VFR behavior at the limits of traction?

What happens when the VFR is at the limits of its traction? Does it break away suddenly or does it give warning (tire squealing, some slipping)? How far can it be safely leaned?

 

Depends on the state of the suspension & if modified. Also, depends GREATLY on tire choice & pressure.

That said, the vast majority of riders will never hit the limits of the bike.

 

Well I can tell you the pegs can be scraped before losing traction and I was using Pilot Road 3s, tires not exactly known for the super amazing grip. Really the bike is extremely predictable and trustworthy in corners.

Pilot Road 3 front and rear 30/32 psi on a track stock suspension.

 

I scraped a peg and broke the peg slider off on the oem dunlops that my 07 came with. As for safe lean angle, your toes would be sore before you got low enough.
My abs model give a tell tail warning as the back come free, nothing spectaular, just a small lurch. I try not to do that too much as I dont like low siding my bike.

 

I run Pilot Road 3 tires as well and I have yet to feel any slippage on this bike and I weigh way too much for the stock suspension. Heck, just today I was running the Malibu canyons with a bunch of Ducatis and never once was I given pause by this bike. I was full throttle out of some the curves and hard on the brakes into most of them. No issues. I was hard into the curves with a lot of lean angle and brakes front and rear, and again, nothing but grrrrrrrrrrip!

I'll probably have to go the track to find the limits. I was running 36 psi rear and about 32 front.

 

Have only reached its limits on a Track (Eastern Creek), no squealing or slippage but the stock suspension did start to feel disconcertingly wallowy at near full lean when cornering at higher speeds. Lucky it seemed to give a good warning before getting to the limit.

 

I think Sebastian (sebspeed) made the VFR and its handling a bit infamous with this shot.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone, good to know it's tough to get to the traction limit on the VFR. Didn't realize that amazing picture was of Sebspeed.

 

Yea the VFR is a amazing all rounder machine. Probably why i gave up on all out supersport machines because this puppy can do it well and still commute in comfort. Jack of all trades, master of none.

 

With a little tweeking these bikes are just as capable as an all out sports bike, just less power and top speed. Find a set of inspiring tires (thats not a brand, its a feeling) and set the suspension to match your riding then have fun, 15yrs from now you will still smile when you remember how the bike felt as it digs in and turns like its part of you.

 

I used to ride a very fast Yamaha R6 with modified suspension both ends and a fancy damper, I noticed that most of the time I could ride the vfr just as fast and sometimes faster than my R6. The 800 has more torque and pulls harder and the extra weight actually helps go over rough bumps too. I liked to put really sticky sporty tires on. I have found the m5 metzler to be a super street tire and it looks like it will wear well too with its steel belts to support the extra weight well. It takes more effort to hit curves hard. I think the abs brakes can really make the bike faster too with some better pads, hit the brakes hard before a turn or trail braking will be better and easy with abs doing the thinking. I do think it is faster than a 2002 four carb R6 Yamaha with a aka TI full exhaust pushing well over 100 rear wheel and weighing 120 less pounds. Flat out the Yamaha would beat the VFR but I can ride the vfr much longer without getting worn out. My R6 was a back breaker, the VFR is a Cadillac. I can't wait to try the vfr with some fancy Belay 7 HP mineral oil in the fork. I got a scotts damper on now too. The VFR also sounds like music to my ears with the carbon canister making a almost drumming sound. :drum:

 

Just correcting a mis print from earlier, it should have read "Jack of all trades, Master of every one" It really can do it all. It was the bike that invented the Sports-Tourer class & most others that have fallen under that tag are more tourer than sport. The VFR (Vee Four Racer) has always been a great all rounder

 

I personally think all that weight just helps the bike remain planted. Physics would agree.

 

I have not had it to the track yet but have played on a few safe roads near me. The suspension in stock form seems to me to be where you would hit the limit is on the suspension way before a sticky set of tires. After spending years trying to get the feel right on my Cbr 1000 track bike I finally put on Ohlin forks with super bike valving and an Ohlins rear shock. Then had a friend who is an ex racer and master with suspensions especially with Ohlins, set it up for me. For most tracks I don't even touch it. Works extremely well, input bar pressure got a lot easier for turn in and driving out of turns holds a line without running wide. I really want to do some tweaking to the VFR buts it's more of my fun commuter and twisty bike.

 

I replaced the rear shock with a Nitron race unit & put Traxxion dynamics cartridges in my forks, its like a new machine now Semi-sticky tires & its a hoot.

 

the vfr handles better then most bikes-some of it has to do to its weight helps the back stiff shock to squash down a bit-a lighter bike would be horrible with the same shock.:tyrannosaurus:

 

Mohalk if you don't mind how much was that set up?

 

Ment to say Mohawk.

 

I would kill for Traxxion cartridges, but I'd probably have to literally kill someone and steal all their money to afford them.

 

Hi Gator, not being rude, just found your question in my spam box !
Well when I was planning the bike as a sleeper & just a delink without replacing the front brakes, it was supposed to look standard. so I did the Traxxion cartridges.
I could have done them myself, but was very busy at the time, so sent them off to Reactive Suspension in the UK this was 3 years back. I got the forks over hauled & rebuilt with all new bushings & seals plus the Traxxion cartridges for £900 GBP or approx $1200 USD at that time.

If I had to do it all again & with the newer VTR sliders with the 929 brakes being a million times n=better than the VFR's, then for less money I could have completely changed the front end to RC51, R1's etc. If you got a late model set of forks now, you could have USD with BPF cartridges which are really good. So if I was to spend the money again that's what I'd do.

But if the bike is standard, then the Traxxion cartridges really do make the front end much better.
That said I have only experienced it with the BST carbon front wheel & later with the VTR lowers & 929 brakes, which shaved over 4Kg out of the unsprung weight in the front !