VFR mentioned in new Ducati SuperSport review

Oh goody - does this mean I'm no longer on your ignore list? I knew you couldn't live without me! :witless:

Seriously though, that's an awesome VFR in the vids - but the vid looks like it's ten years old - what made you (I assume) go to the dark side and get rid of the VFR? I'm guessing a bad back due to obesity or old age? :glee:

 

Oh damn - that IS creepy!

I should probably apologize to NorcalBoy for my last quip about obesity and old age, that was pretty mean even by my standards. Sorry NorcalBoy if you're reading this - if you're ever in Orlando I'll buy you a beer and we can make amends.

 

I predict this new Ducati SuperSport will be SLOWER from 0-60 and the SAME or SLOWER in the quartermile than the 8th gen VFR800 Interceptor. This despite the Ducati having more displacement, more hp, more torque, and less weight than the Interceptor.

I haven't seen any actual test times for the new Ducati - apparently the recent press launch in Spain was on a wet road and track and nobody has reported any times to my knowledge. But I base my prediction on the following prior tests and stats:

2014 Honda VFR800 Interceptor (529 pounds wet per Honda): 0-60 in 3.0 sec and 1/4 mile in 11.4 sec per zeroto60times.com

2016 Ducati Hypermotard 939 (450 pounds wet per Ducati): 0-60 in 3.2 sec and 1/4 mile in 11.4 sec per zeroto60times.com

2017 Ducati Supersport (same engine as Hypermotard 939 and 463 pounds wet per Ducati): 0-60 in TBD, 1/4 mile in TBD

 

It really gets kind of academic when Honda prints that an 8th gen. will go from zero to 100 in 7.5 seconds. How many people are going to do that and why? The bike is criticized by people for being underpowered when they know the power of them when they buy them (go figure). Next time you think a VFR is underpowered, redline it in all the gears. It's weight is a far more significant short-coming than power. Less weight is the same as more power but with better handling. I'd take a 60# lighter VFR anyday before I asked for it to be a liter bike. Very few people with liter bikes can deal with them in the twisties anyway much less a VFR. Sometimes I think Hardley owners are happier with their bikes than VFR owners. Wow!

 

Motorcyclist tested the 2017 Ducati Hypermotard. The 937cc Testastretta twin in the Hypermotard delivered 101 hp and 67 lb-ft of torque to the wheel. My 6th Gen makes 101 hp and 55 ft. lbs. of torque. Comparable.





.

 

The Ducati SS has more horsepower and torque. 113hp, 71ftlbs torque. Same engine, different build, I know it has different heads, I think different cams too.


I know we are all fan boys and girls here, but why the hate? Why not be happy that someone is making a sports touring bike that isn't a 650lb touring couch or an adventure bike?

 

Honda really kind of revived the ST out of wannabe ADV bikes and giant two wheeled living rooms such as the FJR, Concourse, Triumph etc that were massive, even if still good, but no sport really. Or, we could sport tour on motorcycles on stilts.

I think Honda really had an opportunity to make a statement with the 8th gen, ie, a modern engine, real power and torque, but they got lazy and used the 800. Don't think I'm hating, it's a great engine, but they could have really set a standard, but they dropped the ball, or chose to go the easy route, it, don't care, or lazy. Now they are paying the price, with a bunch sitting in warehouses. Hell even Suzuki came out with an ST that had a strong engine...

To whomever alluded to the extra $1500 being a waste of money, I want to see you add an Öhlins suspension and an up and down quick shift to your bike for that. The shock alone will cost you that.

 

The VFR gets roughed up by the fact that it weighs 100 pounds more than a Hypermotard with all the fluids and 3/4 tank of fuel.

 

You have that backwards. It's the Hypermotard that gets "roughed up" (LOL) because it is slower than an 8th gen despite having more power and 79 pounds less weight (along with a puny gas tank and tractor sounding engine) :witless:

 

I do too . . . ugh!

