Advise and experinces needed

First off hello.Iam not new to riding rode dirt bikes as a kid and then bought and rode a harley for the last 3 years.My question is has anyone switched from a criuser to a VFR and how was the change?Ive been wanting a sportier bike then my Harley and am having trouble on deciding what to get dont want an all out superbike but a good comfortable commuter to and from work and some weekend riding through the Tennessee and Georgia Mtns.Thanx ahead of time for any advice and insight.

 

Welcome Mongoose. Many others here have made the switch from cruiser to VFR, I have yet to read of one yet that was dissapointed. I myself had an older standard (Nighthawk) and rode the tires off one of my friends cruisers(Intruder). Now I have a 6th gen and couldn't be happier. VFR's are a much more agressive stance and a completely different riding position so getting used to it and building new muscles will be your biggest challenge, but it's well worth it IMO. You should be getting many replies to this one, you're not the only one to be asking allmost this exact same question

 

Thanx Metallican I know it is a more aggressive style of bike.but how is the everyday traffic and handling.my harley weighs in at 680 lbs. and gets to be a pain in traffic and stopping and going.my plan is for a sprtier bike but not laying on the tank sporty a more upright position but not cruiser laid back.

 

As I ride every day that the weather permits and I live just north of DC, let me tell you about some traffic! It's a wee bit on the heavy side in the specs but you'll be amazed at how well the bike is balanced (at least I was). Mine does very well in traffic, aside from the VFR tendancy to run hot hot hot all the time. Not "overheating" according to the manual but the fan's gonna run a lot in warmer weather. Still cooler in the saddle than my old air cooled ride was though. Now consider that I am on the lighter and shorter side (portable, I'm portable, like the travel sized shampoos and such) 130lbs 5'4", this bike is quite comfortable to me. Anyone with a little more height than I should have absoloutely NO problems with low speed manuevering confidence, also they make lowering kits but I'm hesitant to do it cause she handles so well and I don't wanna screw that up. Your clutch hand is still gonna get sore, and you're still gonna get pissed at the cagers, but that's all part of the joy of motorcycles ain't it????

 

I readily made the switch from the cruiser to the VFR and was happy I did. I had a 97 Shadow VLX so I made quite a massive jump from the 39HP or so that bike had to the 100HP or so that the VFR has. If you're coming from a Harley you're going to appreciate the difference in weight. I rode a LOT of cruisers before I went to the VFR from about everyone out there except for Triumph. As a daily commuter, you find the need for saddle bags quite regularly and the VFR will not disappoint in that category with the various options available including stock ones. Fuel savings are great as you'll get around 38-42 MPH. Maintenance is great as well as tires and oil are almost all you ever have to take care of on the VFR. Yes the riding position is more aggressive than the cruisers but it is easily adapted to. You'll be a little sore for a week or so especially in the shoulder area but that is simply because you use different muscles. Within a few weeks your body will be used to the VFR and you will find that you probably would have it any other way.

I ride about 12-15k miles a year commuting and weekend pleasure and I couldn't imagine a better bike for such a thing. I can still go out and play with the big boys on the weekends but can hum along with the cruisers if needed. The thing about the VFR is simple. Other bikes do ONE...maybe TWO things exceptionally well. The VFR doesn't do anything exceptionally well but instead does everything great. I have yet to really find a "flaw" in the VFR as there is absolutely nothing about it that I don't like.... and I have tried very hard to do so.

 

I appreciate all the comments from you guys.Iam a bigger gut t 5'11" and weigh in at 260 so i know the weight of the bike is not a problem.I reaaly like both of your bikes.The bike Iam looking at is a brand new 07 anniversarry colored VFR.I found a dealer that has one and it has never been sold.I also like the price at $7999.00.I hope i will be getting it soon and can join the ranks as an owner and not dreamer.

 

I had a cruiser before I bought my 6th gen. It was a 94 Kawasaki Vulcan 750. It was my first bike and a great one to learn on. I wanted more though. I wanted to go faster and lean the bike over farther but still be able to take long trips. The VFR was the perfect choice. I love mine and have not looked back since.

 

I had a VStar 650 before my 6th gen. I think the switch is one of the smoothest (when considering cruiser to sport bike). A good saddle (Corbin or Sargent) will help you on long rides. Not the bikes fault, the stock seat is just not that great. Yes, you will definitely have to build some strength in your lower back, legs and arms. But hey its the healthier choice. Finally, as you ride the VFR more, if you want a more upright riding stance you could buy heli bars. So all in all a great bike to switch to.

 

FYI, $7999 sounds a tad bit high. A lot of people have gotten them for $7k, some for $7k out the door. I'd be making them do ya a little better.

 

Iam having alot of fun reading this forum and appreciate all the advice.Just had hernia surgery yesturday so it will be a few weeks before I can get to look at the bike and make my decision but you all have me psyched about making the switch.Dont get me wrong I love my Harley but have always wanted something more sportier got the harley for my wife I guess.Now she seen that Iam not as irresponsible as some of the other guys iI ride with she is okay with something more sportier.Let me ask another question is this something I will constantly modding like the Harley?

 

If you're a "modding" kinda guy, you're gonna find something you just can't leave alone. An old friend of mine once said "It's a good thing women don't come apart, we'd all have one sittin in a closet somewhere that we just never got around to putting back together." That being said, there will be far less chrome accessories on the VFR....................

