Initial Impressions - 2007 Honda VFR800 Interceptor (Long)

[adg44]

Most of this review will be in comparison to my last bike, a 2008 BMW K1200S.

As most of you know, 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

[Snowhere]

Chains are way easier. I just lube mine about every 1k miles and I am good to go. I just put my third chain on my GSX1100 and I am sitting at 58K miles. So 29K miles per chain that cost about $150 sure beats having a Final Drive go south for $1200 to $1500. Plus you can change the gearing a lot easier. I went for a smaller sprocket set, to get better mileage as I do mostly highway driving at speed.

I too had the gear shift # on my R1100GS, but I do not miss it on the Suzuki. No need to figure your speed, you will be able to just hear when to shift. I can still tell with my earplugs in and my music playing in my helmet. It is just something you will get used to, just do not over think it.

That tach is messed up, but that is what they make rev limiters for. Unless you feel like taking it apart to change, or modify the plastic inlay for it, your probally stuck with it.

[nhbubba]

I agree that the chain vs shaft drive thing is overrated. Another strong pro for chain drive is that you can play with ratios very easily. Many gear up/down depending on what kind of riding they do.

Chain lube is cheap. Spray some on every time you fill up and check the chain every now and then when you think of it. It really isn't rocket science.

I personally have never had one fail. So reliability is just fine, in my experience.


Personally the only two gears I want to know are Neutral and top gear. Neutral is handled by the light. Top gear on my V-Strom is a simple glance at the (analog) tach and speedo. If the speedo is wound further than the tach, you are in top gear. If equal or less, you aren't. Simple as that.

That said, I reach for a 7th gear on the highway all the time.


Hear such good things about those VFR's. Someday I'd like to sample one for myself. Truth told, most days I would rather be on a Honda.

I rode an R1150RT once. At the time I was on a Suzuki Bandit 1200 myself. The R-bike owner was a good family friend that tossed me the keys one afternoon and warned me about "all that torque". I was underwhelmed. Compared to the Bandit it was NBD.

Do like those BMW creature comforts though. Heated grips? Yes please. Electrically adjustable wind screen? Nwice!



Grats on the new ride. Enjoy it!

[atomicalex]

You'll get the gear ratios down in no time flat. I too thought the indicator on the F650 twin was the bees' knees, but really, I can just look at the whole cluster on the single and know exactly what gear I am in without any issue.

Other than that, I am finding your commentary on the K as interesting as the comments on the VFR. There are a few things that I have come to terms with about BMW as just being facts. It is interesting to hear others talk about them, too.

[adg44]

Personally the only two gears I want to know are Neutral and top gear. Neutral is handled by the light. Top gear on my V-Strom is a simple glance at the (analog) tach and speedo. If the speedo is wound further than the tach, you are in top gear. If equal or less, you aren't. Simple as that.

Yeah, that was how I did it on my Triumph, but with an alalog tach and a digital speedo, it is much trickier.

That said, I reach for a 7th gear on the highway all the time.

On my first BMW R1150 Rockster, when sixth gear was engaged, I could raise up the shift lever without the clutch depressed. This was how I knew I was in 6th gear.

[adg44]

I went for a ride this afternoon through some twisties, and this bike is really, really fun. It is easy to throw into a turn and it feels very light. The bike feels amazingly solid as well, and the smoothness of the engine, not to mention the sound, is excellent.

I ordered some ContiRoadAttack 2s this morning and they should be here mid-week. Then I'll pull the wheels off and get the tires installed, and really see how this bike handles with not dried out tires. If I'm impressed so far, I think I'll be blown away once the new rubber is installed.

- Anthony

[nhbubba]

Yes. Those digital speedo's are a huge turnoff. Even the newest V-Strom has one. Everyone considers it an upgrade and I don't understand why. Personally, getting those dials to spin 'round is half (okay, 1/4) of the fun.

Guy at work has an older VFR800. Someday I might get the balls collected to ask him if I can borrow the keys for a few min.

[ambit]

:high five:

( Heated grips, taller wind screen, seargent seat, mirror extenders, trunk case )
You can find most everything here:
http://vfrworld.com/forums/forum.php

If you don't have the manual its a 209Mb PDF
http://www.xar.it/Download/service%2...tec%202002.pdf
if this link doesn't work you can find it with "service manual.honda vfr 800 vtec 2002.pdf" on the googles.

[adg44]

Yes. Those digital speedo's are a huge turnoff. Even the newest V-Strom has one. Everyone considers it an upgrade and I don't understand why. Personally, getting those dials to spin 'round is half (okay, 1/4) of the fun.

