Is there a better Sport Touring bike than the VFR?

[TKWelch]

I love my 2000 VFR and I would gladly ride it for another 25,000 miles however I feel like I want a change. I have been considering what my options are but I can't find a bike that fills that niche that a VFR does. I don't want an inline 4 because I feel like they hurry me to high rpms searching for power. Where a V4 or V-twin gives me oomph even at low rpms. Dont get me wrong an R1 or a GSXR1000 has plenty of get-up and go but I can't ride an R1 for a thousand miles a day like I can on my VFR. I love the twisties and I like going out with my friends who have R1's and CBRs for Sunday rides and my VFR can keep up fine. I dont think that would be the case if I were on a ST1300 however. I was thinking about a Suzuki SV1000s or a ST2 but I dont want to shell out the cash for the Ducati. Any suggestions?

[jcm]

If you want a bike with a similar blend of performance and touring capability to your VFR I don't think the options are many, particulalry if you eliminate the ST2 and 3, and I assume the Aprillia's also because of price. The first bike that comes to mind is the Yamaha FJR1300. Although it is an inline 4 it has the displacement to make power at lower rpm's. Everybody says very positive things about it. It's not too much heavier than the VFR, but it's also $12,000 w/o ABS. If you want a real change look at the new BMW GS1200 or the (less change) RT1150. The SV1000 is a terrific bike but the ergos, I believe are much sportier than the VFR, not great for touring. You might reconsider your disinterest in the inlines and consider the FZ1. I rode with a guy who set one up with luggage for touring. Very comfortable with a lot of bar rise, great power, reliability, and handling. I know how you feel about variety, but the VFR is hard to beat. I wouldn't want a bike with any less power and handling, and I wouldn't want one that was less comfortable. Of course, if I could own more than one bike, that would be different. Good luck, Jeff McQueen
P.S. Ask Tourmeister at this site what he is buying after putting both of his VFR's up for sale.

[PPE]

Reread your post !!! The VFR you now have is the BEST MOST LOGICAL ANSWER !!! Just get the 2 Bro full exhaust with carbon canister, set up your suspension as best you can afford and get a set of the new Metzler 6s and you will be reborn....done....good to go....and Happy , with a loadfull of money leftover to RIDE RIDE RIDE !!!!

I sold 4 other bikes to round up the cash for a used but mint 93 VFR.....it solves all the dilemas of the inline 4 and all the ducati priceyness. I loved my Ducs......but this thing is a better value, and it does the sporttouring thing flawlessly. And the sound it makes at 10 grand with the 2 Bro....is as good as 2 Ducs combined !!! LOL ;)

[YorgeRC46]

The VFR is the best choice out there, no contest. What other bike out there can you buy brand new for less than 12,000.00 and punish your knees on a saturday but then go on a 4 hour, non back and wrist breaking road trip on sunday? Oh, and did I mention that you can never kill a v-4. Ive had my vfr since it was new in 2000 and all I can say is every time I ride it, it becomes more a part of me. If I ever sold it ( please forgive me for the thought) my viffer would probably ride iself back home and kick me in the saddlebags. And I would deserve it. But if your still not sure, go out and buy another bike, I guarantee that within one week the new one would be sitting in the corner gathering dust and you would be back on the viffer, with a smile on your face and a hard time remembering the name of the other bike. *Youve got the best, stay with the best.

[day004]

Yes there is a better bike than the VFR Its an Aprillia Futura. I currently own both of them and the Priller out VFR's the VFR. Does eveything well. Did a track day on it and I smoked a bunch of R1s Gsxr1ks, and the like...
Granted I'm an A rider and was in the B class but I still felt like a big fish in a small pond. Just took it to Laguna Seca for the races and touring is a joy. Comfy, decent wind protection for 70-80mph cruising. GREAT seat.Hard bags standard...
Styling is in the eye of the beholder for sure. But mine is the flat black one. Can you say Stealth Fighter!!!
Dave

[VeryFastRide]

the temptation of something that you dont have is always there, but when you come home to a vfr waiting for you to ride, theres nothing better.Kinda like having Faith Hill as a wife and wanting Ashley Judd so to speak. Good luck, but I'll keep my /98.