I'm Really Disappointed At Honda.

That is cool. He was a lot more hands on back then.
I bet he has learned his lesson about paying the tax man. Mike has the place running fine and he will return to a thriving business.

 

If he is still "vacationing" at Club Fed, I'm sure that point has been hammered home, every second, of every minute, of every day. Like the saying goes, " There only two things I HAVE to do........pay taxes, and die". I was very sorry to hear he is still paying his dues.

 

Well, I did it. I did NOT replace the VFR800. LOL! I'm keeping my 2007 for now because I really like mine and she still has a lot of utility to me.

However, after one more test ride this weekend, I decided it's time to move forward. I found a dealership further from me that had 2018's leftover. After a quick test ride I didn't need any more convincing that this bike is what the VFR800 should have been 10 years ago. No big surprise, it's the Ninja 1000.





The bike reminded me a lot of the Suzuki GSXS1000f, with a bit more features and way better looking. I honestly could not tell which bike was more powerful up to about 95 mph and that's where the Suzuki's extra 15 rwhp comes into play! They both are FAST as hell to me. Surprisingly, this bike also reminded me a lot of the Triumph 765 RS that I test rode. They both sound similar (gear whine and all), and they both have massive amounts of midrange. The riding position of the N1000 is very naked bike-like upright. So much so that compared to my 6th Gen VFR800, the VFR actually has a racier riding position! Surprise, surprise! The N1000 however, has a much sportier feel with closely spaced gear ratios like the Suzuki and my CBR600RR, with slick and fast gear changes. What really got my attention (besides the BIG power) was the incredible wind protection with that adjustable windscreen, and the slick LED headlights. Yeah I know....neither of these I don't need but sure is nice to have. It also has a surprisingly light steering response that feels quicker than my non-ABS VFR800. It also feels lighter. 21 lbs. lighter doesn't seem like a lot and it isn't but you do feel it. I like having that remote rear shock preload adjuster and the fully adjustable USD fork. The brakes of course are super powerful (to me), and it has a much lighter clutch pull than my VFR. Overall, it's a very, easy, friendly bike to ride until you roll on the throttle then it becomes a beast and catapults you forward like there was no tomorrow. Better hunker down, hold on, and know where you want to go when you get that tachometer passed 6k RPM! At highway speeds it is glass smooth. Just watch that speedo because it gets to 100+ fast!

The finish isn't quite Honda-like for sure. I can see it in the details. The fit is tight and the paint is very nice (it's flat silver). Some of the plastic parts are well, plasticky....like I said not Honda-like. More Suzuki-like. But the quality looks good where it counts. It has a very nice, comprehensive dash, a 12 volt accessory socket and heated grips are optional. So are the hard bags. If the 2014 VFR800 was the VFR1000 with performance similar to this N1000, I strongly believe Honda would have had better sales. Oh well. That ship is sailed. The Kawasaki Ninja 1000 is simply a lot of bike for the money, and Kawasaki continues to invest in the model, keeping this do-it-all market niche alive at least until the ADV niche loses its luster.

I will continue to enjoy my VFR800, while I enjoy owning the N1000.

 

Congratulations! You put a lot of time and effort into the process, I'm sure you'll be diggin' it.

 

Thanks! You have no idea. I feel exhausted and relieved it's over. Happy too. I'm also VERY happy to have kept my VFR800. I've owned her since new and been through 11 years of all kinds of riding. Wrenched on her as well so I feel this connection. I really shouldn't "feel" for a machine, but I can't help it.

 

Sell the 2007 while it still has value. You will find the N1000 a better bike overall & so not ride it.
I'm not saying in 11 years it will still be going as well as your VFR is, its just by that stage you may not care.... lol

This is from someone who has more bikes than his wife would want him too... lololol

 

Lovely bike !!!, Im thinking buying another new bike, trying to decide between the Ninja 1000 and the naked CB1000R. I like what seems like a standard riding pistion of the Ninja , but im a bit concerned on fit and finish. The CB1000R , well I need to sit on it yet, but im only concerned about wind protection if the riding piston is good.. Anyway, congrats on the Ninja, very nice !!

 

Straycat, I'll be honest and up front regarding fit and finish.

