2000 VFR vs 2005 Ducati ST3

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Eddie Haskell.
Those of you old enough to know the name are old enough to lust after Honda’s 800 VFR with gear-driven cams.
But don’t get your knickers in a twist. I’m not about to say the Interceptor is akin to that sniveling weasel who made us all want to puke with the classic saccharine-sweet line, “Good morning, Mrs. Cleaver.”
Actually it’s worse: the fifth generation VFR is Beaver’s guiless big brother Wally, who wouldn’t say shit if he had a mouth full! There’s not an ounce of the bad boy in the machine the VFR’s once high-tech all- aluminum frame is carrying around.
Which is not to say the Honda lacks character. It has PLENTY of character. But like Wally it’s just so damn wholesome!
The Ducati ST3 is an entirely different story. But The Duke ain’t Eddie Haskell, either. It’s the kind of rogue the lick-spittle toady would LOVE to be - sophisticated, dashing and devil-may-care. My red machine reminds me of the Euro-trash Italian “princes” I used to play with during my Palm Beach days – the kind of who wore frayed jackets, long sleeve shirts with unbuttoned cuffs and never had a dime in their pockets.
They traded on their elan – and the gals, even the rich socialites who should know better, ate it up. With both hands!
When it comes to Ducati, I should probably know better, too. I’ve seen them spontaneously combust while resting on wheel stands on pit row, gasoline melted the tank on my 2012 848, which also has a mysterious electrical glitch I have learned to live with.
Still, the ST3 does strange things to my brain – even though mine, a 2005 model, seems to have led a particularly harsh life based on mysterious fairing cracks (but no scrapes). My VFR is a 2000 that appears to have been pampered despite having about 35,000 miles on the clock to The Duke’s 25,000.
The Honda has better over-all fit and finish – and the paint is still lustrous. It’s a testament to just how exceptional the bike was – and is. My VFR reminds me of a 2009 CBR600RR I used to have. Despite the difference in engine size, they seems to have similar power – and are both very compact. The CBR has far better brakes and, of course, is lighter. But the VFR is more comfortable.
However, the ST3 takes the comfort honors in this “sport-touring” comparison. You sit a bit more upright and ride a tad higher, giving you a better view of the road as well as taking away wrist strain. The larger fairing provides better wind and weather protection and the leg position (for me 28-inch inseam) feels just right. Not that the VFR is uncomfortable by any stretch.
The Ducati’s suspension works better, too, floating over pavement irregularities where the VFR seems choppy. I ride the same 90-mile section of I-95 six days a week (for years) so it’s become my test bed. I know every ripple, pot hole, seam and expansion joint. For pure super-slab touring, the Italian is the stallion. It is more stable in crosswinds (the VFR is down right twitchy) and has more punch for passing. It also wins in the braking wars. I hate the Honda’s linked stoppers. Period.
That said, I’d be more inclined to take the V-4 on the track. The agility that makes it blow around in high winds would make it a relative joy at the raceway. There the compact ergos would work in its favor, though I suspect the Ducati would turn quicker lap times. That has been my personal racing experience. I ride my 900ss faster than an inline four of either 600 or 1000 cc.
So let’s cut to the chase. I’d rather go drinking with the bad boy Ducati and leave Mr. Mild home to watch the dogs. But, frankly, I don’t trust The Duke to get me back – in one piece or at all. He’s likely to abandon me in some dark dive or pass out flat on his handsome face. So the Honda is my designated driver. Wholesome is a good thing.

 

Was this supposed to be a blog entry?

 

It was a dark and stormy night when Eddy Wayne Haskell cereal killer stole my Cheerios...

 

1996 VFR 750 vs. 2003 Ducati 996

Ah yeah ok, Nevermind.


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I've always wondered about the ST. I love my v-tech, but there is something about a Ducati. The sound and mystique is intoxicating. Thanks for the fun write-up

 

I love the idea of owning a Ducati and would snap up an old 916 if only the service intervals weren't such a pain in the arse.

 

If the muse hits me, I may do a shootout between the mach 1 91 and a 1953 Velocette Scrambler. Oh Shit I forgot, I sold the Velo.

