I have heard great things about these bikes and I am considering unloading my 04 cbr600rr for a 07-09 leftover now that Honda is trying to blow them out. Love the RR but the comfort is a little lacking and anticipate doing more miles daily than I currently do and some additional longer trips. I just wanted to know if anyone had any experience on the handling differences between the bikes beyond the added heft of the viffer. I just don't want to be disappointed in the handling as both of these bikes have plenty of power and corners are much more fun anyway..
VFR Review
I have a 1998 VFR. It's an awesome bike. Very comfortable, good mileage, seamless power, attractive, and phenomenal sound!! So far I've done ~200 miles in a day on it without any complaints. It did feel heavy when I first rode it (coming from the flyweight Bandit 400), but I really don't notice it now.
Some say I'm lying. . . but this could be the last bike I would buy
Cotton
HalfDork
5/18/10 4:11 p.m.
The VFR 800 has been on my radar for a long time, but I've always felt like they are underpowered for two up sport touring. I mean they really can't even compete with a lot of 600s HP wise, so instead I was looking at the BMW K1300S. Well I just found out a supercharger kit is in the final stages for the VFR, so for me a used VFR plus the charger might make the perfect bike.
The 98-01 kit is ready, but I prefer the 02 up VFR. http://www.aaperf.com/vfrkit-gen5.html
Honda does have the new VRF 1200, but in my opinion that bike is damn ugly.
I've been eyeballing a VTR myself
Mental
SuperDork
5/19/10 2:38 p.m.
VFR peaple are a loyal, loyal bunch. So the opinions will be biased, until you consider there has to be something there that makes those guys so loyal. I don;t know about underpowered, but the guys I know riding VFRs had no problem keeping up with us. It might be that they are easy to ride quickly
Looking at the prices available on EBay, I'd like to grab up one of those. Heck, if the WeeStrom (67 hp) has enough power for two up touring, then a VFR (110 hp) ABSOLUTELY has enough power. Also, the VFR has 59 ft-lbs to the Wee's 44. Within a couple of pounds of each other. I say go for it. I just wish that the hard bags that look real good didn't cost $1000+.
Cotton
HalfDork
5/19/10 8:58 p.m.
mistanfo wrote:
Heck, if the WeeStrom (67 hp) has enough power for two up touring, then a VFR (110 hp) ABSOLUTELY has enough power. Also, the VFR has 59 ft-lbs to the Wee's 44.
That's more of a personal preference. My Yamaha 600 had around 90HP to the rear wheel, weighed less that the VFR, and I did feel it lacked in the power dept at times while riding two up. However this was after a lot of miles over several years, so maybe I was just used to it. The VFR is a hell of a bike for sure. I was trolling for one on ebay today. The red/white/blue anniversary edition looks awesome.
mistanfo wrote:
Looking at the prices available on EBay, I'd like to grab up one of those. Heck, if the WeeStrom (67 hp) has enough power for two up touring, then a VFR (110 hp) ABSOLUTELY has enough power. Also, the VFR has 59 ft-lbs to the Wee's 44. Within a couple of pounds of each other. I say go for it. I just wish that the hard bags that look real good didn't cost $1000+.
And people two-up the DL1000 constantly, with it's 98hp.
VFRs are sexy bikes.