'17 VFR v. '17 Ducati SuperSport S (MCN Comparo)

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by GatorGreg, Apr 26, 2017.

  1. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    Yeah the ZX-14R is crazy powerful, I rode with a buddy who has the Kawi Concourse with the detuned version of the 14R's engine and I couldn't believe how fast it was - I was revving the crap out of my VFR just to keep up and it didn't even sound like he was trying - LOL. There's a vid on my YT channel of our ride - I think I called it Riding in the Countryside or something.

    I strongly considered the Ninja 1000 when I got my VFR, but for me it was love at first sight when I saw the pearl white VFR. Here's a good review of both bikes where the Ninja 1000 beat the 8th gen:



     
  2. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    I did try the Ninja 1000. The engine was wonderful but I did not particularly like the suspension setup and compared to the VFR it seemed kinda, well, cheap. The VFR seemed much more solid, just as flickable, and both more docile if ridden easily and just as fast if ridden hard. Despite its taller adjustable windshield I felt he Ninja did not handle wind as well. I never did try the ZX-1400 because it just felt too big for me. Oddly, the Ninja felt like my BMW F800GT with more power with a very similar seating position.

    Despite the fact that the Ninja and the Duc both have liter engines the Duc felt more directly comparable to me to the VFR. The seating position is nearly identical, the engine behavior is nearly identical, and both are very narrow bikes due to their engines' V configuration. The Ninja is a nice bike but to me was a bit more tour, and almost bordering on adventure in its styling with its tiny fairing.

    Regarding race replicas, or real super sport bikes, I did ride mine on the road for about 4-5 months until I started to track it. After that, it seemed to be serious overkill and rather silly to ride something on the road that I could NEVER ride to its capacity. Since then, my S1000RR has been turned into a track only bike with race fairings, aftermarket rear sets and clip ons, and track tires. She'll never see the road again unless I put the OEM fairings back on them. Despite that, the S1000RR is a very comfortable bike to ride all the time, and for distance as well, but serious overkill all the same. For the road, a 300cc sport can be enough to get one from point A to point B with a lot of fun in between, unless you just miss all that power. :D
     
  3. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    You turned your S1000RR into a track only machine?!? I don't think I could ever resist taking it out on the road if I owned one - that thing is sex on wheels! If you haven't seen it already here's a vid of my test ride on one where I got bitched at for revving the engine - LOL

     
  4. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    In a recent study it was shown that there are hundreds and perhaps thousands of bikes that have never had a rectifier failure. In another recent study, RUHD'

    (Rich Urban Harley Dudes) are having adventures with Fat Boys.
     
  5. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    The really funny thing is that when you got super excited at first you weren't anywhere up its power band. LOL. I saw you were below 6k rpm. That bike makes torque everywhere. I've dynoed mine just for fun (friend owned a shop) and got 180hp at the rear on pump gas right before I gave her an oil change. The engine just makes more and more power right up until you hit the rev limiter. The torque does fall off a bit before redline though. And yes, having a quickshifter is much nicer than having to use the clutch. Even without a quickshifter I upshift without the clutch on my VFR. Oh by the way, that "backfire" noise you love so much the Ducati SS does a lot also because of the exhaust pipes.

    You do sit much more ON the bike than on the VFR but not nearly as much as one does as on the Aprilia RSV4 or the Ducati Panigale. The bike really is a riot to ride though and I've been in the wrong gear coming out of a corner occasionally but I can still keep up at the track because of that insane engine. I call it my "cheater" bike since that rhymes with liter. :p
     
  6. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    LOL - yeah it was my first time riding a supersport liter bike so I was a little excited :D I had just tested a Hayabusa the day before but in hindsight I think it might have been set to a lower power mode by the Suzuki people cuz it didn't feel nearly as powerful as the BMW to me.
     
  7. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    Well I heard you say it was on race mode. That mode allows all the power immediately and your control is your wrist. It also allows wheelies and stoppies to a limited amount. I think the newer ones also have a slick mode as a default track mode but I could be wrong.

    I do wish the VFR had a mode aggressive exhaust at times though and the ability to mount at 190/55 tire on the rear (I have take offs from the track that have plenty of road life left in them.)

    I never rode a Hayabusa because I never had any need for it. Being on top of the bike rather than in the bike allows for easier transitions to hang off the bike when cornering.
     
  8. Audible

    Audible New Member

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    Interesting to read your thoughts given that you have ridden both the SS and Ninja thou. Riding the VFR is a given around here. :Amen:

    For myself, I picked the VFR over the ninja thou because the VFR is better in the corners, it looks better, it isn't a Kawasaki and most importantly, the VFR imho has more charisma & personality. There is something about the VFR, something that you can't quite put words too, that get's it's hooks into you and makes your a convert.
    The Ducati has some of this charisma/personality as well, just not as much as the VFR. The Ninja seems a plain jane by comparison.

