6th Gen for 2up sport touring????

Hello,
I would love to hear from people currently using a 6th Gen for 2 up sport touring. I'm 180 lb, wife is 120 lb, = 300 lb combined rider weight. I would want hard side bags and possibly a top case with an average of 30lb. of clothes and gear. My question is, is this bike up to the task suspension and power wise? Bike would be frequently ridden at high altitude in the mountains of Colorado. I started out looking at the VFR1200, but I really prefer the looks of the VFR800 and certainly the pricing is a huge consideration. We currently ride 2up on a 919 with soft luggage and the power is plenty for us, but I am wanting the wind protection of a full fairing bike. For those of you currently using a VFR800 in this manner, would you recommend the 800? Or am I better off forking over the cash for a 1200?

Thanks!

 

I have a 4th gen 95 750. I ride 2 up all the time. i'm 250 lb wife 150 lb. = 400 lb. since my bike is a little older, it still has the 18 year old stock suspension in it. Its a little soft but the bike still has plenty of power and control. i do 2 up in canyons all day on the VFR. I love it! Don't waste the cash on the 1200. Your bike will be perfect for the job.

 

Thanks for the input VFRMAN44!

 

Not the best bike in terms of pillion comfort but more than enough power to handle the task and stock suspension is just ok nothing great. If you are looking for doing longer distance in more comfort you are better off with an ST, FJR, or Concours. The beauty of the VFR is that is that it allows you to tour moderate distances two up and then you can remove the bags and tear up the twisties when you are riding solo. Even though the VFR (both 800 and 1200) are classified as a "sport tourer" there is much more emphasis on the "sport" over "tour." Whether or not the bike is right for you really depends on the type of riding you primarily do. In simple terms the VFR is a great compromise between the two.

Rollin

 

Get a 6th gen and save the $$$$$ for ohlin suspension or call Jaime Dauthy
Just my 2 cent.
But if you do two up all the time then go with Rollin suggestions
My wife and I do trip couple time a year and the 800 is plenty of power
My wife and I weight around 250 + 30 pounds for clothes and gears

 

You will be surprised and how little wind protection you will get on a full faring bike like the VFR. The 6th gen is a good bike for day trips. Inride 2 up 250 me and 100 - 120 passengers respectively. I rode for quite a few years in the stock suspension. I have a sargent after market seat and Im plenty comfortable all day 340 miles or so.. passenger, not so much. They is fine for a the short 100 ish mile jaunts but more than that they get uncomfortable. The bike rides fine and I barely know anyone is back there when im riding through the hills. Plenty of power and pulls good.


Now, if your goal is sport by yourself and touring with the wife and trips arent long the the VFR is more than a good choice. If your goal is to do trips then look at something else. FJR, honda ST or even one of the BMWs maybe even the 1200 vfr they are bettter options for two up touring IMO.

Edit
Forgot about the new concourse mentioned above. Its a good price too.

 

Thanks all for the advice. I would considered an FJR or ST as a second bike, but I am not in a position to have 2 bikes. BMW is out, just too damned expensive to service. I am pretty set on the VFR, just not sure what gen is most appropriate. If the 6th Gen were shaft drive, conversation would be over and I'd be rollin on one right now. Again though, I appreciate everyone's comments!

 

Haha don't we all wish the 800 with shaft drive

 

NO! We ALL don't wish the VFR 800had a shaft drive.

 

Yes you are.......I know :tongue:

 

I have an '09 VFR800 that I primarily bought for commuting with the knowledge that I could take it sport riding if ever I wanted to. For the most part, the wife and I weight almost the same as you and yours, give or take a few lbs. and we have gone some decent miles a few times and other than the seat not being too comfortable for her, even the Sargent doesn't do much for the passenger, she seems to fare pretty well. We both do actually.

In fact we did the R3 event last year, riding up the CA Coast to Reggie's, then rode all day the next day and then rode back home the third day. It wasn't until the last day when we were getting close to home did she start complaining about being a little saddle sore. It was probably close to 1000 miles spread out the three days.

I did however add a few mods to improve comfort, the fore mentioned Sargent seat, Heli-Bars, GIVI touring windscreen and Top case (with back pad, for her) and a Jamie Daugherty modified suspension, revlaved/resprung VFR ABS shock and new valve shims and springs for the front. Even though I still use it primarily as a commuter, with the mods I have now, she is great for the longer runs and with the improved legs, even better now for the sport rides! About the only thing missing from the equation is the side cases.

 

OP, since you ride 919 now and both do ok, I'm sure VFR wil do. However, myself I do not enjoy riding 2 up on my VFR unless it's a short jaunt to go for lunch somewhere. Sport touring on VFR 2up is not fun for me. Balls to the tank under harder braking, helmets hitting one other under harder acceleration... Not fun. I'd definitely recommend FJR for 2 up if you plan to ride 2 up most of the time. More comfortable, better ergonomics, more power, etc..

 

Great info... thanks!

 

I here ya, The FJR is just more bike than I want to have for solo commuting and canyon carving.

 

I sure do!

OP, the VFR1200 is a sublime tourer. That is exactly what it is intended for.
Buy the 1200.

 

Its definitely in the running. I hate to say it, but this decision is probably going to come down to availability. There doesn't seem to be a lot of super low mileage 800 or 1200 VFR's hitting the used market in Denver.

 

For me, it works great. Here is a thread that I started detailing the updates that I made to my 6th Gen to make it more of a tourer.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/6th-gene...erting-6th-gen-sport-tourer-sport-tourer.html

 

Thanks Stewart, a lot of great info there. If I end up going this route, I may pick your brain on some things if I can. Its kind of comical though, reading that VFR owners complain about the suspension on this bike. When you go over to wristtwisters.org (919 owners group) and talk about maybe switching from a 919 to a VFR, everyone raves about how much better the suspensions are on the VFR. I guess its all in what you're used to. Thanks again!

 

No problem. I'm sure if I don't have the answer then others here will.

 

I own a 2007 with Sargent seat... I will always be eternally grateful to Long for that one! I have experience on my own bike as a passenger. A few years back I dated a guy with a ZX6 and we did a couple road trips together. At one point I was super tired and the group we were with wanted to do an evening ride. My BF, approximately your weight, rode my bike with me on the back. As tired as I was, it was very comfy for me. We had both done track days so when we hit the twisties and he started leaning off the seat, I leaned off with him... We passed and stayed ahead of guys on CBR1000s, R1s, etc. I'm 5'6", 125lbs and was pleasantly surprised at how much room I had for my legs.... I wasn't cramped at all and I felt like if my butt got a bit sore, I could easily shift a bit to change pressure points if needed. The key truly is having that Sargent seat. I would not recommend driver or passenger doing more than 150 miles on the stock seat, but the Sargent is comfy for both.