New 08 VFR

After many years of watching my buddies get bikes, it is now time for me!
I put a deposit on an 08 VFR about a week and a half ago I was told 3-4 days, but after numerous phone calls to the dealer I was told that I will see it this week. I am very excited, yet nervous at the same time. I am going to have to trailer the bike home from the dealership and am really nervous about this. I have done searches on here about how to tie it down, but am left uneasy by the different threads.
I borrowed a friends trailer with a chock and his powertye straps.
Where should these things be placed? Pictures would be great.
I also just got done reading about people dropping the bike at the dealership due to the tires not being Washed/ Scuffed first. Should I be asking the dealership to do this or should I do it myself? What should I use to clean the tires?

Jason

 

First off, congrats on your new bike!!! The dealership usually has people who can help tie your bike down. The dealership I go to does a lot of deliveries so someone there always knows what they are doing. As far as the tires I know the molding process leaves a shiny film on them and makes them dicey at first but usually a nice easy ride will wear it off and you should be fine.

 

I just picked mine up from the dealership on Friday, and the dealer told me that it will take two to three hundred kilometers to get the film out of the tires. That said, I didn't have any problems. As long as you don't go heavy on the throttle out of the corners, you shouldn't have any problem. I hit wet roads on the way home for about 50km, and the tires didn't seem to have any problem tracking, even in the wet.

 

Congrats on the new ride. I went through the same tense time. My dealership was on the other side of town. Riding all that way in traffic was a little unnerving. The dealership offered to deliver it. The downside was the delivery driver new squat about the bike.
Once I found the manual all was good.

Anyway have a blast and ride safe.

 

If your really concerned about the tires the best thing is to sandpaper them, its easy and quick. But new tires are simple, just dont give it gas while turning out onto the road or sharp turns at first(which is always good practice even with worn in tires due to sand in tight turns). It does not take more than 100 miles to break a tire in. It takes as long as it takes you to incrementally lean the bike a little more at a time( your comfortable pace) untill the tire is fully scuffed. First step heat the tire up, I do this by straight line accelerating several times in a row, starting with low throttal. I throw in a few light to hard braking episodes and then begin hitting turns slowly. Ive never taken more than 50 miles to break in a tire, but go your own pace, my info is just to give ideas on how to do it without riding like grandma for 2 weeks. As far as the tie downs, do not compress your forks all the way, good way to blow a fork seal. It takes surprisingly less tightening than most people think to hold a bike down, especially with a wheel chock because the tire cannot twist. You need a "Canon Dancer" Barstrap to do it best, keeps the tie downs off your pretty fairings by extending them off your handlebar grips. Otherwise you need to loop them over the bars somewhere they cannot slide off. Getting my 08 next week so I dont know where that is yet! Good luck, hope some of this info helps. My experience with tires stems from a ZX10R and a GSXR 750. Anyone Ive seen dump a new bike did it by wacking the throttal coming out of a parking lot. :smile:

 

Finally picked it up Saturday here are some Pics

 

Pics of the new bike

 

Last of the pics

 

Congrats!! Beautiful bike - you'll have a lot of fun on this!

Theresa

 

Very Nice! The silver looks great.

 

She looks HOT! Congratulations.
Some nice Leo Vince CF would make her look even better.

 

I am leaning towards Micron Carbon Fiber or the Staintunes. Maybe next month

 

So I see you had no issues with the tires! Looks good, mine is being assembled tomorrow, Im picking it up Wed. Are those Metzlers? Hopefully they are better than the D204's because I dont have the money for tires right off. Let us know how you like it after a few rides.:smile:

 

Nope no issues with the tires. A friend of mine also recommended lightly sanding them so we did that the day I got it. I have since Saturday put about 150 miles on it and all seems well. I am very happy with my purchase I knew what bike I have wanted for a long time (Ever since I rode my neighbors 98 VFR) so the decision was easy I did not even sit on another bike:wink:

Today It was raining so I took the day off and detailed the bike it took about 2 hours to get it done but it is now protected from the elements.

Here is the process

1. Quick wash with waterless wash
2. shot the rims with a diluted all purpose cleaner (APC) and rinsed them off then polished.
3. Paint got two coats of polish 1 coat of pure sealant and 2 coats of Carnauba wax.
4. everything else got done with a quick detail spray that I highly recommend (Poorboys Quick Detailer+)



Jason

 

Update on new bike,

I have about 2000 miles on it already and am really enjoying the bike.
The only problem that I have had was a flat front tire so it got a new one.
I am about ready for some upgrades:

1. Corbin Seat- I have riden a VFR with a Corbin and it was much more comfy.
2. Carbon Fiber Exhaust- Torn between Micron, Devil, Leo's
3. Fender Eliminator

Corbin has not gotten back to me about the seat yet, I emailed them and asked about different textures and colors for the piping. I guess I will e-mail them again.

I would like to hear some suggestions for the exhaust and where to purchase.

Jason

 

I have a Corbin saddle......love it. I went to their website and checked out the materials and piping. Let me know what eliminator you go with.