Sport vs Sport Touring

Yes I'm splitting hairs, looking for trouble I am. LOL No really though was interested in what the majority here thought there riding style is? Being the VFR does it all really well got me curious what you thought. I read during one of my lurking moments in vfrd land that they feel that 80% there give or take a few points that they tend to be Sport tourers. I myself take it all in stride, but lean way more towards the sport side of it, just something about getting it together on some back twisty road. Not tooting my horn here, But I can hang with the best pure breed sport machines on public roads. Then when it comes time to enjoying a less stress boring moment on the super slab I do that too, as well as having fun running a quick jaunt to the PO. it truly is all good and fun. I will say I ride for the enjoyment and I do this for serious fun, some golf and fish etc. I ride. I will say the moment I'm not learning or picking up on something I could do better or add that new technic, I'm done riding, or at the least taking a break.
Oh, there is also those that use there VFR for the daily mode of transportation too, rain, sun, hail and the like. I'd like to hear your point of view too.

Whats your take on your riding style?

 

An excellent question RVFR and one that deserves more than the scant few minutes I have now...Will come back later when there's time to ponder. :smile:

 

The short answer is the bias works either way. I believe the demographic on a VFR is an older rider looking for a motorcycle they can ride in a sporting manner and yet occasionally tour on. The ergos is what appeals to me about the VFR. Its a heavy bike for a sport bike. Does it handle great? Likely all you need on the street to be sure as you mention. Are there better touring motorcycles? Believe most would say without question. The book on the VFR is has more of a sporting bias then a touring bias. That is clearly the sweet spot for me anyway as a long time motorcyclist who wants close to a standard riding position with good but not overwhelming power. I think guys that want to tour all the time choose a dedicated touring bike. To me a super slammed sport bike with low handlebars and high rearsets on the street is just uncomfortable. Why endure all that wrist pressure on the street?
George

 

I feel like more of a sport rider. I go out of my way to find new backroads that challenge your riding technique. I don't overdo it, just try to link the apexes as smoothly and safely as possible. I only superslab it if I am trying to get somewhere in the quickest time like if I'm on my way home after a ride and I went a little too far out of the way and I'm on a schedule. Otherwise I take the long way home. My VFR allows me to go farther away exploring than my CBR ever allowed and thats why I enjoyed this riding season much more than any in the past. I am so happy I decided to buy my VFR.....

 

Hmmmm...I am in the middle I figure, just depends on the day, the bike, or the length of the trip and state of mind...
I consider it a sport day when I'm driving the crap outa it up the mountain, or on a run with the boys, or anytime I decide its time to motor. I consider it sport touring when i am doing a long trip and tend to be less silly as I know I'm far from home.., or just decide to putt putt and enjoy the scenery. Doesnt matter what bike I am on, found out long ago that really is the least of it.

so i guess i can say I'm a sportytourersometimesrealsportykinda stupidsometimesabitcalmersmartertourer rider.

today I is neither...

 

I look at the Interceptor as a sport bike for the "average joe", which accounts for the majority of the population out there. My first bike was an Interceptor 500, then I moved over into owning CBRs for a number of years, then came back to the Interceptor. The CBRs were more than what I needed and the seating position was uncomfortable for longer rides. I came to the realization that I am not a racer, but a sport enthusiast and that the Interceptor was the bike best suited for that purpose.

 

Although a little heavy, the VFR is still a sport bike. Try a FJR and you'll quickly feel the difference, it just handles like the big, heavy sport tourer that it is. In the fully faired sport bike realm, I don't know of any that is as comfortable, that's why I own one. If I could feel all day comfort on a CBR1000RR that's what I'd be riding - I'm not interested in iron butt rides, just 300 or fewer miles at a time.
As far as hanging with any bike on the street, in the rocky mountains where I sometimes ride with sport bike groups I always ride with the fastest guy in the group, it's innevitably a late model liter bike. What'n hell else could you ask for?

 

I use my VFR for everything. Sport riding, touring, and commuting in all weather. Just no track time yet with it, that's where the F4i comes in...