 

You might be referring to my comment? I didn't say it was a waste of money nor was I trying to suggest it was. My only point was that when a bike like the Supersport S costs $1,500 more than the Interceptor Deluxe (actually it's now $2,000 more than the revised current MSRP for a '15 Deluxe and $2,500 more than the current MSRP for a '14 Deluxe) than of COURSE it will have some more goodies on it - it better for that much money!

For $1,800 extra over the cost of the base Supersport even Ducati throws Ohlins, a quickshifter, and a rear seat cowl on the Supersport S. So perhaps the more fair comparison is the Interceptor Deluxe v. the base Supersport. I would note that the Interceptor comes with the rear seat cowl for free and the quickshifter (albeit up only) can be added for less than $500. Deluxe also has the heated grips which is an extra cost option ($$$) on the Supersport.

When you factor in that the Interceptor is better looking, better sounding and probably quicker and a better tourer, and that both bikes got the exact same rating of 86.5% in their motorcycle.com review, a leftover new Interceptor (or a new '17 VFR if overseas) seems to me to be the better choice.

 

Don't forget that one is a Ducati. Whether that matters to us or not is one thing, but it's a brand that tends to come with a premium price tag. Also, to people that don't live and breath motorcycles it's assumed that anything Ducati is more exotic than a Honda. People in my office seem to think that Ducati's are the Ferrari's of the motorcycle world, when the only similarity between them is that they're both vaguely Italian.

That said, the SS sure looks like a smart, modern, well packaged motorcycle. Sure wish Honda could make a modern VFR for the same segment.

 

You might enjoy this vid by CycleCruza where he equates Ducatis with a "high maintenance" beautiful woman and Honda as the cute girl next door who can cook, likes to go camping, and gives you all the sex you need - LOL. I don't agree with everything CycleCruza says but I think he makes a few good points. Caution: every other word he says is the F bomb :glee:

[video=youtube;PmKOC6k5lj8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmKOC6k5lj8&t=85s[/video]

 

That guy looks and talks like a D-BAG.






.

 

I think he meant to say fat chick that does all those things.....

 

Well, I imagine in a month or two when the Duc is available, the magazines will compare the Suzuki, the Honda, the Duc together. Each article I've read so far has started it is superior to the VFR.

 

Uh oh, now you've done it......:cower:

 

:worked_till_5am:

 

I'm sorry Lint, but I gotta call "bologna" on your claim (see what I did there? :glee: ) unless you can provide some links to back it up.

I don't know what articles you've been reading and I don't profess to have read all the reviews, but I have read a half dozen articles by the mainstream reviewers and NONE of them have stated that the SuperSport is superior to the VFR. In fact, most of them don't even mention the VFR which is why when I saw the VFR mentioned in the motorcycle.com review I thought it was worthy of starting this very thread.

As I've noted before, Motorcycle.com gave the exact same 86.5% review score for both bikes, so they apparently don't feel either bike is superior.

The Cycleworld.com review doesn't even think the SuperSport is in the same class as the VFR, they said the SuperSport is in the same class as the CBR 300R :glee: (see their quote below)

"Many people saw this as a small sport tourer and, while it can be that, that isn't where I see the SuperSport's role in the bike universe. To me, it's the new ceiling of daily riders, in a class of bikes like the Honda CBR300, CBR500R, and Kawasaki Ninja 650. Bikes that are meant mostly for daily use and to look like sportbikes; only this one is actually attractive and has better power."
Link: http://www.cycleworld.com/2017-ducati-supersport-is-perfect-sportbike-for-common-rider

In addition to motorcycle.com and cycleworld.com, I've also read the recent reviews by motorcyclistonline.com, rideapart.com, ultimatemotorcycling.com, and visordown.com. AFAIK none of them mentioned the VFR.

I agree with you though it would be nice to see a head to head comparo of SuperSport v. VFR, but it will probably be a Euro or Aussie review since they are the only ones that get the '17 VFR.