rlew

Hi,

I currently have a 2002 Blackbird which I love. The problem is, as you probably all know, is that the Blackbird is not the best bike for in town use. Long wheelbase, gobs of power, runs hot, not the best for lane splitting, etc. Not knocking the bike, it truly is one of the finest motorcycles I have ever seen or ridden. It's just that's it's out of it's element in town/commuting IMO.

I'm thinking of picking up a 2000 VFR for this purpose (and maybe some canyon carving although the Blackbird does just fine in this regard). I currently have a Ninja 500 for commuting and it's a great little bike but I love Hondas and the price seems to be right for this bike.

Question: am I just getting another Blackbird with a weaker motor? I'm hoping the VFR is a more manageable at low speeds, lighter on it's feet, etc. Curuous if any of you have ridden one and how you would compare/contrast it to the Blackbird.

Am I going down the wrong path here? Thanks for the input.

thechamp55

I owned an old interceptor and have had experiance with the newer ones. I dont think the Interceptor is any better for an in town bike.

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Growler67

Your Ninja500 would probably be better than picking up a VFR. I have a '92 along with my '03 XX. Though the balance and torque of the V-4 is superior to many inline 4's in the twisties, in town it wouldn't fair very much better than the Bird. I love both my bikes, but they are both best suited to open roads more than congestion and traffic.

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Uglystick

I ride my XX in town and on the open road and im happy with it in both zones.

Long wheel base hasnt been much of a problem to me..
Gobs of power are controlled by the right wrist position
and i dont lane split often..

Could you just modify your riding style a bit to accommodate the birds foibles?

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Growler67

Not in KommieFornia. My XX is my daily commuter these days and though I don't spend much time on the Interstate, it gets warm enough if I run into any traffic. Tollerable for the "boys" compared to the VFR, but still they both like to have air flow over being stopped in traffic. Their all water cooled and as long as the fan and thermostats are functional they'll be just fine. The Ninja500 may just be a little lighter and a little nimbler for city traffic is all I'm saying.

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rlew

Growler is right, in CA., traffic is a nightmare, even on the freeways. You wouldn't believe how much time I spend lane splitting. There really is no rush hour...anytime of the day, the roads are jammed.

Anyway, here's the real dilemna. I currently have 3 bikes, want the VFR badly and can't afford it unless I get rid of something.

The Blackbird...no brainer. It stays.

A Kawasaki Concours...a lengendary sport tourer. I ride this through the winter (amazing fairing) and when I have reaaalllly long rides. 600+ miles in a day is no problem. On the fence about getting rid of it, it is an amazing long distance, bad weather rig.

The Ninja 500....great in town bike. I can zip around, lane split, it's light, economical, dead reliable. I was hoping the VFR would replace this as this is the one I'm least attached to. It's more utilitarian than anything else and have no attachment to it. Paradoxically, it's the one I ride the most by far.

Maybe I should just pass on the VFR....there are worse problems in life. Too bad, been looking for a VFR for a while and the right one at the right price has come along just when I'm broke

Anyone want to adopt me or become my pimp?

Uglystick

Well I be happy to be your pimp.. but i will warn you i have found that i get the most costomers at 20 cents a time..

Shewie doesnt like it because i only give him 10% and he reckons its his hard work im living off.

Dont know what he's bitchin about he makes $262.40 per night..

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rlew

Sold...to the lowest bidder. 20,000 tricks will go fast.

Poundstretcher

Vfr is a nice set of wheels but I would rather be on the bird wherever I am riding

thechamp55

The XX VFR Concours and Ninja 500 are all sorta sporty-touryish kinda bikes, and all of a certain era of design. Someone has a fetish methinks

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rlew

Astute observation. I like practical, multi-purpose, bullet proof, low maintenance bikes. You won't see me riding BMWs or Ducatis even though they are sexy (even if I could afford them).

Uglystick

LOL where are you going to get a VFR for $400.00

Remember you only get 10%..

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rlew

We ho-dogs ain't very good at math.

I still say 200,000 tricks will go fast. Just more gangbangs.

59burst

Ditch the ninja and grab the one of the best bikes ever made. If you don't, you'll probably regret it. Seriously, if you had to, you could always grab another 500. Those bikes are everywhere. Cheap too.

X1rider

VFRs weigh about the same as an XX, right? No advantage there in a VFR.

CanadianBird

If you want a fiffer, fine, but for a city commuter,I wouldn't get one. I test rode a VFR prior to buying a Bird but realized I would out-grow it very quickly and passed. Stick with the 500, it serves the purpose, you have no attachment to it, don't have to drop any cash into it, it doesn't keep you off your Bird, it's paid for, who cares if you drop it or it gets beat up, you don't have to hum or haw, between the Bird and the VFR, you can leave it in the rain, you won't be broken hearted if it gets stolen. It's a no brainer for me.