 

My love is 1 to 3 day rides linking as many twisting back roads together as possible so " Sport touring ". :smile:

After 15 year break decided to get back into bikes again Jan 2003 the bike of choice was a SV650S with a Yoshi Tri oval used to commute and blat on weekends around the local National parks, a great bike to throw around and have fun on then problems with neck, wrist and knees pain came with distances over 200miles. :frown:

A work colleague I'd ride with had an amazing sounding Metallic Blue '01 Gen 5....12 months on and wanting to experience further distances across winding country backroads with comfort, commute and when I'd mention these requirements to my work mate he would simply answer, " you need a VFR " after a few months of researching old and current Motorcycle Mags and reading reviews with " VFR the Worlds best motorcycle " and " VFR the best All rounder " and concluded he was right I needed a VFR.

Back to the " Sport vs Sport Touring " question VFR now purchased immediately found distances and found it sync'd in beautifully with my favoured type of riding, long distance on twisting sometimes poorly surfaced country back roads then hitting tight alpine passes then home again all with relative comfort...:smile:

I'd say Sport touring is my overall bias although I'd say Sport through the very tight twisties where I'm positioned with the faster of my Sports bike riding friends but as the road opens where balls and HP rules happily drop to the tail.

 

I would also have to say that I am more of a "Sport Touring" VFR owner. Although I have not done any touring yet (ie, loading up tail bags , tank bags, saddle bags, ect.) lol

The other day I went for an almost 300 mile ride (round trip) and I was just riding around with no specific destination really other than to end up at a favorite set of curvy roads about 40 miles away. By the time I got home, I felt fine, no soreness, aches ,ect. (I'm sure my Corbin seat helped a little also). On my VFR, I have just as much fun in the curves as my last bike (CBR 600) but I sure couldn't do 300 miles and still feel as good at the end of the day.

I find myself not caring if I have to ride X amount of miles just to get to a specific destination which could be an interesting town, some twisty roads,ect.

Now it's more of an issue of "do I have enough time" to go somewhere instead of a "do I want to endure the pain riding that far" issue.

 

after having to weight years to get my vfr(lets not get into that). ive had other bikes but, none gave me the same feeling. i ride to work, drag race some of the guys leaving, play on the twisties, and when nobody's around play on the cloverleaf close to my house. i also take trips to see my dad in corpus christi(about 325 mi one way) so you deside where my leanings lie. i figure more sport

 

I would have to say I lean to the sport tour side of things. Don't get to do any real touring due to family commitments but would like to do more. As I get used to the VFR more I find it suits my style very well. Only thing I don't like is the superslab performance, I find myself getting very uncomfortable after an hour or so. I think that this is mainly due to the static riding position. Maybe a Sargeant seat would help. I can go 600k on twisty roads and still feel pretty good. I have made a few tweeks to suit my aging body and riding style. The bike has more sporting ability than I do which makes it remarkably forgiving. If I go into an unfamiliar corner a bit hot just give a bit more counter steer and you are through, no fuss no bother. If you have to brake harder than you planned it just does it. I have tried the bigger sport tourers but find them a bit ponderous and not as forgiving. I like to go different places and you get different road conditions all the time. Every time I find something new I am amazed at how well the VFR deals with it.

It is quite interesting actually. I bought the VFR as an interim step. I was planning to go to a bigger sport tourer but after two years with the VFR and trying many different bikes I always get back on the VFR and feel that the one I have riden just isn't as good for the way I ride as the VFR is.

 

I can relate to Grinder, I own or did (do to totaling the bike) a 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14. On a recent visit to my local Kawasaki dealer I saw a used 2004VFR sitting on the floor and sat on it while shooting the bull with my saleman and while sitting there I started it up. Wow! nice sound, wonder how it runs, Keith (salesman) sais take it out, you'll be suprised (from a Kawasaki saleman). I did and yes I was quite suprised. I was planning on replacing my
C14 with another one but after taking the VFR out for a spin I am now torn and am seriously thinking about purchasing the VFR instead. I realized while riding how nice it was to be on a much smaller and lighter bike and how effortless it was to ride the VFR. Now don't get me wrong the C14 is an awsome bike for a large sport tourer, it handles extremely well and is extremely powerful. But, it is a larger bike and required more input to ride it, especially at the edge. I really was not as comfortable pushing it, which may have contributed to my totaling it. I even found that the VFR was plenty powerfull (bike has SBK exhaust and PC). The C14 frankly has more power than I was ever using and not down low where you would expect it. I like the low and midrange linear power of the VFR and I just like how easy it was to ride. The kicker is the VFR is half the price, with 3,040 miles on it, and is in like new condition with exhaust and PC already on the bike. On top of that a good friend has a 2007 VFR and has shouted nothing but praise for the bike and is excited about the possiblility of both of us owning the same bike and touring togther.