It is nice because I can easily see how fast I am going. But I agree, half of the fun was seeing the K1200S speedo move at warp speed.

[adg44]

( Heated grips, taller wind screen, seargent seat, mirror extenders, trunk case )
You can find most everything here:
http://vfrworld.com/forums/forum.php

What tank bag is that? Is there an OEM Honda tank bag?

And do you prefer VFRworld over VFR Discussion?

If you don't have the manual its a 209Mb PDF
http://www.xar.it/Download/service%2...tec%202002.pdf
if this link doesn't work you can find it with "service manual.honda vfr 800 vtec 2002.pdf" on the googles.

Already downloaded that, and I also purchased the Haynes manual. I like how simple this bike is. It's a nice change from the BMW which had a full on Bosch Motronic ECU and a CAN-bus system. I was hesitant to own that bike out of warranty, which was part of the reason why I decided to sell.

- Anthony

[nhbubba]

I like how simple this bike is.

That's funny. I moved from an I4 to a V2 because I was tired of dealing with 4 cylinders (and 4 plugs, and 4 carbs, and 4...). Was hooked on the idea of an ST1300 or 1100 until I heard about what a PITA it is to service those V4's.

Well, that and I realized what a mammoth a 650lbs motorcycle would be!

[ambit]

What tank bag is that? Is there an OEM Honda tank bag?

Manta XL http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...-Tank-Bag.aspx was only like $40 when I got it like 5 years ago.

I've never actually heard of VFR Discussion. VFRWorld seems to have died off over the last year. The VFR1200 seems to have horrified everyone away, lol.

[retrorabbit]

However you can't just use only the handlebar brake lever, and that's good, as it's a bad habit anyway.

- Anthony

That's a very good review Anthony. Care to explain your reasoning behind the sentence I quoted? Also, the type of riding you do may put a bit more perspective into how the machine functions.

[Mr Niceguy]

another one here!


I'm still getting used to it and because I live in a different country I don't get to ride all that often, but the highlight of every trip home for me is being able to go for a ride on her. The only exception I took with your review was your dislike of the vtec, has to be one of my favorite parts of the bike. Scared the crap out of me first time I hit it

[Spinnaker]

Will join the whoring. I find the VFR chain needs very little adjustment. I'm excited for your new tires.

[adg44]

That's a very good review Anthony. Care to explain your reasoning behind the sentence I quoted? Also, the type of riding you do may put a bit more perspective into how the machine functions.

That sentence is a bit confusing when taken out of context. What I am trying to say is that it's a bad habit to only use the front brake. On the K1200S, I found myself doing this a lot because the brakes were 100% linked and using the front brake lever applied both brakes fully. On the VFR, not all of the pistons in the front and rear calipers are utliized with just the front brake lever. So for maximum stopping power, both brakes need to be used.

- Anthony

[adg44]

Will join the whoring. I find the VFR chain needs very little adjustment. I'm excited for your new tires.

The chain had never been adjusted by the previous owner (or cleaned, from the looks of it), and it was still within spec. I find that it is hard to measure 1" of chain slack since the chain will hit the bottom of the swingarm before even 1" is measured.

- Anthony

[nhbubba]

I hate the very idea of linked brakes. Seems counter to the very idea of riding a simplistic machine like a motorcycle. The only thing worse would be an automatic transmission.

You guys like the linked brake thing? This is one of the things that has turned me off to Honda.

[Spinnaker]

I hate the very idea of linked brakes. Seems counter to the very idea of riding a simplistic machine like a motorcycle. The only thing worse would be an automatic transmission.

You guys like the linked brake thing? This is one of the things that has turned me off to Honda.

Other than it being fairly difficult to lock the back brake, you don't even notice.

BTW Anthony this is a great review and I'd like to see more of these from everyone.

[retrorabbit]

That sentence is a bit confusing when taken out of context. What I am trying to say is that it's a bad habit to only use the front brake. On the K1200S, I found myself doing this a lot because the brakes were 100% linked and using the front brake lever applied both brakes fully. On the VFR, not all of the pistons in the front and rear calipers are utliized with just the front brake lever. So for maximum stopping power, both brakes need to be used.

- Anthony

I have to disagree with your views on proper braking. This is why I asked about your preferred riding style. From my experience the factory brakes are quite lack luster on the VFR. A good front pad (galfer green is pad of choice if they make them for the viffer anymore) and a set of -2 lines transforms the braking. 1 finger is all that is needed with a firm lever and progressive travel. The rear brake lacks any type of feel, and on stock suspension, it upsets the bike more than it stops it. I find the suspension under sprung and almost zero damping. The bikes don't like to hold a line without a lot of input through the bars. Trail braking is a lot of fun though.

