help me decide

i am trying to decide on a commuter for my 20,000 annual mile ride to work and back. i have always thought the vfr was too leaned over for me but now i think it's not really. i need to know about reliability, mpg, quirks, known issues that need to be addressed at certain mileage, maintenance costs, diy maintenance and so on. i am looking at a 2006 with less than 10k miles on the clock. owner says it is in perfect shape. $6800. how is it for a passenger also?

sorry for the edit. what about maintenance schedule for valves? is it costly?

lots of questions.

thanks,

d

 

Well, I'll answer your last question first.

My wife or daughter ride with me 80% of the time. They both complain after 30mins to 1 hour about the rear pegs being too high and cramping their legs. They both don't like the seat either.

The seat is easy to deal with; Sargent or Corbin (though pricey). The pegs, not so easy.

My wife has had a seat on a Concours 14, and demanded I get one next summer. My only hope is that the VFR1200 is competitive with the Connie, and as comfy for my wife, or I'll have the Kawi.

So there's your answer for the pillion question. Others will answer the rest I'm sure.

 

I'm getting about 40-45 mph on my 2007, depending on how hard I ride. I find it very comfortable, but I don't think it is the best bike for two up, though it is manageable. The valve maintenance is pretty expensive, and I have held off doing it this year, though I am at 18,000 right now. There are surely cheaper bikes to maintain, but it is definitely worth it to me.

 

If I was ONLY concerned about commuting, I'd be inclined to get a 500cc parallel twin Japanese air-cooled something or the other. They are easier/cheaper to maintain and easier on tires. And they are a lot less expensive to buy.

 

I have no complaints on my VFR. I commute and travel on it. There are mods avail to change the riding stance and seat comfort. Only you can say if the bike fits you.

I am 5'9" and 225# if that helps at all.

 

10-4 ex500 all you need for a comute but really the 250 ninja does fine ...for a little bike its trick and a great price 3500? new......

 

Get a 5th gen VFR. For some reason a lot are showing up for sale lately. I know this isn't the bike you mentioned, but I thought I'd throw it out there. I average around 47-50 mpgs.

 

Worth a try..ok on fuel, nothing special, comfort? Just leave it alone long enough to get used to it ( a all dayer or two) and it might be perfect. Mine all have been for me just the way they come. Or it might always suck for you...

Slow commuting stop and go all day...bla.. yes without the wind to hold you up the arms will suffer with any bars short of ape hangers... Need that lift from the wind... Highway speeds? You should be fine once you are used to it.. I never rode a real sportbike till I was 50, now I do all dayers on it effortlessly, My wife doesn't mind it for a few hrs at a time long as i put on a backrest and she can relax(simple to make), otherwise forget it! But to say its a long range 2upper is also a joke.. Power is more than sufficient if you can work the tranny ....like we used to with the 40 hp bikes, ....If you don't do your own valves,(get the book and try it and if you #$ it up, then pay!!) then its wacko $$$. BTW..you wont ever tell by the way its running whether its a hr away from burning a valve or 5 years...the reason you do it is to make sure you keep the valves from 0 clearance and frying., If they arnt burned, you won't see any power diffs, just more years riding.., But hey, hardly anyone really does it anyway and they run a very long long time. But try one for a while first and if you like it, then look into it...otherwise dump it like most do without a check. Its a nice compromise between the tanker bikes and the ss bikes..depends how large a bike you enjoy driving..I tried the big tanker bikes, my 05 fjr13, st13, etc..she loved it back there..I hated driving them... so the vfr gives me the zoom zoom fun of the sport bike and still the comfort i need..good compromise! And I found a better way for 2 upping in the meantime... btw I had a 05 and currently a 00 vfr.
Bike is a lot of fun for something you can ride all day.
good luck!

 

I have had my 2007 Interceptor for 8000 miles now, It replaced a 2003 BMW R1150RT. The interceptor gets better fuel mileage 50 MPG and is more comfortable and fun to drive than the BMW. Air flow does help keep weight off my hands. the bike makes me wish I commuted to work so that I could put more time in riding it. I drive a superduty diesel 4WD utility body truck for work, sometimes I stick my head out the window and pretend I am riding my Interceptor. I think the Interceptor is the closest you can get to flying without leaving the ground. Sometimes I do leave the ground. Reliability = perfect no problems.

