Are you a Viffergirl?

Why yes I am....LOL!

 

LOL .... And so am I .... and this is my second VFR !

 

Two VFR's! Luv it! Do you have a favorite?

 

mmmmm that is like asking to choose which child is your favourite :smile: I loved both of them, and found that they both handled well for me at the time.

I really liked the '86 cause it was my first VFR. It had great throttle response ( especially after I had it dynotuned), and handled well. The white colour was good cause there are not that many bikes around here in white ( aside from the 'boys in blue') so it stood out and I liked that. On the downside it was very bloody heavy and I always had to be really careful where I parked it so that I would be able to move it again.

I traded the '86 in on the '99 anniversary cause it happened to be the right price at the right time. Again I really like the anniversary cause it is somewhat unique amongst all the other bikes around town. I have put a VTEC shock in it and lowered the forks so that it is a touch closer to the ground and handles better for my liking. It weighs a little less than the '86 so is a bit less of an issue for where I park it.

I think the '99 has good response and handles well, and I feel comfortable on it which is what counts.

I'm not sure where I will go when this one is at the end of it's life. I have ridden an '04 VTEC and don't really like it. I feel like I am sitting "on" the bike rather than "in" in bike. But I do like the maroon colour of the new '06 ! :smile:

 

I luv my 2005 VFR in "very fast red"! LOL! The bike previous to this one was a Suzuki GS500F. Before that was a Kawi 250. And before that dirtbikes when I was a teenager.
I've ordered a lowering kit for the VFR. As well, I've got a "bug buster" coming in a week or two. It's a small grill that goes on the lower part of the wind-screen with paint to match your bike. Cool eh? I'll try and post the image/site for you. I've already got the factory bags for this summer. And I'm hoping to get a Sargent seat and new decal job next winter. Ah - it's a passion, eh? Luv it!

 

Are there really only two VFRgirls who read this site??? I just joined because I just got my first VFR-- the 86 white one.... I had been looking at all the tri-color ones in that era, but not my style. I came across the white one on ebay and it was love at first sight! I'm 5'10" so seat height no problem. Do either of you use yours to tour? I live in Montana where we have hours of nearly empty roads to act out on.... :>)

 

I'll be touring this summer.

 

Well now there are three of us !! :smile:

I have to agree with you mrae that the white '86 really does look good, but then I am biased :wink:
Unfortunately at 5'2" I have a height problem with any VFR I have, but so long as I can comfortably put the ball of my foot on the ground when stopped then I am happy.

I live in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and aside from some of the really hot days over summer, the riding weather is great year round. Generally if we go for a day ride over the weekend, we end up doing around 500 - 600 kms, mostly because the choice of riding roads around here is endless.

Once a year a few of us take a couple of weeks off and ride down to the Snowy Mountains for a childrens cancer fund charity ride. We leave here with daytime temperatures around 30 degrees celsius and end up at Threadbo in New South Wales with temperatures around -2 degrees celsius. This of course does make packing appropriate clothing somewhat difficult ! :smile:

All up last year we did around 5,000km's which wasn't too bad. The bike is great, even with all the luggage on board it handles well and I still get great fuel economy out of it.

Viffergirl .. where are you planning on touring?

 

Queensland VFRgirl

Hi-- I have been to Brisbane and all down the coast to Sydney and to the Blue Mountains. Beautiful country and I remember the roads being fairly twisty 2-lanes.. but that is some yrs ago.
I am 5'10" so no problem with height of most bikes--- its the weight of some of them that scares me--- the only reason I don't have a Gold Wing. I have driven my husbands GoldWing a couple times on highway- but I wouldn't want to have to negotiate a parking lot with it!
yes the white VFR is such a standout!
Where am I touring? I plan to ride to several rallyes in the Northwest this summer- all within 700 miles of home. summer is my busiest time in my store, I can't be gone too long. Going to Asia in Oct/Nov and will do some riding there. Back to my shop for Christmas -- in January ride south to Mexico, working my way east toward visiting my brothers in Texas, Mississippi and ending up at my brother's house in Daytona Beach for BIKE WEEK. I figure it is something I have to see once.... something like 300,000 bikes! Do you ever get to USA?? mrae

 

VFRKitten - I'll be touring British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska this summer with my boyfriend. He has a Honda Shadow and we will be camping most of the way. (It's nice we have our own bikes - I don't ride pillion!) It should be fun!
Mexico? Wow - that would be a terrific trip Mrae! Do you rent your ride in Asia or ship your's over? What is the riding like over there? And Daytona Beach for Bike week? What a hoot! Have fun!
VFRKitten - I'm 5'-4" - and I've ordered a lowering kit for the VFR. It should be here in a week or two. I dumped my bike twice the second week I had it -last summer - all because my toe came out from under me in a parking lot on loose fine gravel...LOL! So I shaved the seat and that gave me the ball of my feet to stand on....but not enough for my comfort level. So - it's a lowering kit for me this season! As well, I've got the factory bags and I'll be trying them for the first time this season.
Happy riding!

 

Hi VFR Kitten- I have done touring/camping in British Columbia all the way to the first place in Alaska(a town called Hyder). Gorgeous riding- good roads, very little traffic. But I went in late May- before the traffic or the major bugs. IF you have a choice go on the Cassiar Highway( NW of Prince George) that takes you to the Alaska Highway. Less people, more scenic. Take the strongest mozzie repellent you can find...and lots of $$$---Fuel gets more $$$ the farther north you go- I was paying nearly $5. a gallon last year- I am sure its higher now. Take some "packable nutrition"-- wheat crackers/ peanut butter in a plastic jar, nuts/dried fruit/raisins/instant Ovaltine/soups/oatmeal/spaghetti etc. then even if you can't find anything at the grocery store, you have something to eat. There is a great restaurant in Burns Lake called Kim's- don't miss it! etc. etc. Let me know if I can give you any more info? Maren mrae

 

Thanks for the info Maren. Good to know. I was thinking of packing water and non-meat products for the ride. Did you camp at all along the way?