The VFR is a great bike, and can be made a lot better. Linked braking may work on a behemoth BMW, but is not needed on a well set up VFR. I, personally, consider the VFR to be a SPORT touring bike with the emphasis on Sport and are designed to be ridden more like a sport bike. The big bimmers, ST1100/1300, Concours, etc. are sporty touring bikes where linked abs, and rear braking will settle the chassis.

The chain had never been adjusted by the previous owner (or cleaned, from the looks of it), and it was still within spec. I find that it is hard to measure 1" of chain slack since the chain will hit the bottom of the swingarm before even 1" is measured.

- Anthony

1/2" up + 1/2" down = 1" total deflection. A little loose is better than a little tight (especially for loaded touring).

I hate the very idea of linked brakes. Seems counter to the very idea of riding a simplistic machine like a motorcycle. The only thing worse would be an automatic transmission.

You guys like the linked brake thing? This is one of the things that has turned me off to Honda.

Like I said earlier in this post, linked braking works well on really big bikes with weird geometry and weight balance. On sport bikes, it simply isn't needed. Between the front brake, rear brake, and throttle I can control the pitch of the motorcycle around a given turn and make the bike do what I want it to. On linked bikes I always seem to run wide or the bike wants to stand itself up. While doing panic straight line stops the linked setup takes away a lot of front tire feel. I like feel.

The new automatic 1200 is actually kinda cool. My mom was interested in one for a while and I was able to test ride the normal and auto bikes.

[adg44]

I'm referring to street riding. It is a bad habit to only use the front brake. Linked brakes make it easy to fall into this bad habit, as the front brake also controls are portion of the rear brake.

All of my bikes except for my Triumph had linked brakes, so it is "normal" for me.

- Anthony

[retrorabbit]

Fair enough. I am from the sportier side of riding where the rear brake is only used to control the pitch of the motorcycle while leaned over in a turn, or braking on a loose surface. On a sport bike braking principles are entirely different. The rear brake of a sport bike will get you in to trouble very quickly, and straight line stopping should only use the front brake on good clean roads. The two VFRs I've ridden/worked on were ridden more like sport bikes than touring with the brakes and suspension set up for such riding.

One of these days I'll have a VFR of my own. I think an FZ1 may be the perfect transition bike for me.

[Triumph]

I have an 07 as well, and it's got some great points, and some downers. It sounds great, and looks great from certain angles, and is a great sport-touring bike. On the downside, it looks weird from head on, the bar reach is uncomfortable for me, the suspension sucks, and it isn't powerful enough. For the price they were asking new, a fully adjustable suspension should have been included. But if Honda had just fixed what was wrong with the VFR when they brought out the new one instead of making a complete departure and giving us a butt-ass ugly version of a motorcycle nobody wanted, I probably would be riding one of those right now.

I'm interested to read more about your uncorking of the engine. I did an exhaust drilling mod I read about on VFRdiscussion.com and really like how it changed the exhaust note. I would like to make it sound even angrier. Oddly enough, I think it sounds better pulling at full throttle from low revs, once it hits VTEC I think it sounds worse.

[adg44]

I'm interested to read more about your uncorking of the engine. I did an exhaust drilling mod I read about on VFRdiscussion.com and really like how it changed the exhaust note. I would like to make it sound even angrier. Oddly enough, I think it sounds better pulling at full throttle from low revs, once it hits VTEC I think it sounds worse.

I used to think that too (engine noise at high VTEC) as I mentioned in my first post that it wounded like a cat being strangled. After I unplugged the flapper and removed the snorkel, it is MUCH better at high RPM as you can hear it sucking in gobs of air.



Are you around the Herndon area as well? Am I going to see you riding my exact same bike? I hope not!

Tell me yours is black...

- Anthony

[adg44]

I got my ContiRoadAttack 2s the other day, and today I pulled the wheels and went and got the tires mounted and balanced. For those of you in the area, I went to Brooks Cycle Center in Chantilly, and Jason is fantastic. Super nice, knowlegable, and he takes care and time to do it correctly. My wheels came back without a scratch.

However, I followed the Haynes manual on removing the front wheel, and I am not sure why it said to remove the front mud guard. It was very hard to pull it out through the fork, and of course it ended up getting scratched on the sides. After I had the wheel off, I was quite pissed because there is no reason to remove the mud guard - the wheel will easily come off with it still installed. It's not that noticeable (I'm likely the only one who would notice), as I compounded and polished a lot of the scratches away, but it would have been nice to avoid it.



