Need Ergo Help - Newbie VFR owner - AARP age

Get the heli's, I think they'll make a big difference. Is your aerostich a 1 piece or a two piece? If a two piece, then I would look in to getting one of their back expanders that gives more movement to lean forward and therefor less restrictive. This a cheap option and just zips on.

 

Another fossil here, pushing the big six-oh. And I'm only 5'9" with short legs.

On my second VFR, with the first one being a totally stock '96 4th gen, purchased new. Put over 74,000 miles on it without any mods at all, not even exhaust.

Current VFR is '00 5th gen (>75,000 miles) with heli-bars and stock seat. I find the bars do help this tired old body.

Lots of seat time and good riding posture will cause your body to adjust to the riding position, but the heli-bars might speed up the process and the ease of transition.

 

Thanks for the help - keep it coming

Wow - 70K+ on TWO VFR's, that's great inspiration.

I must admit that I'm still not comfortable on the bike. Took it to work today (surprisingly it didn't want to turn into the company parking deck (;->) and the forward lean is uncomfortable, especially with my permanently damaged rotor cuffs. The right arm hurts too, the ulnar nerve area - right on the surgery scar.

I'm also kinda tall in the seat, not getting both feet down at the lights. Also not AT ALL comfortable with U-Turns. This sounds odd, but my last ride was a Harley Softail Deluxe - 25 inch seat height, and I could make a U-Turn within two parking spaces. On the VFR I feel unbalanced, too tall in the seat, not at all comfortable.

I'll install the heli bars - I hope the seller allows another group purchase, but he seems unsure of future orders.

Any other suggestions for feeling "comfortable and confident" are welcome and invited.

Thanks again.

 

I think you just need to ride the bike more. My last bike was a dual sport. It felt really strange riding the VFR at first, but after 1000 milles or so, it feels like the VFR was custom made for me.
I've never ridden a harley before, but it seems like a night and day difference between that and a VFR.
It will probably just take some time to get used to..

 

if you have the cash get the heli bars they are highly reccomended and call sargent or corbin ask them make a lower seat drop about 1 1/2" but they run over 400 bucks i really really really did i say really ok i really don't think changing the grips changes your riding poisition lol but they may cut down on some buzz and feel softer in your hands but if you wear gloves i don't think the grip will make a difference.............but as another member said the more you ride the more you will get in shape to be in that new position just muscles not working that way ..........good luck

 

Hey..congrats..

I know how u feel..

One thing i would suggest is you drive it some more first..give yourself a chance to get in shape for that bike. Something that i find i need to do with any bike, and for me it takes a few 8 hr days to do it(every spring).then see if fiddlin is the way to go. thats my 2 bits worth..

I used to always fiddle on my bikes after short rides. but my 05 vfr was the first bike with these ergos and i took off on a 10 day trip before I had a chance to change anything.. the first 1000 miles hurt ...after 3 days nothing hurt, in fact it ended up being the most comfy bike i ever owned.I have done the 900 mile day on this one and felt like more..


Of course I did fiddle with bars and shields, but soon went back to stock..for me higher bars stuck me up too high in the air, causing me to buy a bigger shield, which then took away my lift, which in turn made my arms hurt worse..etc. etc.

These kind of bikes are made to motor and the wind hold u up at speed..I never really knew how well that worked till i got my vfr, always having upright bikes.Now i would never go back for my long rides..I do tho, find the position sucks for going slow , especially in town, I dont enjoy this type of bike for city riding....on the road at speed i love it! In the end I just ride my naked bike when i want to drive around town. I would think some high bars would help for this type of riding!

But since everyone is diff, no doubt there is something that will work for you, good luck and enjoy!

hey, for a quicky, just pop the snap ring, loosen the bars and raise em up the inch or so you can get outa the tubes..tighten her up and see if it helps at all, u might find its a step in the right direction u want....dont worry bout a spacer..they do nothing to help keep the bars on anyway..

 

Welcome and the VFR's RWB paintwork is stunning and hope the utter joy that comes with riding overcomes the pain of your operations.

Being a young 43 and totally comfortable with the VFR's stock ergos for long distances would have been the first to grab the torch and pitchforks a few months ago then a friend of mine suffering re-occuring nerve damage in both arms just converted his '04 R1 to Renthal Bars with some success, much better that than giving up riding his only other alternative.

 

Wow, nice to see allot of 40+ riders of the VFR. I thought I might be getting a bit too old to still want to ride anything but a goldwing. Wife says its the never ending mid life crisis thing. LOL

 

You can always bend your elbows, you can't make your arms any longer. Just a thought. ;-)