Lost to the insurer's - again...

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by VFRnewbie, Jul 14, 2016.

  1. VFRnewbie

    VFRnewbie New Member

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    Why must owning a motorcycle mean putting up with this shit?!

    My much loved 800 fi was reversed into and knocked over by one of my neighbors (yet again) earlier this week, so has been taken away by the insurance firm's contracted company to be assessed for repair quote. Likely to be deemed uneconomical to repair if my (extensive) prior experience is anything to go by...

    It could have been worse - some inevitable fairing damage, plus the usual mirror, bar-end, levers, tank damage and such. Not fun :confusion:

    In the mean time, I've been provided an NC750x in temporary replacement:

    DSC_0679.jpg

    What happened to the principle of like-for-like replacement? Half the power and none of the character has left me rather uninspired to go for a ride :blue:

    It's comfy compared to my VFR, I'll give it that, and quite practical I guess, but good lord is it bland! I think perhaps its one redeeming quality is that my 6'6" self fits a little better on it than on my beleaguered VFR. So much so in fact that it makes me wonder whether if it comes to buying a replacement rather than getting mine returned to me repaired (properly I hope - I didn't much like letting it get taken away by a bunch of people I have no reason to trust with it) , I perhaps ought to consider something a bit more upright in stance than another 800 fi or Vtec. VFRs are all I've ever owned since passing my test 6 years ago. They're brilliant, I'm sure I don't have to convince this particular audience of that, but part of me wonders if it could be time for a change - blasphemy I know :eek:ffended:

    Any suggestions for a bike for a tall guy that doesn't have the flavour of a nothing-pie like my loan-NC? Feel free to suggest a VFR12 :tongue-new:
    Although I couldn't afford I suspect, and would be reluctant as it is to spend what for me would be a heap of money on something shiny and beautiful that might be trashed by yet another careless driver.

    EDIT: Dammit! why does the uploader keep rotating my photos through 90 degrees?!
     

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  2. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    Find a new parking space.
     
  3. VFRnewbie

    VFRnewbie New Member

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    I own neither a garage nor a driveway... Perhaps I could park in my garden if I rode through my house at the end of every ride.
     
  4. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Sounds like a good plan. That being, look into the Africa twin, one needs long legs from the start, and it's a very nice bike, I think you would approve.
     
  5. jev.

    jev. over there

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    Another vote for the Africa Twin. If I had the money, I'd have one in a heartbeat over the VFR.
     
  6. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    No sliders how about some red Cones!
     
  7. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Buy your neighbour a new house. Far far away. I mean WTF. He backed into your bike twice? That could have been two kids. Maybe the authorities need to look see if he needs to be re-examined.

    Insurance companies? I hate the fuggers and fee sorry for all those people who who have to broker for them. They are the ones who wrongly take the heat from the consumer on the front line, complaining about how the insurance companies screw and rape the customers. Condoms are optional and are seldom used.
     
  8. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    If I knew which neighbor did it, there would be no need for an insurance claim. I would claim a chunk of his ass if he didn't pay for the bike. It takes very little to total a VFR or any bike FWIW. Take a hammer to the frame and put a ding on it if you want it totaled.
     
  9. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Did you report it to the police. They "could" examine your bike for tell tale marks that would have been put there by a vehicle. Seeing as this has happened to you twice, and it could just as easily been a kid, your local police's traffic division should be looking at who in your immediate area should be looked at to be re-examined. Physical matching damage to suspect vehicles is a very simple process. They could also look for paint transfers. In other words, their jobs.

    I did for many years with lots of success.
     
  10. GrimOutlook

    GrimOutlook New Member

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    Newbie, I've not much experience with the Vfr outside of mine, however, with the recent electrical debacle I spoke to the owners of all the local shops I trust, and all the local honda shop lead techs. They are all very friendly, had wonderful things to say about my vtec, the ones who had mine in their shops before I owned it, heard 3 stories of the 12... All plagued with electrical problems, one of the honda guys traded his vtec in on a 12, and made it sound as if he regrets that decision as the bike no longer runs, after replacing the computer and half the wiring harness and still no run!

    Ime, other than the electrical problems, I feel that for a fuel injected v4 800, it's almost gutless. I don't like running around in vtec alot, I'm afraid of blowing the thing up, as such @ first I was really interested in the 1200, but alas, I think 1200 owners themselves talked me out of it. I'm if this helps u with your decision but I thought I'd throw it out there just in case.

    Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
     
  11. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Riding in Vtec will not hurt your bike. They are built for that. Mine is in Vtec mode often, very often and I have over 198,000 km on mine. @ GrimOutlook. Just get on the bitch and ride it like a cheap whore.
     
  12. RobVG

    RobVG Member

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    Not at all.

    The Emperor has no clothes.

    The 6th gen is simply an uncomfortable bike even with lowering pegs, heilbars and a Sargent seat - at least for a middle aged guy with sore muscles, occasional back problems and a neck injury.

    After 45 minutes you find yourself starting to use the throttle lock and wonder how hard it is to install cruise control. After an hour or so you start hanging one or the other asscheek completely off the seat. It's for this reason I'm reluctant to ride my buddy's recently acquired ST 1300. I might want one.

    I suppose if one is in good physical shape, with a strong core, one might find it more comfortable than a full on crotch rocket.

    Would I ever sell my Interceptor? Yes.

    If a decent 2014 came along :smile-new:
     
  13. Nelix

    Nelix New Member

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    Why would you not use the VTEC? Buy a Honda melody.
     
  14. Sniper

    Sniper New Member

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    I'm 5'10", 55 years old, and I can ride my gen 5 all day long. The previous owner did put higher clip-ones on, tho.


    If you're looking for a bike for tall guys, go to a KTM dealership. You'll find something there that will fit. I really like my KTMs, but they are a polar opposite of a VFR.
     
  15. VFRnewbie

    VFRnewbie New Member

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    Thanks for the advice guys. It's interesting to hear different opinions on other options - as well as what you'd do to the unfortunate who hypothetically damaged your pride and joy....

    I stopped short of grievous bodily harm fortunately!

    So, the long and the short of it is that I yesterday did something that I may live to regret, That is - I bought myself a Blackbird :behindsofa:

    I don't have my hands on it yet, but hopefully take delivery on Monday, and don't yet have my poor unrepaired VFR back yet either...

    I feel a bit foolish, having bought a bike I've never ridden an example of, but nevertheless excited to have a go. I am hoping for a VFRish ride, with bottomless power - what I'm a little worried about is whether I will end up with a bike that I can't ride for more than half an hour without needing a trip to the chiropractor! Being tall, I fit on my 800Fi in a way that means that short trips are fine, but I struggle with more than a couple of hours and start to feel scrunched and in need of a stretch.

    I'd like to think that whilst the turn in will doubtless be a little slower given the longer wheelbase, I can still hustle it through the bends well enough to put a grin on my face and a very thin strip indeed on my tyre edges :tranquillity:

    Time will tell I guess! I will not disappear from the forum, and will offer my thoughts on the new (new to me at least, 2006) machinery for any who might be interested :smile-new:
     
  16. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Everyone should get off the bike more often than every two hours. It's good for the body, mind, and your ass.
     
  17. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Awesome!! If I found a Blackbird (as I had my eye out for both) before the VFR, I may have ended up with one. They don't come up for sale around here often. Where did you find yours? What color?
     
  18. Jeff_Barrett

    Jeff_Barrett Member

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    If I'm taking it easy I try and stop for at least 5 mins every hour.

    If I'm hauling ass I'll go tank to tank and rest at fuel up.
     
  19. GreyVF750F

    GreyVF750F Member

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    I did that 2 1/2 years ago. You have no idea what you just bought! Be careful of that right hand, the BB will shock you at how fast it really is. Super great long distance GT Sport machine. It puts a smile on my face every time I roll it out the driveway. I'm teaching myself how to just putt around on it and still have fun shifting gears. Short shifting is the answer cause if you even redline 2nd gear, your at a ton, with four gears left. Oh man hitting those other 4 are fun though.

    Anything you want to know about the bird is here. Great group of people, just like here.

    http://www.cbrxx.com/
     
  20. VFRnewbie

    VFRnewbie New Member

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    Well, black of course! Obviously the fastest colour :playful: I'll try to post some pics when I get my hands on it...

    I imagine owners tend to hold onto them, thus the rarity of private sales in you area I suppose. I'm lucky I guess as I'm in the UK and Honda sold many Blackbirds here so there are plenty for sale it seems, although in varying conditions of course.

    Nevertheless, mine's coming from 350 miles away, so I'm having in transported.
     
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