 

@reek: I recently looked at a stunning yellow 916. But I let my wallet talk me out of it - sort of like deciding to drive by a titty bar instead of dropping in. Practical, but you can't help but think you're making a mistake. That is the allure of Ducati and most Italian exotics.
Speaking of exotic, I fell in moto-lust yesterday looking at a new EBR production bike ($18,900 sticker). The thing is gorgeous and looks superbly made. The paint, fit, finish and components rival - or exceed - the best of any production bike I've seen from any manufacturer. Leaves the Panigale far behind. Supposedly 419 lbs. wet (no fuel) and 182 HP. My 2009 CBR600RR was the same weight and I got it down into the low 390s as a race machine with 110 HP. So the EBR must be a monster! I'm told it's very torquey unlike the Panigale (which I've ridden at the track) that's more about the top end of the power band.
For us here in VFR world, the new 1300 Honda CXT (?) with the V-Four, is very comfortable in the show room and looks good too. My only negative impression is the handle bars look very skinny and cheap and are a bit high.

 

You should do it. If you still have the brain cells.

 

Finding one's muse has little to do with live brain cells. At 65 as your stated age, both right and left brain cells are deteriorating.

Whislt one can discover one's muse by cruising bike shops (this is called the Vroom-Vroom Syndrome) I find mine many times in titty bars.

Great job BTW of squeezing in how many bikes you have, had and are eyeballing somewhere and lest we forget,
one of the fast guys too.

The quality and capabilities of the 90-93 VFRs is well documented in most of the motorcycle press with few exceptions.

The Velo went to a good home. It is being restored by it's new owner and a highly regarded Velocette specialist near Tacoma Washington.

Sorry you missed the satire. Linear thinking must be a challenge.

 

All "Ducs" are not Desmoducs. and to think some dudes bitch about shimming VFRs after sometimes 60-70K miles.

The Duke is Geoff Duke who is still alive at last look. Though contested the first fast guy to lap the Isle of Man at an average speed of 100mph. He fell short by less than a second on a Gilera

Born 1923.

The fast bikes of the day then were amazingly well sorted. The tires were shit.

 

2001 VFR800 or 1996 VFR750 vs. 2006 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100 (another Italian V-twin).

Well, the Guzzi's clutch gave up the ghost last fall, and I haven't had a chance to replace it (major job, as it is laid out like a RWD car, you need to split the transmission from the engine to the clutch, but, before you do that, you need to remove the rest of the bike from the engine and transmission.

The '96 VFR has served daily rider duty since, and now the '01 VFR is going to take over that role.

Despite this, I still love my Guzzis.

 

I spent this afternoon zipping the back roads with a guy on a new Duc Hypermotard. It seemed like a lot of fun :congratulatory: He said that the oil change interval is 10,000 miles and the valve check is something like 16,000. Much nicer intervals than the old Ducs

 

I love my VFR and I love my 748. Two very different motorcycles. My brother has an ST4, and it is very fun to ride. But I like my VFR better . . .



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Great Bikes! Do you have Dave Richardson's book on Moto-Guzzis? If not, try Moto-International in Seattle. Talk to Dave or Lisa. Voted best dealership several times. Big Guzzi crew there too. Big eaters too.. Rode about 100 miles on one of the OHC models several years back.

 

I don't have the book (should probably get a copy someday), but am very familiar with Moto International, as they are my primary parts supplier. Yes, definitely great people.

 

You may have dealt with author Greg Field who is now with Boeing. Lisa is the sweetie of the Seattle MC scene. There is a substantial Guzzi following in the Seattle area.

Seen Dave's book several times. He is a wiz..

Old joke.. If Harley-Davidson made airplanes, would you fly?" Moto-Guzzi engines are used in drones.. There is one guy in the Midwest somewhere that converts HD engines to aircraft specs. For lots of pesos..

 

When I call, it is usually Pat or Lisa that answers the phone.

I am familiar with the small-block based Guzzi drone engine. One of the WildGuzzi.com forum members just acquired one of the engines via some surplus sale. IIRC, he is going to use it on an air-boat.

 

I don't know Pat. You are in good hands with Lisa. Lisa ran an aftermarket shop in Seattle for years. (Seattle Cycle Center)

I will look up that drone engine..