Looking For Info

I am trying to decide what my next bike will be. A couple I have looked at are the VFR and Kaw ZZR1200. I recently rode a '07 VFR and liked it except for one thing. When the VTEC kicked in at the apex of a curve things got a little interesting. So I think a '98-'01 might be a better option for me. The windscreen appears to be a little wider and closer to the rider on this model also.
This my sound a little dumb, but can the VTEC be disabled on the newer models? I have seen some new '07s for under $7,000.
I currently own an '08 Bandit and '08 ZX14.

 

Welcome aboard, cjd.
Derstuka covered it fairly well. The 5th and 6th gen bikes are 2 different animals. Both have their strong points and they both have the V4. The engine has a character like none other.
Good luck in your quest.

 

it seems that you have the hyper-tourer and the all-arounder covered with your current stable. i've read many reviews on the touring capabilities of the bandit so why are you considering a vfr. i personally think the vfr is a great all-arounder but isn't that dissimilar from your bandit. with your bike line up, you might consider a supermotard (ktm 690) or a track bike (600 cbrgsxrr6zx6). maybe even a dual sport for some kicks in the dirt :smile:.

 

oh yeah

good point here. you have 2 I-4 bikes, lose one and get a v-4. if you like the sound of a small block v-8 :biggrin:

 

Actually the Bandit has awful wind/buffeting protection. If you look on some of the Bandit forums you will see the number 1 topic is windscreens. The screen is mounted too far forward from the rider. I have a Zero Gravity Sport Touring screen that does a poor job of rider protection. In addition to being too far forward it is too narrow. The wind curls around the screen at the top and sides.
We did a "spirited" 250 mile ride the other weekend. My head felt like it had been slapped around the whole time.
The Bandit is for sale now.

 

You really cant go wrong with a clean 5th or 6th gen vfr if you want a good SPORT/touring bike. We tend to be very critical between generation differences in the vfr community but truth be told the bikes are very similar in attributes. Of coase they have strong and weak points comparitively but at the end of the day they are much the same in their own catagory that seems to be ever so narrow. You will have no regrets replacing your bandit with a VFR,.

 

I am going to look at an '01 VFR next week. Seems like it just turned 20,000 miles. I could be wrong, but the 98-01 bikes appear to have a better windscreen setup than the newer models.

 

cjd,

I have been using the Givi flip-up windscreen for several years on long trips and have been very satisfied with it.

Take a look . . .

http://www.sporttour.com/honda/GiviD200S.jpg