About 6th gen basics- luggage, seat, exhaust

had some basic advice to seek from exp Vfr owners here,

1. Eventually all who uses saddle bags move on to buy hard cases- true?

2. The Givi v35 is best bang for buck considering its more suited shape wise for the VFr and adequate space- true?

3. Eventually all long distance touring type of riders get a sargent or corbin seat- true?

4. Exhaust can be drilled by just showing the drill bit into each of the four cans and making 6 holes- true?

5. Can some one point out where exactly the holes have to be drilled [ like estimate much inches from the exit and at what position (12 oclcick etc) ] Any after effects you noticed after years of use with drilled exhaust?

6. eventually even if you drill exhaust you will end up buying aftermarket cans- true?

Sorry for the long  list of questions, just was trying to figure out these answers from forum, but i felt most of the questions are sort of personality depended and people may have different input. Rather than just wait around and thinking about getting them done, may be this will help me make the decision fast and get to enjoy the perks early. sorry for typos, if any didnt read back as still in middle of work lol

My opinions
1 Hard cases are the best for touring
2 I prefer the look and fit of OEM cases.  Best value, order from David Silver Spares in the UK
3 I put 89k miles on the stock seat, depends on butt shape and weight, stock works better for lighter guys
4-6 I have out grown the need to make more noise

thx bad boy, i was thinking along the same line as well, have to keep the cost in perspective as well i guess.

how much will it cost to ship to usa?

:+1: What Bad Boy said--except for 3.  I haven't met a stock seat I could use without pain for long trips--and at 170 lbs I don't think I'm a heavy guy.  I have the Sargent on my 6th gen and it's fine for back-to-back, all-day rides.

Couple hundred bucks to ship but the price is right if they have your color.

Having a seat that fits is a very personal matter, not all asses are created equal.

Agreed, on the seat.  It's a personal matter.  Case in point, the Rick Mayer on mine is the result of a swap with someone who wanted a stocker.  I'm much happier since the swap. Concerning the cases, the difference between the Givi/V35 and the Honda cases is largely appearance and how much desire you have to keep it all Honda.  The internal volumes are virtually identical, and the mechanical operation is very similar.  (Givi made the Honda cases.)  I have the Honda cases.  They came from the PO with the bike.

1. Had backpack, softbags and moved to hard cases - night and day much much more convenient and dry
2. I bought the OEM since they look nicer and are made by GIVI anyhow. The Honda OEM hardware is a bit less conspicuous, too.
3. I road 100,000 kilometres in the last 6 years on two bikes with original seats. Finally bought a Sargent seat - it's not a huge improvement for me, but is for the passenger.
4. Still have stock exhaust - quieter/stealthy

[image: View Post]ninjadoc, on 08 June 2012 - 11:02 AM, said:

had some basic advice to seek from exp Vfr owners here,

1. Eventually all who uses saddle bags move on to buy hard cases- true?

2. The Givi v35 is best bang for buck considering its more suited shape wise for the VFr and adequate space- true?

3. Eventually all long distance touring type of riders get a sargent or corbin seat- true?

4. Exhaust can be drilled by just showing the drill bit into each of the four cans and making 6 holes- true?

5. Can some one point out where exactly the holes have to be drilled [ like estimate much inches from the exit and at what position (12 oclcick etc) ] Any after effects you noticed after years of use with drilled exhaust?

6. eventually even if you drill exhaust you will end up buying aftermarket cans- true?

Sorry for the long  list of questions, just was trying to figure out these answers from forum, but i felt most of the questions are sort of personality depended and people may have different input. Rather than just wait around and thinking about getting them done, may be this will help me make the decision fast and get to enjoy the perks early. sorry for typos, if any didnt read back as still in middle of work lol

thanks for the suggestion guys,

prolly gonna get the honda hard bags, One doubt will the givi top case and mouting racks interfere with mouting of honda side cases?

Still okay with stock seat,

and the exhaust, i like the quite one too, only thing is would like a bit more sound just for the video recordings lol, all i get now is a sewing machine hum, and people keep saying exhaust mods really bring out the v4 symphony. No idea how it sounds in person.

Most Aftermarket exhausts come with silencers now adays. My Leo Vince exhaust sounds great without them in. But If I need to Quiet it up a bit I can just slid those in and it is only a little louder than stock but with a nicer rumble instead of the stock hummm.

whatever you do, don't drill holes in the exhaust. Sounds like shit IMO.

When I first got my VFR, I wanted hard bags bad but didn't want to pay the price. I'm glad I didn't because I've yet to ever need more than my tailbag and tank bag though I've never done more than just 1 overnight on the bike

As for the seat, wait til winter and I know a guy I plan on sending mine to and its a lot cheaper. I loved my corbin on my CBR but I want to give this guy a try

[image: View Post]ninjadoc, on 08 June 2012 - 11:02 AM, said:

had some basic advice to seek from exp Vfr owners here,

1. Eventually all who uses saddle bags move on to buy hard cases- true?
I did.  Givi V35's and Givi top case.  

2. The Givi v35 is best bang for buck considering its more suited shape wise for the VFr and adequate space- true?
As already stated...OEM is made by Givi so just try to find the best deal and go for it.

3. Eventually all long distance touring type of riders get a sargent or corbin seat- true?
I weight 145 lbs and the stock seat was too hard.  Bought a sargent and it was a big improvement but still put a gel pad down for multiday trips.  Everyone's backside is different.

4. Exhaust can be drilled by just showing the drill bit into each of the four cans and making 6 holes- true?
Search for the DIY post that covers this in detail.

5. Can some one point out where exactly the holes have to be drilled [ like estimate much inches from the exit and at what position (12 oclcick etc) ] Any after effects you noticed after years of use with drilled exhaust?
See answer for #4.

6. eventually even if you drill exhaust you will end up buying aftermarket cans- true?
It depends on the rider.  I went with stock Yamaha R1 titanium cans because they fit great, look nice, are lighter, and are louder but not loud.  Total cost for me was less than $300 after the custom mid pipe was made.

Sorry for the long  list of questions, just was trying to figure out these answers from forum, but i felt most of the questions are sort of personality depended and people may have different input. Rather than just wait around and thinking about getting them done, may be this will help me make the decision fast and get to enjoy the perks early. sorry for typos, if any didnt read back as still in middle of work lol

Thanks for the advice fellow vifferians

Ordered the black OEM bags, well that pretty much exhausted the funds for now, will save later for another addition. As of now pretty okay with the seats and exhaust.

In future want to add the givi top case since cant find honda case. Will the givi top case and mount work well with the OEM racks in place?