'06 worth the wait for a new buyer?

I embedded this in another thread but wanted to pull it out to get opinions. Am I being too picky on the fact that the '05 is an '05? I'm not in a dying rush to get my hands on a new bike atm, but you know the pressure of instant gratification... The '05 is $5,100 which seems like a pretty good deal. I really don't want a bike that is unpredictable in the twistys but I am doubting I will run into an '06 with ABS, low miles, and bags for under $6.

Original post below:
Looking to get my first VFR. This post has convinced me to keep searching for an '06+ VFR with ABS. I've found a very reasonably priced '05 with ABS, bags, and about 9K miles, but it is an '05. Then there is an '06 at at a 20% higher cost with half the miles but no ABS and no stinkin bags. I hate being patient. :(

I had an 05 - The VTEC transition was extremely touchy, but a power commander may have helped that.

I've heard that the 06+ models have a much smoother transition, and slightly fewer problems with the R/R.

ABS can be a lifesaver.......that's your call.

Stop screwing around and get the 05, its not even broken in and any difference isn't worth talking about, same engine, tranny, frame wheels bodywork...what are you waiting for :biggrin:

I had an '06. The VTEC transition drove me insane. It was very obvious, and I couldnt ignore it no matter how hard I tried. Otherwise, absolutely awesome bike. I think the VTEC transition is all relative. It bothers some, it doesnt bother others. You'll have to take it for a spin around the block so you know how it feels to you. Either way, you cant go wrong with a VFR :cheerleader:

Honda did smooth out the VTEC for 06. They also got most, if not all, the recalls sorted out by then. As for ABS, I held out for mine and got a sweet deal. It should be possible to find one at your price, though it may not have the factory bags. But they're still available and well worth the price, even if you do have to pay full price from Honda.

I would jump on the 05 w/bags & ABS for $5100! :fing02:

Test ride it at least, most are pretty smooth and worse case would be the need to add a PCIII.


BR

This bike's a glorified scooter. The VTEC is annoying but doesn't detract from it's stellar manners. It doesn't have the power for the interrupt to ever put you in jeopardy. Acceleration is seamless, regardless of the motor's peccadilloes. You will grow to ignore the VTEC given the machines incredible symbiosis with its rider. Just buy a clean one and you can't/won't go wrong.This thing eats the miles and leaves you pleased, pleased, pleased. Most competent machine...... regardless of rider input that I've ever owned. When you're looking for a bike to live with...this is it. Kind of like your wife....not outrageous, but consistent in a very good kind of way. A consistently "satisfying" ride.

[image: View Post]pivot, on 10 March 2011 - 08:58 PM, said:

I embedded this in another thread but wanted to pull it out to get opinions. Am I being too picky on the fact that the '05 is an '05? I'm not in a dying rush to get my hands on a new bike atm, but you know the pressure of instant gratification... The '05 is $5,100 which seems like a pretty good deal. I really don't want a bike that is unpredictable in the twistys but I am doubting I will run into an '06 with ABS, low miles, and bags for under $6.

Original post below:
Looking to get my first VFR. This post has convinced me to keep searching for an '06+ VFR with ABS. I've found a very reasonably priced '05 with ABS, bags, and about 9K miles, but it is an '05. Then there is an '06 at at a 20% higher cost with half the miles but no ABS and no stinkin bags. I hate being patient. :(


Well, my opinion, there isn't much difference between '05 and '06. Mine's an '03, and the transition is smooth with the PCIII. Like the others said, you need to try it out to make sure. But most importantly, buy the bike you like otherwise you'll always have that nagging thought in the back of your mind telling you that you should have bought the other one... As for me, I would jump on the '05 with abs and bags for sure. But it's not mine.
C

get the 05 why would you wait for an 06 there the same bike only difference is vtec kicks in slightly sooner on 06 (500rmp sooner i think) 02 to 05 had a wiring harness recall and thats it. Those hard bags are the best accessories you can have. go for it! only reason not to is color.

