touring?

Hi all, I am brand new to motorcycles and have a chance to buy a 93 VFR 750. I hope someone can help me decide if this bike is right for me. I have only seen pictures of what these bikes look like, and was wondering how they are on the road. Are they good touring bikes? The position of sitting looks rather like a crotch rocket, so I was wondering do you get tired quickly being hunched over the tank? Another question, can this bike take on saddle bags? I don't see any brackets for them on the rear. Thank you very much for helping me with these questions.

Shawn

 

You can tour on anything if you really want to. Hardly any bikes come with racks to carry saddlebags. You can buy aftermarket racks and hard cases from companies like Givi. There are also many throwover soft saddlebag choices available. The hard cases are stable, lockable and waterproof but they're expensive, wide and ugly. The soft luggage is cheaper and not as wide, and it's easy to put on and take off, but if you're not careful it can scratch your bodywork, melt on the exhaust, or go into the wheel, and it's rarely waterproof.

Is this a first bike for you? Perhaps you should think about taking an MSF class and getting your feet wet, locally, first?

If this bike speaks to your soul, I'm not going to tell you not to get it. Motorcycles are an emotional choice, not a practical one, so the most important thing is to get one you love. But realize that the natural resting state of a motorcycle is on its side. Bikes are good at finding their way to that resting state. It takes experience to learn how to defeat this tendency, and you can get that experience more cheaply if you choose a lighter bike that doesn't have so much expensive plastic bodywork.

Whether you get tired hunched over the tank like that depends on a lot of factors. It's easier on your lower back and your legs, but if you are out of shape and/or tense it may be harder on your neck and wrists. At higher speeds I find that I can rest my upper body on the wind, like a big pillow, and it's actually pretty comfortable.

 

Hi morisan. Welcome to the group. I have a 93 VFR 750 and I find that it will tour as well as run with the sport bike crowd. If this is going to be your first bike, I highly recommend, as did elizilla, taking the MSF course. ,ake sure you are comfortable when sitting on the bike. If yuo get one you are not comfortable on it will make it more difficult to ride.

The bike will handle saddlebags but you will have to do some searching to find those that fit and are within your price range. Givi and Nelson Rigg come to mind for me but I am sure there are others. Also like elizilla said, most bike don't come with saddlebags or the hardware associated with them. Those will all have to be bought seperate from the bike.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. I have found the VFR to be a very reliable machine that is well rounded in both touring and sportiness.

 

Here's my opinion....Don't be fooled by the "crotch rocket" look of this bike for ergos. If you stand 6' tall+ the 93 will be one of the straightest sitting sportbikes you'll get on. If you're shorter than that you'll have some pressure on your wrists, but nothing like you'd ever have on a GSXR or YZ of tis generation. You can always get bar risers to straighten up even more.
I have a set of Chase harper soft bags for my 95. They are not watertight, but have done a good job for the occasional weekend ride. There's plenty of hard bag mounting pictures here and at VFRdiscussion.com if you want to get a feel for some comon options. Most photos I remeber are 98+ bikes, but there may be a few old school out there to look at.
Vman is absoultly right about taking an MSF course. It's a great place to learn, talk to people who care more about your safety than live vicariously through your motorcycle purchase, and get you on some good habits early.

Enjoy!

 

Thanks!

I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to my questions. The advice given was very appreciated. I am not familiar with the term MSF course, but I have taken a motorcycle course and I am assuming that is what MSF is? As I said there is the opportunity to buy one, however I have yet to see it or sit on one for sizing. I have been flip flopping between the type of bike I want. There is the VFR or some thing more cruiser like, such as a Maurader. Still unsure as to the comfortablness for longer trips for either bike, but I am really thankful to the people who gave me their opinions of the VFR. Thanks for a great welcome!
Shawn

 

BTW...

MSF is Motorcycle Safety Foundation. You may also find stuff state-to-state by different names. Here in Indiana thay are ABATE courses. Your local DMV should have everything you need to know if there is a state sponsored program, but it sounds like you've already been down that road. When I lived at Penn State, PA offered the state sponsored course for free. No reason not to do that, even if you've been riding for some time.