Poundstretcher

shewie

Don't fall for his slick salesman routine. He's neglected to mention the lack of health care, or that he charges you for protection, advertising, and back seat rental. I should have recognized his dishonesty the moment he told me his blue bike was fast..

As for the VFR, it's just a bird with less power and a more upright seating position. Nice bike for your wife, though.

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dunedain

I owned them both a 97VFR and a 98XX for some years and all I can say is I finally got rid of the VFR and still have the XX. The VFR's v-4 motor made it an interesting addition to my collection and my wife laid claim to it. Both bikes have more merit than drawback but in the end the VFR was the one I got rid of. I miss that v-4 sound and power delivery for sure but thats about it.

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sv61

Funny, I'm looking at a used VFR right now. Less than 4K miles. The guy traded it in on a 600(!?!?!). All righty.

VFRs aren't any narrower than an XX (check the mirrors), so they won't lane split any better. As for overheating, ANY of the newer bikes of the GT ilk, get too damn hot, sitting in traffic. The older, non ram air XXs actually cooled better than the ram air Birds. The radiator shrunk some with the ram air, so the oil cooler had some air hitting it.

The side mounted radiator bikes all get pretty warm in stop and go traffic.

The riding position is better on a VFR, to me. Must be to a lot of folks, seeing as how the VFR bars are a big seller here.

The XX is about a bar riser, taller windscreen (and a little lower pegs, without sacrificing the already below standard ground clearance) away from perfection, to me. The VFR is about 30 HP and a little better ground clearance away from perfection, to me. You either love the V-4 or you don't (I Liked it better with the gear driven cams). I do. VFRs are almost like a Pickup Truck in a sense. Once you have had one, you wonder how you got along without it.

Pick your poison.

rlew

It's hard to argue with stone cold logic

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses gents. I'm going to pass on the VFR and stick with what I have. The problem with this hobby (like many other hobbies) is that you keep wanting more and more. One day I'll tell you about the 10 bicycles I have in my house. I probably need some therapy.

The tricking idea still seems like a good one though.....

BackStreet

I hated the 2003 VFR I owned for 6 months. The bike is top heavy, SLOW, hot, VTech sucks, and weird to ugly looking. HP is anemic especially below 7000rpm which is where most people ride. The side radiators a) don't work as well and b) blast heat on your legs. The underseat exhaust will roast your butt. The V-4 vibrates all through the bike. The style is dated already.

Powering out of a turn, just when you want smooth power, the bike sort of flounders then "surges" from 50hp to 65hp.

Attached Images

Honda_VFR_Dyno_Chart.jpg (48.6 KB, 15 views)

BackStreet

Any modern 600 will kick a VFR's ass any day of the week.

With a few mods you can make a 600 comfortable too.

I owned a Honda 600RR, put 1000 miles on a 600 Suzuki, and even a Honda F4i is quicker and has smoother power.

sv61

Be sure and tell Freddie Spencer how slow the Interceptors are, when he passes you on the outside, on that crappy old V-4!



My point is, with the right rider, a VFR is faster than lots of people think. It is fun to dust a 600 or even a liter bike, on a curvy road, with a bike like the VFR. Like the XX in that respect.



If I am at a racetrack, I'll keep the 600s in mind. When I am riding on the street, I'll take a VFR over ANY 600 any day. The F4is ior YZFs are really the only 600s that have ANY appeal to me, for a street bike. No doubt the Inlines are smoother, but that is part of the charm of the V-4. Like a 90 degree v-twin, you know it's doing something. Again, I think Honda screwed up by adding the V-tec. I still like the first gen, fuel injected 800s.

lois

Lois

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mikedevine

Where does he come up with this stuff?

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itsthemechanic

Have you thought of a Hornet for in town riding? Just sayin' It's naked, better to slot through gaps.

Strek

I guess its all a matter of perspective. I think the bird is great for around town. I live in Chicago. Very high traffic. No lane splitting in Ill. In the city you can often jet around slower traffic and the bird does that easily. I had a VFR for a period of time. I liked it. It was underpowered compared to the bird. I find the bird easier to ride around town myself.

chooowie

YouTube - Hitlers new bike

zwhits9

I've had 2 VFR's a 1999 and a 2002 bought new. Rode 30,000+ miles. I really loved both those bikes. The only reason I left her for a Blackbird was power and chage of pace. As someone else said, If I could have 145HP in a VFR. That would be perfection. Even now there is a list of things the BB falls short of the VFR on. Starting with the suspension. I'll right more when I get a chance.

My Vote Buy that VFR you'll never regret it!