 

Chrome is actually what i dont really care for.I was wandering about exhaust and other mods.I will probably ride mostly stock but from what I have read her helibars and ehaust will be the first changes.But other than that I will probably looking around here and asking for suggestions.

 

Heli bars are definatley a kick ass mod with very little tweaking needed, and worth every penny IMO. Can't speak for the exhaust yet, still contemplating that one, and I'm broke so I'll be contemplating it for a while to come. But, absolutely positively DO NOT get a set of Fosterad Lazers, lots of hassle, big hunk of crap, there's a rather large thread concerning that subject, just search for Fosterad. You're also probably gonna want a new seat cause the stocker is a poorly designed brick more or less, but guys are findin them for really good prices, more threads to search for. I'm runnin a Seargent, and it's awesome.

 

What is the difference between all the generations?I assume its the years the bike pretty much stayed the same with the exception of minor changes and new styling meant a new generation.Also the bikes Iam looking at one is a 2006 vfr800 and the other is a 2007 vfr800i what does the i stand for.I just hope this isnt like a harley where everything costs a $100's.Thats what H-D stands for Hundred Dollars.lol.Im also looking at other changes like a full face helmet any suggestions I only have experience with the half helmets most cruiser guys wear.I will want something light and gets good airflow.Than again Metallican for all the help.Its a shame you live in Maryland or we could be riding together in a few weeks.

 

Both of the bikes you are lookin at are 6th gen, yes, styling changes dictate the generation. I can't remember what the "i" stands for, somebody round here probably does though. As for full face helmets I've been running a Scorpion EXO-700, I've had three now. First one I had to turn in for warranty for a torn faceshield gasket (was allmost out of warranty, I ride a LOT, not really a defect, I wore it out), second one I wrecked with, third I have now. Great helmet for the money, not the best or lightest on the market but IMO you can't beat em for the bucks. Scorpion makes a full line of helmets of varying cost, style, color, etc, check em out. We're all here to help eachother man, this is a good bunch o fellers (and a couple chickys), glad to have ya. Yeah, it is a shame I came back up here, I went to college in Nashville and then came back here, WTF was I thinking??????????????????

 

The VFR has a lot of history. Hard to put it all in a nice little post. Hope the following links help. There are differences between the various Gens.

Honda V4 / English / History
Honda VF and VFR - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The History of Honda's V-FouR VFR, Interceptor, and sisters RC30 and RC45

Yes, the VFR is open to a ton of mods and literally the sky is the limit. The 6th Gen is models 2002-2009. VFR800 or VFR800i is the same no difference. In the 6th Gen 2002-2005 had a higher VTEC engagement point, 2006-2009 has a lower VTEC engagement point.The 6th Gen also comes with or without ABS.

 

Welcome Mongoose! I also used to ride a Harley. Loved it but wanted something more. The great thing about the vfr is you get the best of both worlds; high revs and long power curve of an inline four cyl. and the torque of a vee motor. I'm 5'11'' at 150 lbs and have no problems with the seat (but I also got along ok on the stock sporty seat). I mentioned in another post that some friends and I took a weekend ride last fall, the vfr was hands down more enjoyable than the sporty. I wasn't as worn out at the end of the day. I must mention that it took me about three weeks to get comfortably accustomed to the style of the vfr. An old timer gave me some advice that really helped. He showed me how to ride somewhat up on the tank using my upper leg muscles and thus keeping the weight off my wrists. Sounds odd, but it helped. You'll dig the 107 ponies on tap. I purchased a new '07 anniversary like the one you're looking at. I gave $7399 out the door at Sunrise Honda in Searcy, Arkansas. Very nice folks. At the time she had another RWB and four '08's, a couple with abs. I did most of the work on the Harley, honestly though, the vfr is probably going to the dealer for maintenance. That's a personal issue, not to reflect negatively on the vfr. Good luck and enjoy.

 

If you like to do modding, you're bound to do some with the VFR. You're probably going to start with the basics which will be seat, bars, and exhaust. Then you're going to look at things and think things are great but will want more. Suspension will come to your thoughts then you'll think about some farkles (see: functional sparkles). Yeah... you're gonna be modding!

The thing about Harley's is that a majority of what you do to them has absolutely nothing to do with function.... its all about the bling. With the VFR there is little about the bling and mostly about performance. Keep in mind that performance does NOT mean make it go faster. As a matter of fact, there is very little you can do to the VFR in terms of increasing power. After you do some very basic mods, add exhaust, and get her tuned, you're going to be lucky to get 15HP out of the bike.... Unless you want to drop $5k on a supercharger for it.

Do yourself a favor though and resist modding right from the start. Take the bike in stock form and become accustomed to her for a bit. From the start you're going to find your seating position much different and such making you a tad sore. Let your body get adjusted to the changes to find the bike a lot better after the first 3 weeks or so. Then you'll start noticing what you personally feel needs improved upon for you and will be able to make some wiser decisions concerning personalization to you and your riding style.

 

Thanx again for all the advise I just wish I could go get the bike today can already hear all the bikes in my subdivision getting out for the day and Iam layed up after hernia surgery.This is why Iam leaving H-D behind and making the switch to a sportier bike got tired of bling and not being comfortable on rides longer than an hour long or longer.Cant wait to get the bike.What are your guys take on ABS with or without.