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

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

  1. Audible

    Audible New Member

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    I've had plenty of slippage with the rear OEM D222 tyre on my 2016.

    I'm in Australia and we are just coming out of winter and we've had plenty of wet and cold. They spin up easily off the line in the wet and I've had the rear step out more than once in the dry. They just don't seem to warm up.
    No idea how they will go in our summers and I probably won't. My bike has done 5,000kms and by the time the warm weather gets here, these tyres will probably be stuffed.
    I'm another rider that usually only goes to a 1/4 - 3/8 inch chicken strip, especially on the OEM's. Not confident in them to go any further.
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2017
  2. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    My thoughts exactly on the OEM tires and chicken strips, especially in the cooler less predictable weather of the center of this continent. No matter how much I dropped rear tire pressure (down to 32 PSI) the D222's never wanted to heat up enough to make me truly confident. However, the 190/55/17 Battleaxe's have acquitted themselves nicely as a replacement for the trashy touring tires. Add to that a proper setting of the sag and rebound the bike feels like a different bike.

    I took it out at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet for a track day along with my usual track bike and it was a RIOT. I have a newfound love for this bike. It really held its own in the Intermediate class in which I ride. I managed to outcorner an SV, a KTM 390, a handful of 600's, and kept up with some of the slower liter bikes. As long as nobody stuffed me in a corner, the suspension held its line very well and very tenaciously. I had TC off but I could just keep the throttle pinned nearly all the time unless I was braking into the corners and the slight rear end slip was easily controllable, unlike on my S1000RR which I had to watch my inputs VERY carefully. The problems arose when I would get stuffed going into a corner when the suspension did not like extremely abrupt transitions while starting to lean and would wallow and tuck too much in that case. The other problem was the allowable lean angle with the extended peg feelers. I ground down the right one a bit and the left one broke off on the rumble strip on turn four of the south track. That's when I knew I needed to pack it in with this bike because the next thing I could lean on would be the exhaust or the center stand (ya I forgot to take it off). It was so nice to know that the 530lb VFR could hold its own with a rather fast pack of riders and lighter bikes.

    Of course, I road the rest of the day out with my dedicated track bike. :)
     
  3. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    Wow, nice track report rebs! Any vid or pics? I could be wrong but I don't think you have too much to worry about with the center stand hitting as Smokeandmirrors mentioned he was also running with his centerstand in his now famous track day vid and he had some high lean angles - way higher than I would ever dream of but maybe you hit even higher angles than Smoke? Your exhaust might be a problem though as he said he has a slip on and I see your giant OEM exhaust in your profile pic.
     
  4. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    No vid yet but pics to follow...when they are posted and I can download them. I'm sure that Smokeandmirrors did better than I did as far as lean angles. I only occasionally drag knee on my S1000RR and didn't on the VFR as it was a new to the track bike for me. That's a good point on the exhaust...that's the only thing my coaches thought I might drag. Interestingly, the front wheel got used pretty well, hauling a heavy bike into corners. The bike may feel light but the tires tell another story. lol
     
  5. rebs

    rebs New Member

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    Well...Here are some of the track day pictures. As you might be able to see, my left peg feeler is gone (popped off on a rumble strip) but the right one is still on, but it's somewhat sharp now lol.
     

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  6. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    Very cool pics, thanks!
     
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  7. Lint

    Lint Member

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    I've never ridden an 8th gen, but I do know that hanging off a 5th gen is required, otherwise you will absolutely hit the centerstand. I've done so more than once. Then, with proper body position, neither foot pegs, centerstand etc hit, only your knee.

    This makes me wonder if the new VFR is any slimmer down low compared to my 99.
     
  8. Lint

    Lint Member

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    I have a standing order to test ride the Supersport S. I'll post a comparison when I can finally get there.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2017
  9. thtanner

    thtanner New Member

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    The 8th gen does feel slightly slimmer down low. The base model lacks a center stand in the US too, so you get that little extra bit of room. The exhaust can is huge, however, and definitely something to worry about making contact. The stock 5th can was big too but this seems a tad more rotund and in the way.

    It's still a VFR, based on the 6th gen frame and such, so it's not drastically different. Leaning off the bike is still definitely required to offset some of the 'porkiness.'
     
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