Not enjoying the VFR.......yet!

Yeah, that is what I was thinking as well. While they did appear to improve on all the things I already liked about the 6th gen, they kept the one thing I do not like. Sure it has a different ECU map. Big whoop. As pretty as the 8th gen is, it just looks like a refresh or a parts bin bike. It's not even on my radar.

 

I was going to comment on this thread, but lost my train of thought when I saw Jev's avatar.:hss:

 

I agree Nice bike

 

Just curious, what is on your radar? Good competitors to the VFR800 I see are the Ninja 1000, Triumph Sprint ST/GT, BMW F800GT........always looking for what else is fairly current.

 

That is almost uncanny! The Ninja 1000 caught my eye, but it is an inline 4 and I have found them to be seriously lacking in the grin factor and just not much character. Plus they are buzzy IMO. The Sprint ST is a good deal around these parts. around the same thing I am asking for my VFR. Not interested in the BMW's though.

Of course, I still have not ruled out the VFR1200. The only real drawback to that bike is the fact that it begs to be ridden fast. And we all know that it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. A very real possibility is to find a great 5th gen and dump money into it until it does what I want. I already know I love the motor on those bikes!

 

Why do we ride?

Charactor means a lot... to me.

With everything considered, my superhawk and its V-2 is the most "alive"- to me.

Next is my '87 VFR 700 with the "gear driven cams" whine...

Then comes the newest member to the stable. The '04 VFR800.
Smooth, quiet(even with the 2bros slip-on), comfortable(more so than the '87 VFR
and my '98 Superhawk with sargeant seat and heli-bars and dual c/f 2 bros.).

For me I have come to the stage in my riding that:

A. Comfort and Quiet, dependable(Honda) with adequate power

B. Sport touring with emphesis on touring.

C. Last but not least... Grin Factor.

From briefly reading your thread/posts the 6th maybe too "sterile" ?

I have not ridden the new to me 6th much but the grin factor was there.
Not as much as my Superhawk, but more comfortable. Enough power
and good looks.

Intend to make it my primary ride. It was even(surprisingly to both me and
my insurance agent) about $45 less than my '87 VFR. Same coverages.

Grin factor, yes. Different, probably for everyone...

Why do you ride? ... What makes you grin....

Ride well, all.

 

Onomea' question "Why do we ride?" should be a sticky, I thought about that question quite a lot and I think it needs its own thread.

Anyway, I should be updating more often, but so far Ive learned more about the bike, the way I ride and the effects of changes. I did the flapper mod, and noticed minimal changes. I returned that to stock then applied the PAIR mod. I have to say that has improved low speed motor character for sure. I also bled the clutch and put in new fluid, wow that seriously improved feel and changed the character of the clutch action. The old fluid looked like coffee! I still need to address the clutch lever itself, it appears to be bent, outwardly, as though someone pulled it toward the front of the bike.
I have replaced the stock seat with a Sargent! Much better feel and position on the bike.
Lastly I adjusted the throttle cable free play. So far the bike feels more composed and responsive. Next I plan to order fork springs and oil, rear shock upgrade, aftermarket exhaust and PCiii. Not all at once though lol

 

I just lost my train of thought... Thanks a lot Jay

 

What is the PAIR mod?

Thank you

 

Lol Jev is like a subtle thread hijacker. PAIR mod involves removing the secondary air injection that adds fresh air to the exhaust to help with emissions. I have done this mod on the last three bikes I've owned, always with good results. It was recommended by the crew here at VFRW & they know their stuff.


I forgot to mention I also changed the oil and need to add coolant flush & brake line flush to my list.

 

Why We Ride - because someone brought it up.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/42195-Why-Do-We-Ride-Motorcycles?highlight=


.

 

Thank you Alaskan, I didnt even think to look for that, I have read each post in the thread, probably the best thread topic and commentary I have ever come across.

 

Its update time. I have replaced the stock front fork springs with RaceTech .95's and changed the fork oil. Changed the seat for a Sargent world sport and removed stock exhaust and replaced with a Delkevic. All of these changes have been recommended by many of you, and I have to say they have improved the bike considerably. I still find the bike underpowered compared to my previous bikes, and the vtec engagement needs a little smoothing but we are getting there.
Taking a trip from home to Deals gap and then Asheville next week, and Im looking forward to riding the bike on its second long trip with me..