Go for it! I paid $5000 for an 03 that came with about a grand worth of gear three years ago. It had 11k on it with no ABS or hard bags. Take it around the block a few times, see what you think, and go from there. Lucky for you I don't have $5100 laying around....

[image: View Post]AussieinUSA, on 10 March 2011 - 09:23 PM, said:

Stop screwing around and get the 05, its not even broken in and any difference isn't worth talking about, same engine, tranny, frame wheels bodywork...what are you waiting for :biggrin:




+1, enough said.

Mine smoothed out a lot after I got around 1k on the odo. Now when it hits the exhaust note along with your grin changes.

I almost made this same remark in the other post you had:
Warm it up, test drive it, and decide then. If you can live with the VTEC transition (around 7K rpms for an 05) you are set. ABS and hard bags definitely make this worth your time. Even if you don't buy the bike at least you get a better idea of what to expect for riding one when you finally do. :fing02:

Honda CLAIMS to have smoothed out the transition on the 06+ models but based on previous posts from some of those years riders that is not necessarily the case. Mine is an 02 with no PCIII/V and the transition point is smooth as butter. Honda CLAIMS to have fixed the R/R for the 06+ but I have again read posts that contradict that as well. If someone gave me an 09 VFR today I would still put a VFRness in it first thing.

When you go buy a car do you believe the salesman? Or do you read owner reviews and do the research to help make up your mind? :491:

My $0.02: Go for the '05 w/ABS and hardbags and don't look back. 9k mi. on a VFR is nothing. My '04 now has ~55k mi. on it and IMHO it runs better now than when it was much newer. I wanted ABS, but I settled for a perfect non-ABS low miles '04 VFR in August, '06, but I still wish I had it. And the hardbags are invaluable. I lived without them for a couple years but now use them frequently. Not just valuable for trips but also for running errands around town, or stowing your rain gear in "just in case" it might rain during your commute home. (Ask me how I know this. :wink: )

As for VTEC, my bike's VTEC transition was a little abrupt for awhile but smoothed out a bit around 10k mi. - and then got butter-smooth when I installed a PCIII.

Also, your insurance rate should be a little cheaper on the 1-year older bike, plus you'll likely be eligible for a small premium discount for the ABS. :smile:

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 10 March 2011 - 10:39 PM, said:

I would jump on the 05 w/bags & ABS for $5100! :fing02:

Test ride it at least, most are pretty smooth and worse case would be the need to add a PCIII.


BR


You cant beat that price !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[image: View Post]Switchblade, on 11 March 2011 - 11:15 AM, said:

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 10 March 2011 - 10:39 PM, said:

I would jump on the 05 w/bags & ABS for $5100! :fing02:

Test ride it at least, most are pretty smooth and worse case would be the need to add a PCIII.


BR


You cant beat that price !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I paid 4200 for my 05 with 2300 miles on the ODO. And I could not be happier.
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Wow, this is a great discussion board! Some really good thoughts. I'll probably try to look at it this weekend. It supposed to rain all weekend though and I live a considerable ways away. But I am very interested now!

i guess i dont understand all these people who gripe about the vtec thing. dont buy a 02+ vfr if you dont like it soo much; so we dont have to listen to you complain.

[image: View Post]ericlw, on 12 March 2011 - 12:05 AM, said:

i guess i dont understand all these people who gripe about the vtec thing. dont buy a 02+ vfr if you dont like it soo much; so we dont have to listen to you complain.

