VFR's are expensive

Yeah, it's all about the letters.

VTEC
V4
CBS
ABS
SSSA
EFI

All these systems cost real money for the components, plus the significant amortized cost for R&D, especially for a bike with such low sales numbers.

Plus lights that actually ...er... light
Plus an actual instrument panel
Plus 2 side-mounted rads and an oil cooler
Plus the impeccable fit of all the bodywork
Plus top-notch paint (and a lot of it)
Plus the beefy rear frame for the luggage
Plus fluid reservoirs that don't look like urine sample jars

The d@mn thing exudes class. Park it next to any sportbike and it makes them look like they were built by 8th graders out of tinkertoys (except for the R6 and R1 - sexxxxy but torturous).

 

Let's keep in mind that these bikes tend to HOLD their value as well.

I got my 4G '96 with 15k for $3,800. What other 1996 bike can you think of that retains nearly HALF (44.9%, to be exact) of it's retail value for 12 YEARS???

I went into this VFR thing knowing that the initial cost of admission was steep. But I have not regretted it once, and don't want anything else.

BTW - I pay $160 a year for liability ONLY on my bike. Any crotch rocket of a similar vintage would be triple that.

 

What I didn't tell you yesterday while I was at my Honda dealer was that as much as my brain was kicked in high gear comparing prices... I kept going back to the VFR 25th bike. Ya, I could get 2 Kawasaki's for the price of one VFR, but I honestly dont think I could be happy with that decision. I enjoy having something special. Thats why I have my 83 VF750F. No one around here has one and mine turns heads.

I think the 25th edition is something special. I want my next bike to last the next 25 years. No one else has a RWB one around here either, so it would be special indeed.

Here's the plan. My son can get his bike with his own money. I'll take the money I would have spent on him, for myself and get the VFR 25th.

Problem solved.

 

Dont foget, its a left over and worth less than what the dealer paid for it at this point, which was 9100. Your in the drivers seat on this one and should save some money. I found 3 left over 07 special ED within 50 miles when I called around. If they dont give it to you for cost call around till you find another.

 

I paid $9400 for my 06 in april 06. I had owned an 86 vfr700F2 since new and replaced it 20 yrs later. I paid 4500 for it. these bikes are special. I was going to buy the 06 CBR1000RR, but one ride on my friend's 05 CBR1000 cancelled that idea. Way too uncomfortable for my fat self.

If you think the price is too high don't buy it. Hell, go make that "Disappointed in Honda" guy a deal on his bikeHell, go make that "Disappointed in Honda" guy a deal on his bike.
I want another one, aYellow 2000. I will get it one day. I love that color.

JP Morgan said "If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it.".
and remember A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

 

Sounds like you made the right decision. I too looked at the Kawi 650 when I was in the market at the beginning of the year. However, I'm glad I didn't pull the trigger on buying the Kawi and got a used VFR instead. Not saying the Kawasaki is a bad bike, but the VFR is something special.

The RWB anniversary model is a sweet looking ride.

 

I agree 100% about the VFR being over-priced. There has been no real progress updating the bike yet the price has increased every year since 1990. It's :bs:. The motor has been designed & paid for since the early 1990 since the only thing that has changed significantly is the valve actuation system. The swing arm has been the same since 1990. The bike does look different between the generations but it is pretty much the same. With the low rent suspension that is on the bike, it should be in the ball park of $8500.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

I certainly agree that the VFR costs more than it probably should. But, has anyone noticed that milk costs twice as much as it should? That meat is very expensive now? That EVERYTHING in the grocery store is much more costly than before? That the guy that comes over to fix your plumbing is twice as much as before? That fuel is twice as much as it was a short time ago? Everyone has decided to grab as much $$$ as they can. I reckon the 2008 is 1% more expensive than the 2007. We live in a society that is scared and everyone wants to grab whatever they can. That is what scares me. That I had to pay a bit more for my VFR than I might like doesn't scare me. I don't have to buy a VFR...it was voluntary. I DO have to buy gas, and milk and other food. That I get gouged for the necessities of life scares me.
Ok, rant over...thanks for listening!
Next!

 

Mr. Pissed off at everything and everybody speaks. LOL

Not you NB the dude in the flying gas pump..

 

And another thing....
No, no, don't worry...I got it off my chest. (Even Buddhists have to put their foot down once in a while..."Kung Fu" (the series) taught me that...)

Yo, BadBilly, weren't you supposed to come over to my house with your ax so we could play some tunes?

 

The fit and finish on the VFR is 100 times finer than that on any other bike out there. I have ridden the GSXR and the CBR and the SV650, all have rattles and loose items, but the VFR is solid. To me, it seems to have been built with Aircraft tolerances.

 

Wise words Grasshopper.

I just popped for Diana Krall's latest. Not much piano on it. Sounds like the fan base won out over Elvis Costello. ( Praise be to the big guy in the sky. ) Not much keyboard work on the album. Then I figured out she was PG and it was a reach thing..

 

Yes, trying to enlarge her sudience I guess. I was mesmerized by "Flamenco Sketches" by Miles the other day...SOOOOO good...what a genius!

Ok..back to topic:
(Even CD's are expensive!)

 

What's your problem?

It's called an opinion & I'm allowed to have it. Also, please explain to me how an observation of how something has increased in price but not value means I am "pissed off at everything & everybody."

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

I had a 2007 kawa Ninja 650 and it was not a bad bike. It lacked the fit and finish a VFR does. It was great for getting around town to and from work. It was a little light and buzzy at highway speeds. It lacked some torque and character. My VFR is 7 years older and has 10 times the technology and refinement of the Ninja 650r. You made the right choice buddy.:strong:

 

Hey KC, I think BadBilly was gently poking fun at me, not you. I was the one ranting...
(and BTW, I agree with your specific points about the VFR. I too wish a few elements like the suspension were better. But, I think as far as overpriced stuff, the VFR is less overpriced than lots of other overpriced stuff...)

 

My $3500 '02 was cheap as hell.

 

I'm a big fan of craigslist.com. That's where i found my bike '04 VFR 2100miles for 6000.00. If your patient you can find a good deal

 

This makes me laugh...in a good way. arty2:
One minute, you're ready to ditch the bike as too expensive, and the next, you're like "Okay boy, I'd like to help ya, but I'm gettin that there bike and that's all there is to it! You want one, go get yer own!"
I love it!!!!
I looked at all of the options too....the R1, CBR1000, KTM SuperDuke, a whole bunch of things, and the best bike really is the VFR if you want to have a fairly versatile unit.
I could go on ad nauseum....
VTEC - you don't get that anywhere else (or do you now? I thought Suzuki had it now but called it something else - pls verify)
ABS - really, it's worth at least a grand (from when it was an option).
Single-sided swingarm - gotta love it!
Really nice wheels that don't look like they're off the rack
Two rads plus an oil cooler
A proper instrument panel
Hydraulic clutch
Good wind protection
Decent lights that could light up a football field (okay, I'm :soapbox: here).

 

Yes, there is one in Laurens. Or there was 2 weeks ago. Leftover 07.