What do you think? Should the VFR win or are big supermoto-derived bikes the future? KTM's SMT claims to be the daddy at combining practicality and fun, is the VFR old news?
What do you think? It would be great to hear comments from real VFR owners.
I would have to say it's the perfect bike, but it's only my third, so maybe I don't know what I Am talking about. :biggrin:
It will be interesting to see what happens with the story as the poll shows a healthly lead for the VFR.
[image: View Post]vfr_steve, on Mar 30 2009, 08:40 AM, said:
So far the VFR is winning on the poll.. finally a reason to buy MCN next month...
I hope your not confusing the magazine Motorcycle Consumer News based out of the US with the website based in the UK MCN? Since one is great, (the mag) and other is just a garbage heap (UK based website). One is subscription based and has journalistic integrity the other uses computer generated photos of bikes they claim to be coming out in the near future as the latest offerings - I cant count how many times they have put up a photo they manufactured themselves and called it the new vfr? What a piece of ( insert explilative....) that website is when it comes to the truth! I don't trust them at all, but Motorcycle consumer news is probably the best magazine you can buy in the USA for motorcyclist!
As far as my opinion for the best all around bike NO the VFR is not an off-road bike at all so no I don't think its the best all around! I think its the best sport touring bike ever made though and yes even with 800cc!
Ultimate all rounder? No. Ultimate all round street bike? The VFR is the benchmark, but there's some very stong competition our there. The VFR has held up surprisingly well after all these years.
MCN is a weekly motorbike rag, thats an insult to rags, in the UK. It is the biggest load of made up crap you have ever seen. Every week they have "Insider knowledge" or "MCN World exclusive" or some sort of rubbish. Basically they spout whatever rubbish they are told to spout by the manufacturers. Doesnt matter what product it is. Complete yes men with not a hint of back bone.
No wonder it earned the name of " More Crap News ".
Ultimate all-arounder, including dirt and gravel roads? No, I don't think so.
But best all-around streetbike? Yes. Then again, I'm a little biased. ;)
Factors (in no particular order): Cost to buy, performance #s, cost to maintain/repair, dealer support, fuel economy, available mods, kick-butt forums, cost to insure, touring/daily rider versatility, non-conformist (VFRs being fairly rare among sportbikes around town), looks, reputation, history, and the perfect blend between v-twin and inline 4.
:fing02:
A few other models come to mind for great all-arounders, but some can't do what the VFR does for the money.
The list is too small. The VFR is awesome and can fill many purposes. But, my next bike is going to be the Aprilia Tuono. It will meet my all-round needs ;)
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on Mar 30 2009, 03:05 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vfr_steve, on Mar 30 2009, 08:40 AM, said:
So far the VFR is winning on the poll.. finally a reason to buy MCN next month...
I hope your not confusing the magazine Motorcycle Consumer News based out of the US with the website based in the UK MCN? Since one is great, (the mag) and other is just a garbage heap (UK based website). One is subscription based and has journalistic integrity the other uses computer generated photos of bikes they claim to be coming out in the near future as the latest offerings - I cant count how many times they have put up a photo they manufactured themselves and called it the new vfr? What a piece of ( insert explilative....) that website is when it comes to the truth! I don't trust them at all, but Motorcycle consumer news is probably the best magazine you can buy in the USA for motorcyclist!
As far as my opinion for the best all around bike NO the VFR is not an off-road bike at all so no I don't think its the best all around! I think its the best sport touring bike ever made though and yes even with 800cc!Whilst I agree totally with your assessment of the UK based MCN I must take you to task on the off road abilities of the VFR and particularly the VTEC model. I have tested it's abilities at some of the most famous race circuits in this country and be it grass or gravel it stays up when all the others have gone down. :biggrin:
What do you think? Should the VFR win or are big supermoto-derived bikes the future? KTM's SMT claims to be the daddy at combining practicality and fun, is the VFR old news?
What do you think? It would be great to hear comments from real VFR owners.
cheers,
james
Who are you and where did you come from? Just kidding. That's the wrong type of question to ask on a VFR forum. I think we are already biased by our obvious choice in bikes. I think that it would be safe to say that the majority of people would say the VFR is the best all around bike.
