Newbie looking at VFR800 as a commuter

For a 9 mile commute I could see the VFR being a tad bit too much of a bike if you are going to use it almost exclusively for that. I commute daily on a 50 mile round trip route with mixed highway and stop and go traffic. The bike has never made me wish it was something else for any reason. Is it heavy? For a sporty bike yes, but it handles with grace and easy. I don't notice the weight when stopped or moving. The only time I feel it is when I lift her up off the side stand to straight up. Heat? It gets hot in the summer time but nothing that the radiators don't take care of. Sore hand from shifting? Never. Even when stuck in traffic for an hour and a half at the Indy 500 my hand never got sore. The VFR has a very easy clutch pull. The bike is a tad larger the others, especially when the hard bags are on. This has never been an issue for me but I could see it being an issue when lane splitting. Since this is only legal in California and you are in North Carolina, I wouldn't worry one bit about it.

From everything I've ridden over the past several years, I honestly feel that the VFR is the PERFECT day to day commuter. Plenty of power and comfort for the short or long haul, excellent braking and maneuverability, superb reliability with very low cost of maintenance, all mixed together with plenty of class and beauty.

For $7k on a used bike, I'd say he's at least $500 high as there are deals to get you out the door for $7k on a brand new 07 RWB at the dealer, however without hard bags.

All of this said, if your current 94 Katana is very sound mechanically, I think I would probably keep it and buy some soft bags to throw over the passenger pillion and commute with it. However if it isn't in as great of shape as you would like and fancy something newer, in better condition, etc... The VFR is a very wise and fantastic choice.

 

i was thinking hard about this whole suitability thing....the VFR will do this job, no worries.

but actually given the task required, you would actually be quite suited to using the deaded honda DN-01....

that is if you dont mind having your bike clubbed regularily...LOL

soooo the really important question is....what colour is it?

 

You got a great deal there. 5k miles in nothing to the vfr.

 

All very helpful comments/suggestions. After reading the comments, I have to agree that the VFR is more than I need for a 9-mile commute. On the other hand, I sometimes get confused and have to wander around on backroads for an hour or so before I find my way home.

Responding to other questions/queries, in no particular order:

The VFR I'm looking at is red,white, blue.

The Katana has been great, but (1) my son, (2) the bike and (3) a deer had an unfortunate encounter that left them (1) without a scratch, (2) functionally fine but a bit beat up, and (3) no longer with us. So it's a good time for a "new" bike if I can get a good deal.

I've spent many years living in Chapel Hill and a riding around with Duke parking stickers on my car and bike. I'm not likely to start worrying now about people coming after me with clubs -- but I still don't think I can face up to seeing a DN-01 first thing every morning ;-)

 

My recommendation for what you are looking for would be fairly recent Suzuki SV650(s). The VFR is a better "do everything" bike, but the SV650 is light, easy to maneuver, easily comfortable enough for shorter rides/commutes (esp. with mods), powerful enough, fun in the twisties, great on mileage (in the 50s), and low maintenance. They can also be had for cheap, and hard bags can be added.

The powerband on the SV is perfect for traffic, and it's effortless to throw around. The VFR is a little heavier and the engine is more suited for higher speeds. Not bad at all in traffic IMO, but a bit more to handle compared to the SV.

 

Well, as someone who just picked up his VFR last night, I will say I think it will be fine as a commuter. My only other bike I had was a '98rr that I commuted on and t his is a big improvement. I think it all has to do with what you expect from the bike. Last night I rode on highways, bumper to bumper stoplights, and congestion. I am very pleased with my purchase ('02 w/ 19k miles) and think it will be perfect for my fair weather commuter. There may be better options as suggested above. They make sense, but I am someone who wanted a bike for long trips as well as daily commuting, something I can throw my wife on, yet sporty enough to play. First impressions are this thing is perfect for what I want. BTW there is a 2000 with 31k on it and slight rash with two helmets and a jacket for $2k in Houston, TX.

 

YOU'RE FIRED!

Traitor

 

LOL!

I am a traitor, just the other way around. I started on a Suzuki SV650 and now have a VFR

 

SV650S would kill me in 9 miles of stop-and-go. I would need casts on my wrists and a neck brace!

 

Really? I had mine for exactly the same purpose - getting to campus and putzing aruond the campus area. It served me perfectly. Raising the bars up is easy if that's the issue.

Different strokes though. The VFR is certainly more comfy.