I'm trying to decide which bike to buy and I would like to get your insight. My choices are narrowed down to the following:
05 VFR Non ABS (Silver) New $9400 out the door. 97 CBR1100XX (Black) 4,500 miles, adult owned, bone stock $5000. 02 CBR1100XX (Silver) 11,000 miles, adult owned, bone stock, 3yrs left on warranty factory $7000.
I plan on using this bike for weekend rides in the mountains, some commuting and ocassional long distance rides. While money is no object for this purchase, I'm inherently cheap and would want to realize some tangible benefit for the higher cash outlay. For the extra $2400, help me to understand why I should pick the VFR over the other bikes listed. Thanks.
Knowing your riding experience would help greatly. How about posting an intro in the Official Welcome Forum..age, riding experience, location, etc. If you want a great handling and quick bike get a Viffer, if you want fast get a Black Bird. :wheel:
Hey Jay , the Blackbirds are very good touring bikes with pretty good comfort and great power, not real nimble though. As far as the birds go I would go for the 02 with it's Fuel Injected motor and warranty, the silver is also nice too ! I think you can get a much better price on an 04 VFR, check around. The VFR will handle the twisties much better the the XX also. :) You could just buy the 97 for now as see what the 06 VFR/XX is, maybe a lager displacement VFR ? :beer:
kl2657, Mar 2 2005, 09:32 AMI'm trying to decide which bike to buy and I would like to get your insight. My choices are narrowed down to the following:
05 VFR Non ABS (Silver) New $9400 out the door. 97 CBR1100XX (Black) 4,500 miles, adult owned, bone stock $5000. 02 CBR1100XX (Silver) 11,000 miles, adult owned, bone stock, 3yrs left on warranty factory $7000.
-Jay
I'm always inclined (with exceptions) towards a new bike... I want to be the one ride the life out of it... not someone else...
Still can't decide??? well ask yourself this... which bike pulls my emotions the deepest???
Hurricane249, Mar 2 2005, 12:37 PMKnowing your riding experience would help greatly. How about posting an intro in the Official Welcome Forum..age, riding experience, location, etc. If you want a great handling and quick bike get a Viffer, if you want fast get a Black Bird. :wheel:
I'll answer your questions directly and post a formal intro in the Welcome Forum later as well.
Age: 32 Riding Experience: riding/owned some form of dirtbike/motorcycle since age 7 (12yrs street bike experience) Location: Oakland, NJ Occupation: VP IT Security, Mellon Financial / Armor Officer, NJ Army National Guard Married with 3 kids and two dogs...
At this point in my life, I'm not looking to drag my knees through the twisties or go 100+ on the straits. I know that the Blackbird and VFR are both great bikes. Is the VFR that much better/different to warrant the extra money? The main reason I am considering a Blackbird is that I imagine that it would be somewhat smoother riding on those extended highway rides than the VFR. Please let me know if my assumptions are wrong...
At this point in my life, I'm not looking to drag my knees through the twisties or go 100+ on the straits. I know that the Blackbird and VFR are both great bikes. Is the VFR that much better/different to warrant the extra money? The main reason I am considering a Blackbird is that I imagine that it would be somewhat smoother riding on those extended highway rides than the VFR. Please let me know if my assumptions are wrong...
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Hey Jay, I owned a 97 1100XX and a 2000 VFR at the same time and would have to say that for non aggressive Touring the Blackbird felt much more comfortable than the VFR. You could also be much lazier with it's very broad power band ! :beer:
What the others said.....I would only add that the "real" issue from my point of view would be type of riding that you want to be able to do.
If your focus is on a bit more on the sport side....go with the VFR If your focus is more touring/ oriented.....maybe the Balck bird is better.
The XX definitely is a "larger" feeling bike, and not as nimble. Iv'e ridden XX's and for my size 5'7" I would say that the XX was not as comfortable due to the longer reach and lower bar position......that's a very subjective thing though.
As you mentioned, they are both great bikes, no question......For me it would really come down the ability of the bike that would best do what I would want to be able to do.
I'm really torn between the VFR and the XX. I love the look of the VFR. My local honda dealer basically told me that I'd be bored within a week because it's underpowered. After years of FZR600 ownership, the last thing I want is a bike that feels sluggish. Since I don't have the luxury of riding the VFR at the moment could someone please add comments from their personal experience with the bike.
kl2657, Mar 9 2005, 01:39 PMI'm really torn between the VFR and the XX.� I love the look of the VFR.� My local honda dealer basically told me that I'd be bored within a week because it's underpowered.� After years of FZR600 ownership, the last thing I want is a bike that feels sluggish.� Since I don't have the luxury of riding the VFR at the moment could someone please add comments from their personal experience with the bike.
Thanks
If your considering used Blackbirds, why not buy a used 02 VFR(reatil $6500) or 03 VFR(retail $7300) in you need Silver and save thousands. And if for some reason you didn't like the VFR :blink: , you wouldn't take as big a hit from New Retail if you sold it ! The VFR will feel stronger than the FZR no problem, especially in the lower rpm's. The extra torque make's shifting constantly unnecessary(like the FZR) When the Vtec kicks in you'll think cool Turbo boost. I drag raced my XX(brother on board) against my 00 VFR and the VFR won. The only place the XX feels stronger is top end and roll-on's. :beer:
I suggest you find a new dealer. That guy doesn't under stand bikes. My son has a fzr600. Lots of mods. I let him ride my 99 for about 15 miles last summer. You should have seen his face. He now knows what can be had. The blackbird and the vfr are 2 different categories. If you read enough on this forum, you will understand.
kl2657, Mar 9 2005, 07:39 PM I'm really torn between the VFR and the XX. I love the look of the VFR. My local honda dealer basically told me that I'd be bored within a week because it's underpowered. After years of FZR600 ownership, the last thing I want is a bike that feels sluggish.
Salespeople are not the best sources of information, in case you didn't know. Unless you have been on a first-name basis with the guy you were dealing with for years, anything they say could be utter BS.
The VFR puts about 100 hp to the ground - enough to feel fast, but not so much that things can get stupid in no-stupid zones.