Is the VFR really a sport tourer?

Hi all,

This might be a sore topic with mixed opinions, but I'm curious to hear what y'all think.

First of all, the 07 RWB is my first bike. Got about 8,000 miles on her. I purchased this bike because I wanted something "racy" looking and that you can tour with it and bring my wife along.

I have added the hard side bags and the top case as well. Heli bars, Zero Gravity windshield and throttle meister being installed as well.

Im 5'8" and she is 5'4".

Our first trip was about 30 miles. Very uncomfortable. Stopped every 60 miles or so to stretch. Mostly knee pain.

Second trip, I was by myself and the knee pain got worse.

Now, I hate touring and can't imagine being comfortable. It's gotta be worse for tall guys. I feel for you.

I love the bike around town though, but doesn't feel torquey enough for my taste. I made a mistake of riding a friend's hayabusa...

My dilemma is as follow: if we decide to give touring another shot, I will get a FJR1300 otherwise it might be a new Ducati Streetfighter.

In my opinion, the VFR is a modest SPORT bike only. It is not meant for touring.

Any advice you can pass along to get comfortable on the VFR would be appreciated.

 

The key for me was getting used to the bike. Now a 500 mile day is no big deal. I had to learn to relax and find my place on it. That said, I am 5'9".
The previous owner bought it new in 2000 because he is 6'2" and no other bike fit him like the VFR.

 

agreed on getting use to it......i tour on mine......but it IS more sport than tour.....best part is, when you get to the corners, it knows what to do.....i have done 700 mile days..and didnt need a stretcher..its personal preference.....depends on what you require your motorcycle to do.......and your riding style.

 

Not a 2 person tourer

Ok,

So being a very big VFR fan I still have to tell you I think its a bad idea having hard luggage and a second person on these bikes.

I have an 06 and my friends died last fall on the back of an 07 with three hard bags. They were not "big People" but the bike only has a capacity of 406 pounds. Two adults, their gear and hard luggage and you are riding the bike at its limits.

Its never a good idea to ride the bike at its limits. They went wide as a result on a sweeping left turn and both died.

In my opinion, these bikes are good to tour with one person and luggage or short rides with two bodies and no luggage.

As for the knees, I have the same issue, try putting your feet on the back pegs on the highway and see if that helps.


Good Luck!

 

Sure it is. You can mount hard bags and it has a nice seat for your passenger (compared to sport bikes). Lowering the pegs may help but like MD said finding your spot on bike makes a big difference. I'm 6'4" and do 300 mile days with no problem.

As far as more torque, drop a tooth on the front sprocket (or go up a couple in the back). It will really wake the bike up. Add in a Power Commander and a set of cat less headers and you may find what your looking for. Not cheap, but a street fighter is what, 18 Large? I was really thinking about getting rid of mine but after the mods it's much closer to what I wanted.

Action

 

I've rode the 08 from Lafayette to New Orleans 3 times now.(3 hours/190 miles). I also commute from Lafayette to Houston (240 miles/3 1/2hours) and I don't feel any more uncomfortable on the bike than in my truck. Could it be the way your sitting on the bike? My friends and I plan a trip to N. GA. to camp and ride and we'll be rideing to there......rideing there.....and of course rideing back. About a 9 hour ride to GA. Ill keep you guys posted.:thumbsup:

 

Have you thought about custom seat like Sargent..........? Many peoples claim it cure the problem.

 

im just over 6', and can ride ALL day with no problems at all

 

I think the real issue here is managing your expectations regarding the bike that you bought.

The industry throws the term "touring" around prettly loosely; you can define it across a spectrum that runs from any bike that has the fuel capacity to go 175 miles on a tankful to a full-blown Gold Wing. When you combine Sport and Touring you have to understand that the bias is always towards the sport side of the equation and that long-range comfort is secondary. I know, some will say that they can go 100s of miles on these (and similar) bikes with little or no discomfort but for most people (and especially the passengers) racking up the miles on a true tourer is much more comfortable. Sitting more upright w/out weighted wrists, with a good-sized windshield to cut out the windblast, floorboards for resting the legs and stretching out, and a wide deep-dished touring seat for the comfort of both rider and passenger...all make for a more comfortable long-distance ride. I don't think there is any shame in admitting this; different mission-different solution. Just as a tourer will never work the curves like a sport bike, a sport bike (even a "sport-tourer) will never have the straight line comfort of a real tourer.

Perhaps, since this is your first bike, you didn't fully appreciate before you purchased it how much gap there truly is between a Sport-tourer and a true tourer (or even a touring-equipped cruiser), in terms of comfort. I love my '04 and I will keep it a long time but having had both sport bikes and light-touring cruisers I can honestly say that for 2 up long-distance riding, something closer to a true tourer would suit you much better. I think you bought based upon style and not function but hey, we've all been there before. Good luck.
Joe

 

For me the VFR is a very nice Sport Tourer not intend for two up riding.

Mine is equip with a Sargent seat and Genmar risers. :biggrin:

 

I did almost 6500 miles in two trips last year averaging 400 plus miles a day. I thought the bike was great, but for touring I think a new seat and better shield is in order. But the best thing I did was to change my riding position according to some of the advice I found here. That made all the difference in the world. As or two-up riding, I haven't done any on this bike, but I would think there are better bikes for two up riding.

