Not enjoying the VFR.......yet!

Hey VFR world.
August 2nd i traded my fantastic KTM Superduke (08) for an VFR 800 (04) non ABS. The bike was essentially stock, save for heli bars and some heated grips. The VFR had 45K miles and a decent service history. I test rode the bike and found it to be comfortable but under powered and the brakes felt oddly wooden. I went ahead with the trade since I really want to do more touring and the Superduke isn't necessarily the best candidate. Plus I netted a nice pocket full of cash.

So for the next couple of days I acquainted myself with the VFR and tried to get used to the position, brakes and steering. I set rear sag to 33mm, but I could not setup the front to any less than 41mm, i also adjusted the bars, clutch and brake levers to my liking. I set tire pressure as per the manual and found that the bike began to turn in better but the front suspension was like a pogo stick. A friend who has a 100K VFR and loves the bike asked what I thought so far. I told him it doesn't go, wont stop and cannot turn. He took offense to this until I explained that I believe these things can be addressed and that my brain was still in Superduke performance land.

Then on august 7th I set out for Indianapolis to watch the MOTOGP. This is an annual trip with friends. We set off in a light rain and for the next 420 miles it poured almost without relenting. The final 55 miles were in bright sunshine and dry roads. We spent the next 4 days in Indy and that included a lap of the GP course. The trip home was dry and we didn't waste time making the journey a full 35 minutes faster.

So the quest has began to improve the overall ride-ability of the VFR, I have no plans to get rid of it, rather I intend to make it into much more of bike I can love.
The things I have already come to appreciate are the overall stability of the bike, its comfort, and I do love the look. I have ordered a new Puig DB windshield and I purchased a new tank bag that attaches to the filler ring. The bike looks almost new with no scratches and i intend to keep it that way.

Thank you to everyone on this forum for the in depth knowledge and experience you have all shared because I am trolling through posts and learning a great deal. I intend to share my progress with you all and hope to be a resource i the future..
GP

 

have you tried countersteering? That usually works on most motorcycles

 

Awesome that you took your new VFR to Indy! I was there and did the track lap as well, what a riot that was. Great races too. We probably passed each other at some point, I had my red 6th gen there.

Anyway, a couple go-faster mods I did to mine are an exhaust (I bought a Delkevic slip on, full system would be even better) and hi performance air filter (Pipercross). Can't speak to the suspension or brakes though since I left mine stock.

 

My 2007 is modded to hell. I have put aout 2500 miles on it since I bought it in April. I listed it for sale 10 days ago. I didn't like the ride, so I took it to Jamie Daugherty and had it redone. Still not loving it. Put Staintunes on it. Still not loving it. Cruise control... nope still nothing.

However, mine is the ABS version and I love the brakes. Especially since I actually used them once so far. I like several things about the bike, but I just don't love it. I hope you can achieve what I did not. I lusted after a 6th gen for a long time. Now I feel like I got rid of my 5th gen for nothing.

 

Well yes, your point is valid, but I am 43 years old and I have been riding most of my life and I am familiar with countersteering. This is not to say I am the most skilled rider or that I could compete at a high level of racing lol. I believe its the relaxed geometry and the front suspension that are giving me the feeling of sluggish turn in.
My plan is to change the fork oil and possibly springs according to Race Techs specs.

 

Marriedman, do you plan on going back to the 5th gen?

 

I think you just need to adjust to the bike. After riding a totally different machine, with a totally different purpose, it's hard to not compare and contrast the two. I have a dual sport and a cruiser that I also ride and after long seat time on those, getting back on the VFR is a totally different experience. Except that when I get back on the vfr I'm wowed by the brakes and acceleration because they're much superior to my other bikes. Give it some time and I think you'll come to love your new bike.

 

What about trying the 7th generation 2010 and newer ?!

 

I like my VFR (exactly same as yours) a lot, but it IS underpowered and the stock suspension was crap and the throttle was snatchy at low RPMs. The suspension and fueling can be fixed and the lack of power can be lived with. My VFR is a great do-it-all motorcycle now, even though I really have to work the transmission to keep up with my brother's Tuono.

