2,000 miles on my new 2006 VFR...

ALASKAN - If you want a real ST, get a 1999 ST4. that was the original ST with the 916 Ducati race motor. My brother has one and it was the reason I fell in love with that model. HOWEVER, the ST2-ST3 models are no comparison! Trust me! :frown: My ST3 makes me sick when I think of how good a bike my brother's ST4 is, but again he only has 10k miles on it and rarely has to service it since he rides it sparingly. I ride everyday.... it was not a cost-effective mount. Had a lot of bugs too. Enough so that they pulled it from the 2008 lineup.

Dlan - I am sure you're very hapy with your Ninja 650R. It's a great commuting bike with pep to spare, VERY lightweight, VERY flickable, and honestly, as skinny as the seat looks and feels, I was comfortable on it for as long as I wanted to ride. Seriously! It's a great mount, low to the ground and very cheap to maintain and easy to do yourself. The stock front suspension on it has no adustment, so maybe you might think about getting some Progressive front forks for it and heavier weight oil. Other than that... flawless bike. It has a very light front end, if you know what I mean! If you like, I have a dark smoke tint Zero Gravity Touring windscreen you can have for the cost of shipping. I believe the 2006 model fits 2006 and up. Never heard anything rattle on the fairing on that bike either. Very well thought out and built. Let me know how you like it. :biggrin: Are you saying you are going to get a VFR now as well?

txlongrider - I had the stock ST3 without the ABS and ohlins. I agree... a costly upgrade. I find no foibles with the Interceptor's stock shock and fork set-up, but some on here say you can buy a used Honda 99-something rear shock (Honda's race bike, no longer in production) on Ebay for dirt cheap and they say they love it. Supposed to fit right in with no mods. Same for the front fork innards, same diameter tubes but better springs and components supposedly. Me, I could care less... this is a maintenance free bike in my opinion, as is.

I have yet to actually take off the touring bags and ride it! I use them all the time to carry and store my helmet, jacket, etc...

I have so far never heard a buzz, rattle, or any other type of vibration-caused noise from any part of my fairing. That's quality.

 

It's now just over a year since I last posted to this thread and I am still riding my Ninja 650R. Great bike no complaints especially now after changing the rear shock (Hagon mono) and fork springs (RaceTech linear rate) along with 15w oil. Nice upgrade made a big difference for me. I find myself drawn to the naked bikes like the Speed Triple and Duc S2R 1K but find myself being drawn back to the VFR. It just seems like the Honda is a much more versatile mount capable of what I'm looking for which is occasional commuting and weekend "fun". I also want to do extended weekend rides. I love the low end grunt of the twins and realize the VFR wants to run in higher revs but is that really an issue? Times haven't been the greatest as many of us have been experiencing and is one reason I still have the Ninja. So many bikes and I want to do different types of riding. I guess the answer is more than one bike however until I win the lottery the VFR still sounds like a good overall mount. Wabbit - question for you. What was it like going from the weight of the 650 to the VFR?

Thanks to all that posted. This is a great site loaded with good information!:thumbsup:

 

Hey Wabbit,

Welcome, I am really glad that you posted that review as I have SERIOUSLY been looking at an ST3. Was thinking of keeping the VFR also but, thanks to your post, I am reconsidering adding to the stable - why bother if the Duc is just going to be image/expense.

Now considering updating the VFR.........it never stops, huh? Thanks!

 

that was to much for me to read how about brakes engine chassis comfort good bad better thank you come again

 

deepdish.... for you....

Brakes - Best. Excellent, predictable, reliable. WHen you change pads get EBC and they are even more awesome.

Engine - Best. Smooth delivery, predictable throttle response at all revs.

Chassis - Best. Stiff. You won't feel the bike flex under hard cornering.

Comfort - Good. Less that two hours, no problems. Over two hours I suggest a Seargent saddle to replace the stock. Comfort is relative to your height and weight. I am 6'2", 180# and have no issue with the footpeg/handlebar comfort.

Hope that helps. This is a bike worth owning. The more I ride it, the more I WANT to ride it!

Stan

 

22,000 miles and counting...

Chain - adjusted it once at about 14,000 miles. I said ONCE.

Engine - not a real noticeable loss of power if any. I will not get the valves done until I hear them click out od sync. Just has not happened yet!

Tires - Replaced the Metzler Road-Tecs at 18,000 miles. I was following roofing truck and he dumped a box of nails. My rear tire took 6 long nails deep in and still held air to my destination (bike shop) Where I was going to order tires for delivery the next week anyway. I even rode home that Saturday with no loss of air yet, but the next morning the tire was flat. The following Wednesday the tires cam in, I aired the rear tire and rode it to the shop (about 12 miles) without loss of air or handling.

I did put on the O2 eliminators and it does ride smoother, but even without them I was happy.