As for the original question I would have say the VFR is perfectly fine for doing both sport and sport touring riding. That is the beauty of the bike, it is well balanced enough to serve as both for what ever mood or type of rider you are.

Could be joining you folks soon. :wink:

 

I do a lot of both with mine. When I get out of the city on day rides, I will turn it up when I hit the twisty’s. I keep within my own limits and do not pretend to be on the track (I will not put others at risk if I make a mistake). I have taken my 86 on many touring trips as well. The previous owner purchased a Ventura pack system. I put on my tank bag with an internal hydro pack and bag on the rack and go for days on country highways and roads. Mind you this bike is still pretty much stock as far as ergonomics. I can get in 500 miles before I need to call it a day.

So I would have to really say that I'm a Sport Touring guy. I like that fact that the VFR can and will allow me to scrap a knee when I want to. It gives me total confidence, which is a must. I'm 47 and have been riding for almost 40 years. I have embarrassed many a squid on their GSXR on the back roads. Only for their friends to say “That old dude, smoked your ass on that old thing”.

When I retire in a few years, I will purchase a new 2012 VFR and travel around North America. So to RVFR's question 15% Sport 85% Touring.

 

My emphasis on riding is definitely sport but I still keep a safe distance from cars/bikes and slow down in blind curves. I'm not one of those idiots you see traveling within inches of the car ahead, that's just suicide.

Basically when I hold the bars the clutch hand has 2 fingers wrapping the bar and 2 fingers covering the clutch. For the brake hand I have only the index finger covering the brake lever and the rest of the fingers wrap the bar. If I don't have that setup my hands are going to fly off when I take off. That's how aggressively I drive. Usually cars look like stationary objects where I'm just zipping around.

The main reason I went with the VFR800 is the size and comfort. I'm 6'1" and a pretty big muscular guy. Those CBR600's are just too small and uncomfortable for me. I looked at the Hayabusa and the CBR1000 and my main gripe with those is I can't ride them for more than 1 hour before my wrists get sore. Fun shouldn't mean that you have to be in pain!

 

I've had them for years, since '96 if i remember right, currently on my 5th VFR. I've used the various bikes for commuting, racing around with friends, and crossing Europe on holidays and i've never had any issues regarding the riding part. I could sit in the saddle and do 5-600 miles, get off and feel like getting back on again. They are not brilliant at any one thing, but man are they good at almost everything

 

I am a crusier convert, but I have become a sportsbiker rider. I changed my riding style and trackdays are more fun than anything else for me. I still like to tour, but sometimes I am touring on the bike to go to a trackday - no more GoldWings for me (even the ST1300 is kinda bulky for me nowdays). I still like crusiers, but the lack or horses, slow steering and lousy drum brakes keep me on the sport side of things. I was looking at the ST1300 and did a test ride and did not like to bike. I decided to limit myself to two bikes and the VFR is my all around daily ride, so all I really need is a bike for trackdays and as an alternate if my VFR is in the shop. Well this confirms what I am - a sportsbike rider who leans to the sport riding side. Recently, I have been checking a Ducati 916 and 748 (these are my trackday candidates) - maybe Santa will leave one under my tree!!!!

 

It is both.... mainly because I can't afford to own both a dedicated sport bike and a dedicated sport tourer. Years ago, I heard the VFR refrenced as the "gentlemens sport-bike" because of its more relax ergo and highly refined design. I think some of us get a bit confussed on what makes a sport-bike anyways. There are so many variables to consider and it would be hard to really put a standard to what makes a "true sport bike".

Even famed world champion Freddy Spencer used his VFR on Las Vegas Speedway for his track school. He would pull faster lap times then most of his instructors riding cbr 600s.

I have also seen where many true sport bikes (GSXR, CBR, ZX-R, R6 & R1) have been converted to sport tourer bikes.

Here at the AF level, they are instuting a new "Sport Bike Safety Class" to educate riders of the intricacies of sport bike and the sport bike community. This has brought up the question what makes a sport bike. Come to find out, it basically comes down to riding prefrence and style of riding.


As I had said before "it is both".