Ohh and you have to excuse Skuuter. He's a little different. :goofy:
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on Mar 30 2009, 04:05 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vfr_steve, on Mar 30 2009, 08:40 AM, said:
So far the VFR is winning on the poll.. finally a reason to buy MCN next month...
I hope your not confusing the magazine Motorcycle Consumer News based out of the US with the website based in the UK MCN? Since one is great, (the mag) and other is just a garbage heap (UK based website). One is subscription based and has journalistic integrity the other uses computer generated photos of bikes they claim to be coming out in the near future as the latest offerings - I cant count how many times they have put up a photo they manufactured themselves and called it the new vfr? What a piece of ( insert explilative....) that website is when it comes to the truth! I don't trust them at all, but Motorcycle consumer news is probably the best magazine you can buy in the USA for motorcyclist!
As far as my opinion for the best all around bike NO the VFR is not an off-road bike at all so no I don't think its the best all around! I think its the best sport touring bike ever made though and yes even with 800cc!
err yes that would be the UK one, as you say the newspaper, news and articles are only good for one thing - wiping your backside with :rolleyes:
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_images/light/snapback.png' alt='View Post' />skuuter trash, on Mar 30 2009, 09:15 AM, said:
....Yeah, I'm kickin' up Dust............ :biggrin: :goofy:
Man...look at the chicken strips on that thing! :laugh: :goofy:
I'd still test drive it. :fing02:
I don't know about the best all around as my R6 had better dirt handling abilities than the VFR but other than that I would say she could give any other bike out there a run for the money when it comes to pavement. :biggrin:
Im kinda surprised the BMW GS was coming in as low as it showed on the poll....those have a larger than VFR-like following because of their "all-around-ness", AND have some off road capability. And noting how long theyre typically ridden and the distances you hear about, I'd always assumed they were very reliable with excellent long term durability, not to mention long distance comfort. But, im sure in the on road performance category (where most of us spend our time), the GS is nothing like the VFR.
I honestly am kind of suprised the VFR is doing as well as it is in the current poll at this point. Obviously I love the bike itself, but have gotten the slight impression over the past couple years that the VFR is becoming somewhat old news. But....maybe not. Id love for me to be wrong...
[image: View Post]Adam30, on Mar 30 2009, 06:49 PM, said:
Im kinda surprised the BMW GS was coming in as low as it showed on the poll....those have a larger than VFR-like following because of their "all-around-ness", AND have some off road capability. And noting how long theyre typically ridden and the distances you hear about, I'd always assumed they were very reliable with excellent long term durability, not to mention long distance comfort. But, im sure in the on road performance category (where most of us spend our time), the GS is nothing like the VFR.
My $0.02: Many more current and former Big 4 owners than BMW (and KTM) owners, so the Big 4 brands are probably more likely to get votes than European brands. Also, GS's are pricey and very tall compared to the VFR. Plus, throw in final drive failure stories and the GS probably doesn't inspire as much confidence from non-owners.
[image: View Post]TimC, on Mar 30 2009, 07:23 PM, said:
Also, GS's are pricey and very tall compared to the VFR. Plus, throw in final drive failure stories and the GS probably doesn't inspire as much confidence from non-owners.
Add to that you have to tear the bike in half to replace a clutch. The big GS is a great bike....just very spendy.
Wasn't there an "All rounder" comparo done last year where they had the VFR going against a BMW GS and a GSXR...of course the squiddly journos picked the Gixxer.......of course...... :blink: :rolleyes:
We can also blame Honda for their less than stellar dedication to the VFR line this past few years. There was a time that there wasn't even a question out there which bike IS the best all rounder in the world.
[image: View Post]Beck, on Mar 31 2009, 12:50 AM, said:
We can also blame Honda for their less than stellar dedication to the VFR line this past few years. There was a time that there wasn't even a question out there which bike IS the best all rounder in the world.
