Hello,
New to the forum - I posted this review on my website, and as such it is a bit more "generic", but I figured it would be valuable to post in here as well. I originally wrote this 3/31/12. Looking forward to reading through the other threads and to start contributing.
Most of this review will be in comparison to my last bike, a 2008 BMW K1200S. Before that I had a 2006 Triumph Sprint ST 1050, and before that a 2004 BMW R1150 Rockster.
I picked up this bike two weeks ago from the first owner. It was a leftover 2007 model that he purchased in the summer of 2009. When I purchased it in March 2012, it had only 2,990 miles on it. By the looks of the chain it had never been cleaned, and according to the owner it had the oil changed at the dealership in the Fall of 2011, but upon calling the dealership, only the VA state inspection was done. The oil hadn't been changed since Fall of 2009 at the 600 mile service. People need to understand that oil needs to be changed yearly, regardless of mileage.
As with all low mileage older bikes, most people think the tires are fine since there is plenty of tread, but don't take into account the fact that tires dry out. The tires were manufactured in mid-2006, and they are quite dry. The other day I left my house to go pick up some concert tickets from the box office, and about two miles into my ride, I had to slow down from 50MPH to a stop, as the light changed from green to yellow. It was one of those decisions where you could either gun it and go through, or take the cautious approach and brake. So, obviously I decided to brake, and the front tire locked up and just started skidding. This bike, unlike the BMW, does not have ABS. So some new tires are going to be ordered this week.
Also with an older motorcycle with low miles, most people don't even think to change the hydraulic fluid because it has such little use. People don't realize it is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture and needs to be changed every two years, regardless of mileage. Since the bikes are filled at the factory, this fluid is from October of 2006, when the motorcycle was manufactured. So, a brake fluid flush is going to happen as well.
Now onto the comparison points. I have only added another 300 or so miles, so once I get more miles on the bike, I'll post again in this thread:
Engine: When I first got on the bike and rode away, I said "wow, this is slow!" I was used to the explosive power of the K1200S and gobs of torque down low, which at 748cc, the VFR does not have. However, the K1200S was a very rough engine, and if you took the RPM above 5k, it vibrated a LOT. When I first got that bike, I thought there was something wrong with the motor, but the dealer assured me that was just how it is. The VFR can sit at 10k RPM all day and be smooth as butter. As such, I had to adjust my riding habits, no longer could I keep the RPM around 3k and expect passing power. Now I keep the RPM around 5K in normal riding so I always have power on tap. Now that I have been riding it more, and the K1200S is not what I'm accustom to, it has plenty of power. It almost makes riding more enjoyable because I don't have to constantly be concerned about giving too much throttle. The K1200S was almost too powerful for its own good. At WOT on the K1200S, you had to hold on for dear life or you'd go flying off. It was literally like warp speed.
However, I dislike the VTEC kick in, even though the 2006+ model years had the VTEC slightly reworked, as it now comes on at 6100 RPM instead of 6800 RPM. It is like a late 90s Civic when VTEC kicks in and it just acts totally different. VTEC, yo.
I changed the oil today with Mobil1 10w40 and the motor feels much, much smoother. Pretty easy oil change, only issue is the location of the filter - you have to contort and twist to get the oil filter cap on to remove the filter, then twist and contort to get the old filter out. Other than that, as this is not a dry-sump like the K1200S, it was a very easy change.
Sound: This bike has one of the best sounds I have heard. It takes the best of a twin and a four cylinder and combines them (V4). When I was riding back from Richmond, I did a couple of WOT pulls in 2nd gear just to hear how it sounds at max load, and it sounded a bit like a cat being strangled - it was just gasping for air. So today I removed the snorkel from the airbox as well as unplugged the vacuum line to the flapper on the airbox, and WOW what a difference. It has such a deep growl and under load it sounds amazing. No more gasping for air. It also feels a bit more powerful as well. I had a Remus Hexacone on the BMW and it definitely made that bike sound great as well, but the note of the VFR is much more unique. I think the VFR is tied for best sounding bike with my old Triumph with the 1050cc three cylinder engine and the Triumph factory off-road exhaust.
Controls: I was very use to the BMW controls with the left turnsignal on the left handlebar, and the right turn signal on the right handle bar. My first motorcycle was a BMW with those controls, so it was like second nature to me. My Triumph had the normal motorcycle controls, like the VFR, so it's just a matter of remembering where the turn signal is. The one thing I don't like about the VFR controls is that there is no "flash" button. The high-beams are either on or off. You can't flash them easily without having to flip the switch back and forth. Another thing I miss is self-canceling turn signals. I think every bike should have those.
