Steering heavy, acceleration abrupt, not balanced

[nappy]

so I just picked up my new (to me, 2000 VFR 800) VFR in San Francisco and rode it home to Seattle, the bike ran and rode gretat except for a few things that bugged me, they may be normal and they may not...thats what I want to find out.
1) the steering feels really heavy when turning, especially at low speeds but even at higher speeds to some degree, it feels like the wheel wants to flop the direction your turning and I have to push UP on the down side handle bar. I have bikes from the 60's that handle better in corners (keep in mind I usually ride an Aprilia RS250 so I may just be spoiled)
2) When I turn the throttle it comes on too fast, there's no way to ease into the power, once I turn past the beginning the power delivery smooths out.
3) If I let go of the handlebars on the freeway with the cruise control on the bike leans to the left a tad...not perfectly balanced...is this normal with these bikes? I can do this on the Aprilia easily. (this is just to test the bikes balance, I don't ride like this normally)

input?
thanks
-Nappy

[jev]

What's the condition of the ft. tire? It may just be low air pressure. If the pressure gets to @ 25psi in mine it starts getting sluggish to turn. As for the throttle, it may just take time to get used to. How's the power delivery on your RS? Does it build slowly or is it instant? I've never ridden an RS, but I would imagine it builds power slowly in the low rpm range, then comes on once you get in the upper range.

[Bubba Zanetti]

OK, first off welcome!

And second, you have an Aprilia RS250? You lucky bastid!

BZ

[Britt]

I noticed that my 01 is feeling exactly the same way when turning. My tires are about worn out and I am almost positive that feeling is because I need to replace them. When I bought my bike 6500 miles ago it did not feel that way...

[reg71]

it could be things above, it could be the front is cupped, it could be the fork tubes have been slid down by someone. the vfr probably will never feel light turning esp compared to an RSV. it should be neutral. sometimes it takes a little adjusting of the tubes up and down to find where you like it. I have moved mine several times. the vfr is a heavy bike though so at low speeds it always feels heavy to me. past 15 it's no biggie. the acceleration abruptness is common on non-power commander equipped bikes. that's about the easiest way to get the fuel delivery where you want.

[nappy]

thanks for the input, I aired the tires up before I took off from SF but the bike had been sitting outside for a year on it's sidestand so that may have adversely affected the tires. I hate to buy new tires since these ones look ok but I guess since the bike was free I can't complain about buying tires. I'll look into the fork adjustment as well, that's what it feels like to me..like the rake is off.
-Nappy

[drewl]

Wait, what? FREE!!??
Hokey Smokes!

Yeah, new tires will help. As far as the throttle, it is adjustable. The dial on the cable right next to the throttle turns and you can run it in or out while the bike is running to get it where you want it.

Welcome aboard, by the way.

[nappy]

I'll try the throttle adjustment, that should help a lot. and yes, the bike was free... a friend of mine moved from the bay area to seattle a year ago and left the bike parked outside of work... when I picked it up it was covered in cob webs and had a rodent nest in the fairing but other than that it was in great shape, just replaced the battery and vvrroommm...sounds good too with the Micron exhaust.

thanks for the input
-Nappy

[Jimtt]

I was going to go plus one on the tire pressure until I noticed Bubba mention you have an Aprilia RS250 which is why the VFR seems to steer heavy. When i get off my 250 and ride one of the big bikes they feel like a bus...just ride the VFR and you will get in tune with it, and check you front tire pressure.

[drewl]

You should also open the air box located under the tank. This is a favorite place of mice. It could run fine with a bunch of crap in it, so check anyway.