I change the oil and filter every 3k-4k, using Golden Spectra half synth.

Added a K&N air filter on the last tire change. More noticeable engine noise levels up front and better HP/torque overall. I see no need for the PCIII.

Still stock exhaust. I love the sound of it. You want a kick in the pants? Fill up with premium and dump a whole bottle of STP octane boost in it. Bike becomes a monster! I only do that now and then to clean out the tank, fuel lines, and throttle bodies. Doing it all the time will cause accelerated wear of the valve and other engine seals.

The bike has a slight leak at the front sprocket, but it does not drip to the pavement, or even onto the inside of the fairing. More like a fresh sludge around the sprocket shaft. I was told this was acceptable if it is not leaving an oil spot, which it doesn't, and if I wanted the seal changed they would do it when I bring it in for my valve adjustment. I attribute the leak not to the use of the octane boost, but I have missed a shift or two now and then with a hard clunk as my reward. I believe the cause to be rider error.

I still miss 2nd gear some, but that's me not shifting it up firmly enough. Otherwise this gearbox is tight and flawless! LOVE IT!

Still stock saddle. I have no major complaints. It's not a touring saddle, but 3 hour rides are comfortable. It's stop and go traffic that make touring rougher. The pants and undies start to ride up and chaffe a bit, but Monkey Butt powder eliminates that.

I have become very comfortable, even aggressive in commuter traffic. This bike just weaves in and out so effortlessly that I have yet to find a danger zone. When I become 'frisky' on the bike, I tend to keep the revs about 6krpm. As soon as you crack throttle it leaps forward into four valve mode with STRONG pull.

Paint and finish still excellent - I have yet to break down and wash and wax it. I have said earlier that every morning I wipe off the morning dew and it just shines. I might someday clean my wheels...lol

The chain is still tight and looks to me like it can go another 10k-15k. I wax it once a week and it's still shiny

God, I LOVE this damn bike!

Stan

 

My 2004 is so damned predictable - in a good way! It rarely surprises me in frisky riding, although I have experienced a bit of unsettled suspension whoof in brisk corners on lumpy pavement. Not enough to worry about. I put a PCIII on it with O2 eliminators and a Leo Vince exhaust. The power curve is very smooth - although it comes on at the VTEC tranistion point. Now, though, I don't really worry about the revs when I am riding - except when the bike is cold. Stay away from the VTEC transition point until the bike warms up! Bad news when it's cold. But who revs the engine up when the bike is cold, anyway...?

I had intended to fit it with braided steel brake lines, but so far I don't see a weakness in the stock lines. The suspension could be upgraded, but . . . .

 

I was going through some old threads and noticed I never answered you! I didn't go from the Ninja 650R to the VFR. I went from the Ninja 650R to the Ducati ST3, and from the Duc to the VFR. That being said; I didn't really find too muuch difference in the weights of the Duc vs the VFR. The Duc's riding position might have been a fraction more upright, and its weight more toward its center than the VFR, but overall a pretty negligible difference between the two bikes in those respects.

Going from the Ninja 650R to the Duc wasn't all that bad. You have to put more effort into steering and cornering a heavier bike, but the 650R was so light that on corners at a fairly good speed it could get kinda scary because of the weaker stock suspension. The Ninja did not take bumps or road imperfections as well as the Duc or the VFR because of the stock suspension limitations. Don't get me wrong though - The Ninja 650R was a blast to ride and a very capable weapon for city assault riding. To this day I have only ridden one other bike with a more comfortable stock seat, and that's my 1982 Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo. Both bikes you can ride all day and not experience any discomfort. I found that amazing on the Ninja, since the seat is very narrow, but then again I have chicken legs and no ass to speak of.

The VFR's got 27,000 miles on her right now, and I can manuever it in city traffic like I am riding a ten-speed bicycle! So the weight isn't an issue to me at all. I have grown so used to the bike, yet it still impresses me from time to time. I am going out tommorrow morning to tighten the chain a bit. This will make it only its SECOND adjustment! I love it! I still have the original chain and sprocket setup and looks to me like I can get another 10k out of them. My brother did buy me a Givi touring windscreen for Christmas. I do have to say I really like it. Very noticeable difference in wind protection. It looks classy too.I like the fact that Givi puts piping around the edges of the screen for a nice finished look.

Oh, I still have never taken polish to the bike or even washed it yet, and the color is as bright as new. Go figure. I think I might just clean the dirt off the wheels soon though, but I'll save it for warmer weather.

Earlier I reported that there was sludge at the front sprocket. It's not a seal leak. This is from road chain wax blow-off at the front sprocket and collecting there and gathering dirt. I sprayed a bit of degreaser on it and hosed it right off. I have not brought the bike in for valve adjustment yet. It does not seem to need it in my opinion. Maybe this summer, just for peace of mind.

I still have nothing bad to say about this bike.