I love my VFR!

I have a new used 2004 with 2400 miles on it. I just returned from the shakedown cruise through northern California and the bike was fantastic. It is fine on the slab and loves the sweepers on Highway 101. It works flawlessly in the curves through Happy Camp and Highway 3. Great engine, suspension, and brakes. I am really pleased with this bike.

EXCEPT for 2 things. First, the seat stinks. My leathers slip all over the darned thing and it puts my b*tt to sleep. I am planning to buy a new seat. Sargent is the one, I guess. Any opinions there?

Second, the exhaust note is anaemic. I am choosing between Leo Vince and Staintune with a Power Commander. Any comments there? As long as I am spending some money, how about full exhaust systems? Is there much advantage to a full system over slipons?

The only other annoying thing is that everyone oohed and aahed over my brother's Ducati SS900. Nobody said much about my VFR, even though in my mind it is the superior machine. Grrr!

 

With ya on the exhaust.... I havn't heard either in person but the LV is supposedly a good value and fits perfect. Staintune, well that is probably the best known on a VFR and quality is there but so is the cost. As far as getting attention a VFR is invisible except to the people who know and pay attention. Most people see another UJM. Once you get the exhaust on there I'm sure that will change a little.... The V4 has a pretty distinct sound once its uncorked.

 

The Sergeant seat is the best money you can spend. I hated my stock seat. Now I can ride 450 miles + in a day with no problems.
As for the exhaust, the Staintune is beautiful but expensive. I've got a Remus Grand Prix on mine and I love it. It rips off some pissed off sounds under acceleration and then coming off the gas you get some nice "pop..pop....pop" sounds. I got mine with 11K on it last October and just turned 28K on it last weekend. 90% of it was in the N. Ga, NC, and TN twisties.

 

Is the PCIII a good idea with these aftermarket exhausts?

 

I have never had an attention problem with either my old 85 VF700F or my 02 VFR... More often than not I get a nice bike or "Nice day to ride one of those."

Meh, the anemic sound I can certainly understand but I just love the "Stock" look... I'm thinking about gutting a set of stock pipes and possibly a cat as well...

Ironicly, when I first got my bike I was thinking about a seat... Meh. maybe my ass is getting it's nerve endings deadened and I'm not noticing the discomfort as much or I'm just getting used to it... I find the more aggressive a road I'm on my ass never stays in one place to complain....

 

Go with the Sargent Seat, I love mine,
I just put Leo Vince carbon fiber exh on mine, they sound great,
getting bike back from Dynojet guy today, new custom map for the PCIII
i'll let you know how that turns out. I got pics and sound clip in my gallery. full exhaust is going to cost a pretty penny. I think Motard is the only one who makes them for the VFR.
enjoy

 

Sargent and Staintune diffently the way to go, and I can't say enough about the PClll, it's not just the 5 hp & 2
lb's of torque you gain, it's the improved ride ability. Here's a sound clip of Staintunes on a 6g.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unEJymv3sL8

We must have just missed each other in NorCal, couple of us just got back from Hwy. 3/36/96/299 and had a blast, here's a couple of pics you might recognize...

http://vfrworld.com/forums/general-vfr-discussions/10610-road-trip-2007-n-california.html

 

Ha! So that's is what the drive-thru tree looks like! We didn't make it to that attraction. We took I-5 south from Ashland, Oregon, over the pass to Hwy 96 through Happy Camp (really nice road, except for all the rocks in our lane) down to Hwy 299 west to the coast. From there we rode south on Hwy 101 all the way to Willits (we were running from the rainy weather that was following us south).

Then we rode down Hwy 1 south. I was disappointed with Hwy 1 - too much traffic and the road wasn't that great. Next time I'll avoid it. We took a short sprint down Hwy 128 through the redwoods to Novarro. That was a twisty road through a fantastic redwood grove. Well worth the out-and-back.

From there we resumed our trek south on Hwy 1 down to Jenner, where we turned east on Hwy 116 through the wine country. No wine for us, though! However, we did detect a lot of skunks in the area. Must be the dead skunk capital of America . . . .

We backtracked up Hwy 101 to Fortuna. Then the ride got really interesting! We rode east on Hwy 36 to Hwy 3 over the mountains. What a road! Almost no traffic, linked curves and a great surface. The best riding of the entire trip was on Hwy 3.

All in all, we spent too much time on Hwy 101, but we needed to put on some miles to run from the rain a couple of times, 101 isn't bad, but it doesn't compare with 3, 36, 116, 299 and 96.

I'll post some pics as soon as my brother sends them to me.

You guys have nice bikes, by the way.

 

Just doing some looking on the internet while I am at work. Has anyone tried the Arrows?

http://www.arrow.it/eng/ricercaprodotti/details_foto.asp?id=599

 

I have a Corbin on a couple bikes and I'm not a huge fan...was just expecting more for the money. I've heard good things about Sargent and I plan on trying one of their seats. FYI - only Corbin offers a passenger backrest (not sure if this matters to you).

I don't think anyone offers a full system for the 6th gen...

[Edit] - Note to self...land a job in Cali...those roads are unreal R.W.

 

Couldn't agree with you more, this will be a yearly ride for me and already have it planned out for next year, did you ride the 04 back to Alaska?

 

Yeah, Hwy 3 is so cool! I think it's better riding toward Yreka than from Yreka. Maybe we should do a group ride next year. I want to see the drive-thru Sequoia first-hand.

It's too late in the year to ride back to Alaska. We already have snow creeping down the mountains. I left the bike at my borther's house in Ashland, OR. Next spring I'll hit the road from Ashland north to the Great Land. Anyone interested in an adventure ride?

By the way, I am replacing the head gasket on my 1984 VF750F this winter. Should I keep it or sell it to buy my brother's Ducati SS900? Ooooh! Ahhhh!