Ladies, Lads, I came across this mother-of-all VFR forums, and just signed up in anticipation of my return to MCs after a 13-year absence with a mint, 15K-mile, '00 VFR800, even equipped with my favorite exhaust, a Staintune. My last bike--sold in '03--was a '90 VFR, with a 2002 VFR owned before that. A '00 ZX-12R (ridiculously fast, still competitive with near anything today) went before that, and the ZX-12R was preceded by a '98 VFR. A Kawi ZRX1200 went before the '98 (the ZRX was killed with 1400 miles on it in a 75MPH crash into a deer), with a spittin' mean '94 FZR1000 giving me a good time before the ZRX. A '95 Moto Guzzi Sport 1100 came before the Fizzer and was a mad love affair, though, after its 4th major leak sprung on the 4th major road trip, I had to let her go. A '92 Ducati 851--bought new when Ducati was nowhere--provided thrills, laughs, and celebrity before the Guzzi, with an awesome black '90 Kawi ZX-7 before the Duck; that thing--with a full Muzzy exhaust--sounded exactly like Armageddon and had cool intake runners plopping into the tank, like something on a Dalek. A fantastic FZR400 that taught me how to ride (all my mates had 750s+) was sold for the ZX-7, with an '86 Kawi 900 Ninja sold to buy the 400. My first bike? A terrifying '78 Kawi KZ1000 Z1-R bought in '86, which taught me about slide-rule frames made from prison-issue eating utensils, nylon swingarm pivots, and tank slappers. I put about 200K miles on those bikes, mostly on Washington State's and BC's incredible roads, and up and down the left coast. Usually to Laguna Seca for the 500s (you remember those?), or WSB. Never crashed once. Well, apart from the deer. I knew shortly after I stopped riding that the '98 VFR800 was the best bike I ever owned, and that I liked it better than the '02. As I don't really care for ADVs--man, has lots changed in motorcycling over the last 13 years--and as I wanted to take babysteps, a 5th Gen was a natural choice. I also think they're future collectibles, now at the bottom of their value curves, like late '70s Ducati 900SSs were in the late 80s-mid-'90s. I am a lawyer in Seattle, and represent individuals in injury cases (bikers especially) and workers' compensation claims. Anyway, great forum! Best, Kristian Seattle
Now that's an introduction. Welcome, and yes I remember the 500's at Laguna when America ruled. Enjoy the Viffer Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