Instrumentation: This is such a first world problem, but I hate not having a gear indicator. I loved being able to look at the MFA on the BMW and seeing in the top right corner what gear I was in. Now I have to remember to count, or learn the RPM to gear/speed ratio and figure it out that way. However, instrumentation on the VFR is layed out amazingly well, it is easy to see everything you need, and it is in a logical order. The left LCD display shows you the air/coolant temperature and the speed (digital). In the center is the tachometer, and to the right is another LCD display with the odometer and fuel.
The K1200S had an onboard computer which was nice, as it would tell you average MPG, miles to empty, etc. However, I found that I usually always left it on the air temperature setting, so this isn't a big deal. However, the K1200S had an analog tach and speedo, and as the speedo went up to 190 MPH, and it was a relatively small display, it was very, very hard to quickly tell your speed. I never really knew exactly how fast I was going. Think of it as more of a guide than an instrument!
The only thing I dislike about the VFR is at night. The LCD displays are very easy to read, but the tachometer is completely lit up in red. The needle, scales, and numbers are all red. Thus it's hard to differentiate redline from normal RPM. They should have made everything below 11k illuminate white and then keep the redline red. Seems logical, eh?
Fairings: The K1200S always had squeaky fairings. I adjusted them numerous times and they always squeaked. They were simply over-engineered. Too many rubber bushings and other fancy stuff. The VFR simply bolts onto the bike, no bushings, and no squeaks. I haven't noticed any heat blast on my legs on the VFR, and I never noticed any on the K1200S. However, at 6'2, the K1200S windscreen was a bit too tall, and caused a lot of air blast in my face. I always rode with earplugs as I got a lot of buffeting at speed. The windscreen on the VFR is a little lower and shaped differently and the air hits me on the neck, so it is much quieter.
Mirrors: The VFR has excellent rear visibility, and the mirrors are very adjustable. You can adjust them from the base, as well as from the mirror end. They also are rock solid and do not vibrate. The K1200S had limited adjustability (only the mirror glass), and the mirrors vibrated all the time, especially the left one.
Headlights: Both of these bikes have fantastic headlights. I had Osram Nightbreaker's in the K1200S, and it was like daylight when I had the low and high beams on. The design of the headlights mimics the exhaust on the VFR, with a stacked low and high beam on each side, and I think it's a nice design touch. I'm very happy with the amount of light generated at night with the VFR, but I will likely put in some Nightbreakers as well. I also like that the front turn signals illuminate as parking lights.
Suspension: This is where these two bikes couldn't be any more opposite. The BMW had the fancy front and rear suspension, and that bike never nose-dived when braking. Rather the whole bike would kind of "squat". It was impressive. It was also comfortable on long trips, yet was sporty feeling and could corner well. Only downside was it didn't have much road feel, and it made the bike feel heavy (which it was).
I spent some time adjusting the preload on the front fork and also preload and rebound on the rear shock, and I really like how I have the VFR set up. I dislike nosedive on braking, but it's not too bad. The Triumph Sprint I had in 2008 would fall on its knees whenever the brakes were applied. The VFR isn't that bad. It is a more firm ride than the K1200S, and it is a very communicative response of the road. It also makes the bike feel very nimble, even though the VFR is still about 500 lbs.
It's still too early to tell which one I like better.
Transmission: This is also where the K1200S and VFR could not be any more opposite. The K1200S, while better than my 2004 R1150 Rockster, was still clunky and just kind of "blah". The VFR is so precise, excellent feel, and no clunkiness. Hands down the VFR is one of the best shifting bikes I've ever been on.
Clutch: The K1200S had a very top-loaded clutch, so you barely had to pull in the clutch lever to shift gears. I also thought this just needed to be adjusted, but it was designed this way so you could fire off crazy fast gear changes - and let me tell you, it worked. It took some getting used to on the VFR to pull the clutch lever in further to change gears, and it's definitely a bit slower, but I'm getting use to it. Both are hydraulic wet clutches, and both have good feel.
Brakes: Both the VFR and the K1200S have linked brakes, however from what I understand, the VFR only applies one out of three pistons for the rear brake when the front lever is depressed, and only 5 out of the 6 front pistons. The rear brake foot lever applies two rear pistons and the other front piston. It's a bit odd, but it works. However you can't just use only the handlebar brake lever, and that's good, as it's a bad habit anyway. The K1200S front lever operated both brakes fully, and then the rear brake foot lever just operated the rear brake completely independent of the front.