    Not that is easily fixed. Pick any slip on available. The VFR + slip on makes for a radical change. I recently popped for the Akrapovic and ran it without the baffle. Wow, what a difference.
    Given the price of the Ducati SS (going on the aus prices here), you can have a VFR + Akrapovic + Lithium ion battery + oem quick shifter to help narrow the gap on the SS and still have bucks in the bank towards luggage.
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2017
  9. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    I had moved from the BMW F800GT to the VFR because of the handling, the smoothness and liveliness of the engine, as well as the seating position and wind management. The Ninja was too much like my F800GT but with gobs more power. In my decision making process I test rode the Ninja 1000 and several naked bikes including the Triumph Speed Triple 675, which oddly enough, ended up being the closest contender in my mind to the VFR. But my need for a fairing won out despite how much I loved how the Triumph handled, rode, and sounded. I could have modified the Triumph with a fly screen and soft bags but the fact that it gets chilly here by late September or October means grip warmers and a fairing are very helpful in a daily commuter.

    I have also ridden my husband's R1200RT. Sorry, just not for me. Nice, plush, easy when going but feels HUGE when at a light.

    Good idea on the slip on. I am already budgeting for that presuming I don't jump ship. In all honestly I'll likely stick with the VFR as it is much more practical than the Ducati and it's already 100% mine. Hubby isn't all that excited about me making my bike LOUDER but I do like the sound. It's his fault I got tired of riding pillion anyway. LOL
     
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  10. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    So THIS is why I keep my S1000RR as a track only bike. I don't trust the open road to allow me to do this without hitting something slippery or loose.
     

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  11. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    Reb's that is a nice track bike. Massive amount of HP. Did you do anything to get it to turn a little better?
     
  12. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    Actually all I did was have the suspension set up for my height/weight (had to dial everything out and soften everything to compress the springs effectively), get rear sets 1 cm up and 1cm forwards. I upgraded the tires and put on track fairings. Track fairing save about 20 lbs when you take off all the lights, etc and use the lighter fairings. It also has a race tank, lighter than the OEM one and doesn't require a key to open.

    Actually the bike drops into corners extremely well, but despite having a wet weight close to some 600's, the 1000cc motor is wider and has more internal momentum in it so it's still more work to turn, but makes up for it with monstrous acceleration and exit speed if you don't mind chewing up the outer 1/3 of your tires.

    What do you ride on the track?
     
  13. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    My track bike is a CBR 1000rr. Full Ti Akra system, Ohlin forks with wsbk valves, Ohlins rear shock, geared at the moment at +1, -1, all the crap ripped off it, dyno tuned. Runs great. I have it down to 420 lbs with about 2 gallons of fuel. That is with Dunlop slicks 190/55's.
    I think you wrote the wrong weight of your BMW, they are around 455 lbs wet stock.

    I have taken dot tires that I have used on rain track days with the CBR and put them on the VFR. No problem. Not sure about a 200/60 though.......
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2017
  14. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    You're right on the stock wet weight. Side by side the track fairings weigh less and the lights, plate holder, and other road specific gear are off. One of my coaches, and friend, helped me install the track fairings and estimated about 20-30 lbs weight savings. Guess it's not quite as light as a well prepped 600.

    So you've had no problem putting 190's on an 8th gen VFR? That would be good to know.
     
  15. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    I put them on my 2009 VFR. No problems. Have PR3's on it now.
     
  16. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    Great pics! Probably a smart move to keep that beast on the track - I would rack up a lot speeding tix pretty quick if it were mine :D
     
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  17. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    thanks!

    Ya I'll keep her on the track. That's why I need something exciting for the street anyway. I do love my VFR but like all jack of all trades it has its compromises. It can do twisters, it can tour, it can commute, you can track it. I've seen lots of people track the older VFRs.

    But...the catch is it doesn't do any one of them the best. I guess we all just have to pick what we find most important.
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2017
  18. Sniper

    Sniper New Member

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    My old '01. I've had it for about a year and a half. Got if from a 72 year old dude. It's was a lot of work last year, getting it "up to speed". All l've done to it this year, is ride it. Cool old bike. Just not the greatest thing in the world.

    Has anyone ridden the Suzuki GSX-S 1000F ? Those look interesting.
     

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  19. thtanner

    thtanner New Member

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    I guess it depends what you want out of the bike. Many magazines crowned it motorcycle of the year for many years running. It depends who you ask, but some still feel that way ;)
     
  20. ksoholm

    ksoholm New Member

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    Correct. I'm on my second 5th Gen., and you have to be delusional to think it's still the greatest bike in the world in 2017. It IS a great bike, but, I suspect strongly that riding e.g. a Ducati Multistrada, BMW R1200RS or K1300S, Kawasaki Ninja 1000, Aprilia Tuono, KTM 990SM-T, or 1290 Superduke, one would never--ever--look back, if money was no object.

    For me, for the pittance of $5K I have into creating a mint, 100% sorted 5th Gen. is perfect for my return to MCs, part of which is figuring out whether I still love riding. No need to spend $19K on an R1200RS for that, which makes the VFR a fantastical bargain.
     
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