I would like to say Hello to everybody on this forum as well as ask a question. What do you think of me an older guy with some physical handicaps trading down in weight to a bike like the VFR800 or the Triumph Street Triple R?
Welcome. I guess it depends on what you call "light". Tipping the scales at well over 500lbs I would hardly call my VFR800 light. A light but still fun to ride bike would be something more like a Kawi Ninja 650R. Much lighter, low seat height and thin bike at the waist. It's pretty easy to handle, has a more comfortable standard style seating position, and still makes respectable horsepower.
What's your background in bikes and what are your limitations?
So depending on the handi-cap, wouldn't the viffer be top heavy?
When I took an ST for a spin I felt the weight bulk below my knees, that was kinda cool and well mannered.
I've slipped a foot away from the viff in a p-lot and laid it down.
Embarassing!
Depends on what you mean by "physical handicaps". Whatever that is, I hope it's minor.
If you are coming from an ST 1300 as Monk mentioned above, you may find the riding position on the VFR 800 to be a bit demanding, especially at first. I am 50 and can ride mine all day long, but I also added a Sargent seat and Helibars.
Not trying to suggest you stray from a Honda, but the new Kawasaki Ninja 1000 is more upright than the VFR, weighs about 500 pounds and is now available with hard bags. Ventura also makes an excellent luggage system for that bike as well. It has very good components as far as brakes, suspension etc......and a fantastic motor that puts the power right where you need it.
Do you care about how comfy the bike is? There are plenty of other lighter bikes out there than the VFR and the ST, so a little more critera would be good to narrow the field down.
The Triumph is going to be much lighter though, between the two.
Welcome to the forum. I bought a VFR 750 about 12 years ago and put about 35,000 miles on it before selling and buying an ST1300 nearly 4 years ago. After riding it for about 30,000 miles I bought another VFR (this time an 800). I'm 65 years old, 5' 7" and about 140 lbs. I'm definitely sensing a loss of strength over the last five years or so. Since buying my last VFR, I find the ST 1300 spends lots more time in the garage. I find the weight difference is most noticeable while doing real slow manuering (backing out of parking, paddling about, etc) I suggest that you find a VFR that you can test ride and sample the difference. Beautiful weather last weekend in Georgia and Florida enticed me out for about 850 miles on a two day trip. I took the VFR and the ST stayed home.
I traded 'down' from an ST1100 to an '04 VFR800 when I turned 65, precisely because of the weight issue. I loved the ST at anything above 3 mph but got tired of worrying about pushing it around in a parking lot or whether or not I could get it in and out of a campground. I've been very happy with the switch, I have Convertibars, lowered pegs, an MRA Vario windscreen and a Rich's custom seat which make the riding position just fine for long rides. I'm much happier with the VFR than I expected to be. I thought it would be a compromise in cruising comfort compared to the ST1100 but I've had a lot more fun on the VFR and don't really miss anything about the ST.
I came down from a Kawasaki Concours (1000 cc) to my older VFR but have never once regreted the swap. I originally bought the Conny because I thought we would be doing a lot more two up travelling but that didn't materialize and I didn't see a reason to be pushing that much bike around in a garage, camp ground, etc..
Cripes, I loved my '99 VFR. Sargent seat, Heli-Bars, Uly pegs, 2 bubble screen, etc. Had to let it go. I'm 77, 6', 190#'s. I ran a modified '01 SV650S as a daily driver. Much fun. Bought another SVS, (an '03), to ride in the southwest. A year later rode it home to MA. It's my all 'rounder with a Ventura rack that goes on and off easily. I still have 2 heavy bikes that I'm eternally(?) attached to. I spend a lot of time on a rowing machine so that I can still ride them effectively. Nearly all of us acknowledge that lightweight bikes are great fun. They are even more fun when you realize the advantages of not struggling to stay safe. i.e. not straining to push them around, pick them up, or that nasty time when you can't avoid a tip over and risk your body parts. For fun I have a 250 and 125cc 2 strokes to keep reaction time in tune. Does this RS make my a** look big? ;D Good fortune, R3~
End of thread · 13 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 19 Jan 2012