Hello to all, I remember my second motorcycle like it was yesterday...a new in the crate 3 year old 1986 VF1000R I purchased. I rode it for almost a year and put 13,000 miles on her including a trip from New England to Key West Florida in a week...sadly as a youth, I longed for more noise and traded it for a ZX10. Almost 2 years ago I purchased another one...even though my wife thought I was crazy on ebay... 2 years later still going strong, had to have the forks rebuilt, but other than that gas and go! Luv the site, and I haven't been on it in a while. I am currently selling an older Honda and considering another mid 80's sportbike. Have to find the right one. Could be a Honda 700/750...or a Kawi...haven't decided yet.
When I was in high school, I told myself that I would own an '86 VF1000R some day. Of course, back then, I had little money and had to worry about getting through college first and getting a job. Then came the wife, house and kids. I'm finally at a point in my life where I was able to follow through on that. I couldn't imagine being able to buy a new one back in the day. I'm glad to hear you came back to it. It sounds like yours is a keeper. As far as your next mid-80's sport bike, I'd go with the '86 VFR750. I'm a little biased as I own one of those as well, but it is a great bike.
Ya, it was more of the economics of the times for me rather than a luv of the VF1000R. I was in the shop waiting to purchase a 89 600 Ninja and I had just contacted the insurance agent. He told me the price and I about passed out. Then I saw the VF1000R in the corner of the shop...lil' dust on her for only a couple hundred more than the Ninja. I asked the insurance agent what it would cost to insure it and it was less than half. Because I was under 25 at the time and looking at a "Ninja" the "VF1000r" was cheaper to insure. I bought it, but even back then it was impossible to find aftermarket parts ie. and exhaust system. I hated riding with my pals because they all had 'current' rides with pipes. The funny thing was they used to bitch about riding with me because they would hear my motorcycle and couldn't figure out why I wasn't shifting! The best motorcycle trip I ever took was to Key West, with my father who was riding an 883 Sportster! It was a blast being on the Honda...I was glad to find one and I'll give the VFR a look if I find one clean! Just missed a couple of Kawi's...
So how many years did it take you before you realized what you had? I'm assuming that is why you've bought another one after all these years. How about posting some photos. It's always great to see one of these especially in nice shape.
The real answer is I was looking for a mid-80's sportbike and had a little cash laying around. At first I was looking for a RWB 86 600 Ninja, and was having a hard time. While I was surfing around I found the VF1000R, on ebay, and I realized it then. I really figured out how rare it was on the first ride when I got it back to Connecticut. I don't remember the bike turning heads in 89...but they sure do today! I think there is definately something different about the bikes of the 80's. I go into the shops today and feel like I'm shopping at the Jetson's motorcycle shop! I think I overpaid by 500-1000..but I wanted it and the bike is pretty clean. At 24 years old, I think it may in nicer shape than the one I traded back in 90.
And it looks like I got the elusive RWB Ninja 600 this weekend.... The 86 collection is growing! http://vfrworld.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/kawasaki.jpg
I bought the R1100S in 1999 and at the time was looking for a reliable twin sportbike..after a huge problem with a Buell. I can honestly say it was the 'clunky', hard to shift and ride right off the showroom floor. At some point it seemed to be breaking in and got better but it really woke up when I replaced the exhaust/cat with the two brothers cat elimination pipe. It became a different motorcycle at that point. It also has an 'interesting' feel when riding at slow speeds with the telelever front end. You really don't get any idea how hard you are breaking because the motorcycle doesn't seem to dive. One point I wasn't sure how I would like is the shaft drive. I had ridden motorcycles with shaft drive that seemed to torque the rear end of the motorcycle up under acceleration, but the BMW is reversed and feels normal. I think the seating position is the most uncomfortable of any of the motorcycles I have as it really pushes you forward in the saddle to the most narrow part of the seat, but I did ride it on a week long trip through Canada and Nova Scotia in 2000 and it was bearable. For a while I had the luggage but have since stripped it off as well as the passenger pegs. I would say it has been a great bike although I did have some clutch problems due to a poor BMW design...and try to get to the clutch on one of these. I wouldn't shy away from a R1100S and it seems like there are some real deals out there. I haven't really heard anything about the new S and don't really appreciate the new BMW styling concepts.
Thanks for the input, I am surprised about the seating .some BMW bikes I have sat on seemed really comfy.. I guess it depends on model....
I know what you mean. I rode a R1100RS and it had a nice seat. The thing about the S is that the seat pitches forward a lot and it seems to push you off the majority of the 'cushion'. The passenger seat also pushes the passenger into you while riding which is why I stripped off the passenger pegs and made it a solo ride. Of course the seat may have been better when I bought it, now that it has over 20,000 miles and 11 years on it! The other thing about the S that I forgot is BMW, I heard, rubber mounts the handlebars on all other models. Not so on the S and you get a substantial amount of vibration through the handlebars. I believe I remember reading that BMW mounted them solid for better feel as this was to be the boxer sportbike. All of this though is okay with me as it has been a blast to ride and it sounds like nothing else on the road with the Two Brothers Exhaust!
