Hello all. I was hoping to get a bit of advice about buying a VFR 800 from some folks that have them, as I am considering getting my first real street bike since my twenties. I am trying to decide if this is the right bike for me. I am in my mid fourties and have been racing forever (road racing, motocross, and supermoto). After a lot of injuries, surgeries, metal implants, and spending a fortune, I have decided to stop road racing (but will I definitely keep doing moto a few times a week).
Anyway, I think I may have talked my wife into letting me ride on the street (even though the thought terrifies her) and I am wondering if a VFR would be capable enough for fun/spirited riding. I would probably commute once in a while, ride on some twisty mountain/canyon roads weekly, and do five or six track days a year. I don't plan to ride at race pace, but still want to be able to go at a decent clip, dragging knees, and having fun. Also, not trying to be full of myself, but I think my 7/10ths canyon pace is still pretty quick. I have no ambition of ever touring or going on rides longer than a few hours.
I found a 2015 VFR with low miles for sale, but it is about six hours away and I have never ridden one (and probably won't get to unless I buy one). I am trying to decide if I should pull the pin and head up there to buy it. Do you all find that your VFRs are fun for spirited riding or do you think a middle weight sport bike would be more appropriate and more fun? I sat on Suzuki GSX-S1000GT and a Ninja 1000SX at the dealer and was shocked by how big, heavy, and upright they felt, but I would assume the VFR is lighter and sportier than that, right? I've owned a lot of Hondas and I have always thought they have been great bikes. I know the VFR isn't going to be fast, but does it handle well? Is it fun to ride at pace? Does it do okay at a trackday at intermediate pace?
Welcome to VFRD Johnnie. The question you're asking is almost impossible to answer as it comes down to personal preferences and expectations.
I think everyone on here is by definition a fan of the VFR line. I'll try to offer my perspective and I'm sure others will chip in.
The VFR is a fantastically well designed and built machine and the 8 Gen you are thinking about includes a number of improvements on niggles from earlier versions. It handles very well in a neutral way and can easily walk tall among sportbikes on the road in the right hands. The VTEC transition is almost negligible now and in my mind gives you 2 engine characters in one machine; a softer response below 6500 for cruising about (and circa 60mpg), or a bit of a hooligan from 7000 up if you're going for it and plenty fast enough for the real world if you value your licence. Bags or torque and sublimely smooth.
It is quite heavy compared to a GSXR or R1 but the weight disappears when moving. It's also a taller riding position than a superbike or supersport. This makes initiating turning a little bit more effort but it's also more stable - particularly noticeable when it's windy. The higher seat height also means you probably won't and don't need your knee on the floor with one cheek off the seat unless you're really pushing.
So it really depends on your personal preference. If you want race style flickability and raging superbike acceleration in a light package that has you lying on the tank testing your knee and wrist joints on every ride, the VFR ain't it. On the other hand if you want a well mannered road bike that will get you where you want to go in comfort and then offer good scratching potential and fun on your favourite curves, the VFR fits the bill. If you can, try to ride before you buy.
It is a highly personal decision. It isn't a sport bike, but I've had mine at many track days and it does just fine. As you likely know, much of that is down to the rider.
Comparing specs, IMHO, isn't going to be worth much either, as you can change so much, from power to ergonomics, and even weight if you really wanted to.
I'm comfy running around on mine, two up, full knee down mode, and it never hiccups or complains, and that's on sport touring rubber.
Thanks for the response. I'm quite glad to see you can still ride your bike on track. That makes me feel better about it.
Off track, I haven't ridden much in 15 years, with the exception of gooning on my Honda Monkey, and I'm not sure that really counts for much. My last street bike was an early BMW S1000RR... as I remember, it was quite good, but always felt kind of dull and sterile. I have fond memories of my first street bike, an F4i, but that was over 20 years ago and time may have me wearing rose-colored glasses.
On track, I've had an SV650, CBR600RR, Triumph Daytona 675, and R1. My current motocross bike is a Husky 350 and my supermoto bike is a Husky 450. Of the road bikes, I think the Daytona was my favourite because it handled neutrally, controlled a slide well, and was stable, but that was after a lot of suspension and chassis work. I only rode it once or twice before the work was done and, I think, it was pretty slow to turn stock.