Some of the 6th Gens have really abrupt transition points which doesn't inspire confidence in a new rider. The OP isn't complaining but asking questions and we are giving him honest feedback. Your lack of constructive criticism here doesn't really help the situation so perhaps if it bothers you so much then perhaps you should choose a different post to read and comment in? This isn't like every other forum where the usual monkeys get to fling poo at everyone who makes a post just because they dared ask a question. So feel free to offer something relevant or get over it and move on. Life's too short. :biggrin:

I bought an 06 to address all of the concerns you mentioned. I believe the vtec thing is quite subjective, but the electonic/charging issues are not. You can find many, many posts on this site that provide tremendous help with addressing the charging issues related to 02 to 05 models. I didn't want to risk having those problems so my approach was to wait for the right 06+ model to come up for sale and go after it. If you have the patience, you'll find a great VFR. Watch the classifieds in this site and others closely.
Best of luck,
---David

Thanks again for all the feedback. I found a nicely priced '05 over the weekend with all the aftermarket stuff i was thinking i would want and went and got it. The owner seemed like a really great guy who had owned a few other VFRs at some point. He even gave me a service manual and the pristine stock mufflers. I think he was a little bummed because he may have priced it low and I jumped all over it, but the bike is in good hands as I know I'll take care of it. He'll get good karma in return from my happiness and excitement :)

It vibrates a good deal after 6k rpms up to 9k (I didn't take it any higher on the return trip home). Is this normal?

Again, thanks for the positive comments. The 3.5 hr ride home was pure joy and my longest without stopping (2 hrs on a gixxer was my previous log stretch) and nothing sore at all. And it was dark and raining! Already loving it. I can tell it will become my main bike. I wish I was riding it right now!

[image: View Post]pivot, on 21 March 2011 - 12:11 AM, said:

Thanks again for all the feedback. I found a nicely priced '05 over the weekend with all the aftermarket stuff i was thinking i would want and went and got it. The owner seemed like a really great guy who had owned a few other VFRs at some point. He even gave me a service manual and the pristine stock mufflers. I think he was a little bummed because he may have priced it low and I jumped all over it, but the bike is in good hands as I know I'll take care of it. He'll get good karma in return from my happiness and excitement :)

It vibrates a good deal after 6k rpms up to 9k (I didn't take it any higher on the return trip home). Is this normal?

Again, thanks for the positive comments. The 3.5 hr ride home was pure joy and my longest without stopping (2 hrs on a gixxer was my previous log stretch) and nothing sore at all. And it was dark and raining! Already loving it. I can tell it will become my main bike. I wish I was riding it right now!

congrats on your new bike! was it the original 05 you were looking at? what do you mean by vibrates the tires or through foot pegs or hand grips.

[image: View Post]pivot, on 21 March 2011 - 12:11 AM, said:

It vibrates a good deal after 6k rpms up to 9k (I didn't take it any higher on the return trip home). Is this normal?


I test rode two different VFR800's ~ one of them had a lot of vibration, the other one did not. Seems to be like some of the other 'issues' with the bike ~ you will either have trouble or you won't.

[image: View Post]pivot, on 21 March 2011 - 12:11 AM, said:

Thanks again for all the feedback. I found a nicely priced '05 over the weekend with all the aftermarket stuff i was thinking i would want and went and got it. The owner seemed like a really great guy who had owned a few other VFRs at some point. He even gave me a service manual and the pristine stock mufflers. I think he was a little bummed because he may have priced it low and I jumped all over it, but the bike is in good hands as I know I'll take care of it. He'll get good karma in return from my happiness and excitement :)

It vibrates a good deal after 6k rpms up to 9k (I didn't take it any higher on the return trip home). Is this normal?

Again, thanks for the positive comments. The 3.5 hr ride home was pure joy and my longest without stopping (2 hrs on a gixxer was my previous log stretch) and nothing sore at all. And it was dark and raining! Already loving it. I can tell it will become my main bike. I wish I was riding it right now!


Any chances the aftermarket exhaust allows more vibration to manifest? I know the OEM mufflers are fair bit heavier than most of the aftermarkets. How about the handle bar weights, are they still original? The extra mass has to smooth things a bit, no...? Obviously if it strictly follows the RPM its not tire or wheels vibrating. You didn't say if this is the case.

Brian