VFR vs. R1

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by terry, Jul 28, 2008.

  1. terry

    terry New Member

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    I traded the VFR with my friend's R1 for a few days. Here are my reactions...

    [​IMG]

    SEXY FACTOR:
    Riding home from his place at 1am, I was stopped at a light while cruising down lakeshore blvd. I notice some flickering lights from beside me. I look, and there is a BMW with 3 girls dressed to the nines (probably just finished clubbing) taking a picture of me on the R1. Can't say I've ever experienced this on the VFR. (*Did I mention I'm married, with 2 kids)

    POWER FACTOR:
    Off the line, I did not notice a terrible difference in acceleration. However... merging onto the highway, this thing is a monster. Went from 90km/h to 160km/hr with a slight twist of the throttle, and in only a couple seconds. Its power band seems to start at 1,000rpm, and just keeps climbing. No sudden burst of power at 5,000rpm like the VFR. It also doesn't seem to even matter what gear you are in. Loads of power everywhere.

    CORNERING:
    This machine likes nice flat smooth roads, like a track. These types of roads in the real world are few and far between. I found if I was banking the bike around a corner with uneven or rough pavement, the back end was kicking out. Unlike the VFR which seemed to just deal with it, and get through. In this respect, I actually found more confidence in the handling of the VFR.

    COMFORT FACTOR:
    It is not as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. But, after 30 minutes of riding, I definitely started to feel the pressure in the wrists and elbows.

    WOULD I BUY IT?
    I'm not about to give up the VFR for an R1. For real world streets, I still can't imagine a better bike than the VFR. If I could afford a second bike (and had a parking spot for it) it would be great to have an R1 to take for a blast around for an hour every once in a while. That high-end torque is invigorating.

    P.S.
    Probably better I don't get a R1. Would only be a matter of time before I lose my license and have the bike impounded. It doesn't like to go slow.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2008
  2. FrankoQ

    FrankoQ New Member

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    better you don't get the R1. Right?

    Nice comparison.
     
  3. FrankoQ

    FrankoQ New Member

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    It'd be nice to read what your friend thinks of the VFR.
     
  4. drewl

    drewl Insider

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    Thanks for your thoughts. I like to see the comparison posts.
     
  5. derstuka

    derstuka Lord of the Wankers Staff Member

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    My brother has a 2000 R1, and I like it. It is like comparing apples to oranges though. As you said, the larger displacement, more horsepower, and way lighter, R1 has loads of power and will smoke away from most bikes. I always like riding his, but my wrists get uncomfortable after so many miles.

    The squids ruined the R1, and Gixxer's for me.....they are a dime a dozen around me, and many of them have scrape and crash marks all over them as their t-shirt & short wearing rider revs his engine to me at a light. Too bad....such nice bikes. However, I do like the older R1's better than the new ones. My brother's looks mint!

    Anywho, I digress....thanks for the comparo. At least you know you got game with the ladies on the R1! :stripper:
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2008
  6. Alaskan

    Alaskan Member

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    Thanks. Nice summary. You say that the Yamaha's rear tire tended to bounce around in rough corners. I wonder if the spring was too stiff for your weight or if the suspension was set up for the track?

    My brother is buying an ST4, so mebbee I'll trade him pretty soon and post a comparo.
     
  7. John451

    John451 Member

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    Nice review, I like R1's.

    On the suspension think the early R1's less stable than the later ones, when following a mates mates '01 it definately skips around through my favourite tight back road twisties and he complains of head shakes and the road surface quality a lot whereas a close friends Black/silver '04 looks much better planted when following being less effected by the ripples and bumps....

    The VFR is of course still better at covering long back road distance's and less of a stress planning fuel stops. :biggrin:
     
  8. Buckwheat

    Buckwheat New Member

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    Agreed. See if he'll give you some feedback to post. Enjoyed your review!!
     
  9. cynyc

    cynyc New Member

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    Nice write up. That was cool of you to post. I've always thought the R1's were drop dead sexy. But they looked uncomfortable to me. I do know that when I take my Viffer out around this hick town I live in that NOBODY knows what kind of bike it is. With the SSSA and dual cans out back, it draws alot of attention.....even from the GSXR/R1/R6 crowd.:whoo:

    I say if your friend lets you trade with him from time to time....keep it that way. You own a bike that's very original and stands out in a crowd.:thumb:
    Not only in looks, but sound too.

    V4 ftw!!!1
     
  10. jimn235

    jimn235 New Member

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    I own a 02 vfr-abs and a 01 r1 with some ohlins and akropovic features.

    my impressions are the following:

    comfort - the vfr stock seat hits discomfort at 45 minutes, having an hour commute each way I got a pretty consistent impression of this. a corbin seat is probably a necessity here. the r1 seat-wise has no hard and fast discomfort, just overall road fatigue is higher at the end of a ride. back, wrists, and spider sense are all in constant state of flex on the r1. the vfr upright puts it all in one column. i have an injured back so the vfr putting weight on one column vs the r1 pulling me over the front works opposite to that of someone with a stronger back. the r1 was back rehab for me. true story.

    cornering - i liked the "power steering" feel of the vfr when i first got it coming off my ninja 250. some short months later I longed for the control the smaller bike gave. for me at least the r1 is a fit, power or no, the lower center of gravity and 200 lbs less bike is a win for me.

    power - the r1 motor is "no compromise". add dyno tuning and rejetting i've done with the full exhaust and it's got me spoiled. the vfr has a nice growl with no baffles in the stock twin pipes but the big heavy bike has the opposite torque curve for anything but gliding on the highway.

    safety - mixed bag here for both. i inheritted 150+watt high beams for the vfr. i can see a mile clearly with them at night. the vfr is a precision machine but the higher center of gravity and heft requires that you keep your wit lest you forget who is boss. the double-bubble makes the wind more bearable but the longer i ride the less i notice the wind. i've had at least one incident with the kickstand on lumpy pavement and been unable to halt the vfr in mid-downward motion, standing there feeling stupid. the r1 is deft and agile in every way a race bike should be. it behaves at stop lights and takes no effort to flip a leg over. never feels like it's carberatuter is too eager to accelerate or too jerky when you let in the throttle. the vfr has lurched more than a few times on me with a hair trigger idle.

    looks - they both look and sound like godesses.

    im parting soon with my vfr having my personal inventory met in more ways by the lighter, more expensive to insure r1 but i consider myself still a relatively new rider and just getting in my comfort zone. the vfr inspired me to ride for pleasure but i think the 800's weight and power are a little too far in the touring profile and strayed too far from the sport heritage. the biggest vfr impressions for me are weight and low-rpm torque done wrong, all else being equal or superior to the r1.
     
  11. Andrew_rc46

    Andrew_rc46 New Member

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    I have owned a 03 r1 (5pw) and tbh i do long for the power on the (2nd 5 gen) vfr, but if i am being honest the vfr seems to be the better choice all round.

    Its never going to win any beauty contests, but its sheer ability to do everything well makes it the bike for me, and in the "real world" on the twisties i can stick with any pussy on an r1 gsxr1000 zx10, thats probably more to do with me then the bike though lol i FU--ing love the old girl "v4 all the way"
     
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