This makes initiating turning a little bit more effort but it's also more stable - particularly noticeable when it's windy. The higher seat height also means you probably won't and don't need your knee on the floor with one check of the seat unless you're really pushing.
Thank you. The stability in the wind would be nice, it gets super windy here and I hate riding in that stuff. Turn in effort would be annoying... does anyone raise there rear end up and maybe lengthen the forks to help that?
I tend to like my knee down in corners just because it makes me feel more comfortable... it's just a habit at this point. Totally unnecessary, but I feel a little weird if I don't have that third point of contact.
On a 6th gen, you can slip a fender washer or two under the upper shock mount to raise the rear and then pull the forks up to lower the front. It only takes a small change to make a big difference. I think mounts on the 8th gen are the same so it should be possible to make simple adjustments. A VFR is hard to be for riding to and in the mountains. It rides much lighter than it is and the weight makes it much more comfortable on the open road or in the wind. You can't beat the build quality of the VFR. I've had several newer Hondas and they are just not the same. They are built to last a lifetime...or two.
I've never considered the VFR to be a knee-down bike on the street. Seems unnecessary.
While it'll certainly embarrass full-on sports bikes in the right hands, it isn't a full on supersport but I would argue it doesn't pretend to be and it's all the better for it.
See can you get a test ride on one and see how it feels. If you do purchase one there's a great community on here with loads of mod expertise etc.
Even though Freddie Spencer had an RC45 during his High-Performance
Riding School days he would instead dice with the students on his
VFR... I think that the 5th gen VFR (98 to 01) has more sport and less
tour than the other generations...
Even though Freddie Spencer had an RC45 during his High-Performance
Riding School days he would instead dice with the students on his
VFR...
Years ago I bought Feddies 6th gen VFR that he used for two-up rides at the school. Other than the suspension and stickers it was stock, and he could fly on that bike. Me, not so much.....
I remember reading a story about Freddy Spencer riding a '98 VFR just after they were released around Laguna Seca and posting a respectable lap time. I bought one right after reading that story.
I remember reading a story about Freddy Spencer riding a '98 VFR just after they were released around Laguna Seca and posting a respectable lap time. I bought one right after reading that story.
One of the times I attended his school in Vegas was right at that time. He used it as his coaching bike. Watched him left hand throttle, knee down, reach under his left arm with his right hand and point at the apex.
He said he also RAILED the new aluminum framed Goldwing and scared some of the journalists and Honda reps, 2 up.
One of the times I attended his school in Vegas was right at that time. He used it as his coaching bike. Watched him left hand throttle, knee down, reach under his left arm with his right hand and point at the apex.
Insane! Bubba Shobert and that sound sold me on my 86 and that sound at the track..."WTF was that!"
I've never done track days, but I rode a 6th gen. VFR for over 14 years for a great variety of uses - commuting, touring, sport-riding in the twisties, and even lazy Sunday fun rides for a few hours. In my opinion, the VFR's strength is its all-arounder-ness. It's capable enough to embarrass less experienced or talented riders in the corners, but if they're on newer liter bikes, they'll probably whiz right past you in the straights. But if you're only doing track days and not racing, I think you'd have a blast on a VFR on the track and on the street. The V4 engine is just a terrific blend of power and character, especially when revving it from mid to high rpms.
The big plus for many VFR owners are its ergonomics. I can't imagine riding a supersport more than 30 minutes at a time, but on my old VFR I frequently did all-day rides and trips where I rode 400+ miles a day. It's a bike that will get you to the good mountain roads comfortably enough, rather than having to trailer it, so you can enjoy the ride to and from, not just in the twisties.
VFRs are not light, but the others above are right - once you're moving the weight is a non-issue. And the additional heft does make it more stable, including in high winds. And as others said above, too, it will run forever. And the wealth of information on this forum is a huge plus to VFR ownership.
I actually have 2 VFRs, a 5 Gen and a 6 Gen. I set them up slightly different and for two specific purposes. My 5 Gen is setup for sport/track riding and my 6 Gen for touring/commuting.
When I first set them up, the first thing I concentrated on was suspension. For the 5 Gen, I went with a fully adjustable rear shock and added rebound adjusters to the forks. Again, this is for my sport riding intentions. Though I initially kept the rear passenger pegs for my wife, she didn’t care for riding on this bike. But for me, it is great on the track and on canyon roads.
On the 6 Gen, more closely related to the 8 Gen 2014 model, I went with a more ergonomic approach and tailored the suspension to touring and commuting. There I added a remote preload adjustable shock, due to my varying cargo I might haul and the on and off my wife being a passenger. With the top case (with back rest) my wife finds it a lot more comfortable. The ergonomics part, I installed Heli-bars, which have a higher rise and more shift towards the rider. This along with a touring wind screen made the ride much more comfortable for me too.
All that said, I’ve ridden both bikes at the track and on canyon roads and both are very capable in those situations.
Once the suspension was upgraded, I turned my focused on other “performance” upgrades but with just the suspension upgrades, both bikes became much more enjoyable.
Hey Johnnie, a final thought. Hopefully the bike you are considering is the Deluxe version as it has preload and rebound adjustment at both ends with a remote preload adjuster on the rear. The standard version only has preload adjustment; on the rear that is via use of C spanners. The Deluxe also has heated grips. Cheers
Hello all. I was hoping to get a bit of advice about buying a VFR 800 from some folks that have them, as I am considering getting my first real street bike since my twenties. I am trying to decide if this is the right bike for me. I am in my mid fourties and have been racing forever (road racing, motocross, and supermoto). After a lot of injuries, surgeries, metal implants, and spending a fortune, I have decided to stop road racing (but will I definitely keep doing moto a few times a week).
Anyway, I think I may have talked my wife into letting me ride on the street (even though the thought terrifies her) and I am wondering if a VFR would be capable enough for fun/spirited riding. I would probably commute once in a while, ride on some twisty mountain/canyon roads weekly, and do five or six track days a year. I don't plan to ride at race pace, but still want to be able to go at a decent clip, dragging knees, and having fun. Also, not trying to be full of myself, but I think my 7/10ths canyon pace is still pretty quick. I have no ambition of ever touring or going on rides longer than a few hours.
I found a 2015 VFR with low miles for sale, but it is about six hours away and I have never ridden one (and probably won't get to unless I buy one). I am trying to decide if I should pull the pin and head up there to buy it. Do you all find that your VFRs are fun for spirited riding or do you think a middle weight sport bike would be more appropriate and more fun? I sat on Suzuki GSX-S1000GT and a Ninja 1000SX at the dealer and was shocked by how big, heavy, and upright they felt, but I would assume the VFR is lighter and sportier than that, right? I've owned a lot of Hondas and I have always thought they have been great bikes. I know the VFR isn't going to be fast, but does it handle well? Is it fun to ride at pace? Does it do okay at a trackday at intermediate pace?
Thank you
If you're interested in how one will do on the track, have a look at this video of John McGuinness riding a 5th gen at a track day. This one has 100,000 miles and a luggage rack. :laugh: Note that he's passing many sportier, more powerful (probably liter) bikes. They likely pull away from him down the straights, but in the corners he makes it all back and more.
I tend to like my knee down in corners just because it makes me feel more comfortable... it's just a habit at this point. Totally unnecessary, but I feel a little weird if I don't have that third point of contact.
Lot's of people feel the same way. :wink: This is another forum member.
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The things the newer bikes are going to have though are the adjustable power modes, TC, WC, ABS, electronic cruise, etc. You don't sound like that is what you're after but may be a consideration.
Lot's of people feel the same way. :wink: This is another forum member.
[image: large.DSC07246.jpg.da67f3667be35deb668b3]
The things the newer bikes are going to have though are the adjustable power modes, TC, WC, ABS, electronic cruise, etc. You don't sound like that is what you're after but may be a consideration.
Knee down, toe about to drag, and the peg feeler still has a way to go before it touches. This one still has more in it re corning before it's at the limit. These bikes (as most modern motorcycles) are more capable than most of their riders (including me!). :rolleyes:
Knee down, toe about to drag, and the peg feeler still has a way to go before it touches. This one still has more in it re corning before it's at the limit. These bikes (as most modern motorcycles) are more capable than most of their riders (including me!). :rolleyes:
I know all my VFRs are way more capable than me and happy to keep it that way. 😆 :beer:
If you're interested in how one will do on the track, have a look at this video of John McGuinness riding a 5th gen at a track day. This one has 100,000 miles and a luggage rack. :laugh: Note that he's passing many sportier, more powerful (probably liter) bikes. They likely pull away from him down the straights, but in the corners he makes it all back and more.
Thank you all so much for your help. I was able to finally ride one this weekend, unfortunately it was quite a drive to get there. It is a very nicely made bike. It has good fit and finish, looks very sophisticated, has a really smooth engine, and appears to be full-Honda quality.
Sadly, I don't think it is the right bike for me. The seating position didn't seem to suit me; I felt like I was sitting in the bike and not really on it, and the bars were too high for me. I felt like I was leaning back a bit, but not enough to stand up on the pegs... just seemed like an unsual position to me (mind you, I've only really ever ridden road race and MX bikes). It also seemed hard to get it to initially turn into a corner and there did not seem to be a lot of feel through the front end. It didn't feel like I could get enough weight onto the front tire with the upright riding position. I am sure I could get used to it, but it feels strange to me.
Everyone keeps telling me that at my age (46) I should get a touring bike, but they just don't seem right for me. I think I am going to get something a bit sportier. I honestly find the riding position on something like a CBR to be more comfortable, it just seems like I can load the front tire more and turn in easier. I also get that everyone thinks I am nuts. Thanks again guys.
I ride a RRR electronic suspension is amazing and super comfortable. I am 55 BTW. I own several bikes with upgraded suspension, but nothing compares to it. Still love my RC51 VFR800 and 750's though.
Hey matey, so glad you got to try one. I was riding a GSXR 750 then at age 59 I suddenly found 2 hours in the saddle was too much for the wrists, hips and neck. My choice to go back to a Honda V4 was based on a memory from the 1980s and it sure felt strange initially; I fully understand that sitting in it feeling and inability to load the front tyre. I've got used to it now and am really enjoying my VFR. But hey you've got years of flexibility and strength ahead! Hope you find a mount that works for you.
I'm glad you got a chance to test ride the bike, even if you found it wasn't the bike for you. For me, my 6th gen. VFR was the perfect all-arounder for many years, right up until I was about 50, and my knees and neck starting hurting during long rides. I could have installed a footpeg lowering kit and bar risers, but I didn't really want to change the bike from stock, and after 14 years with it I was really ready for something else.
Also, there's no reason older folks can't still ride supersports. If your body can handle the ergonomics, go for it! I have a couple bikes in mind if I were to add a sportbike to my garage, but for better or worse my bank account limits me to one bike at a time.
Good luck with your continued search for your next motorcycle! 👍
I've been eyeing one for the last 2 years but can't get myself to sell my VFR.
I love the way it looks, but I rode it and it just didn't do it for me. It felt heavy and clumsy, if that makes sense.
I rode the new Moto2 Street Triple and loved it. The riding position, with the raised clipons, was perfect for me and it felt really nimble with tons of midrange... but, I find naked bikes unbearable at speeds over 120. If they made that bike with fairings, it would be perfection!
I also rode a Ducati Supersport. It is quite comfortable and handles great, but feels like it lacks power. There isn't that much up top. It also seems a bit overpriced and I'm not sure I'm quite ready for the "challenges" of Ducati ownership.
I think I am leaning towards a CBR1000RR and 1" rise clipons.
I love the way it looks, but I rode it and it ust didn't do it for me. It felt heavy and clumsy, if that makes sense.
