V-tech- Over all positive or negative?

Actually it is at the moment, as the the thread "Would you buy a VFR1000 is right on it's tail by only being 2 posts down. But I can fix that

 

Jason, Jason, Jason,

Do really read "ALL" what I right in my posts or are you like my wife & skim through readings & pick stuff up here & there & miss out on important stuff - Like facts & Ideas ??????

If you did read them, you would know I am a die hard Honda fan, I race Honda's I put more miles sport touring than most, & that yes the 6th gen I have that my daughter rides is on it's way out because it doesn't do it for her either(I didn't become a V-tec hatter until I had purchased the bike & put some miles on it & felt short changed).

I have been holding off on the exit stage left on the VFR hoping Honda does come out with something better so I can p/u that & my daughter gets the Sprint & I'll give the VFR to my sister.
I've recommended VFR 6th gen to friends that are relatively new to M/C's & they don't to want to get a cruiser & want to have a little sportiness in the ride, as well as being probably the last bike they'll ever own.

Remember that the VFR was breed not to be a "Sport-Tourer" that was the Sabres job, but like the newer VFR the sales plummeted & was dropped.

I just want what the original VFR had with some comfort, but the gimmicks like V-tec & under-powering the motor just don't cut it in my book (& many others I might add).

I'm not a newbie in this sport & also will not settle would of could of product, I want the best & it's my money to spend to ask for that.

As I said B-4, to each his/her own, I just learned a hard lesson that know matter how much you love a manufacture & it's products, never back off researching B-4 you buy, The '04 VFR was the 1st M/C I bought in my last 20 years of purchasing bikes I didn't do the research, I bought on faith :frown:
My mistake & learning process (still can teach an old dog).

Now about that new Honda I'm hoping & wishing for :tongue:

P.S. it's not all about HP for me, I have a hawk that (whopping 38-40 HP) that I can run circles around most bikes on the track day's & canyons on.


So go ahead & :banplease: so I don't have to do what true motorcyclists do as in Help one another in there riding, companionships/brotherhood, & assisting them on making right choices from a stock to upgraded bikes.

I'm happy to just assist & teach @ the track & race & just enjoy M/C life in general, & I'll still think with the cup is half full mentality.

C-Ya :biggrin:

 

Ah Taz, it's just so easy!... :faint2:

 

Why not trade it on Honda's faster Sports tourer the CBR1000RR. I've done 600mile days with a 50yro mate of mine who rekons his standard '04 'Blade is more comfortable than it looks and has no complaints when putting in good miles, my only complaints are his bike stops for fuel every 125 miles, slows me down through the very tight twisties and 600 miles in a day are HIS chosen limit.. :smile:

 

Ahhh just :fish2: ??? won't mention it to Taz then. :wink:

 

Ah, had a 04 CBR1000RR with Helibars & a corbin seat, the Sprint was more comfortable with close to the same ponies & better gas mpg's so I traded it in for the Sprint.

:biggrin:

 

Have another mate with an R1 with Heli Bars and double bubble, on tour he try's to convice me its just like an Electra glide now...

As for the CBR1000RR thought it a great bike when I got the do 4*15 minute swaps at Eastern Creek between it and my VFR during Honda's '04 'Blade launch and loved it, so fast so easy, last year wanted the then on sale '06 Red/Black 'Blade bad but despite franticly applying layers of advanced calculus to convince the missus concluded would have had to sell my VFR to buy it. :juggle:

 

So, Taz, how does fuel mileage compare on the ST with your 6th Gen?
Or more importantly, how does the tank range compare?
Cheers,
PC

 

Almost Identical when pushing the RPM's & on average about 3 to 5 MPG's more on the Sprint superslabing them. Going round trip to SoCal & back I average 50 - 55 mpg, & pushing the R's around 35-38 in the Canyons.

Pretty close to the same when pushing the R's on both, but I get a few more on the Super Slabs (straight or long highway's) with the sprint.

Oh & that's not actual bikes speedo/odometer, My #'s are based off of GPS MPH/mileage.:biggrin:

One time my Daughter & myself road to Reno ( & back ) & I had more gear & I wiegh more (60 lbs more) & we rode @ the excact same speeds, & her/my '04 VFR alway's took more gass than mine between fill ups (average speed on the GPS was 88mph-yea we were cooking along pretty good @ times:tongue: ).

 

Second day here learning all I can before I purchase a VFR.

