Need Ergo Help - Newbie VFR owner - AARP age

Hi All -

Largely based upon comments from this forum I pulled the trigger and bought a '07 RWB non ABS VFR Saturday. I drove it home from the dealer, about 165 miles, and didn't stop smiling all the way home.

After the initial adrenalin rush, I noticed that my body doesn't quite fit, and that at near 60 years old parts of me aren't as limber as I thought. Specifically, my neck hurts, primarily from looking up, the forward crouch seems a bit extreme, and the reach to the bars is a bit long.

Yes, I knew that when I bought it, but I've always wanted a VFR and the RWB was too much to resist.

I'm 5'7", about 170 pounds, with an average 33" length sleeve, not quite 30" inseam. I can't flat foot the bike, and usually ride in an Aerostich suit, which tends to bulk up right where I lean forward.

Given all of that - will heli bars help, and if so, can I get a heli bar that not only raises the bar, but also pulls back a bit to the rider? Are there any other suggestions you may have that may work for me?

I'm not expecting miracles, but I don't want to feel as sore as I used to when I rode my Ducati 916. I've had lots of bikes, including the Valkyrie, Harley Softail Deluxe, and Moto Guzzi California, but I really want to enjoy the ability to lean hard into a turn, and none of the bikes I mentioned can do that. That's why I got the VFR - to enjoy the ride as much as I can knowing that the window of really enjoying the sport side of bikes is closing in on me.

Thanks in advance for the help, and for the great forum.

 

Hate to tell you, buddy, but you ain't anywhere near the oldest around here! There was a poll a while back about age and I figured I'd be near the top of the list at 56. Not even close!

I've got Genmar risers on my bike and they do help. The Helibars for the VFR raise about 3/4" and pull back about 1 1/2". If I had it to do again I'd go with the Helibars (and I may still do so at some point).

I always feel stiff and uncomfortable on my bike for the first few miles. After about 30 minutes I tend to find my comfy spot though and after that can ride all day with no problems.

Hope you can find a combination that works for you, these are great bikes.

 

Well said Scraig.
I've got the Genmar risers as well, and they made a difference for me. Like Scraig, I would like to have the Heli Bars. A little pricey (a little over $200) compared to the Genmar risers (around $60).
Another thing they may help you out, that made a big difference in comfort was replacing the hard stock grips with pro gel grips. I was amazed at the difference in comfort it made.
Good Luck, and Welcome to VFR WORLD. You'll get some great advice from everyone.

 

Thanks for the help - keep it coming

Thanks to you both for the help. I'll try to contact the seller of the heli bars. If it does the job, I'll be a happy camper. If not, it isn't that big an investment to try.

Thanks again.

 

welcome fellow old fart.(im 50).....no bar risers on my 96...and ive done 600 mile days....seems my butt hurts more then my neck.............youll get used to it.....

 

Lencap another thing that may help is getting mirror extenders. I know when I first got my VFR the first thing I noticed was all I could see was my arms in the mirror.
Another member told me about the mirror extenders which solved the problem, and they look OEM.
If interested, below is the link for them on Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002...012QQitemZ220215435842QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

Benjammer is right! I forgot about that. I did change my grips before I even put the risers on. They do make a big difference.

 

Wow - less than an hour on my post and four replies!

Thanks again to all. This is my first post, and in less than an hour there have been four great replies and suggestions.

I knew that the VFR "crowd" was pretty dedicated, but this is amazing support!!

So far it seems as if the "new" - 2008 version - of the heli bars are a must have - raises the bars over an inch and a quarter and moves them closer to me by more than that. Those new changes should help these old bones quite a bit.

By the way, over the last year and a half I've had three rotator cuff surgeries (the second one failed and had to be repeated in six weeks), a carpel tunnel release, and ulnar nerve relocation surgery. Getting old isn't what I thought it would be. I spent six weeks sleeping upright in a chair after each surgery with my arm tied to my side 24/7. Between surgeries two and three that made 12 weeks of continual arm tied to my side and sleeping in that same chair. My bride of 35 years turned the pages on my motorcycle magazines so I could keep my sanity. My point - enjoy EVERY minute you ride - and be grateful that many others can't enjoy what we take for granted.

My first doctor told me to quite riding, the second said to get a bike that fits - seems like the VFR wasn't what he had in mind, but I'm not giving up yet.

The help you've offered makes me confident that with a few adjustments I can enjoy this bike until I can't remember why I bought it!!

By the way, the initial ride home was as much fun as I ever had on a bike. I didn't even feel the discomfort - laughing too much. The dealer's mechanic told me to "ride it like you mean it" and to not be afraid to rev it up. I did!

Thanks again (did I say that before - the memory is the first thing to go).

 

Welcome to the site. Like you I coundn't stop smiling as I rode my bike home. I think it's common among this crowd. Enjoy the bike, it's a great one.

 

Congrads on the new vfr..
I had always owned dual sport bikes, so the riding position was a little uncomfortable at first.. I'm 6'1"..
I opted for the heli bars and adjusted them as far back as I could.
I replaced the oem grips with some gel type.
Then added an aftermarket seat. I went with the sargeant.. I really feel comfortable on the bike now.

