Am I crazy for headers?

Hi Viffers!

After waiting a few weeks for Motad to get their 6th Gen Headers in stock they are now in. Now all I have to do is pull the trigger. I am trying to warrant that this upgrade is worth the $789 price tag.

I am looking for some assurance from the forum that, "hey you only live once". You will feel some performance gains, and hey you work hard so treat yourself.

Or the flip side. "Hey you are crazy man!" Be patient wait for a solid used pair of 98/99 headers for a good price. Despite the fact that I will need to get the 02 sensor bungs installed to take advantage of my Rapid Bike auto tuning feature. As well as get the pipes powder coated. Which not only takes time it takes extra money.

Decisions, Decisions. Help me lean towards one side of the fence or the other. Thanks for your time.

 

As the saying goes, "It's your money, spend it how you see fit."

However, before you go spend all of that money on a engine performance part, where do you typically ride your VFR? Have you updated your suspension or braking components yet?

I have a set of 98 Catless headers that have been sitting around sometime, they are already been ceramic coated too, but I was waiting until I got my suspension and braking components upgraded before I put them on. IMO, it's better to have a good handling bike with good stopping power before I make it go any faster! YMMV

 

I agree. So with that said. The options are have JD upgrade forks and do the CBR 600F4I rear shock upgrade. What are your thoughts on that setup?

 

I say go for it! I had JD do both my VFRs and couldn't be happier! On my 09 he revamped an OEM ABS VFR shock and provided the internal goodies and springs for the forks and I did the installation there. For my 01 he pretty much did what his new drop in fork kits provide for my forks and rebuilt a Penske 8993 for the rear. Definitely a great ROI.

 

So how much did these mods set you back?
Would you recommend the ABS rear shock over the f4i? I have read there is a bracket he adds to make the f4i work with our bikes.


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I'd have to go look up the invoices but my recollection was that it was less than $600 for the 09's setup. But here I did the fork change and he just provided the internal components. It was more for the 01 as I had JD do everything.

The only reason I went with the ABS model shock was that it has a remote preload adjuster and that was important to me on this bike because it is my commuter/tourer and the weight I carry varies enough to need to just preload more often than not. So unless your situation will be similar the F4 shock would be a better choice in terms of adjustability and performance, as I believe the F4 shock has rebound and compression damping adjustments. Although I'd check with Jamie on that.

Jamie now has drop in kits for the front forks but they weren't available at the time I did the forks on both bikes. Not sure how your mechanical skills are but they are supposed to literally be "drop in" and should be a little cheaper than sending in your forks and having him do the work, which is what I did for my 01 forks.

 

Do you have room in your stable for a second bike? If performance is really so important to you, I would take alllll that money you are thinking about spending and just watch for a working, 7 or 8 year old 600cc sport bike, e.g. a CBRR or a GSXR. You should be able to snag a bike like that for 3000 or so, and it will significantly out perform a VFR. Spending thousands on headers, and mods to squeeze 10 horsepower out of this bike just doesn't seem worth it to me.

Just my 2 cents, YMMV. If you got the cash and wanna do it, hell you only live once.

 

Thanks Tyaro that is a good idea.


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I beg to differ that it will "significantly outperform a VFR". Is it lighter and more nimble and more track oriented? Sure. But put a Gixxer and a VFR in the same persons hands, and I don't think you'd miraculously see that person shaving 2 seconds off his lap time. The VFR, while not perfect, is no slouch. Especially with a suspension upgrade.

And while I'm speaking as an old guy, my bad back was good for about an hour on a "sport bike". With the VFR, I could do a day riding and still walk that night.

 

I have to agree with Tyaro. I think most modern day 600's would spank a VFR in performance....road or track. Not even close in the comfort category though. I agree with Pliskin on that part for sure.
There is a good reason you don't see VFR's racing in AMA and WERA.
As far as the headers go(I assume you are talking headers from the exhaust ports to the tip of the tail pipes), I would say NO, don't do it, if it is performance you are looking for. There is really very little to gain, if any at all, by putting on headers. Get some nice slip on's to get the cool sound out of your bike. A programmer will net you a ton more horse power compared to an exhaust.
From my point of view(and it is just that, my point of view), very very few of us are ever going to test the limits and capabilities of the VFRs. A lot of riders think they are riding on the edge, but any racer/ex-racer will tell you that most any road rider has a long way to go. For the most part, the bike you have will serve you very well in handling and performance. Can it be improved? Sure can, but the real question is....Does it need to be improved? You are the only one who can answer that question. Do you feel you are going try and make the bike do things it doesn't want to do comfortably in its current set up?
More to Tyaro's point, if you ever get the chance to do a few track days, or take a racing school, you will increase your bikes performance by light years just by the way you learn to ride it.
Again....just my 5 cents....

 

Personally if you want to ride a scooter on the track and that's what you like, so be it, go for it, it's not about competition at this point! However, if you plan on racing and being competitive, then that's something different, then you need to find a bike that is more inline with what;s being run on the track, that's where having 600 Super Sport would be a better choice. If you want to improve your bike's performance so you can get the maximum enjoyment out of it, spend your money as you see fit. Just because the VFR isn't a pure sport bike doesn't mean you can't give it a little more "oomph" to extend it's capabilities, just be cognizant that you may not be able to keep up with the higher horse power bikes. BUT...that doesn't mean it can't be fun in the corners!

This was posted over at VFRD. The rider is on a 6 Gen and is riding in the novice class with a rider on a Ducati 848. For the record, I bought my 5 Gen just for sport riding and track days. I know it;s not going to be the fastest on the track, but if I can ride it at my fastest, then I'm OK with that.

[video=youtube_share;wrE7OzLwKO0]http://youtu.be/wrE7OzLwKO0[/video]

 

You heard what the man said, sell that thing a go race a scooter with a header on it.

 

Wow talk about miss-reading the post, there was no mention of putting a header on that scooter!

 

I have spent a lot of money on my CBR 1000 track bike. Performance wise I just put an Arrata full exhaust, Power Commander, Air filter mod and a great dyno tune. Pennies compared to the suspension ( Ohlin forks, WSBK valving, Ohlin shock). The VFR will probably see a track day or 2 but not until I address the suspension. I'd go suspension for sure.

 

That's what I did. What good is a lot of power if you can't keep the bike stable and the wheels on the ground?! Even with the stock engine, albeit a 2 Bros CF can for "sound", the 5 Gen has enough power to keep me happy for now, the suspension, that needed some work first IMO. Now to address my scooter's issues :wink: (That's not a metaphor)

 

First point: will it shave 2 seconds off your lap time? No, significantly more than that, even a mediocre rider. They're just so much lighter and produce more horsepower and peak torque than the vfr800.

2.) I know these bikes are uncomfortable. I'm not suggesting to the OP that he ditch his VFR800. If you recall, my comment was prefaced by the question: got room in your stable for one more?