 

Yep Yep Yep to all the above. I'm 6'1" and can ride pretty much all day with out to much discomfort, hell I can't ride in a car any better. in fact FWIW going to the movies is worse. I agree with the folks here, VFR in it's two up mode ain't all that great less for short hops under a tank full isn't bad, but any further and you start seeing it's short comings. but boys does she like the back country. thing here is being 5'8'' I'm thinking an FJ may not be a good choice ether as it'd just a bigger vfr in some ways, and bigger isn't necessarily better. you might look at the tour cruiser styles, it really is like wearing certain shoes, some work some don't, only you will be able to tell what works for you, Good luck in your search at least you got a taste of what VFR is all about.

 

The VFR is long recognised as the bench mark of Sports touring motorcycles pretty much making the class and setting current standards but guess it depends more on your comfort expectations and physical conditioning than the bikes actual capability.

Like you I'm 5' 8" but have no problem with 400 mile day rides on my fully stock VFR800, 750mile days are my max but admit my ass checks on the stock seat was a bit tender by then. I often ride with a couple of 50yro buddies who have no problem doing 400 mile days on Fireblades & R1s although 500mile days usually starts them whinging but thats enough to get them down to where the fun begins the next day.

While down on power compared to the Busa the VFR is the more comfortable for distance unless you have the physic of an orangatang, ie long arms for its roomy low reach and short legs for cramped pegs personally know only one rider who fully fits that description. If a FJ1300 is what you think may help get it but I remember talking to a guy who trailered his 400 miles to a Alpine ride because he thought it too uncomfortable to ride such a long distance.


Now for things that find help me:

Go the scenic route, moving around through corners helps combat body stiffness more than sitting like a lump on the Highway, get a Dainese Back protector with kidney belt to help your abs. :thumbsup:

Stand up on the pegs time to time or when going slow through towns take your foot of the pegs and rock them back and forth taking care not to strike the roads surface.

Check something else is going on like for example your leathers aren't binding behind the knees have had the occasional minor leg cramp after long distance sections of tight twisties by riding on the balls of my feet for corner clearance, have found backing off time to time standing up to unbind them helps.

 

Ive done 1320Kms (820 miles) in a day on several occasions on VFRs in reasonable comfort, but I wouldnt attempt it 2 up.
The bike is a good solo tourer, but 800ccs is too small and the pillion accomodation is inadequate for serious 2 up touring.
Also I find that a pillion cramps the rider somehow, and I get a strange wind buffetting about the helmet
OK for 2 up to the coffe shop (200Ks max)
I would get an ST1300 if I was going to do serious 2 up touring.
Just my 2c

 

All of the above responses are accurate and helpful. Again, though, it comes down to the mission. No bike can truly do it all and I think the thread starter has to perform an honest evaluation of his riding needs. It sounds as though he loves the look and the concept of a sport-tourer but perhaps really needs a different type of bike. Let's face it, if his goal is 2 up long-distance riding (which sounds accurate based upon his original post) a high-revving, low torque 800cc mill is not ideal. Yes, you could go to a larger version of this design concept (say, the ST1300 or the C14 Concours) and that would help a bit but the essential design mission is still the same: a bias towards more sport than touring.

For easy pull aways from stoplights when loaded down with a lot of luggage and passenger weight, a low-revving, high torque bike that makes its power down low is a much more desirable design. Probably, as for for most of us, it will take time for him to sort out what his riding priorities are; bikes are so much more narrowly focused that it's a much more difficult task than with cars when it comes to finding one that suits the majority of your needs/desires. Good luck and safe riding.
Joe

 

I am 5' 10". I find the bike very comfortable. I do rides that vary in distance. 200 - 400 miles is no problem on the VFR. I have never had my knees hurt. Now before I switched to a Sargent seat I would get a little saddle sore. I have ridden a CBR1000RR and after 1 hour on that bike I was ready to get off. I have had Cruisers(Harley, and a Triumph) and they were comfy but no where near sporty, Speed, agility, Quickness not terms generally associated with these bikes.
I guess it depends on what you want and expect. For two up touring I believe I would have to go with the ST1300 or maybe a goldwing, probably the Goldwing would be my first choice. The VFR is too small and too underpowered for real 2-up touring. IMHO

 

Just a few pennies to throw in here:

There are plenty of people who consider their Ninja 250Rs to be great sport touring bikes and put 1000s of miles on 'em in cross country trips all day and all night. I personally considered my Honda 599 to be a great sport touring machine and put 21k miles on it in less than 3 years, including earning an Iron Butt Saddle Sore in the process of riding from Chicago to Seattle in 3 days. Did my knees sometimes hurt? A bit, but I'd just stand up or stretch my legs out to either the passenger pegs or the frame sliders in those cases.

As for the weight restrictions on the VFR, while I'm not going to recommend that folks go out and ride massively overloaded vehicles, an overloaded VFR still has a lot more handling leeway than many cruisers on the roads, and certainly than may choppers. If it worries you, fit a heavier rear shock and be happy. Of course, I'm a little guy... my girl and I are < 300lb combined, which gives us over 100lb of luggage capacity, which should be more than enough for most tours we'd be going on.

Finally, with regard to torque on the VFR, I live in Seattle and haven't had any trouble riding two-up up the steepest hills in this town, so I'm not sure what's missing there.

To be honest, it almost sounds like the OP won't be happy with a touring motorcycle unless it feels like a car