I do miss having ABS, just as a safety precaution, even though I don't think I ever locked a wheel on the K1200S. As I mentioned earlier, the tires on the VFR are dry, and the brake fluid needs to be flushed, so I can't accurately compare the brakes. As of right now, the K1200S seemed to have stronger brakes. Once I flush the system on the VFR I'll revisit this topic.
Seating Position: On the K1200S I felt like I was sitting "in" the bike, whereas on the VFR I feel like I'm sitting on top of it. The reach on the VFR is a bit more forward than the K1200S, which I found surprising. My knees do feel a bit more cramped on the VFR as well, but neither is really uncomfortable. Granted the longest ride I have done is 130 miles from Richmond back to Herndon, but it was fine. I did tak the K1200S on a 700 mile round trip down to Danville and back, and as with any bike, it did get a bit uncomfortable (my knees and ass) after about 3 hours.
Driveshaft/Chain: As you know, the VFR has a chain, and the K1200S has a driveshaft. It seems like the chain is smoother than the driveshaft on the K1200S, as often times it would "jolt" the bike. However, I *hate* having a chain and needing to clean/adjust it, but whatever. The K1200S needed final drive fluid changes, and that was a huge pain in the ass, as there was no drain plug. To drain the fluid, the driveshaft and rear housing needs to be disassembled and dropped down so the fluid could drain out the fill plug. Then the splines on the shaft needed to be lubricated. This was done at 600 miles and then at 12k intervals. So it's up in the air which is more time consuming.
Looks: This is completely subjective, but I think both bikes look amazing. I loved the K1200S because I had the tri-color paint job and blue wheels. The VFR has nice themes going for it, with four headlights, four tailpipes, and an angular theme. Not to mention it is metallic red, which is probably my favorite color for any vehicle. I also love the under seat exhaust, which my Triumph had.
That's all I can think of for right now. The VFR keeps growing on my every day. With the fresh oil, snorkel/flapper removed, the bike feels much more powerful and has an amazing sound as well. Once I flush the brake system, get new rubber, and have a chance to really go on a longer ride and hit some twisties, I'll post another update to this thread.
- Anthony
New to the forum - I posted this review on my website, and as such it is a bit more "generic", but I figured it would be valuable to post in here as well. I originally wrote this 3/31/12. Looking forward to reading through the other threads and to start contributing.
Most of this review will be in comparison to my last bike, a 2008 BMW K1200S. Before that I had a 2006 Triumph Sprint ST 1050, and before that a 2004 BMW R1150 Rockster.
I picked up this bike two weeks ago from the first owner. It was a leftover 2007 model that he purchased in the summer of 2009. When I purchased it in March 2012, it had only 2,990 miles on it. By the looks of the chain it had never been cleaned, and according to the owner it had the oil changed at the dealership in the Fall of 2011, but upon calling the dealership, only the VA state inspection was done. The oil hadn't been changed since Fall of 2009 at the 600 mile service. People need to understand that oil needs to be changed yearly, regardless of mileage.
As with all low mileage older bikes, most people think the tires are fine since there is plenty of tread, but don't take into account the fact that tires dry out. The tires were manufactured in mid-2006, and they are quite dry. The other day I left my house to go pick up some concert tickets from the box office, and about two miles into my ride, I had to slow down from 50MPH to a stop, as the light changed from green to yellow. It was one of those decisions where you could either gun it and go through, or take the cautious approach and brake. So, obviously I decided to brake, and the front tire locked up and just started skidding. This bike, unlike the BMW, does not have ABS. So some new tires are going to be ordered this week.
Also with an older motorcycle with low miles, most people don't even think to change the hydraulic fluid because it has such little use. People don't realize it is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture and needs to be changed every two years, regardless of mileage. Since the bikes are filled at the factory, this fluid is from October of 2006, when the motorcycle was manufactured. So, a brake fluid flush is going to happen as well.
