'07 VFR 800A: first impressions

I took delivery of my new '07 VFR 800A (with optional Givi side-cases and top-case) last Saturday, and so far I've rode only ~260 miles (including a trip to Hocking Hills in southern Ohio), but I'd like to offer my initial impressions thus far. (My last motorcycle was a fully loaded '07 BMW K1200GT, so my following comments will occasionally compare the VFR to the Beemer. It's also worth mentioning that I ordered my '07 VFR without first riding one. Rather, I took the plunge based only on the VFR's glowing reputation.)

1) Intro: I removed all 3 of the Givi luggage cases before my first ride last Saturday afternoon, which was only ~60 miles. Wearing full riding gear from head-to-toe (along with an Aerostich Kanetsu heated inner fleece jacket), as well as a Shoei TZR helmet with an Autocom headset, I rode forth.

From the outset I found the VFR to be a very sweet motorcycle. In comparison to the more massive and top-heavy BMW K1200GT (~620 lbs. wet weight; shaft drive; transverse mounted, 1200cc inline K-engine, rated at 152 hp) the significantly lighter VFR is a joy to ride. The next day I rode ~200 miles, in which I spent a considerable amount of time on highways in order to reach and eventually return from the twisties at Hocking Hills.

2) Egonomics/riding comfort: I was already familiar and comfortable with a somewhat more sport-oriented posture after riding 13,500 miles on the K12GT, in which my knees were more flexed, and my arms/torso were more angled forward. In comparsion, the VFR's ergonomics are decidely more sport-like in terms of rider posture, but not excessively so. In my view, the VFR seems rather unique in this regard, and it's one of it's strong points.

3) Handling/manners: Thus far I've found the VFR to be very nimble and responsive to the rider's body inputs, in which the VFR will smoothly respond to the subtle shifting of one's center-of-gravity (A'la Reg Pridmore's teachings) with less of a need to forcefully countersteer. In other words, just moving your head into the direction of a turn (as though you want to "kiss" the side mirror on the same side as the turn), along with jutting out your knee and pushing your foot down on the footpeg on the same side as the turn, will often result in the bike smoothly leaning and turning, with less need for more abrupt and aggressive countersteering. (I think that these "body english" maneuvers naturally induce countersteering, since only countersteering will lean the bike one way or the other. That said, the advantages of using body english to steer the bike are it's ability to reduce the need for conscious, deliberate, and potentially overly aggressive and destabilizing countersteering.) The VFR seems to respond to subtle bodyweight shifts with great aplomb, and if you happen to enter a corner too hot, the bike will tolerate some aggressive countersteering quite well,so long as one doesn't panic and over-react. The VFR seems to be very forgiving in this regard. The bike will often do the right thing on it's own if we allow it to.

4) Brakes: The '07 K1200GT's partially integrated, antilock brakes are surely among the finest in the industry. They are amazing. That said, so far (after practicing numerous quickstops, as well as a couple of real-world emergency braking applications with the VFR) the '07 VFR 800A's linked antilock brakes are quite formidable, and quite confidence inspiring, in which I've not encountered any appreciable fork-dive thus far. Good brakes!

5) Transmission/gearing/shifting: Like a number of BMW motorcycles, the K12GT has an annoying habit of being very clunky when shifting gears, particularly in the lower gears. In marked contrast, the '07 VFR's gearbox/transmission is very, very smooth. That said, I find it rather annoying that Honda hasn't included in the VFR's cockpit digital display, a bold readout of the gear one happens to be in. Coming from the K12GT, i really miss this information. I have better things to occupy my mind than trying to keep track of exactly what gear I'm in, although the sound and the pull of the engine are clues.

6) Gear ratios: Compared to the K1200GT, I've quickly become very fond of, and very much impressed by the '07 VFR's taller gear ratios, particularly at higher speeds, and this is all the more amazing given the VFR's 800cc V4 engine, which is rated at little more than 100 hp, yet it seems to have a very powerful torque band. When riding the VFR on freeways and highways, I was very surprised to discover that this motorcycle's 800cc engine seems to be just walking along, without breaking a sweat when moving at 60-70 mph in 4th gear! (I happen to be among those who recognize that most modern 4-cylinder motorcycle engines are designed to run at rather high rpm's.) Shifting the VFR into 5th gear while riding on freeways will often feel like I'm in 6th gear on the BMW! And, shifting the VFR into 6th gear will result in a sense of lugging the engine unless my speed is above 80 mph! Very impressive.

7) Engine: The 800cc V4 VTech engine is an amazing, in my opinion. Quite contrary to my initial concerns before I rode the VFR, I find that it's V4 engine doesn't suffer from feeling "buzzy" or feeling like one's riding atop a Dildo. Quite the contrary, this engine purrs rather than meows, and when you rool on the throttle it sounds gorgeous.

Don't know what all the fuss some have made about the VTech transition. I run motorcycles at higher rpm's, and lower gears, particulary in the twists and turns, so VTech is something I hardly notice, and when I do feel it, I like it. Perhaps those who ride 6th gen. VFR's who don't care for VTech, have not yet fully embraced the fact that routinely running most modern sport and sport-touring bikes at high rpm's is where it's at.

8) Negatives: The stock seat sucks. (I have a Sargent tooled-leather seat on order.) The stock windscreen sucks. (I have a Zero Gravity, Sport-Touring screen on order). The stock, Metzeler MeZ4 tires suck. (Give me Dunlop Qualifiers, or Michelin Pilot's any day.) For a sport-touring bike, the lack of factory installed cruise-control and heated seats/grips is a drag. (Remember, I came off of a loaded BMW K12GT.)

Summary: Would I buy the '07 VFR 800A knowing what little I know now: YES. (Visit my image gallery for photos.)

Thanks for listening,

Kurt







6)

 

Welcome

Like you I came from a BMW K-bike, a K100RS.

My '05 VFR is rated with a little more power than my late K
but carries at least 100 pounds less!

The VFR is what everyone in the moto press has said over the years, the best all around ride.

 

Excellent write up. Always nice to hear a person satisfied with their chosen mount.

BMW's are on my radar since I would like to add a true tourer to the stable on day. It's either going to be a R-1200RT or Honda ST1300.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

FWIW, last fall I briefly rode a 2005 BMW R1200RT on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I found it's 2-cylinder boxer engine to be very buzzy in comparison to the '07 K12GT's much smoother and more powerful engine. I could hardly wait to get back on my K12GT. That said, opinions will vary. There are many who love BMW's 2-cylinder boxer engine.

 

Red, great write up. You'll really like the difference the ZG Sport Touring Screen makes.
Sargant seat in next on my list.

 

I don't like inline 4's. If for no other reason that they don't have any "character".

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2: