cruiser - vfr transition??

hey guys, im an experienced rider (6 years) who grew up on a V-star, then a stratoliner. I love the strat and its power and feel, but wanting a sport bike. I've only sat on parked bikes like these and never drove them before. I'm looking at getting a 2000 VFR 800, but worried i will dump the thing in the lot for a test drive! any tips? i feel like my weight will be in my arms too much, and that will make for uneasy throttle and breaking control, though I've heard its all in supporting yourself by your stomach. Im not used to this kinda thing at all. Is this thing gonna fly out from under me at the dealer? thanks......

Kevin Cease

MySpace.com - Kevin Cease - Sherman Oaks, CA - www.myspace.com/kevincease

 

Welcome Kevin. The great thing about the VFR is it's riding position. It's not that hard on the arms or wrists and places you in a "decent" riding position. I'm fairly new to riding so I'll let the more experienced handle the rest. Have you sat on a VFR specifically?

 

no i havent. I've SAT on many bikes over the years but I'd hardly call that any kind of experience. I am looking for a sport/touring bike like an FJR or I even found a good price on a 1998 Triumph trophy 1200, and then I found the VFR for sale and I fell in love with the reviews and videos, etc. I know its on more of the sporty side than the touring, correct?

 

Welcome to the forum Kevin. As far as the whole "using your stomach to support you", I've never heard that before. It isn't leaned over as far as you may think it is on a VFR, especially if you have the Heli-Bars on it which raises your riding position to a more comfortable one. You will use a bit of your arms to support you, and in my opinion I don't think its that hard at all to do the throttle, brake, & clutch. I've ridden other bikes that lean you over a whole lot more than the VFR does and I didn't think they were hard to use either. Just take it easy at first and sit on the bike with it running in nuetral and feel how easy it is to use the throttle and how the bike and engine responds to the amount you twist it. Pay attention to the throttle if it has any "slop, or play" in it before it changes the way the motor rev's up. There should be NO SLOP or PLAY in the throttle. If there is have them adjust it real fast for you so that you can feel more comfortable with it and so you don't have any accidents due to a "sloppy throttle response". You should be good once you do all of this.

 

Welcome. You are worrying too much. It will be a little awkward at first, but you will get used to it quickly. I went from a standard 400 to the VFR, so I was more intimidated by the power than the riding position. Don't sweat it man, just have fun!

 

hi Kevin, welcome aboard. well i ride both a cruiser (VN900) and the VFR800 and you're right that they are quite differant rides, but really the VFR is a pussycat to get used too
so long as your reasonably confident about your riding skills. seeing as you've been riding a while now im thinking you will find the transition relatively easy and that the concerns you have will evaporate quite quickly. the 2000 model your looking at should be a Gen 5VFR and this is an excellent choice for transition.
good luck with your new adventure.

 

Hi Kevin,

I went from 2 Honda Shadows to a VMax and now the VFR (1 month).

The biggest difference you will notice (posture-wise) is that you will have to push on the handgrips instead of pulling on them. This makes throttle control much more challenging. I agree with the previous poster RE throttle slop. Make sure the free play is mostly adjusted out and your control will improve considerably.

The VFR is a very conservative sport bike with respect to both posture and scary engine dynamics. There won't be any scary wheelie behavior. You will however need to watch out for the much quicker steering response, especially at parking lot speeds. Also, the throttle/wrist relationship gets weird at full right steering lock (you need to rotate your wrist way down to maintain throttle).

If you do get to take a test drive, look for a nice non-busy road with about a 50mph speed limit to start, so you can get acquainted with the weight transfer dynamics, steering response, brakes, etc.

Totally opposite from a cruiser, the bike will feel best at speed (130-150km/h for me), due balanced wind pressure and the excellent wind protection. It will feel worst on city streets, where the more sensitive throttle will demand more of your attention, and you will end up leaning on your wrists way more. I do most of my riding on quicker roads (110km/h limit), so the VFR is by far the best solution for me (most stylish too).

Let us know how you make out...

 

Hi Kevin,

I too just recently made the transition from a cruiser to the VFR.

One of my biggest concerns was the ability to control a sportier-type bike because of the riding position and higher seat (a couple of inches higher does make a huge difference). Being able to put my feet flat on the ground when stopping and parking gave me a sense of security. The lower center of gravity on a cruiser vs. sport bike makes a difference, too.

I sat (and re-sat) on many bikes and figured out very quickly that the more aggressive riding position of the true sport bikes (by my definition, the ones with the clip-ons) was not for me. Like you, I wanted a more upright riding position. I did not want to be putting a lot of pressure on my wrists. One piece of advice I received from a few more experienced riders was to hug the gas tank with your knees to hold your body up.

I'm 5'7" and my upper body does lean slightly forward on my VFR. So far, I can say that I truly enjoy the riding position.

Moving from a carbed bike to fuel injection is a very noticeable change. As others have said, the throttle and handling are much more responsive. Even after reading all the positive reviews about VFRs, I was terrified. Partly because it was odd only having the balls of my feet on the ground to hold the bike up. Fortunately, the place where I bought my VFR has a huge adjoining parking lot so I was able to practice (handling the weight, feeling the brakes and throttle and how she responds) a bit before heading off into traffic on my way home. Wow, what an awesome bike! And I never had the feeling that she'd fly out from under me; within minutes I felt very much in control.