I rode the new Moto2 Street Triple and loved it! The riding position, with the raised clipons, was perfect for me and it felt really nimble with tons of midrange... but, I find naked bikes unbearable at speeds over 120. If they made that bike with fairings it would be perfection.
I also rode a Ducati Supersport. It is quite comfortable and handles great, but feels like it lacks power. There isn't that much up top. It also seems a bit overpriced and I'm not sure I'm quite ready for the "challenges" of Ducati ownership.
I think I am leaning towards a CBR1000RR and 1" rise clipons.
Judging by those other bikes you mention, not sure why you looked at a VFR.
Judging by those other bikes you mention, not sure why you looked at a VFR.
Whatever you choose, best wishes for it. :beer:
The reason I looked at it was, I had been told by a few people that it was on the sporty side of sport touring. I was thinking it would be similar to the Ducati Supersport. I guess that is what I think of when I think of a sport touring bike.
The reason I looked at it was, I had been told by a few people that it was on the sporty side of sport touring. I was thinking it would be similar to the Ducati Supersport. I guess that is what I think of when I think of a sport touring bike.
I considered a Ducati SuperSport when I was looking for a new (or used) bike to replace my 6th gen. VFR. A local shop had a nice, low miles SuperSport S in stock, but it already had an issue with a bad fuel tank sensor. Combine that with a couple other well-known issues with the bike (at least in the first few years of production) and it was a no-go for me. Plus, it was just too similar to my VFR, and I wanted something different.
Also, the OEM luggage for the SuperSport is only semi-rigid, with zippered closures, and not waterproof hard cases like the VFR's. That made the bike less attractive to me for use as a sport-tourer.
The other criticism of the SuperSport is it's underpowered for what it is. Personally, it's more fast enough for me, but I'm not that fast a rider, so middling performance suits me fine. (I was always happy with my VFR, by the way!)
But I had a seat on a new SuperSport at a local Ducati dealer a couple weekends ago, and now it's just too sporty for my aging (and out of shape) body. I'm sure would have liked it a few years ago, but I'm glad I passed on it back then when I was bike shopping.
This is a standard option on any Ducati over the last 15+ years.
vfrcapn is correct. I'm on the 3rd fuel tank sensor on my 2017 Multistrada, although to be fair it is the only issue of any kind I've had with the bike after 26K miles, and it obviously is not mission-critical. They replaced the first one for free but I had to pay for the 2nd one. However, that was four years ago, and their claim that it was finally fixed with a re-design appears to be true.
Ducati had a rep for manufacturing quality control--the dealer where I bought my 2002 VFR dropped Ducati because they couldn't get repair parts in August when the factory shut down for a month! But that is in the rear view mirror, the last 15 years or so they are as good as any other manu, and seem to have upgraded the build process by learning from owners Audi/VW.
I'm still getting late-December dealer emails about Italy shutting down for 3 weeks over the holidays. From last December:
URGENT UPDATE:
Plan NOW for the DUCATI warehouse closure in Italy - coming next week! Ducati has notified us that the global Ducati parts & accessories warehouse in Italy will be CLOSED for accepting new orders from Dec 20th through Jan 7th! NO OUTGOING SHIPMENTS will be leaving Italy for nearly 3 FULL WEEKS!
The fuel sensor on my '20 MS is currently going out, but it is under warranty still.
Still fun bike, has been trouble free other than the fuel sensor acting up.
I'm still getting late-December dealer emails about Italy shutting down for 3 weeks over the holidays. From last December:
URGENT UPDATE:
Plan NOW for the DUCATI warehouse closure in Italy - coming next week! Ducati has notified us that the global Ducati parts & accessories warehouse in Italy will be CLOSED for accepting new orders from Dec 20th through Jan 7th! NO OUTGOING SHIPMENTS will be leaving Italy for nearly 3 FULL WEEKS!
The fuel sensor on my '20 MS is currently going out, but it is under warranty still.
Still fun bike, has been trouble free other than the fuel sensor acting up.
Haha, I stand corrected, Italians doing Italian things. But at least reliability is now at least very good as we both seem to agree.
Hope to do a Feather River run this summer up there in the northern Sierra near you, it's been a few years.