Hello all, I just joined this forum and I am looking at buying a 2003 vfr. I currently ride a 2009 Yamaha FZ6r and I love the bike but I would like to get something that is a little better for touring. Just wondering if you guys have anything I should look out for on this year model. I will save you guys from the general questions that probably get asked and do some additional research on my own. Any info is appreciated. Thanks, Tom
All I will say is my bike prior to my 2007 VFR was a 2006 FZ6 and I love this bike sooooooooooooo much more!! Considering this generation went from 2002 to 2009, I'd say you're in the same boat and I don't know of anything at all that should discourage you from getting the 2003. You will love it. Just do the usual mods if not already done, ie, aftermarket seat... Sargent is the best, and even if you don't get aftermarket pipes, do ther PC3 and dynotune it. It will go a long way to make you very happy!!
Welcome and good luck with your purchase. The 02 thru 05 bikes had a recall for their wiring harness so make sure that was done before getting the bike. If it hasn't then taking it to your local Honda dealer should clear that up. Just make sure you take it to a GOOD dealer; I had an issue with one (now out of business) that crammed the connectors together and bent the pins! This caused the R/R and half my electrical system to fail on on old Silver 05'. Once you have it, ride it for a while before modding it too much. If you are going to do any distance riding then I'll agree with Chicky on the Sargent seat. She can attest that it makes it easier to "text at the ton"! I did a 1500 mile 3 day weekend on the stock seat and wanted to shove the bike off a cliff! Anyway post up some pics once you get the bike and good luck!
Thanks for the input! I love my yami but I cannot afford to keep it while getting another bike. The 03' I am looking at has 24K miles on it and they are asking the avg NADA suggested retail. I am hoping to avoid doing any mods to this bike for a while since the cost tends to add up quickly. I know the FZ6 is more upright with a higher center of gravity similar to my 6r.. how is the weight and cornering compared to your VFR? I am pretty sure my 6r is around 430-450 dry..
The VFR is so perfectly balanced, it could probably be 50lbs heavier and still feel very light. I just think about turning and it's there with me. The FZ6 and most other bikes I've ridden, ya kinda have to "make it" lean. You will need to get used to a different riding position. It's not as aggressive as a pure sportbike, but it IS a more leaned forward position. Just remember to keep your elbows bent, not stiff and straight. Use your core to support yourself. One of the advantages of the VFR is that once you get used to the riding position and riding it "correctly" it provides a nice workout and pretty good abs. I know some have put on heli bars, but in my opinion, while they may make the longer rides more comfy, it takes away from the ease of steering and gets in the way of proper inputs. I've heard some riders with heli bars complain of some loss in the ease of aggressive riding.... The two mods I suggested were done by me immediately and went a long way to improving the smile factor. After that I rode it for a couple years and 30K miles. When I realized I was keeping this bike for a while, I then put on aftermarket pipes, powerlet outlets, aftermarket levers and other little things. Seriously, the stock seat will make you think you have 2 x 4s pushing through your butt cheeks after about 2 hours... unless you have heavy padding back there. Keep an eye on here and eBay. Maybe you can pick up a Sargent seat cheap. Or perhaps it already has an aftermarket seat.
You might want to tell us a little bit about yourself, height and weight riding style so we can give you better input and more precise to what you are looking for prior jump into the mods. For some the VFR seem heavy compare to the sport bike but the VFR will not brake your back after few hours or few thousand miles of riding.
I am 6' ft weighing 185 lbs. A lot of my riding is done commuting but I also like to do some aggressive riding and cruising so I really am looking for a do it all bike that is comfortable. I feel I already have that in my FZ6R but I would like a little extra power which the VFR has.
It is a little bit more power but remember your FZ6R is tune for sport and it a different beast. Many of our VFR rider are same size as your maybe someone will chimp in and give you better opinion. I do own many different bike but each of my bike will serve me for their purpose.
Long, really? Ive never really heard anyone say it feels heavy.... Im 5'6", a little under 125 not real strong and I dont find it heavy. I have swapped bikes with guys on R1s, R6s, ZX10s, ZX6s, GSXR10000s and they all get off amazed at how light the VFR is compare to theirs. Im perplexed by your statement...
I think you're going to find the VFR a good fit. Like you, I use mine for daily raiding. I do find it to be a tad heavier than other sport bikes but it is so well balanced that you don't notice it 98% of the time. I've done short trips and long trips as well as taken the bike to the dragon, all without issue. If you use it for frequent commuting, you love the optional side bags... I couldn't get by on a day to day basis without the luggage. As far as things to look out for, you most certainly want to make sure that you get the recalls taken care of. I believe there are 3 of them for pre-2005 models. 2 of them are for wiring harnesses and one is for the front brake. Don't worry too much about them as dealers fix it for free. You can get the VIN and call your lcoal Honda dealer to find out if the recall campaigns have been completed on the bike or not. Other than that, there really isn't anything specific to watch out for on the VFR's. They really are bulletproof. Two common issues that people seem to have are problems with the R/R (and this goes for all Honda bikes really...) and stuck open thermostats. The stuck thermostat is a cheap and easy fix with basic mechanical knowledge and the R/R thing just seems to be random for everyone. Other than that, just check your basic things for all bikes. Proper maintenance, no leaks, straight forks and frame, etc.
If I compared it to my Duc, yeah it feels heavier but it is well balanced in my opinion. You'll probably only notice the weight when it's falling over, ask me how I know. At 6' you shouldn't have a problem placing both feet on the ground, unless you have a really oddly proportioned body. Depending on your motor skills, the only difficult thing you might have with this bike is with low speed maneuvers, and that mostly pertains to a stock setup. A majority of owners go with the Dynojet Power Commander to help with the low speed (low rpm) "issue". I use mine as a daily commuter and an occasional sport bike. Sometimes I do 500 mile round trips, sometimes 40. Until I bought the Sargent seat and Heli-bars, it was a tad much on the longer hauls, but now I am totally comfortable. Not that I have anything against the Sargent seat, I would probably go to an upholsterer and have one custom made. It'll probably cost about the same and it would be tailored to fit me. The only drawback to that, if I was ever to resell the bike IMO, it would be easier to resell the bike with a good quality "generic" seat than with a custom one. Cheers!
If I had a chance to buy another VFR I would look for one that has all the mods that I would want IE: Seat, Exhaust and Windscreen
I am 5' 8" and about 200 pounds. I can touch just fine on a 6th gen. I had ridden a 2008 model as a rental a few years ago. I liked the bike and it's what prompted me to get back into riding. I had not ridden a motorcycle in something like 12 - 14 years before that. I just hopped on the VFR and went. We rode 450 miles that day. If you do nothing else, replace the seat. It's the best money I ever spent on the bike.
