I want to go back to riding a V4 Honda,,,I currently have a 9 yr old FJR, as I'm 63 and not into racing and it's time for a new bike,,,,Just want a nice, smooth, powerful bike like the V65 Magna I once had..The VFR looks to be everything I'm looking for with the exception of the riding position...The tank looks very uncomfortable,,,but I've never been on one..I can't believe Honda would continue to make a bike to compete with the FJR and Concours that isn't comfortable for us older guys.....No, I'm not into iron butt competition, just like to get up at sunrise on Sundays and ride out to the country and when I get on 2 lane blacktop roads I'll haul arse and get back home before all the crazies hit the streets ..That's about it...
Is this bike comfortable or not ? THAT IS THE QUESTION..
I would like to suggest the VFR 1200 to you, but it seems like you might have seen its tank already and may not have liked what you saw. The VFR 800 and the 750's from the 90's did not have such huunchback looking tanks, but I think the 1200 is still more comfortable a ride, when it comes to interfacing with the tank and controls compared to the 800's and 750's.
PLUS you get all the HP/speed you will want or need. Having a shaft drive will also get rid of a some maintenance chores so you can concentrate more on just riding the bike. Only real negative that stuck to the bike was it's smallish tank/range. Otherwise, most owners had been very happy with the 1200, if it is exactly the type of bike they/you are looking for.
Get one while you still can and there are great deals to be had for remaining stock of the bike in dealerships.
You can play with this yourself at cycle-ergo.com, but I pasted together your bike with a couple VFRs. The actual site doesn't let you view multiple bikes on the same screen, but you can play with the vehicle customization (bar risers, lowered footpegs, seat height) as well as put in your actual height and inseam to get a better idea what the seating position is like. I've ridden an FJR and a 5th gen with bar risers and even then they aren't even close. I haven't been on a 1200, but I don't think that is going to be too comfortable either unless you start modifying.
[image: posturecomp]
posturecompSeating position comparison
I find my 5th gen comfortable, especially with the LSL handlebar kit for a more upright position. :wink:
I sat on a VFR1200 briefly and it felt just like my 6th Gen. Have not ridden one 'though.
I find my 5th gen comfortable, especially with the LSL handlebar kit for a more upright position. :wink:
I find mine comfortable, stock. If anything, the only things I'd change would be to make the seat higher, as I'm quite long in the legs (I'm just over 184cm tall). But... after riding it for over 10 years, I find it fine. The important thing is I'm pretty fit, so it's easy to ride it without leaning on the bars, so bar risers are quite unnecessary. Plus... at speed, the wind around the shoulder area nicely balances the slight forward lean.
I am completely comfortable on my 5th gen in stock form (53 years old). the key is to sit close to the tank. keep the balls of your feet on the pedals and be over 6 feet tall~
If you're looking to stay in the FJR/Connie demographic, don't forget about the ST1300! That's more accurately the V4 Honda that competes with those two.
What about a Cross runner? Would that have more upright ergos for you?
You can play with this yourself at cycle-ergo.com, but I pasted together your bike with a couple VFRs. The actual site doesn't let you view multiple bikes on the same screen, but you can play with the vehicle customization (bar risers, lowered footpegs, seat height) as well as put in your actual height and inseam to get a better idea what the seating position is like. I've ridden an FJR and a 5th gen with bar risers and even then they aren't even close. I haven't been on a 1200, but I don't think that is going to be too comfortable either unless you start modifying.
+1 cycle-ergo.com is definitely my friend. It would help to know the specifics of what doesn't work. I use a combination of gen-mar risers, rick mayer seat, and buell pegs to get to my preferred position. I sat on a VFR1200 with heli-bars and I felt like I was just as much at home on that as my 6th gen. I sat on a 2nd gen FJR and Concours immediately afterwards and wasn't as comfortable, but it wasn't a huge change, other than weight. The VFR is definitely lighter than either the FJR or the Connie.