 

You're not alone. I hated my bike so much when I first bought it, that I put it up for sale a few times. At the same time I had two other bikes, sold them and was "forced" to ride what I had....the VFR. Three years later, several states and thousands of miles ridden, I love it.
Hope it doesn't take three years to like it, but sure hope the bike grows on you.

 

Before you head to the mountains put a PCV on it and load one of the maps they have, makes it SO much smoother low, mid and Vtec transition is much better. I don't think I got any more top end out of it but smooth torque from low rpm's through vtec is fantastic now. Seems much quicker giving it a good whack now.

 

Thanks MOFO, its good to know that I am not the only one who felt so adrift. The light at the end of a tunnel is not a train!!
Gator, I will add that to the list, although I dont know if I can make it happen in my time frame before leaving.

 

GPfan, Have a good trip and keep us informed. Still trying to get acquanted with my '04.

Time and energy are the present limitations. There is something about this "new to me"
bike though. I feel that we (the bike and I) will be having many classic moments together.

I have a very close connection with my bikes. Each has it's own ideosyncracies, charactor if you may.
Maybe its an island thing...

Ride Well.

 

Having had 12 bikes from vintage cb750s to fireblades to goldwings, 250ccs to 1200ccs, I can tell you the vfr is an awesome all around bike with few serious flaws. Front suspension sucks but get racetech springs and 20w fork oil and you get superbike front end for 110 bucks and 3 hours work. Other than that, its faster than you will ever need, more reliable, and better looking than any KTM will ever be.

 

I am such a shitty rider that I can't tell if my sag is correct or if my front end lacks feel. For me my Y2k 5th gen is the best bike I have ever owned. It will go as fast as I want and then some. It will carry me down twisting roads, across the country or up the street to the store with equal grace. The linked brakes are not my favorite and to me lack feel but it stops fine if you haul down on it. The sound of the engine is pure music. One thing I will say that might help. Tires make a difference. Good quality tires with proper inflation is worth a lot in the handling game.

I ride because it makes me happy to do so. It's dangerous. I know that and sometimes I don't ride for that reason but when I do, all thoughts of danger disappear. I ride and I FEEL happy and the VFR is the bike I most like to ride (so far.)

 

The OP went from a bike known for it's character (Superduke) to a 6th Gen VFR which is known for it's quiet excellence as an all-rounder. I had a similar experience coming from a Monster to a 6th Gen VFR. I immediately liked the VFR but have not yet grown to love it. I think you love a bike when you have accumulated a combination of memories riding it plus the energy you put in to address whatever flaws bother you about the particular bike.

To that end, this winter has been about addressing what I perceive as flaws on the VFR and making it into something I might grow to love: 1) the stock saddle looks like it should be all-day comfortable but is not so I had it reworked and while I won't be able to comment until I've done a long ride, I've had this same guy re-work a saddle on my other bike and it did wonders, 2) the clip-ons are perfect for track days and twisties but bother my wrists a bit over the long haul and I want to comfortably tour on this bike so I ordered Gen Mar risers which will arrive any day 3) I didn't like the stock fueling especially the surging at cruising speeds and abrupt V-tec transition so I installed a PC3 and I can unequivocally state this is a must-do mod which greatly improves the smoothness and rideability of this bike, 4) my tires suck and I've ordered PR4's, even though the Metzlers could easily go another 3 - 5000 miles. 5) purely for aesthetic reasons, I plasti-dipped the screen and removed the passenger pegs. I also removed some of the way too many stickers, modified the tail mullet, and shit canned the reflectors. So that's the relatively cheap and easy stuff.

Next up are the bigger ticket items which will really make this bike my own, and hopefully something I keep for several years: 6) a 2 Bros black series CF pipe with DB killers, just because it will make the bike look badass, drop a few pounds and do justice to the sound of the V4. 7) Ohlins shock and fork rebuild.

I'll be surprised if I'm not satisfied after all this, because I'll have a well sorted all-rounder that looks great with an engine that is barely broken in for half the price of a comparable new bike. If I still don't love it, I'll put it back to stock, get most of my purchase price back and the big ticket items will be in VFR World classified for half price.