Fuel Economy, Luggage & Other ?s

Hi
I am considering buying an '08 VFR and have a few questions:
What fuel economy can one expect from these bikes when touring?
What are the luggage options-factory, givi, etc.?
Does anyone tour 2-up? How is the comfort for the pillion?
Thanks.
erda

[image: View Post]erda, on Jun 7 2009, 12:37 AM, said:

Hi
I am considering buying an '08 VFR and have a few questions:
What fuel economy can one expect from these bikes when touring?
What are the luggage options-factory, givi, etc.?
Does anyone tour 2-up? How is the comfort for the pillion?
Thanks.
erda

I get about 42 - 45 mpg on mostly interstate trips at least the couple of times I have checked it, range given is probably mostly determined by avg speed (say 70 - 85 mph, you got to do at least 80 on I-75 in GA to avoid getting run over) and if I have the hard bags on the bike. I'm a big guy too at a little over 300lbs so if you're looking at a modest sized couple (say 170 lb guy and a 130 lb girl) you should probably get the same.

As for luggage, the ones I looked at are the Honda OEM bags, Beetlebags, Givi V35 side cases (alot like OEM), and various other Givi side cases and top cases. I know there are other options out there too. I like my Givi V35 side cases alot.

I've never done any 2-up touring. I can say that getting a Corbin seat helped alot with comfort on longer rides. The pillion's seat appears larger and more comfortable on the Corbin seat and you can also get a backrest to go with the seat. You can get some of the top cases with backrest pads on them too.

The VFR is a great all rounder, which is why I chose it.

I can get close to 50mpg when fully loaded down: factory hard bags, factory top case, camping tail bag, and tank bag all had stuff in them. Of course I was in 6th gear nearly the whole time (downshift to pass).
You can get honda bags or GIVI bags.

The longest I had a passenger on was 150 Miles, she didnt complain too much! :warranty: :wheel:

The Honda hard bags work really well. I have not done any long distances but on 200 mile rides my Gf says the pillion is comfortable and that is with the stock seat or with the Sargent I replaced it with. For me the stock seat felt like sitting on a 3/4" piece of plywood. MPG - I get about 45 mpg but I have really low miles on the bike as it is new - about 2000 on it.

Like the others have reported, I tend to get around 45 mpg while touring.

For luggage I'd either go with the Givi V35 bags or the Honda OEM. There are of course other options, but those seem to fit the bike best.

My opinion is that unless your pillion is young and flexible, it isn't going to be very comfortable for touring. But that depends on how you define touring. I define it as 450 - 550 miles a day for anywhere from four to seven days.

What everyone else said about mileage...

Re. 2-up.

Issues the passenger will have to deal with:

constant wind because of being so much higher than driver
flopping around during acceleration and stopping
sore a$$ from the stock seat

Possible improvements for passenger:

wind - sport touring windshield. I have a ZG ST model and it helps...or so she says.
flopping around - OEM top box with back rest so she can sit back. (of course she is supposed to lean forward and put her hands on the tank during 'vigorous' riding, but this is often a problem with smaller girls as arms are too short, and fatigue quickly)
sore a$$ - massage at night after day ride, which often leads too...oops wrong forum...wider and plusher seat...errr...never mind you figure it out. ;p

Brian

Warm weather touring, at elevation, like 4K + foot, across our deserts I crowd 50mpg even at high speeds with bags loaded, 80+ mph as long as the throttle is steady. At cooler temps and closer to sea level I get about 44 mpg, again as long as it is steady 6th gear throttle. For comparison; I get in the high 30�s for my daily mountain commute.

I love the factory hard bags for touring.

As for 2-up riding, it's all relative. It will be more comfortable than a pure sports bike, and less comfortable than a true sport-touring model. One thing to consider is not just passenger comfort, but your comfort with a passenger. If she's not any good and puts pressure on you, it will get tiring very quickly. I haven't ever felt comfortable riding more than a few hundred miles with a passenger.

44-47 mpg average for me. No 2-up though.

I have ridden on my bike 2-up a couple of times and although it was fine I wouldn't want to do it for long distances!!

There are OEM matching hard bags available for 6th generation ('02 to present) VFRs. I believe the set retails for $1000 or more, but there are a couple places online to buy them cheaper. Also, I'm pretty sure the OEMs are actually made by Givi, who makes non-matching bags for VFRs, too.

Fuel economy...I'm a big guy who never rides with passengers on my VFR. Under a variety of riding habits (freeway, local stuff, sportriding and mixed) and loads (no load, or loaded for a long day or overnighter) I average 40 mpg. Not tremendous fuel economy for a motorcycle, but better than all but a few cars out there. :)

My fuel milage is about the same, with or with out the bags one. Tracked it closely on the way to T-Mac this year. mid to high 40's down and back. No matter how hard I was riding it, be it 75mph on the slab or the NC twisties.

2 up is fine my g/f has no issues back the and can sit longer than me most times (she is 5foot6 130lbs) only problem she has is the bags will not hold enought stuff for her :wacko: so I need to add a top case.

[image: View Post]SpiralGray, on Jun 7 2009, 09:55 AM, said:

My opinion is that unless your pillion is young and flexible, it isn't going to be very comfortable for touring.


And you've got far bigger problems! :goofy:

[image: View Post]ECX585, on Jun 8 2009, 01:59 PM, said:

[image: View Post]SpiralGray, on Jun 7 2009, 09:55 AM, said:

My opinion is that unless your pillion is young and flexible, it isn't going to be very comfortable for touring.
And you've got far bigger problems! :goofy:
Not all of us are 20-somethings... As nice as a tight 20-something-year-old butt on the back of a sport bike looks, I wouldn't want to deal with the rest of the package on a day-to-day basis. ;)

[image: View Post]erda, on Jun 7 2009, 12:37 AM, said:

Hi
I am considering buying an '08 VFR and have a few questions:
What fuel economy can one expect from these bikes when touring?
What are the luggage options-factory, givi, etc.?
Does anyone tour 2-up? How is the comfort for the pillion?
Thanks.
erda

The last time I checked the fuel mileage I was averaging 42mpg riding 2-up. My pillion rider said she had no problems with comfort during our 200 mile trip. The two of us together propably weighed about 330 pounds. Hope this helps.

My 2 cents...
I ride an 06, with Corbin Beatle bags. Highway, solo, milage 50 to 55 mpg at 70 mph. 35 to 40 mpg, solo, in the twisties.
Never paid it any mind, two up.

Mac