 

Great bike for one-up sport-touring. Riding with two? Not so much . . . . Something with more torque is better with a pillion, IMHO.

 

Well I will step into the fray here. I have nothing to compare to as this is my first ride...ever. Mine is an 06, bought new in the crate in August 06, commute if there is no snow about 100 miles round trip every day. Since August 06, have put over 82,000 km (about 51,000 miles). been to Atascadero and back to Chilliwack BC for a BBQ with the boys and have never looked back. Totally pleased with my choice. I am looking at something else for 2011 but will keep this one for sure.

Maintainance can be pricey. As far as the valves go, I think the manual really jumps the gun on that one. I had mine adjusted around 30 - 35 thousand km and noticed no difference in performance. When it went in for service recently, the tech said if it is not broke...don't fix it so we left the valves alone. So they now have close to 55,000 km on unserviced valves and all is good.

Your choice. Good luck

 

There are better commuter bikes out there, but VFRs are more versatile than many of them IMHO.

I have a short commute (10-11 mi) but do longer rides often, including long days in the twisties. VFRs are comfy in stock form but can be changed with higher bars and lower pegs if needed. Sargent seats are very popular, too.

I get 40-42 mpg consistently. Even when flogging it in the twisties I get near 40 mpg.

Watch out for electrical issues. It's not rampant, but it happens, and those issues are usually easily fixed. Otherwise VFRs are very reliable.

It's not a tough bike to work on, but having a mechanically inclinced friend to help out when needed is good. The centerstand is a big plus in maintaining your own rig.

The valve adjustment is $$$ if you have a shop do it, but many people forgo it for a long time and have no probs. Had my '04's done at 18,xxx mi and all valves were in spec. Doubt I'll ever have it done again.

2-up comfort isn't the best, but it's not really what VFRs are designed for either.

One great thing about VFRs is they're pretty sporty bikes that don't usually cost nearly as much to insure as supersports.

$6800 for an '06 is not a screaming deal IMO, unless it's good some sweet mods, matching OEM bags and/or ABS. Honda is offering big incentives right now on leftover 2007s, to the tune of up to $2600 off. Check it out.

 

Well, my hat is off to you in asking. It's Pretty much what Randy says it is, I don't know anyone that commutes more than him. So as commuter bikes go, Hell yea it does it with ease, but that depends on what you want, really anything will do to a point. Some folks say example an ex500 would make a good one, yes and no, definitely not a two up bike, it's more a trip to the store bike. which depending again on what you want could or could not be worth it. It is pretty much a buy and ride. Some things can bite you, but doesn't just about anything man made? but VFRs are A Honda thru and thru be hard to go wrong, it will do two up depending on the size of your partner anything over a buck twentyfive and it can be a bit concerning, there are better bikes for that, how big a deal is it to you? It's like some have said, get use to it, it's pretty much spot on, one of the best being an all weather do everything machine. Now as far as your deal, I'm thinking you can do better as the market is falling like died flies, I'd hate to be in the business, definitely a buyers market, some dealers have left over 07s at just about what you'll be paying for that 06. over all you'd be hard to find a better bike. but then LOL I'm a bit bias, no?

Now where's that VFR1200 at? suppose to be showing up at the Tokyo show this month, anyone know when it is?

 

personally, I'd go for a SV650 in naked trim.

Half the cylinders, lots of low end torque which makes commuting in stop and go a snap, VERY easy clutch action, very light, gets great MPG and awesome on insurance.

The valve checks/adjustment are ludicrously easy, Throttle bodies are easy to sync (two cylinders, think about it).

Currently i ride an 07 FZ1. While the valve maintenance is 26k miles, things like TB removal, throttle body syncs and valve adjustments are a huge PITA.

My bike is my commuter as well (I haven't owned a car in almost 2 years now). Tires are more expensive, insurance REALLY sucks (they rate it as an R1). Now, I'm not getting rid of it because I love it despite its expenses because it does everything I want it to.

Not to mention, get a used 06+ SV650N for about 3000-3500 with about 10k miles. They make for the perfect commuters IMHO.