Pics of your VFR?


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Gpfan & E.SLC. - I am very torn about the 5th or 7th gen. On one hand, I loved the 5th gen. I mean it was a fantastic, grin inducing bike every time I swung a leg over. But I believed the 6th gen would be an improvement in every other department and I would just get used to the character of the VTEC. And the 6th gen is superior to the 5th in regards to aftermarket support, luggage options, touring comfort, ABS brakes... but that engine... there is just no soul (IMHO). When you are just cruising down the strip or slowing down to pull into a parking lot and you hear the engine braking and the gear whine... man you felt like you were a badass riding an exotic machine! The power is always there when you want/need it. On my 6th, it is only really alive over 8000rpm.

There are so many forum members that I respect that love their 6th gens. I believed that if they loved the bikes, I would come to love it too. But it really is true, no one bike can be everything to everyone. I like riding the 5th gen better than the 6th, and there is nothing wrong that. Just like there is nothing wrong with anyone liking the 6th over the 5th.

I did test ride the 7th gen this past Saturday. My god... there is such torque! Power for days man. I hit 100mph in third gear and it wasn't even sweating. I didn't even intend to do it. The damn thing is just so smooth you cannot judge your speed by feel of the bike. The throttle control is touchy when moving slowly, but that seems to be the norm with Honda. The brakes are out of this world. I mean you can stop with just a pinky on the lever! It is a sexy bike in person too. I loved the shaft drive too. No lash that I could tell, but this was my first time ever riding a shaft driven bike. I am seriously considering the 7th, but I need to ride it again and see if I grin, because last time I was too focused on just not falling over with a different bike!

Oh, one last thing about the 7th. They say it is heavier than the 5th & 6th, but I was able to do figure 8's easier than any bike I have ridden on before. Parking lot maneuvers were cake. Now maybe if I had to walk it or push it I would feel the weight, but under power it feels light.

 

You should have kept your Superduke when you bought the VFR. The VFR can't be transformed to outperform the KTM. Having both would have given you a better chance to appreciate the VFR positives.

 

You should probably try and take the new 8th gen for a spin before you commit to the 7th. I know it's probably too close to the 6th gen that you already don't like, but you might as well give it a try just for the hell of it. I'm getting real close to either trading or selling my red 07 for a 2014 8th gen. That's after 35k miles in 4 years of nothing but canyon carving ;-)

 

Pretty sure if a guy doesn't like the 6th, he isn't going to like the 8th . . .


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It's hard not to like it.. I think it's just a matter of getting used to it and or making a few changes if needed.

His KTM was totally different kind of bike

 

DriveDave,
Are you considering a DCT version?

I"m glad to hear that the VFR engines can go that long hopefully without any major issues. My bike is a 2010 and it has 4000 miles only.
I just got it about 3 months ago and after re-flashing the ECU it's a different bike.

Thank you

 

I agree with the comments about the Superduke being a different bike, it was an animal for sure. I have also owned an 89 GPZ1000Ninja, , Yamaha fzr 600 (1993), Ducati Supersport 900 (2000), Ducati 996 (2002), Kawasaki zx10r (2008). I do need to adapt, that is for sure, and like in my original post I intend to adapt and improve the bike. Like I said, I don't like it YET!

Keep the input coming everyone I appreciate all the insight and comments.

 

I'm getting the new 2014 8th gen 800. It has no DCT option. Honda isn't making a 2014 1200 for the U.S. (they also didn't make a 2011).

 

The VFR you got likely has shot suspension. My '03 had about 30k mi on the clock when I got it and the front suspension was total mush, and the rear wasn't better. I threw in Race Tech springs up front matched to my weight, and then had Jamie Daugherty hook my up with a nice rear shock from the CBR600F4i. Makes a huge difference, doesn't break the bank, and its pretty important that the suspension be correct for comfort and safety.

 

Oh I see.
Let me know what you think if you get it. As of right now it's hard to find reviews on that bike.

 

You should do some more looking...most motorcycle mags have already done a full "first ride" review, and there are a lot of good reviews from regular folks that own one, over on VFRDiscussion.com.