I ended up putting a stack of 2x10s under the front exhaust headers and let it slightly rest on the boards. All the weight was supported by the center stand, but this was enough to get the front wheel off the ground. I also took the opportunity to clean the wheels when I had them off, as the previous owner never really cleaned between the spokes.





As for the tires, I love them. They grip instantly, low noise, and they just look cool, too. The turn in is much quicker compared to the stock Battlax BT20s, and I can't wait until I can really hit the corners after I've scrubbed in the tires. It's amazing how a set of more sporty tires will transform the whole riding experience. It also seems smoother and not as harsh compared to the Bridgestones.

If you're looking for a set of high performance sport touring tires, you won't find anything better than these. They also are a single compound tire that is heated differently in the center compared to the sides, so you have long term wear, yet great cornering ability, and no "transition" between two compound types. That was the main reason why I avoided the Pilot Road 2s or other 2CT tires.

- Anthony

[Spinnaker]

and looks great from certain angles

You ever seen that Seinfeld episode where his date only looks good at the coffee shop?

My VFR reminds me of that.

[Triumph]

I used to think that too (engine noise at high VTEC) as I mentioned in my first post that it wounded like a cat being strangled. After I unplugged the flapper and removed the snorkel, it is MUCH better at high RPM as you can hear it sucking in gobs of air.



Are you around the Herndon area as well? Am I going to see you riding my exact same bike? I hope not!

Tell me yours is black...

- Anthony

No mine is white, I live in Centreville.

[adg44]

I've put another 40 miles on these ContiRoadAttack 2s, and I have never felt so confident about a pair of tires before. The grip is absolutely insane, and the turn in is very quick. The bike just falls into the corners rather than needing to be pushed. I haven't even fully scrubbed in these tires yet, and they just feel glued to the road. If these last as long as Continental claims they will, then I don't think there is a better tire for sport street riding.

- Anthony

[mrothwell]

I've put another 40 miles on these ContiRoadAttack 2s, and I have never felt so confident about a pair of tires before. The grip is absolutely insane, and the turn in is very quick. The bike just falls into the corners rather than needing to be pushed. I haven't even fully scrubbed in these tires yet, and they just feel glued to the road. If these last as long as Continental claims they will, then I don't think there is a better tire for sport street riding.

- Anthony

New tires rock, don't they? Older tires generally get flattened down in the middle, so they turn slower, and when you get new ones its like a whole new bike.

[turbinepowered]

New tires rock, don't they? Older tires generally get flattened down in the middle, so they turn slower, and when you get new ones its like a whole new bike.

Reminds me I need to put new tires on the Nighthawk.

Someday, I shall step up into a long-distance bike, either VFR or Sprint (I harbor little flames of lust for each).

[adg44]

Someday, I shall step up into a long-distance bike, either VFR or Sprint (I harbor little flames of lust for each).

Save yourself the trouble and get the VFR over the Sprint. I had a Sprint for a year and it was utterly disappointing.

[TurboWraith]

Save yourself the trouble and get the VFR over the Sprint. I had a Sprint for a year and it was utterly disappointing.

As someone who had himself convinced that the Sprint ST was going to be his next bike, I cannot agree more. So disappointing to ride. Beautiful, yes...fun, eh.

The new Ninja 1000 is what the Sprint should be. But its not. So...I think I might buy a Ninja.

[turbinepowered]

Save yourself the trouble and get the VFR over the Sprint. I had a Sprint for a year and it was utterly disappointing.

750, 800, or 1200?

[adg44]

750, 800, or 1200?

Well the VFR800 is not as powerful as the Sprint, but it still moves enough. The VFR1200 is quite powerful - on par with the K1200S, but it just seemed huge. I don't have any experience with the VFR750.

If you were asking about the Sprint, it was a 1050ST, and mine was a huge piece of junk. I knew it was going to be a problem when I went to pick it up and the bike wouldn't start because the fuel pump was dead (and it was brand new!).

- Anthony

[nhbubba]

That's disappointing. Triumph has really been catching my eye lately. Especially as I find the limitations of my 650. I know several that ride 1050cc Triumps and love them. Speedies, Tigers.. no Sprints though.

Were I suddenly flush with cash I'd be at my local Triumph dealer taking a hard look at their Tiger 800.


I still think 800-900cc is the perfect size for a motorcycle.