 

Hi ladies!

I just bought my new '05 silver VFR a few months ago. It was my dream! My first bike was a BMW F650 which I had for 3 years and put 30,000 miles on it. the next bike was the Suzuki Bandit for 3 years and 27,000 miles...and finally the VFR! I live in Seattle and plan to take it to Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise in July and can't wait. I commute on it as often as I can (and now that the weather is good and the light longer, that should be almost everyday), and have been trying to get out on the weekends for some rides around Washington. I do have one thing I wanted to ask you, viffergirl, since you have the '05 model as well...have you had any problems with it having flat spots in the power? Lately I'm noticing this at about 5500 RPM and again at 6-7000 RPM...it almost feels like resistance and I'm wondering if it is the VTEC not working properly. I'm thinking I'll take it in to the dealership to be checked out, but am just wondering if this is a quirk of the VTEC.

Are there any other VFR riders in my area? It would be fun to get together for some rides!

Natalie

 

Mrae your plans sound great :smile:
I have never been to the USA but my partner has a mate who lives over there and we are making plans to hopefully get over there sometime in the next couple of years. We havn't decided yet whether or not to ship our bikes over or to hire them over there, cause he also has an '04 VFR so my bike would not get lonely in the cargo hold !

Viffergirl I must admit that I binned my current bike about two weeks after I had it for the same reason, almost stopped, foot slipped, bike falling (always seems to be in slow motion), desperate attempts to keep it upright failing rapidly and next thing you know your bike is lying on top of you, pinning you to the ground and you feel a complete twit wishing the ground would open up and make you disappear ... especially as I did it on the side of a main road in peak hour traffic ! :redface:

Natalie .. hi .. congratulations on the purchase.

 

Hi Natalie-- I don't live in Seattle, but I did ride the Jasper, Banff thing last year on my way back from Alaska. It's gorgeous. I went earlier in May/June- before all the tourists. For July book ahead or plan to camp.The Icefields Parkway north of Lake Louise to Jasper is fantastic, as is the road west of Jasper. The scariest thing is the number of deer on the roads. Since it stays light until nearly 10PM in summer- they are out starting at 6PM. I rode the pass on Hwy 93 from Lake Louise down to Radium Hot Springs as the sun was setting 9-10PMish and the deer were EVERYWHERE. I rode for nearly 2 hrs at 35mph,flashing headlights and beeping horn to get through them.Not another vehicle on the road.... I love riding in BC-- roads are good, people really nice and usually not much traffic. If you make a big loop and you are coming thru Montana, let me know- we live on south end of Flathead Lake south of Glacier Park- you'd be welcome! mrae (Maren)

 

VFR Kitten-well i hope you and your friend get to come to USA. re shipping vs renting bikes . i don't know what shipping costs but it seems like $70-100. a day to rent in California(maybe less by week/ month) AND PLEASE IF ANYONE KNOWS A LOWER RATE, PLEASE TELL ME !!
If you get to stay here long enough, you might be better buying used bikes and selling when you leave??OR buy bikes and ship them home??? I don't know if prices are better here or there? I know a lot of Europeans come to US and buy a used car/van to travel/camp in and then sell when they leave. Much less $$ than renting car/ motels. I like travelling to countries like Thailand where a room can be $5. and food even less.... But no VFRs!!!

 

Hi Maren,

Thanks for the info on the Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise trip! There is a group of 5 of us going and fortunately we already have everything booked. The guys I am going with don't like to camp (they don't know what they are missing!) so we are staying in hotels/inns the entire trip. I've heard about those Hot Springs...how did you do that on the bike as far storing your gear while you were there? I'll have to check on our route and see where we are going. I think we may just be hitting the northwestern tips of Montana. I think you mentioned that you would be traveling around the Northwest this summer? If you are around the Seattle area, let me know! It would be fun to meet you and go for a ride. You and your husband are welcome to stay with me if you need a place.

Aren't there any other VFR girls up in our neck of the woods?

Viffergirl...if you are traveling around the Seattle area at some point, you are certainly welcome to stay here too. I think this VFR network is great!

It's fun to hear from VFRkitten....all the way from the other side of the world! All because of our beloved bikes! This is great!

Well, it is beautiful weather here this weekend so I'm heading out soon. Happy riding to you all!

Natalie

 

Natalie-- Hi --thanks for invitation- I LOVE Seattle, but my husband doesn't do cities. so I might come to see you! I live in the NW corner of Montana- if you look at Glacier National Park- look south there is Hwy 93 south( all the way to Mexico actually...) anyway Hwy 93 goes to Flathead Lake and I live at south end of the lake in the small town of Polson. Always a guest spot(usually a room , sometimes a camping spot!). As for all the hot springs places, when I went on these trips I was on my Honda touring bike with the hard luggage so can lock everything up. I found Canada to be very safe/ civilized. you could always carry your stuff in and the office will watch it for you. Motels vs. camping. I like camping, but at the end of a rainy cold ride, a motel is a-ok. last trip I discovered Motel 6-- (new owners) they are much improved and usually the lowest $$ , unless there is some old mom and pop place. I stayed in a few of those for $25.--- not the greatest, but a dry place to sleep. I have a crummy looking old cover for my bike and a cable lock with alarm on it that I leave blinking in plain sight, and no problems. I alwasy ask for a room where the bike can be right outside the door,OR that I can leave the bike in sight of the office. it sounds like a beautifull trip you are going on. Maren

 

Anyone joining the chat on Thursday? I might pop in for a look.