Good luck with your decision!

 

I too just transitioned from cruisers to my first sport bike (86 vfr700F2). After my first day on the bike I noticed that my wrists and back (between the shoulder blades) was very sore. Thinking about Helibars.

I cant help but think that my riding position is wrong for the bike, but I havent given up. Trying new things and already its getting better.

 

The soreness does get less as you get used to the bike. Relaxing is the key. I was deathgripping it for a while when I first got it and wore myself out all the time. Now that I know her, we groove just fine.
Take your time and get to know her. Don't shoot for a home run on the first date.

 

For what it is worth I ride back and forth between a v-star 1100 (grocery shopping) and the VFR (curves and back roads) and it takes me about 20 minutes riding the VFR to make that transition in my head because of the difference in the center of gravity of the bikes. (You can get lazy on a cruiser, and lean angles are limited in comparison). If your driveway is tilted and you try a u-turn on a VFR and you've never done that before on that bike...

 

Hi Kevin, have you decided what to do? My first bike was cruiser (VT1100T shadow) that I really liked and put on 30,000 miles in 3.5 years including server trips of over 3,000 miles. I sold it to get my VFR, and I must admit that I enjoy the VFR even more. It definitely takes some getting used to--throttle, RPMs, position, responsiveness, center of gravity--but once you do I think you will enjoy just how responsive the bike is and how much more in control you are. And I find the position with my weight forward and over my feet and knees rather than on my tail bone, better for longer rides. I think a new seat is the most important change if you hope to do long rides. And since you have ridden for a while, you will know to stay in your limits until you get used to the bike.

 

Haha, odly enough i was worried about the same thing.
thought i would pop a wheelie or take off so fast i'd be left on the ground. I won't say don't worry as you should be cautous.

But the vfr is very well behaved at low rpm's, rember what you learned.

when positioning your hand on the throttle ensure it is in a "low wrist position" this means that your hand is positioned such that it would be very hard if you panic or got distracted to roll on lots of throttle as your wrist is already low.

Take of smoothly. this was my first bike after riding a 1500 nomad(very nice bike btw) of my dads for a few years. I've had no issues with the bike.

Your arms should not take all of our wieght or they will get tired. your strongest muscles are in your core. it's hard to explain but if you relax and relax your arms especially you will remain supported and not get tired out.(took me a while as i was a little tense.)

I've wridden from Edminton, Alberta to Sturgis. Once did 12h in a day. Once you relax the bike is very very comfortable. I like it bettter than the wing(though that cruise controll and radio is nifty)

 

Just came across this thread. Over a year old, but ineresting for me. I've been riding a Harley ElectraGlide at work for the past two summers. I figured I should get something a little more sporty for myself. All the descriptions of the VFR as a sport-tourer made me think it would be a perfect bike for me...sporty but comfortable for long rides.

Picked up my '06 yesterday & rode it back on a 4 1/2 hour trip. My neck & legs are stiff today & I can feel my palms. Have been wondering if a V-Strom wouldn't be better for me, but I will follow the advice others have posted here about relaxing & posture; and if I get more used to it will invest in an aftermarket seat.

 

I also just switched from a shadow to the VFR. I did a couple 300+ mile rides within 2 weeks of when I bought it and I definitely felt it, but now it's nothin. I think I will be investing in a better seat eventually. VFR is for sure a fun bike to ride.

 

As far as riding "position" - do this: Put the bike up on the center stand. Sit on the bike grasping the bars as you would do "normally". Now, lift your hands just barely off the bars as you also grip the sides of the tank with your knees. Your "core" muscles should support your upper body. As said, cruiser riding makes us lazy. If you use only your arms for support on the bars you are trying to do a constant push up the whole time you are on the bike. Very tiring and bad for control. Having all your weight on the bars restricts you ability to steer as changing pressure on the bars becomes slowed and difficult, slowing down your steering input. Whenever I start to feel my hands tingle I know I have been leaning on my arms too much and adjust. Everything improves immensely once I do that. That's my $.02. Enjoy the ride.

 

Thanks for the advice guys.

Reg71, I saw your seat comparison last night, and the Sargent seems to be the one to go with for comfort (the good thing about the Corbin though is the backrest...may want to take my wife for a few rides, or my daughter when she's a bit older). Oh, any opinions on aftermarket handgrips?

(By the way, I rode through your town a couple of weeks ago on my first trip with the family to California...drove up Hwy 101 on the way to Monteray. Love the Pacific Coast. Want to return next year with a couple of buddies & rent some bikes in San Francisco, & do northern California, up to Mendocino or Eureka, plus the mountains further west.)

Motorhead1977, I will try out your suggestion on positioning.

 

It definitely takes some time to get use to the new position. My right hand, in particular, use to bother me--maybe a combination of a stronger throttle spring and just needing to be more careful in order to be smooth--but I don't even think about them now. I think following Motorhead's advice and giving it time will do the trick. I do love my Sargent seat, though :biggrin: