into my car....fml. THE KEY WAS NOT EVEN IN THE IGNITION. The max speed of 60mph didn't help either.

So I got rid of it and got an older generation EX250 ninja and I loved that for a while. Decent bike. Got compliments. Went way faster than the previous bike and was a dream to handle. But this bike also came with a few problems....chain was wearing fast, suspension was wonky, and generally it was getting clunkier as I rode it....I dunno what I expected because that bike had 22k miles on it. Again...I didn't know what I was doing. So eventually I tired of it....I felt confident enough in my riding skills....I'm an avid ATGATT and wear loads of gear at all times and I've already low sided a couple of times but got right back up and rode on. After my first fall I will never, ever ride without gear. Ever. Because I slid across the pavement and didn't feel a thing. I can imagine how bad it'd be if I were a squid.


So finally....I was scouring craigslist and one day I saw this VFR up and was curious about it. The bike was down the street from where I lived and the price looked too good to be true....I saw it....it was a much MUCH bigger bike than what I have ridden thus far. The 750cc's also intimidated me. But when I pressed that button and heard that gear cam V4 rumbling motor...I knew I had to have it. After a few tense seconds of walking the bike around to get a feel for it and my nerve wracking shivers of touching the throttle (I was scared to blip it and end up in a tree within a second) the bike went and suddenly....I felt fine. Everything became natural and the bike ; although big was graceful and a dream to ride and handle.

Now I'm sitting happily with it and after much research I am truly impressed with this machine and am happy this bike has legendary reliability and has a long LONG life ahead of it. So any advice , tips, tricks and ANYTHING at all would be more than appreciated by all! I'm here to learn! so please TEACH ME!!! Thanks!!!

Without anymore delay....PICS!!!!!!!!!

 

Welcome to the site. Stick around and learn from some very talented and knowledgeable peeps here. Good on you for posting up pix right away. We like that. And great on you for ATGATT. But I couldn't help but notice a couple pix had someone, presumably you, riding your bike without the most important piece of gear, the lid. Obviously trick photography being used there.

 

I am guilty. Those pictures were taken of me when I was test riding the bike. I was in a small enclosed spot and was trying to move the bike around to prep for going on the road. In my excitement I realized I didn't have a lid. I immediately stopped after completing the turn in the picture and put it on. After that I make it a point to be lidded. I've seen enough perish and gruesome photos a plenty.

 

:welcome: to the madness from the West Coast :wave:
Very nice introduction, glad to have you and congratulation on your new to you ride.
You just stole that bike ound: VFR is one of the world finest just like Italian women :wink:
Keep the rubbers side down and ATGATT please

 

Hello, Yes I am der-active-south-floridian here :smile: You stole that bike, Hell of a price for her fer sure! Lot of bike for the money. Was up in Delray the other day picking up a pooch, we live in Broward county, little ways from Palm Beach County. If you have some questions or some other tuning things, let me know via pm and we can talk, Cheers, and keep the shiny side up...:vtr2:

No buggering needed :thumbsup:

 

Thanks for the warm welcome gentlemen! Yes!! I get paid this Friday and I'm going to complete my starter MSF course and take intermediate and then advance courses ASAP!

ATGATT FTW!!! After I complete my course I'm gonna go out and get a Sedichi track suit for regular riding around. I work overnights at a hotel as a office dude so it works! I wear knee-pads, ankle armored riding boots, a padded textile jacket, gloves and helmet of course but I still feel vulnerable y'know? (I'm on a budget so it's better than cyclegears "bilt" suit")

riderVFR I live near the wellington area and go up near boca frequently! Lets link up sometime! Were you at the Broward motorsports bike night tonight by chance?



So I went to my first bike night experience with the girl! Seeing all those other bikes all in one spot put me in awe as there must have been like 70+ bikes in one parking lot. And man...she is a fatty! But I love her because even next to those super model thin and sleek bikes....she looks so so delicious.

I have been advised to ride solo for now and to stay away from groups. Almost immediately I was beset by the Honda folks to join their riding crews. All of their bikes consisted of CBR's and the like. No other VFR's But I did get lots of compliments! And people seemed to be impressed that I was hauling around a 750 with such little experience riding. I feel so comfortable on this VFR. It's not hard to push around or keep between my legs at all and I feel like I can trust this bike a lot more through leans than even my ninja 250!


More pictures of the bike!

 

One thing that bothered me.....a TON of people were scarily underequipped with gear....the riding crews would wear just their helmet and their rider's club vest and that's it....I saw a bunch of icon stryker vests and what not but rarely did I see a full jacket; even resting on the bike. And for the fellas that did wear a jacket...they wore tennis shoes and no leg protection. What the heck? I saw almost nobody wear boots. I was easily one of the most heavily equipped person there and I was wearing entry level gear.....why?

 

They are squids and registered organ donors. Don't be led down the wrong path but their cavalier attitude towards their personal safety. You may never be invovled in a mishap but if you ever are, you will be thanking your lucky stars you decided to remain diligent about ATGATT. For pants, kevlar lined jeans is a good alternative to leather pants, just not quite as good. You can get them with pockets inside the knees to put armour in. I have never had any but think I will get some next spring.

You mentioned you feel quite comfortable on the bike. Just be aware, this bike is quite heavy and it is very top heavy. If it starts to go over on you, you will need every bit of strength you have in your legs to stop it from falling. SO be sure of your footing when you come to a stop. Watch for gravel and damaged road surfaces or whatever that may cause you to loose your balance. They are a bitch to pick up on your own unless you know how. There are videos out there that show you how to lift the VFR by yourself. One video has a small woman lifting the bike by herself. Just use the Google Search engine and you should be able to find the link to the videos.

Good luck on your course. That is a must.