The Honda's, especially their higher end models like the CBR's, CB1000r, VFR's, Africa Twin, etc., the fit and finish are second to none. I've been trolling a lot of new bikes lately, including Ducati, KTM, BMW's, the Honda's are quite possibly the best of them. I've seen the CB1000r in the flesh right next to my Ninja 1000 when I bought it. The CB1000r's fit and finish was flawless, from the quality of the fasteners, the plastics, the metal finish, paint, headlights, turn signals, rear view mirrors, etc. The Ninja1000's paint is very good and Kawasaki knows how to use subtle metallic hues on their bikes and they look terrific! The fit of the plastics, metals, etc., are also right up there with Honda. But the finish of their fasteners & plastics, and even suspension bits are just a bit below that of the Honda's. One has to look closely with objective eyes though to see the difference. At a glance you won't notice. The CB1000R is a work of art. It's good enough to put in your living room.

 

Think you will find that has been the case for decades. Honda Fit and finish way above the others.

 

Congratulations with your decision. Beautiful Kawa.
Honda should introduce a new version of the VFR. A model like the 800 VTEC, with a V-5 and a 1000 CC. This would be a fantastic Honda-style renewal.

 

I have wondered if Honda would ever use its V5 in a production bike.

 

Did you laugh at your own thoughts afterwards?

 

Thanks for the Reply, now to justify another Bike (small detail)

 

No but I was laughing at the previous post. They did put in a lot of money in that failed try.

 

I've read online that the sport-touring market is beginning to show some life. We can see that KTM has joined the ranks with their Super Duke GT, and in 2017 the Ducati Super Sport. Suzuki joined in with their more sport model with the GSXS1000f back in 2016. However, I really, REALLY doubt Honda will release a V4 1000 cc bike. Not an all new engine in only one model. They are more likely to release a faired version of the CB1000r, just like the Suzuki. They may have a chance of success if this imaginary model were to be MORE sport than tour. That means under 500 lbs. wet, and at least 135 rwhp, and not priced like a CBR1000rr.

 

If Honda ever will come out with a V4 sport bike, then a detuned motor might be in the works for a sport touring model. 500lbs, and 150 rwhp would be nice.

 

Well, Honda really doesn't have anywhere else to go in this market niche. They tried the extreme direction with the VFR1200. Then they went back to the VFR800. Both failed in the market. So what's next?

I don't want to beat on Honda because I really do like the brand and I know they can do wonderful things. But they appear to be too proud to even try. They're probably up in their Ivory Tower saying, "Well, we got burned twice listening to you customers!" However, I don't think they listen very well! If one were to use Kawasaki's Ninja 1000 as an example, Kawasaki appears to have been listening. The N1000 has already had two revisions since 2011 to improve the bike and address issues that customers cared about. Over in the Ninja 1000 website is littered with ex-VFR owners. My gut feeling is, the success of the Ninja 1000 is due to Honda's failure to make the VFR1000. Not to take away from Kawasaki's abilities and the Ninja 1000 either. It's a great bike. But the reality is, the Ninja 1000 beat the VFR800 in every comparison review. And the criteria for the loss were always the same: power, weight, and price. It's not Rocket Science! It simply is this: you can't sell a motorcycle very well when the only leg you can stand on is the quality of the fit and finish.

 

CBR650R is the equivalent to a 1000cc V4......in MALAYSIA. Euro 5 standards are handicapping everything....displacement is goin, up, and up, and up.....but the performance stays the same.

 

There are a shit-ton of Youtube videos out there. I've been checking out the ones from the Philippine motorcycle folks because they speak English. I was kind of surprised that the enthusiasts out there are riding around in big bore bikes too. They have their share of 150 cc bikes. But they do ride their liter bikes and they even find places to ride them fast in that little island chain. Of course they also deal with traffic the likes of which we rarely see in the US. Even India have English speaking bike vlogs and they too ride some surprisingly big bikes.

But yeah. A 650cc sportbike would be plenty in many parts of the world. I personally would be on a 650 dual sport with air cooling. Or a Royal Enfield Continental GT650.

 

Europe's goal, or more to the point, the EURO-central command in Brussels, is to wean ALL OF US off ICE and on full electrics. The E-5 standard is just their way to force it one step at a time.