Well if the poll is anything to go buy there's still not much question on that front! - 56% are voting VFR. Personally I think bikes like the SMT are interesting, but (in the UK at least) most people are into sportsbikes, so even if they want an all-rounder they will still lean towards something like the VFR over the supermoto/big trailie option.
skuuter - I actually have the DN-01 on longterm test this year! I wouldn't really call it an all-rounder since - lets face it - it's relatively slow and the footboards go down too early for spirited riding (although it does handle better than it looks). However, it does have a great pillion seat, the mirrors are amazing, its brilliant fun in town (despite the width) and overall it's just a great laugh to ride.
Regarding negative comments about MCN - in all honestly I haven't been working there that long, but I have been here for the relaunch of the new look MCN and a lot has changed either way. There's loads of new writers (you may of heard of Rupert Paul who wrote for Bike, or Guy Procter who's an award winning journalist) and new areas in the paper. I think it's a big improvement personally.
We have a 16-page digital sample of the latest issue up on the site right here. Have you seen the new style paper? I'd be interested to know if you've seen/read it, whether you think it's better or if you still have the same reservations.
[image: View Post]MCNJamesKeen, on Mar 31 2009, 06:32 AM, said:
Regarding negative comments about MCN - in all honestly I haven't been working there that long, but I have been here for the relaunch of the new look MCN and a lot has changed either way. There's loads of new writers (you may of heard of Rupert Paul who wrote for Bike, or Guy Procter who's an award winning journalist) and new areas in the paper. I think it's a big improvement personally.
We have a 16-page digital sample of the latest issue up on the site right here. Have you seen the new style paper? I'd be interested to know if you've seen/read it, whether you think it's better or if you still have the same reservations.
cheers,
james
James,
After Rupert Paul's less-than-objective treatment of the VFR in Bike last year, he's not the best example to use when trying to show an improvement in journalistic integrity.
He let waaaaaayyyyy too much personal bias interfere and never gave the bike a real chance. Khal Harris' experience with the VTR1000 Firestorm and subsequent write-ups put Rupert to shame.
Best of luck to you and the other staff in the "retooling" of the mag...
although I dont really dig them any more, a 70's Triumph twin is prolly the best allrounder ever made. You can fix them with stuff on the side of the road, MX them, flat track them and roadrace them after you sport tour on them. I still wont have another one though.
Your MCN used to remind me of the "Weekly World Report" that Mike Myer's mum called "the newspaper" in "So I Married an Axe Murdered"....it was full of made up crap and hoaxs (what is the correct plural of hoax?)
I hope you see success in your move toward main stream moto-journalism in the online format. It begs the question though...
Where will MJ and Batboy go for the late breaking new model spy shots and rumour from undisclosed inside sources?
[image: View Post]VFRedleg, on Mar 31 2009, 01:49 PM, said:
[image: View Post]MCNJamesKeen, on Mar 31 2009, 06:32 AM, said:
Regarding negative comments about MCN - in all honestly I haven't been working there that long, but I have been here for the relaunch of the new look MCN and a lot has changed either way. There's loads of new writers (you may of heard of Rupert Paul who wrote for Bike, or Guy Procter who's an award winning journalist) and new areas in the paper. I think it's a big improvement personally.
We have a 16-page digital sample of the latest issue up on the site right here. Have you seen the new style paper? I'd be interested to know if you've seen/read it, whether you think it's better or if you still have the same reservations.
cheers,
james
James,
After Rupert Paul's less-than-objective treatment of the VFR in Bike last year, he's not the best example to use when trying to show an improvement in journalistic integrity.
He let waaaaaayyyyy too much personal bias interfere and never gave the bike a real chance. Khal Harris' experience with the VTR1000 Firestorm and subsequent write-ups put Rupert to shame.
Best of luck to you and the other staff in the "retooling" of the mag...
James
My thoughts exactly, that guy is a prat and makes sure you tell him!! :fing02:
Regarding the mag, good luck with everything and I hope you can rebuild MCN's reputation with it.
I love my VFR and its a good all rounder. Best Im not sure "subjective". Bikes like Duc Multistrada. Sprint ST, Tiger are but a few that would give it a run for the money. Id love a Honda CB1000 if they would sell it in the usa.
they were THIS close with the Sprint 1050... I had one, but if fell to bits too quickly, and as popular as they may be, noone rides them like VFR's... perfect summer sport-tourer but it's no all rounder.
End of thread · 27 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 12 Apr 2010