Now onto the comparison points. I have only added another 300 or so miles, so once I get more miles on the bike, I'll post again in this thread:
Engine: When I first got on the bike and rode away, I said "wow, this is slow!" I was used to the explosive power of the K1200S and gobs of torque down low, which at 748cc, the VFR does not have. However, the K1200S was a very rough engine, and if you took the RPM above 5k, it vibrated a LOT. When I first got that bike, I thought there was something wrong with the motor, but the dealer assured me that was just how it is. The VFR can sit at 10k RPM all day and be smooth as butter. As such, I had to adjust my riding habits, no longer could I keep the RPM around 3k and expect passing power. Now I keep the RPM around 5K in normal riding so I always have power on tap. Now that I have been riding it more, and the K1200S is not what I'm accustom to, it has plenty of power. It almost makes riding more enjoyable because I don't have to constantly be concerned about giving too much throttle. The K1200S was almost too powerful for its own good. At WOT on the K1200S, you had to hold on for dear life or you'd go flying off. It was literally like warp speed.
However, I dislike the VTEC kick in, even though the 2006+ model years had the VTEC slightly reworked, as it now comes on at 6100 RPM instead of 6800 RPM. It is like a late 90s Civic when VTEC kicks in and it just acts totally different. VTEC, yo.
I changed the oil today with Mobil1 10w40 and the motor feels much, much smoother. Pretty easy oil change, only issue is the location of the filter - you have to contort and twist to get the oil filter cap on to remove the filter, then twist and contort to get the old filter out. Other than that, as this is not a dry-sump like the K1200S, it was a very easy change.
Sound: This bike has one of the best sounds I have heard. It takes the best of a twin and a four cylinder and combines them (V4). When I was riding back from Richmond, I did a couple of WOT pulls in 2nd gear just to hear how it sounds at max load, and it sounded a bit like a cat being strangled - it was just gasping for air. So today I removed the snorkel from the airbox as well as unplugged the vacuum line to the flapper on the airbox, and WOW what a difference. It has such a deep growl and under load it sounds amazing. No more gasping for air. It also feels a bit more powerful as well. I had a Remus Hexacone on the BMW and it definitely made that bike sound great as well, but the note of the VFR is much more unique. I think the VFR is tied for best sounding bike with my old Triumph with the 1050cc three cylinder engine and the Triumph factory off-road exhaust.
Controls: I was very use to the BMW controls with the left turnsignal on the left handlebar, and the right turn signal on the right handle bar. My first motorcycle was a BMW with those controls, so it was like second nature to me. My Triumph had the normal motorcycle controls, like the VFR, so it's just a matter of remembering where the turn signal is. The one thing I don't like about the VFR controls is that there is no "flash" button. The high-beams are either on or off. You can't flash them easily without having to flip the switch back and forth. Another thing I miss is self-canceling turn signals. I think every bike should have those.
Instrumentation: This is such a first world problem, but I hate not having a gear indicator. I loved being able to look at the MFA on the BMW and seeing in the top right corner what gear I was in. Now I have to remember to count, or learn the RPM to gear/speed ratio and figure it out that way. However, instrumentation on the VFR is layed out amazingly well, it is easy to see everything you need, and it is in a logical order. The left LCD display shows you the air/coolant temperature and the speed (digital). In the center is the tachometer, and to the right is another LCD display with the odometer and fuel.
The K1200S had an onboard computer which was nice, as it would tell you average MPG, miles to empty, etc. However, I found that I usually always left it on the air temperature setting, so this isn't a big deal. However, the K1200S had an analog tach and speedo, and as the speedo went up to 190 MPH, and it was a relatively small display, it was very, very hard to quickly tell your speed. I never really knew exactly how fast I was going. Think of it as more of a guide than an instrument!
The only thing I dislike about the VFR is at night. The LCD displays are very easy to read, but the tachometer is completely lit up in red. The needle, scales, and numbers are all red. Thus it's hard to differentiate redline from normal RPM. They should have made everything below 11k illuminate white and then keep the redline red. Seems logical, eh?
Fairings: The K1200S always had squeaky fairings. I adjusted them numerous times and they always squeaked. They were simply over-engineered. Too many rubber bushings and other fancy stuff. The VFR simply bolts onto the bike, no bushings, and no squeaks. I haven't noticed any heat blast on my legs on the VFR, and I never noticed any on the K1200S. However, at 6'2, the K1200S windscreen was a bit too tall, and caused a lot of air blast in my face. I always rode with earplugs as I got a lot of buffeting at speed. The windscreen on the VFR is a little lower and shaped differently and the air hits me on the neck, so it is much quieter.
Mirrors: The VFR has excellent rear visibility, and the mirrors are very adjustable. You can adjust them from the base, as well as from the mirror end. They also are rock solid and do not vibrate. The K1200S had limited adjustability (only the mirror glass), and the mirrors vibrated all the time, especially the left one.
