New VFR Owner: Handlebars/Seating Position

Hello,

I'm happy to have taken delivery of a 2002 VFR Interceptor this past weekend. I had been riding a 1987 Kawasaki EX500 for the past 13 years, so it's safe to say that I just upgraded in a big way!

I bought the VFR because I've always admired them and because they seem to have won every awad in the book.

I do have one minor concern. My VFR has a Corbin seat, which seems miles better than the stock seat (which I only sat on briefly on a model at a dealership). However, the seating position is a tad more "lean forward" than my EX500 was, and I'm not sure if I like it. I've only put about 60 miles on my VFR so far, but I'm concerned about the seating position and the amount of weight on my wrists.

I'm roughly 6' tall and 200 pounds (athletic, not tubby) so it's not like I'm excessively tall or heavy.

I'm hoping it's just something that I'll get used to, but I'm a little worried. Can somebody comment on this, or whether I should just plan on getting higher handlebars, which I see are available for VFRs? If I need to get higher handlebars, can somebody recommend a good set? I see Helibars has a set, but I don't know if they're any good (read: comfortable enough) or what I should look for.

My preference is to not change the bars if possible, so I just want to see what other VFR riders are doing.

Most of riding will be fairly relaxed (to/from work, cruising) so it's not like I need a particularly sporting riding position.

All comments and thoughts are appreciated.

Thank you!!!

-Ryan

 

Ryan, give it a little while with the current bars. When I got my 06, I was thinking the same sort of things you are about the lean position and weight on my hands. after 1000 miles, it doesn't bother me anymore. Obviously you might be different, but my advise would be to wait a little while before you get the bar risers.

The helibars get good reviews from just about everybody that has them installed. Lots of positive comments on this forum.

 

o_swas I agree with imnohero. I am about you height and weight. Give it a try with the standard bars and see if you adjust. Having said that I put helibars on mine and found they made a big difference but then I have bad wrists. The other thing I have found that makes a difference is a throttlerocker. I have more trouble with the right wrist than the left and the throttlerocker seems to let me relax it a bit. For $10 it is a pretty cheap helper. There are a few problems with the helibars: they raise you into the wind more which means you will probably want to go with a taller screen. I use a zero gravity sport tour screen which gets you back to about the same protection as the oem. The other thing is it changes your weight distribution a little and makes the front a little less precise in hard cornering. Not much and you adjust but something to be aware of.

 

I'd say give it a try as is like the other fellows..The whole point of this postitioning is to allow wind to lift your body at speed and take weight off your arms, (and it sure works for me)...gives you the postion for best handling....raise the bars,, raise the shield, you change it all...now you might like that, but this was the first bike I bought that i actually did leave it alone and actually rode it a few thousand miles before I normally woulda started to fiddle..After riding bikes that had real turbulence problems, I found this to be the most comfortable bike I ever owned for long rides..Never woulda believed it a year ago as never really rode a forward postioned bike...I used to shake my head at them and wonder how they could sit like that... .I did give in and try the bigger screens,, but that was a mistake for me as screwed up the body lift and created buffetting..(for me)..so you never know..everyone is diff(for example I ebayed off the corbin I tried as I find the stocker just as comfy))..
And of course I did give in a bit raise the stock bars to their max, and have left them there..

I do find this bike isnt great riding slow or in town, narrow bars, poor vis, and the arm pressure at slow speed...its a highway bike for me. I ride a naked in town and it s much happier...so you will find it can act diff depending on your riding conditions and only you will really know what to aim for..

BUt it sure wouldnt hurt to try it for a while..go far, at least a thousand miles..and some day longers.it might take you a couple to get over the soreness and be used to everything........either way hope you get comfy and enjoy it!!!

 

I put Heli Bars on my 99VFR and it made a BIG difference in the seating position and my arms dont cramp anymore after 150 miles..By the way I am 6ft 188lbs / no slacker here..