Nothing like a little "quality time" to strengthen a relationship!

Well, I've only had my 2010 VFR12 a few months now, and haven't necessarily been it's biggest fan. But this past Memorial day weekend the wife and I did a 900 mile trip on it and I have to say my impressions have changed for the better. Since this bike replaced my recently departed FJR1300, it had some big shoes to fill and it took a bit of farkling to get it where it needed to be, like any other bike I've ever owned. But I have to say this bike is far more in its element out touring two-up on the open (and twisty) road than it is going back and forth through town to work.

First and foremost, I'm happy to say that as many have reported, fuel economy goes WAY up out on the road vs putt-putting around town! I had been getting a pretty consistent 31 mpg back and forth to work (unacceptable!). But on this trip I got a very consistent 41 mpg! That's a significant improvement!

Second biggest concern was suspension. It's still not great, but I have to say that it was actually much better than I expected. Granted, I can't get too jiggy with the wife on the back (she frowns upon it), but I did run a pace through the twisties brisk enough to keep myself somewhat entertained. It remained pretty darn composed through all without being harsh. It should be noted that I have the front preload adjusters cranked to the limit and front end dive under braking is still more than it should be. Considering I only weigh 160 lbs and the wife is just about the same, the forks are clearly undersprung. Conversely, the rear shock was a whopping 6 clicks out from max and was pretty darn composed, even with the side cases loaded and wifey on the back through some decent twisties. Sorry, I don't know where the rebound adjusters are currently, but if anybody reeeeally wanted to know, I'd go check them. It's no Ohlins, but it did its job admirably for a stocker.

To those who say 'stick it in top gear and ride', I say I don't quite know about that. Will it pull 6th gear from 3k? Yes. Will it do so without complaining? Not so much. Feels like a Harley when you try. Lots of shaking and shuddering and not a lot of acceleration down there in top gear. Better off in 5th if you're going that slow. I still have to remind myself to upshift on this bike because it's just so damn smooth at 4k. I never find the vibes particularly annoying on this bike, but I'm almost always aware of them.

The Givi side cases are BIG and hold alot of stuff. They also look decent on the bike as long as you're not standing directly behind it...then they just look really wide. Another couple went with us on a Concourse C-14 with factory side cases and factory trunk and were shocked at how much stuff we brought and how much they had to leave behind due to lack of space. Ironically, my FJR side case liners not only fit better than the Givi case liners, I'd say they're better made, so the Givi liners went back for a refund.

Since Corbin did NOT do what I asked for in the seat build, I had to suffer with a ball busting, wrist wrenching riding position that I didn't think my prostate would survive. But the wife was content with her accommodations out back (with Corbin backrest), so it wasn't a total disaster. But the seat is on it's way back to Corbin to do what I asked for the first time around.

My el cheapo $20 Go Cruise throttle lock certainly isn't as slick to use as its more expensive counterparts. But for the small price, low weight, discreet appearance, and relative effectiveness, it definitely made a good showing and gives the right wrist a welcome break.

Oh yeah, and the HID's are the shizzle on dark twisty backroads! I almost never use the high beam anymore, but when I do, it's a flamethrower!

Engine heat was pretty damn good considering it was 90+ F all weekend...a blessing for sure and definitely better than the FJR which would have absolutely roasted me off of it. I will say that on the long boring stretches I missed the FJR's power windscreen to get a little more quiet behind the bubble, but at least the VFR shield (with touring screen) never gives any buffeting unless you're overtaking certain shaped semis. So I'd have to say the only area where the FJR wins is the relative quiet you can achieve with the power shield and the right aftermarket screen.

So all in all I'm feeling much better about my purchase since this trip. I still don't think it's worth MSRP, but at least I no longer feel like maybe I bought the wrong bike. I bought the right bike at the right price.

 

Great write up. I missed my chance on a leftover at ASK powersports in Grove City. It sat forever and they lowered it under 10k and it went out the door finally. They only have the new '12 blue ones at the other location which is way too expensive....

 

Thats just great. I was really worried you were gonna turn into one of those harleydoods..

 

Yea it felt like my old C14's I4 was better at running down in the 3k range in 6th. No way this one goes below 4k ever so it never hits 6th till about 70mph. Not that I'm complaining. You gotta run a bike how it likes to run. Good write up.

 

Danger, I'm glad you're liking the bike. My wife and I also road about 900 miles over the Memorial Day weekend. We did a loop in NM and AZ that included the best part of 191 aka 666 aka "The devil's hiway". Initially, the bike was a bit wallowy in the twisties because of the extra weight of the luggage and gear. But, after cranking up the preload in the rear and the damping at both ends, it became much more stable and composed in the twisties and was still comfortable in the rougher sections. Without gear, I weigh 170 and the wife weighs 130. But, we probably had an additional 70lbs of gear and luggage. I definitely agree that it isn't a bike that you just ride in top gear. In the tight parts of 666, we were using 2nd, 3rd and 4th most of the time. I certainly don't mind rowing thru the gears. To me, a bike that requires a little shifting is a more engaging ride.

We swapped bikes with a friend on an FJR for about 50 miles. The only thing about the FJR we both preferred was the Rick Mayer seat. It was the most comfortable motorcycle seat I've ever used. The FJR had more leg room that she also appreciated. Otherwise, we both preferred the VFR. I was expecting to at least prefer the adjustable windscreen on the FJR. But, I never found a position on it that was any quieter or less turbulent than the VFRs. It was an '05 with a stock windscreen.

Everyone likes something different and all motorcycles have some compromises. But, for me the VFR fits the role of 2-up SPORT-tourer better than any bike I've ridden. The only aches and pains from the whole trip were in my cheeks...my butt cheeks from sitting on them all day and my face cheeks from grinning all day.

 

Funny thing about FJRs that I've mentioned in other threads...you'll be hard pressed to find an FJR owner who hasn't tried at least three different seats and three different windscreens trying to get comfortable. I was in that category. For me, the stock shield with a Laminar Lip was as good as or better than anything else I'd tried, and you could definitely find a "sweet spot" where it was eerily quiet behind the shield...but not with a stock screen alone. Of course that eery quiet came at a price if it was really hot out. The FJR was a cooker! But interestingly, my buddy on the C-14 actually got a burn on his right leg from engine heat coming out of the fairings! I mean BURNT! He had to cut the toe out of a sock and pull it up over the burn the rest of the trip. Crazy. The VFR wins hands down in that category!