Headlights: Both of these bikes have fantastic headlights. I had Osram Nightbreaker's in the K1200S, and it was like daylight when I had the low and high beams on. The design of the headlights mimics the exhaust on the VFR, with a stacked low and high beam on each side, and I think it's a nice design touch. I'm very happy with the amount of light generated at night with the VFR, but I will likely put in some Nightbreakers as well. I also like that the front turn signals illuminate as parking lights.
Suspension: This is where these two bikes couldn't be any more opposite. The BMW had the fancy front and rear suspension, and that bike never nose-dived when braking. Rather the whole bike would kind of "squat". It was impressive. It was also comfortable on long trips, yet was sporty feeling and could corner well. Only downside was it didn't have much road feel, and it made the bike feel heavy (which it was).
I spent some time adjusting the preload on the front fork and also preload and rebound on the rear shock, and I really like how I have the VFR set up. I dislike nosedive on braking, but it's not too bad. The Triumph Sprint I had in 2008 would fall on its knees whenever the brakes were applied. The VFR isn't that bad. It is a more firm ride than the K1200S, and it is a very communicative response of the road. It also makes the bike feel very nimble, even though the VFR is still about 500 lbs.
It's still too early to tell which one I like better.
Transmission: This is also where the K1200S and VFR could not be any more opposite. The K1200S, while better than my 2004 R1150 Rockster, was still clunky and just kind of "blah". The VFR is so precise, excellent feel, and no clunkiness. Hands down the VFR is one of the best shifting bikes I've ever been on.
Clutch: The K1200S had a very top-loaded clutch, so you barely had to pull in the clutch lever to shift gears. I also thought this just needed to be adjusted, but it was designed this way so you could fire off crazy fast gear changes - and let me tell you, it worked. It took some getting used to on the VFR to pull the clutch lever in further to change gears, and it's definitely a bit slower, but I'm getting use to it. Both are hydraulic wet clutches, and both have good feel.
Brakes: Both the VFR and the K1200S have linked brakes, however from what I understand, the VFR only applies one out of three pistons for the rear brake when the front lever is depressed, and only 5 out of the 6 front pistons. The rear brake foot lever applies two rear pistons and the other front piston. It's a bit odd, but it works. However you can't just use only the handlebar brake lever, and that's good, as it's a bad habit anyway. The K1200S front lever operated both brakes fully, and then the rear brake foot lever just operated the rear brake completely independent of the front.
I do miss having ABS, just as a safety precaution, even though I don't think I ever locked a wheel on the K1200S. As I mentioned earlier, the tires on the VFR are dry, and the brake fluid needs to be flushed, so I can't accurately compare the brakes. As of right now, the K1200S seemed to have stronger brakes. Once I flush the system on the VFR I'll revisit this topic.
Seating Position: On the K1200S I felt like I was sitting "in" the bike, whereas on the VFR I feel like I'm sitting on top of it. The reach on the VFR is a bit more forward than the K1200S, which I found surprising. My knees do feel a bit more cramped on the VFR as well, but neither is really uncomfortable. Granted the longest ride I have done is 130 miles from Richmond back to Herndon, but it was fine. I did tak the K1200S on a 700 mile round trip down to Danville and back, and as with any bike, it did get a bit uncomfortable (my knees and ass) after about 3 hours.
Driveshaft/Chain: As you know, the VFR has a chain, and the K1200S has a driveshaft. It seems like the chain is smoother than the driveshaft on the K1200S, as often times it would "jolt" the bike. However, I *hate* having a chain and needing to clean/adjust it, but whatever. The K1200S needed final drive fluid changes, and that was a huge pain in the ass, as there was no drain plug. To drain the fluid, the driveshaft and rear housing needs to be disassembled and dropped down so the fluid could drain out the fill plug. Then the splines on the shaft needed to be lubricated. This was done at 600 miles and then at 12k intervals. So it's up in the air which is more time consuming.
Looks: This is completely subjective, but I think both bikes look amazing. I loved the K1200S because I had the tri-color paint job and blue wheels. The VFR has nice themes going for it, with four headlights, four tailpipes, and an angular theme. Not to mention it is metallic red, which is probably my favorite color for any vehicle. I also love the under seat exhaust, which my Triumph had.
That's all I can think of for right now. The VFR keeps growing on my every day. With the fresh oil, snorkel/flapper removed, the bike feels much more powerful and has an amazing sound as well. Once I flush the brake system, get new rubber, and have a chance to really go on a longer ride and hit some twisties, I'll post another update to this thread.
- Anthony
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