Hey all, I am new to the board trying to do some serious research on an 05 VFR. I have a Yamaha Warrior atm (and I love it) but I am looking at getting something a little more sporty to hang around and ride with my buddies that all have sport bikes. I want to get something I can ride and keep up with them a bit better and be comfortable for those longer rides. I dont like the riding position of a full out spork bike i.e. Honda 1000rr, 600rr, Kawy 636, etc. fill in the name of ANY sport bike The ride for me just seems a bit uncomfortable for longer rides. I have looked at the Yammy FZ1, Suz SV1000 and today I actually rode the 05 VFR. I just wanted to see what you all thought about it. I know this is a VFR board but getting some first had thoughts is always good Thanks in advance and happy riding.
All the bikes you are considering are good choices. I think most people here would say go with the VFR, but we have them so we are biased. BUT, it is that way for good reason. Many of us have had several bikes, and this is the one we choose for most duties. For what you described, this bike is perfect. One of my riding buddies in on a new R1, and I have no trouble keeping up with him. The only drawback I have when comparing it to a pure sportbike is the VFR feels heavy, but it is very stable because of that. I can ride my bike 150 miles without a stop and hit some hard twisties here and there along the way, cruise comfortably in the straights, and throw on some bags and take a short tour if I feel the need. It's a pretty decent all-rounder and very few people I have met regret choosing it. It is not an off-roader, but you can do gravel if you have to. Most of us prefer not to scratch them up, though. I haven't ridden the FZ1 but a friend I ride with had one that he sold to get his R1. He had nothing but good things to say about the FZ. I don't know anyone who rides the SV but they look like good bikes to me and it was one of the bikes I was considering when I found my VFR. Good luck with your decision and good riding to you whatever you decide.
I have sat on an SV, but never ridden one. I did not much care for the ergonomics. In other words, I was not comforatble on it. I can tolerate the position of a full on sport bike, but not for long distance rides or long days of riding, even if there are a number of stops. About an hour at a time is about all I can handle. Now the VFR is a different story. It does it all (except for off-roading - haven't tried that on yet :wink: ). It will run with most sport bikes and yet go for long distances. I races a zx-6 and an older ninja 600 as well as a newer (don't know the year model) gixxer. The two kawi's were modded but i kept up. I had the gixxer for lunch. I also went up against a R1. I held him thru 2 gears and i bogged badly off the line (oh, it helped that he didn't have a second gear, hehe) after that all I saw were taillights. I did this in a closed setting, not on the open road. It ran well. With a gear change I think it will out run the two modded kaw's. But we rode an hour to get where all this happened then an hour back, plus the riding in between. It is a well rounded bike and I think you would enjoy it. Yes I am being biased. lol
I jsut rode an '06 from Santa Barbara CA to Las Vegas NV and it went alright. I hit 120 for a bit on Pearlblossom highway and freaquently bounced off 100 on the 15. My main complaint is the wind buffeting and noise through the desert when the windws were up. I've owned a CBR600 which was a little less comfortable, and a Nighthawk which was way more comfortable. I just picked this bike up and I think once I get a new windscreen and get the suspension dialed in for my weight I'll be able to go more than a half a tank before needing to pull over. It's sporty enough, not like my CBR600, but way the hell faster that the Sportster 883 I just sold and much faster than the Nighthawk I have. I'd say it left teh factory with plenty of sport, but not enough touring. So my double bubble is in the mail and I'll be ordering a set of weighted bar ends soon. Bar raisers may be next. A set of brass bar ends brought the vibration through the wrists down to almost nothing on my cbr600. The double bubble on that was awesome too.
I've ridden the SV650 with the 'standard' handle bars, like the Honda 919 and 599. THose are much more comfortable that clip ones. Those two standards are great bikes too. I swear by my 1984 650 Nighthawk. I have decently sticky tires on it now and can follow anyone through the twisties becuase it's so damn controlable.
Thanks for the replies. I am really leaning towards this bike sounds like a good compromise for me and what I am looking to achieve but getting a great bike at the same time. And, it does look SAAAAAAAAAWEEEEEEEET !!!! Next question of course...is $12k OTD a good price for a brand new 05? I read about the differences in the 06 model and the vtec spot change in the rpm band to take better advantge of the torque curve but can a PCMIII addition, BAK and after market pipe help that?
$12K OTD? MSRP on a new one with ABS is $11,500. At least according to the Honda Website. I presume then that the bike is new, as in brand spank me new? I still think the full $12K is a little steep. Usually dealers discount last years models to get them off the floor, but I can't say how much they discount or how much the markup is tobegin with, if any.
AYE...brand spankme NEW. the only miles on the bike are the ones I put on it today when i test rode it
I drove from Las Vegas to LA to pick up my 06' from http://www.otdcyclesports.com/ and was totally satisfied with the service and price. There's also Honda Suzuki of THousand Oaks that has good OTD prices as well. The VFR can be a compromise if you want a sport bike and a tourer. But, it's the best damn one. If you are looking for a "streetable", city, or swift commuter bike then it's no comprimise at all, it's just the best one. Honda has always had the most streetable bikes. Some would say BMW, but they are over priced.
Yea I JUST found these guys online and got a quote of $10,500 OTD on the 06 Model...WTH??? that is $1500 lower than the quote i got from a local dealer and $1000 lower than MSRP anywhere. How the heck do they do that? Anywho, I am awaiting a call back now from them on what they have in stock and to save $1500 It looks like i may be taking a short ride north from San Diego to pick this up. WOOHOOO
If you feel like driving just a bit longer to Sacramento, I picked up my 2006 non-abs VFR about a week ago for $9600 otd. When I was there they also had a 2005 abs (red) for $10,100 otd.
I'm sure my salesman, Raymond Delgado, would appreciate the bump. He treated me well and was easy to get along with. He drove with me to the bank, then to AAA. He then stuck around at the shop until 6:50 waiting for me to return for the bike. Also, he owned a 2006 VFR until recently So he's cool like that. I'll tell you how they do it; they have this big ass warehouse in a cheap part of town. They apply all discounts for you, their sales people get a fixed commission on volume, and the manufactures give them volume kick backs. Due to the kick backs they can actually sell the bike for less than what they paid for it. They have very low overhead too. It's cool becuase they won't try to sell you a more expensive bike just for the bucks. Seeing that warehouse chock full of brand new bikes was fun. It's BIG.
WOOHOOO...I think I will be the proud owner of an 06 VFR today. Got a quote for $11k OTD. A little higher than the LA place but it saves me a drive up there and hauling the bike back on my own. Black 06 w/ABS maybe sitting in my garage in a few hours...!!! YAY ME
