hi...new.....considering a vfr800 2008 ish.....some reviews say heavy bike....am 5ft 71/2 70kg....is bike ok given weight issue.....heard once going they nice....just wheather anyones had issues if traffic...slow, stop start stuff extra, or any helpfull hints...love the bike and look....so keen as....comments welcome
Steve: Lots of guys your height do perfectly fine on a VFR. One of my instructors in my basic riding course had one; he'd only come up to your height if he was wearing thick soled boots. He's been riding forever; used to ride sports bikes but decided the VFR was too good/comfortable/fun to put up with the sport bike any longer. I came to my 07 VFR from a Suzuki SV650. The SV650 is about 100 pounds lighter. First of all, I notice no issues with the extra weight while riding. As lots of reviewers point out, the weight of the bike seems to disappear when riding it. Pushing it around the garage (small two car garage w/ 2 cars, one riding mower, one snow blower, garbage cans,etc.+ one beautiful VFR = only one possible configuration to get everything in) I notice it, but just barely. The only time it has been an issue was once when I stopped for a slice of pizza (fuel for the pilot). The parking lot had a bit of an incline to it. I was trying to back the bike uphill into a space. No go; Newton and his law of gravity decreed I wasn't backing the bike up that steep an incline. Not to be critical, but how long have you been riding? The reason I ask is that the starting stopping issue is closely related to level of experience. Once, when I had about 300 miles on my SV650 I stopped akwardly at an intersection. A combination of my inexperience and innate clummsiness let the bike get a few too many degrees from vertical. Oops! Couldn't quite get it back up. Iit was the slowest tip over in history, I struggled for a full minute or two before gravity won and the bike went over gently onto its side. This happens to lots of low time riders but the risk of this goes away very quickly with riding time/miles. This is one reason why any fully-faired bike is perhaps not the best choice for a first bike. It's a $hame to scratch up the fairings. Best of luck, Bob S.
Thanks for that....have been riding a while so the experience part not so much an issue, just the reviews etc did highlight the weight thing, and wanted to see if anyone that has the bike at moment found it an issue. Rode alot when younger and then got a bike a couple of years ago to get back into it, a wee 250 road bike, nothing fancy , but was enjoying the riding but not the lack performance with a tiny bike, but then we needed some cash and was the first thing that went ( not the mrs things of course, just the bike ). Then we separated earlier this year and moved towns, jobs etc ,...so guess what ...GET BACK ON A BIKE!!..yay. Thanks heaps for your comments, and will start hunting for the right one in spring., cheers, steve
Welcome aboard Steve! I'm 5'4 1/2 and am ok with my vfr. Since you have experience already, I don't think the wieght will be an issue to you. Good luck and post some pics.
hey steve, welcome to the board. well i have to say that wieght is relative. i spent a good 6 weeks aboard a VFR1200, and when i got back to an 800, it felt like a feather. there are plenty of good buys on VFr 800's at the moment, so do keep an eye on trademe as there has been the odd bargain. why wait till spring?...the Viffer is an all weather bike, and the forecast for this winter is mild with an expected 4 degree increase in average temps...woohoo more riding i say!