All I can say after reading this entire thread over the last hour... My brain hurts!:rant:

 

having added slip-ons, BMC air filter, O2 eliminators, PCIII; the bike now runs smooth as butter. No abrupt hit with Vtec, just consistent increase in power. If this is what you 5th genners had all the time, then im jealous. But I think my bike will have better mileage down beneath Vtec.

Long story short. I like riding my motorcycle, and I'd probably like riding yours too.

 

I don't think there is much that can be done to cover up a gear sound. Maybe from the riders POV... Anyone who has helicopter experience especially some of the older gen stuff ie, 204, 205, 212, S61, BV107... can attest to gears having a very distinctive sound that can be isolated from any other extraneous noise. If the gears weren't connected to the engine and had the ability to spool down on there own you could almost even hear there health. Noting the above, I very much dislike the sound of gears. It's not a sound I want associated with my toy. Obviously it's personal.

 

Yeah I can't say I'm a fan of gear noise either. It reminds me of a car with a noisy power steering pump. Clearly there is nothing wrong with either preference though.

 

I think the hoo-haw about gears vs. chain is a lot like the arguments the Ducatisti have over dry vs. wet clutches. In the real world on the street, the dispute pretty much boils down to whether you like the clatter or not. It's just personal preference.

I like the gear whine and the dry clutch clatter, but neither would influence my choice of bikes.

 

I didn't care what the '07 had when I saw it...I was getting it. The RWB version brought back memories of my '85 Interceptor and I was hooked.

I knew it had VTEC but didn't really know what that meant until I rode it. Having said that, I don't feel one way or the other about VTEC, I am just happy to have a new Anniversary Edition machine to ride around on.

It has been 12 years since I was on a bike and I had to chip away at my wife for most of that time and I am more thrilled with the experience than any of the details.

By the way, I have had my bike 10 months now, and have only put 300 miles on it...new job, new baby, new house. I've only been past 60 MPH once so far, so, given my riding schedule, the VTEC really doesn't make a difference to me; but having that sucker waiting on me in the garage makes me smile.

 

I, too, bought a VFR as my first motorcycle. It's a Dark Red 2007. The only riding experience I had were various bouts on dirt bikes as a kid and a Kawasaki Ninja 250R I rode in the MSF training.

I love my VFR thus far. It's significantly heavier and more powerful than anything to which I've ever been exposed. I have not even come close to dropping it (and I have to back it into a garage with a sloping driveway...that intially took some thought to face). I think the most harrowing thing I've done with it is trying to put it up on the center stand by myself...that was a workout. When I first bought it, I was very leery of the insidious VTEC transition and it's abrupt arrival. The transition is noticeable mostly in the sound the motor makes and the vibration it gives off...and the more-than-satisfying surge of power. :smile: It is by no means uncontrollable or even that abrupt. Keep in mind...I'm talking about MY motorcycle, not anyone elses. I think the VTEC transition is as uncontrollable as overriding your skill level will eventually prove to be on any bike. I could be on that Ninja 250R in mid-corner, give it too much throttle, and end up sliding my way through the rest of the corner. Knowing my limitations and gradually learning my machine has worked so far.

I didn't buy the VFR because it was the fastest thing out. I bought it because:
1)It was a Honda. (I've owned two Accords and a Honda lawnmower...their motors ARE bullerproof...ALL OF THEM.)
2)I wanted something I wouldn't outgrow in a year.
3)I wanted something that would scare me when I wanted it to.
4)I loved the way the 6th generation looked. The 5th generation models do look outdated...sorry, guys. They just do. The 6th generation will in a couple of years and I(we) will deal with it.
5)I can keep up with (actually, sometimes surpass:wink my CBR and YZF buddies while being able to ride it all day long without my back screaming at me.
6)The sound of the V-4 is intoxicating. There is no better feeling than when somebody hears me start up the VFR and I see that look of suprise cross their face. This bike looks like a crotch-rocket and sounds like a V-twin cruiser up until about 7k RPM at which point it loses its mind (I actually think it sounds more like a small-block V-8 at lower RPMs). Have you guys ever heard one of these things kickin' some ass at a distance? They sound bad-ass and NOT like a flock of angry bees.

All in all...I think all of the VFR's look like they kick ass and their motors sound awesome regardless of what each owner does to them. I love my 6th gen and would buy it again. When the 7th gen comes out, I'll buy one of those, too.

 

Why keep the ABS any good rider can stop shorter in the wet even without it. And it is spookily disconcerting. Another argument I suppose...to each his own. I like the linked brakes (at least the 5gen approach) but hate ABS.

Cheers
John