First ever "sport" bike and what great fun to ride!!! Been riding cruisers since 2001, so this is quite different buuuuuut a very pleasant change. Itching to take the Black Pearl on long ride. I'm a 45 (going on 29 for the third straight year) year old Architect enjoying life to the fullest. Who ever said "life begins @ forty" is absolutely right! After several attempts.....over the past few weeks......finallly figured out how to get the bike on it's center stand, phew. Peace
Well welcome aboard! It's about time you pulled your head out of your ass and got on a VFR.....kidding...not! But really it's a great bike. When I was looking for a new bike my buddy steered me this way and I've been thanking him ever since. Just last nite at the local Biker Bash some little Gixer punks were watering at the mouth over the stunning beauty and power of the Viffer. One of them said " so that's one of those V twins right" and I said "no son that is a V4" he said " Wow, that must have alot of torque" I said "yeah, she pulls pretty hard" then I fired her up and wheelied away.(35 going on 22 myself)... well enjoy...FWB
Welcome to the world of V-4's rdv. You wil find that the VFR is a very versatile machine that can hang with the sport bikes, yet run with the touring crowd as well and do both without complaints. burner, can I use that?
oh man, I hear ya there. My first few times trying I nearly dropped her, glad to hear I'm not the only one who thought that is was a real pain to get the hang of. Welcome to the group, great info all over this place! :biggrin:
WOW...glad I'm not the only one who had trouble getting my bike up...I also had probs..WELCOME to VFRWORLD....lots of info to get and learn from each other.. Ride safe / Stay Vertical
congrats on the bike and the fun. I had to have someone show me the trick to the centerstand. I was afraid I was gonna drop it...
OK, so what is the trick? I lost 40 pounds last year and now weigh about 160 and can use all the help I can get. I get it up (on the stand...) only occasionally. Don't want to drop the new "white pearl"... expound 06 VFR (white pearl)
1) Put your bike on it's side stand. 2) Stand on the side stand side of the bike. (Left side) 3) Grab the left handle bar with your left hand and the passenger foot peg mount with your right hand. 4) Put your foot on the center stand foot lever. 5) Roll the bike back with your left hand, jam your foot down, and lift slightly on the passenger foot peg mount. You must do all three things. The center stand should catch and stop the rearward momentum of the bike. Do everything smoothly, don't go jerking the bike back or trying to throw your back out lifting. 6) Practice. You'll find that once you get the hange of all three motions it really doesn't take much force in any direction, espescially pulling up. P.S. I was wondering when someone would name thier bike the Black Pearl I ride Lillith. I was thinking of riding the Black Pearl, but didn't want splinters in unexplainable places.
From step three (3) of Canib's reply. 4) Put your foot on the center stand foot lever. 5) Push bike away from you until you feel the right leg of the center touching the ground (not worry the bike won't tip over). If it'll make you feel better, have someone stand on the right side of the bike as backup till you get the hang of it. Then with one final smooth action as previusoly desribed...... presto it's done. I'm only 5'4 and 155 lbs so it took a bit of effort at first. Hope this helps.
Thanks to rdvf06vfr and to Canib. I got the bike up for first time last evening -- the right way. (I figured that both prongs of the stand had to be touching). No spotters or other help -- and boy it was comparatively easy. Wow.
+1 on having both prongs down. Forgot about that. And about light people moving heaving things... There's a video 'how too' where this 55 year old lady who weighs almost nothing lifts a touring bike from off it's side. My friend Mouse always told me not to ride anything too big to lift, but after seeing this lady's trick I think my friend had nonsense advice.
