Looking for a new bike, got questions

delbuort · 08-08-2008, 5:24 PM

So...right now I've got a 2002 Triumph Speed 4, at least until Monday, but I'm looking for a new bike. I've generally been a sport bike type of person but I've owned pretty much every type of bike. I want my next bike to be something sporty but something I can still do a little touring on, which brings me to the VFR.

I've can't seem to find the info I'm looking for so I figured I'd go straight to the people that ride them every day (YOU). I see from all of your post the bike is a pretty good all-around bike and is pretty good for touring. I'm haven't found too much in the power department, or at least what I'm looking for, so here goes:

What is the power like?
Will I get ran down by any run-of-the-mill 600?
I've seen reviews saying it will give a liter bike a run for it's money...will it? Really?
I've been looking at other bikes like the FZ1, how does it compare?
Will I get ran down by any run-of-the-mill 600? (I know I already asked this but this one's a biggy, I've got friends with 600s. My last bike was a '06 Buell XB9R, handled great in the bends but was horrible asthmatic, I don't want to go through that again).

About everything else I find about the bike I love. I'm not looking for an all-out repli-racer, I would buy one of those if I were. I'm looking for a bike like the VFR as long as I can go out and play with the big boys on the weekends.

Thanks for any info you guys can give me. I really want to take one for a test ride but I'm stuck here in the UK until March and I don't have a UK drivers license so I can't do a test ride, I would have to rent it for the day and 50 pounds ($100) is a bit much for a few hours.

Thanks again.

Grover130 · 08-08-2008, 5:41 PM

Hi - Your first choice the vfr is the correct one, a true sport touring bike. The 600s will eat it up racing, but for everyday riding the vfr is easy to live with and the build quality is top notch. If you need the 1 litre power that fz1 is really a cool bike. I'm in the same boat, looking at the same bikes - Good Luck!

bonham · 08-08-2008, 5:55 PM

The VFR is going to have a very broad torque band and a nice horsepower kick when the V-TEC switches on at higher RPM's. It is an 800, so it has a significant amount of poop to get you moving.

That said, you're going to have to give up trying to catch the 600 race replicas. Given an average rider on a 600, you'll be able to keep with them in the twisties, but they'll pull away on every straight, if only due to the weight advantage. The thing you'll have to remember is when they've done a couple of hours and are ready to give up and grab a pint, you'll be geared up for hours and hours of more fun. The bike is comfortable, stable and has a wicked sound to the engine. You won't make a mistake with a VFR, especially if sport touring is your goal.

I don't know anything about the FZ1 that's not on the spec sheet, but you should probably go test ride them both when you get back to see which one speaks to you. Besides, by then, Honda might have a V5R.

Twincam · 08-08-2008, 7:47 PM

You have come to the right place,

and

The VFR is an amazing bike, its a really good tourer and has enough power for me to cruise along on. As its a tourer, your not going to get crazy figures out of it.

If your looking for something with a little more grunt, the Hornet 900 is a good bike. Its an ok tourer - as in comfort and ride position (BUT there is NO wind protection).

It just depends on what you want and what you want it for. Just because I say its a good bike doesn't mean it suits you. You need to test ride the bikes, and I take it your looking to buy new?

The new model VFR supposedly puts out 108BHP @ 10500RPM and 80Nm @ 8750RPM and weighs in about 213-218kg - Sound ok to you? (Honda VFR 800 V-TEC)

delbuort · 08-09-2008, 6:34 AM

It does sound like a nice bike and it seems like it would suit what I'm looking to do with it. I am kinda let down by the power I guess. I expected a little more out of a liquid cooled V4. The numbers are a little bit better than my current Speed 4 but the weight is a little more significant also. I'm fairly happy with the power of the S4 right now so if it compared to that it wouldn't be bad at all.

I really like the way the V-TEC is described. I know it's designed for better fuel economy at lower speeds, what kind of fuel economy are we talking about? How is smoothness on bottom end when just running around town? My S4 has a massive surge at about 3K rpm and there is NO power at all below that. It's really a PITA!

I'm not dead set on buying new, it would depend on what I could get used for what price. I just figure the bike isn't that much to being with compared to other bikes so why not new? How about the reliability of the bike? If I buy used is there anything I should look for?

Thanks for all your feedback, it's really useful.

kawalaser · 08-16-2008, 8:39 PM

If you know how to shift, you'll keep pace w/ the 600s. Aside from track/drag racing, you shouldn't have a hard time keeping up. The modern 600s have a slight power/weight ratio advantage, but it's marginal and probably not perceivable in typical situations (passing, etc.)

Get a 5th gen.

sscottab · 08-16-2008, 9:51 PM

take a look at the superhawk.

delbuort · 08-18-2008, 6:19 AM

So, it looks like the Super Hawk was only produced until 2005. What happened? How hard is it to find a good used one? Reading the reviews and looking at the specs it looks like it's just what I'm looking for.

sscottab · 08-18-2008, 8:12 PM

i have a friend who has 1 and he loves it great bike, there are good ones for sale just got to look.

kd4ysi tony · 08-19-2008, 11:01 PM

i have a 97 vfr750 i dont have any problems with it it a great sport tourer i love it the 600 s will pull me a little on the strightways but in thde twistes i got them its a all around great bike ive owned numberous bikes in the past but this one has been the best so far