 

Like many others, I have also installed Helibars (from the group purchases on this site), Pro Grip gel grips and a Sargent seat. It's a world of difference for my aging body (tendonitis, numbness). Along with my grips and bars, I installed heated grips at the same time, since I had everything torn apart anyway. Makes my morning commute easier in Rainy Seattle.

 

You stated you cant flat foot it and if you want it a bit lower a newer Sargent seat seems so help get a little lower. Also there is talk of lowering links and also moving the triangle plates around. I would do the seat first and see how that goes. You can even have it special made with a bit less foam if needed.

 

I purchased my 07 RWB about 6 months ago. After not riding for about 15 years I was surprised how sore I would get after a 2-3 hour ride. Especially in the lower arm/ wrist / hand area. What I have found is that with time my body has adapted and now I am going on 6-7 hour rides on twisty coastal roads with only minimal discomfort. Also, I was more tense early on and now ride much more relaxed which helps a lot.

 

The Sargent seat is not lower than stock, it is in fact 1/2 high. I just measured both. The Sargent seems like its lower because its narrower in the front of the seat and your legs can point straight down.

 

Welcome Len - I am definitely one the "seniors" in age at least around here. Just passed my 60th a month ago.

I can offer no solutions to your issues as I have yet to ride mine but that should all change this Saturday when the thermometer is forecasted to hit, are you ready, 4 degrees C!!!. Hopefully the dealer will have it ready for me to pick up and ride home.

Looking forward to your continued posting on your Veefer experiences.

 

So its narrower which gives you better reach...makes sense. I know I had 2 corbins for my 97 and both had a different height and width to them. I sold the one that I didnt like but I can see how the same company can have different height and widths to the same seat. Besides it being narrower you could also have it made shorter and should have no problems...

 

An update

Hi All -

I took a ride last night, about 20 miles before the sunset. Still getting adjusted, but the ergos definitely need some help.

A few observations: Some reviews suggest that the VFR has passed its prime - I disagree. Maybe if I were 20 and looking for the ultimate rush I'd choose a 600RR or 1000RR, but for me the VFR does all I want. Yes, the bike is heavier than other "sport" bikes, but again I consider the smoother road ride as a bonus and the bike can lean over far more easily than many others I've ridden.

The linked brake "problem" that some reviewers have noted is a non-issue for me. Yes, a "real" sport bike doesn't have linked brakes. But it also has a 140 pound or less driver that is far less than half my age and can handle the power and master the skill needed to get it to perform. On my Ducati 916 I fully admit that I didn't begin to tap its potential, I just enjoyed knowing that it was there. On the VFR I still don't tab the potential, but I get closer than I do on a "pure" sport bike. I've always enjoyed riding a bike closer to its potential, and the VFR lets me do that, realizing full well it has far more potential than I do.

The VTEC "problem" again isn't one for me. Maybe the new mapping after the 2006 year is the reason, but the power shift is almost seamless, and certainly doesn't disturb my entry or exit from a turn. By the way, I typically rev my bikes, new or not. I run between 6-8K RPM most of the time, only going significantly lower in traffic or when riding very casually.

I do have some issues - my wife truly dislikes her back seat perch - too high off the ground and not comfortable with the wind blast. The rear passenger seat cover is nice to look at, but what do you do with it if you want to carry a passenger after you've left the house?

The biggest issue is the ergo setup. As I said, I'm short and the reach is NOT comfortable. I also can't get my feet down flat. The foot peg is also a bit awkward to reach. All of those things bother me, and I've not decided if they are a "deal breaker". If so, I may resell the bike and try again, but there are lots of good suggestions you've offered before I come to that conclusion.

Finally, my biggest problem is all of my surgery - three rotator cuff repairs and two other arm repairs. The doctor tells me that the accumulated scar tissue is causing a lot of the problem and is "very hard" to correct, so my ergo discomfort is probably not typical for many riders. I am also concerned by arm discomfort, right along the repaired ulnar nerve - it's a very long scar and the damage was significant.

Despite all of this, I can't think of a better all around bike. Yes, for the dedicated track rider this isn't the right bike. For those who need the latest and greatest, it is also not the right bike. And if you think you have more skill than the bike has potential, again this isn't for you. But if you anyone else, what's not to like? Honda quality, superb engine (I LOVE V-4s), much improved suspension, less intrusive Linked brakes and more stopping power than any reasonable person can handle.

Great bike, great fun.

Keep the comments coming, and thanks again. I am trying to get the 2008 Heli bars, but apparently the discount requires another 3-4 people to sign up. If that doesn't work in the next week or so, I'll probably buy the Heli bars even at full retail - it's silly to not enjoy the bike for a few dollars.

More later.

 

I know this may be blasphemy for the hardcore Viffer riders here but this fixed all my ergo problems and made this the most comfortable bike I've owned aside from a nightster (I think the Sporty was designed with me in mind!)

My LSL setup by Spiegler, HIGHLY recommended: