cruiser - vfr transition??

Rode the bike to work today & followed Motorhead's advice on positioning. It seems to work, I certainly felt the pressure coming off my palms. Thanks for the good instructions.

Pushed the bike a bit more & got that adrenaline rush I haven't had in years!

 

Motorhead hit the nail on the head. It's all about gripping the tank with your knees/inner thighs. You ever see riders cruising with one hand on the throttle and the clutch hand at their side? I do this when I'm cruising on the freeway or a back road and there's less of a need to have my left hand on the grip (not all the time, though). Gripping the tank allows you to hold yourself up and lessen the pressure on your upper body. You can practice this by placing the bike on either stand and simply grip the tank and move your upper body towards the tank and away. Basically, gripping the tank allows one to use core strength to hold oneself up. Hope I didn't repeat too much info; I didn't read all the previous posts.

 

Hey Kevin - welcome to the site. I am also a crusier convert to sportbiking. I came over to the sportbike side of motorcycling because I wanted better braking/suspension (of course the sportbikes look sexy and attract the younger female groopies lol). The three big adjustments for me were being seated up a lot higher as compared to being seated low on a crusier, the riding position and cornering. Take your time and have fun with the transition. The VFR is a great bike and excellent choice for a crusier convert in my opinion because, it is a sport touring do everything bike (there are other sport tourer bikes that are ok but the VFR is my choice). The VFR is powered by a V4 engine and is different from most inline 4 sportbikes, but has power, excellent handling and LBS. What I like most about my 2k VFR is it is has a hydrylic clutch, fuel injection, comfortable riding position and has plenty of hp/torque for riding two up comfortable (I am 6 feet and 215lbs). Oh I just remembered I also had to lose some weight and that helped me to be more comfortable on a sportbike (I am also over the hill at 53 yrs young). Funny thing is I still have my ole crusier which I do ride on rare occasions (used to do a lot of touring and out of State riding on my Suzuki VS800 crusier), but now I feel so much safer and in control on a sport bike. I was like you, an experienced crusier, but since I was new to Sportbikes I went to Lee Parks ARC (Advanced Riding Clinic) and that is what turned things around for me. I got so much out of the ARC I went back and trained as a ARC Coach. I also ride a Yamaha YZF 600R which is a good beginner sportbike/commuter bike/occasional trackday bike (low cost, low maint., relaxed riding position and a big 5.2 gal tank). So I would say the VFR is a great choice, and the Yamaha YZF 600R and Honda F4i are also good choices for a crusier convert (again just my opinion). I would also say from one crusier to another you may wanna check around for an old BMW K75S which is also very similar to a VFR and another bike a crusier should be able to make a fun and easy transition to.

 

When I got the VFR earlier this summer, I too felt the pains from switching between a cruiser and the VFR. Almost all of it turned out to be posture related and my body just not being used to the position. Within two weeks, almost all of the pains that I had been feeling were gone as my body was used to using different muscles, being in a different position, etc.

I did make the switch on the grips. Believe it or not that was one of the biggest things I could have done for comfort. I went with the ProGrip 699's and when installed they are larger in diameter than the stock grips. While they weren't as big around as the ones on my cruiser, they really helped with the comfort. I also added a Sargent seat. I can't say that I find the seat any more comfortable than the stock as far as the padding goes, but the shape of the seat makes a big difference for me. The seat holds me in position better and the Sargent is also narrower around my thighs. Before the Sargent, I was getting a numb feeling going down my right leg. After I switched, I haven't had this feeling a single time... and I've but several thousand on it since the new seat.

I was seriously thinking about buying a set of Heli bars for the VFR but the price seemed rather steep for what they offered. Other options offered less improvement but the price still seemed high for the position change in bars. I opted for the cheap and easy change.... raising the clip ons up on the fork tubes. I raised them so that the top of the mounting point of the clip ons was at the very top of the fork tubes. This was about a half of an inch in height and in doing so it also brings them back. Then I was able to rotate them to my liking and since then I have felt quite comfortable on 200+ mile days.

The one thing that I haven't done yet that I want to is mess with the foot pegs. I feel like my knees are up too high and I get knee pain from time to time. I plan on purchasing a set of the BLS peg lowering blocks which IIRC drops them an inch and brings them back some. I think that will take care of everything I need to do to make the VFR totally comfortable for me and ready for any 500+ mile days that might come my way.

 

I'm new to the VFR (5thGen/98). I picked up the bike and rode it home 100 miles in driving rain and NASTY gusts and was immediately surprised and impressed. I transitioned from a ,ugh, a scooter! Ok, I rode a smattering of CB's CBR's awhile ago and the scooter was actually longer than a VFR, but, a LOW CG. I went through the deathgrip thing too and learned to relax. Just another note... I find a faired bike so much warmer than a nekked bike, especially here in Seattle with the rain. I can put on a waterproof riding jacket and no rainpants and still stay dry after my little 30 minute ride into town...Doing the speed limit........Sort of...........

 

I agree with Zona -

I rode a v65 Sabre (VF1100) years back then I had a 94 Shadow 1100 and then two VTX 1800s ( '02 C and '05 F models) Sold them and bought a CBR1000RR. SOld the CBR because the riding position sucked for me for the longer 5-6 hour rides I like to do.

The VFR fit the bill perfectly! I just added Heli Bars which make it that much better. I can ride ALL day on the VFR. I may get another CBR but it would be for shorter rides but the VFR can be set up for just about anything the average rider can throw at it.

 

Yeah same here guys, I came from a Vt 750 shadow to the Viffer, and had the same concerns regarding power and dropping it, but after 2 laps round the block I couldn't believe how easy they are to ride. The throttle definately requires good control to keep it smooth but a couple of rides and it's 2nd nature.
I too can't believe how much better they are to ride after a cruiser. Now I wonder what was I thinking buying a cruiser in the first place.

 

I just got off a Suzuki vz800 and jumped on the vfr.I have owned sportbikes in the past and when I have come off a cruiser to a sportbike the transition was rough in the beginning .on the my 03 vfr I can say I didn't have a bad time changing over.it is all posture but the bike is setup great for the move.it's not too aggressive like a gsxr but also not as upright as a cruiser so you get accustomed to it quickly .the seat and grips are musts to change if you intend on high mile rides otherwise I think it will serve you well for years !
Happy riding

 

My first bike was a 580 lb 1983 Honda CB1100F SuperSport. I don't know what category that fits in but my friend called it a "power cruiser." I'd call it a sport cruiser. Either way, I just bought a '00 VFR800 and am still gettin used to it (note that I've only ridden it a handleful of times so far). The center of gravity is lower on my VFR than it was on my F (and it's 100 lbs lighter!). But the two things that I've really noticed is the throttle response and the cornering/handling. The throttle is very sensitive (I believe it aided in my wipe out the second day I rode it). Going from an 30-year-old carbuerated bike to a modern fuel-injected bike is a difference I'm still adjusting to. The cornering/handling feels very different too. Again, don't need much input to turn. On my old bike I got really comfortable sweeping turns and prolonging the turning process. I even began to lean lower and lower and loved it. Of course, I've had more time on that bike than my new VFR so I hope that as I log more hours on my new bike I'll get just as comfortable. And with all the positive comments on this thread, I know it will come eventually. Patience is the key, and I've "lost my keys" a couple times. :wink: