VFR or TRIUMPH SPRINT

[Maha]

Which one and why? im looking seriously at an 04' VRF but like the Spint ST also, the Triumph is a 2000 model and both bike are similar in price, you knowledge on the pros' and cons' would be helpful, was also considering a Yamaha Thunderace.....YZF 1000 which is quite a bit chearper that the other two, which one ??

[Mental Trousers]

I'd go for the Trumpy as it isn't anywhere near as complex and gadget laden (ie expensive) as the VFR. The Thunder Ace is a good bike but if you can afford something else that's later then do that. Although I don't know what the servicing costs and replacement parts costs are like for either.

[Maha]

I did read up on the Triumph and the servicing is expensive so they say, and as long as the regular services have been done then its good for 100,000 km's if servicing hasn't been kept up then its old by 40,000 km's

[Fatjim]

That VFR looks the biz in blue. I'd prob go for an 05 ST over the vfr, but the old model ST? Naaaa.

[Maha]

I am leaning towards the VFR but will have a good hard look at them all because which ever one i eventually get, i will own it for good few years.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Pete's choice is the yamaha because he said they are all a lot of bikenot that i know what that means. mine is the vfr or the yamaha they are both nice looking bikes.Although the yamie is red and wont go with blue and white spandex

[moko]

All good bikes but if the VFR`s got the V-tec motor then there are plenty who dont like it and prefer the older model,servicing is apparently a nightmare as well and a full dealer service here will cost you £600 which is roughly $1500,maybe even more as that`s off the top of my head..and it`s not the kind of bike you can skimp on when it comes to servicing.Think I`d lean towards the Triumph but the Yams a really nice bike as well and vastly under-rated.Dont know where the comment about the Triumph lasting for 100,000 kms came from but most modern bikes will double that if you look after them properly with maybe a re-bore and a new camchain along the way.

[Maha]

The mag i read was ' Two Wheels ' and they stated that the Triumph service could be as much as $1200, the Thunderace gets a good right up in another bike mag, thanks moko for your input, and mental, i have a few months to think it over...........

[mdb]

Go the Yamaha, they are really underated and a lot of fun PLUS you don't see as many around.

[rocketman1]

Funny I was looking at the same choices about a year backie VFR vs Sprint
I bought neither, I picked up a slightly modified & alot cheaper Bandit 1200 with mod.rear shock unit, until I can make up my mind, since then I've heard so much good about the ol reliable bandit I dont know if I'll change, not bean spent on repairs, I hope you can say the same about the Triumph in a year or so. Lets know your choice and why?

[Triumphy Chik]

I'm on my 4th Sprint ST, starting with '99 right through to '05 (1050) and as of Monday a brand new '06. I have thought about changing from time to time, but to be honest I can't think of a good reason to. From my experience the services are well under $1,000 and are only required every 10,000 ks with virtually nothing in between. I have my '01 Sprint for sale now (if you are interested in looking at it) and still feel they are a great bike (handling, reliability & all round). And riding the '01 after having owned the 1050 for a year and 20,000 ks I still reckon it's a great bike and good value for money.

[moko]

Well this backs up what I read about servicing the V-tech VFR,this is a "how to do it yourself" guide to checking/adjusting the valves,pictures dont work but scrolling through will give you the general idea.
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=19621
If you get bored half-way through basically the guy`s saying you need to remove the radiator front wheel and god knows what else to do the job properly,guy here recomends taking the forks off as well so you can see where the £600 service charge kicks in.When I researched this bike for a magazine item I came across a bit on a forum by a Honda main dealer mechanic.He said that Honda sent out motors to train the spanner-wielders and no problem,however when they saw the bikes it quickly became apparent that Honda had modded the bike with little or no regard to servicing the complete bike as opposed to a motor on a bench....and basically that`s the only way to check the valves correctly,as the guy in this link says it`s basically a matter of dismantling half the bike to get at them,and even then a special tool is required.Not only that but many dont like the V-tec anyway,bike`s flat before it kicks in and when it does it can be at all the wrong moments.Basically they`ve managed to turn one of the most versatile bikes out there into something as peaky as the old 70`s 2-strokes.Given the performance needed to just do part of the servicing(needs doing only every 16,000 miles but still way too complex and expensive) you`d also want to have 100% faith in the guy doing the job.
Going rate here is 600 quid(main dealer price) as I told you before and the exact conversion using today`s exchange rate makes that $1711 ......for a bloody bike service...and on a flawed bike at that.Have you considered a Blackbird? Similar kind of thing to the YZF1000.

[Maha]

Cheers for that moko, and yea i was looking at blackbirds today in a mag i get, might have a closer look at them, have a search online etc. We have a Honda dealer here now so i will go have a talk to them, they will hopefully be honest.

[dangerous]

Two differant bikes these.
I'd go the Triumph, why cos I like something different... the Triumph will hold its price better and has something that Jap bikes dont.

The VFR is a awesome bike, nothing wrong with them at all... 24000k is a dear service (engine out IIRC) but other than that one of the best bikes to come from the Nips.

Tiz a hard choice to make, specially if you have only owned Jappers, but once you break that tradition, I bet ya wont look back. having said that non Jappers arnt for every one, and thers nothing wrong with that.
Good luck chosing.

[Maha]

The three bike i am looking at will all suit my needs, the YZF 1000 seems to have balls, the VFR is very very styleeeee and the ST is a Triumph, need i say more, great to get feed back from you guys, your thoughts help......

[Insanity_rules]

Me I'd go the honda. But I've had a few hondas and no matter how technical they seem to handle a rather good hiding. Servicing cost is about middle of the road and everyone I've ever had has handled like its on rails.

[gingle]

Might just dispel a couple myths about the V-Tec VFR
Servicing is only slightly dearer than the previous model. Approx $4-500Aus
Yes there is a special tool required, but all dealers should have it.
NO! the engine does not have to come out:scratch:

[vifferman]

... but I'll still tell the truth.
It's really your choice, according to what does it for you.
I'd really like to test-ride a Sprint, but even if it really turned me on and I loved it, I wouldn't buy one, as I've read too many bad things about them, and it won't do anything my VFR doesn't do. And if I spent a few dollars on my suspension, my current ride would be better than either bike.
However, I'd still consider one as an alternative to the VTec, as I think the VTec engine sucks. How many motorcyclists really give a rat's about emissions, noise, etc.?

The latest Sprints have modified fairings to try to dissipate some engine/zorst heat. The quality of workmanship/fittings/metalwork etc. is still not as good as the VFR, with corrosion and poor fitting being not uncommon, as are seemingly unremediable oil leaks from the rocker cover, and spongey and/or faulty brakes. The seats feel more comfy, but slope forward a bit much and lack support for longer trips. Having said that, fitting aftermarket seats to the VFR is VERY common, as they are a bit firm and the shape doesn't suit all bums. However, the Sprint ergonomics are slightly better and comfier, so you won't need aftermarket bars or lower pegs.

Even Sprint owners will admit that the instrumentation is a disappointment.

But it's not all bad - they sound GREAT, they look kewl (better than the VFR in my opinion, especially the single-sided swingarm, underseat zorsts and rear-end treatment) and it's easy to argue that they carry more mana than a Honda, making them welcome amongst a broader range of the motorcycling (and non-motorcycling) public.

At the end of the day, I think you really need to ride both, and decide which one pushes your buttons. I think either one would be a great bike.

[WRT]

Same topic, but off on a tangent . . .

Tell me again, why did they stop making the RF's? It'd be nice to have a bit more choice in this genre.

[vifferman]

Same topic, but off on a tangent . . .

Tell me again, why did they stop making the RF's? It'd be nice to have a bit more choice in this genre.
Maybe there was too much overlap with the GSX750 and the Bandits?

[WRT]

But the styling was nothing like either. Good looking, fast and comfortable. Not many problems with reliability, and even now they are still quite popular.

A modern version would stack up well with the ST and the VFR I would imagine, but either the GSX or the Bandit (not that either of them are bad bikes, far from it) would be the obvious odd one out in the lineup.

[Maha]

Me I'd go the honda. But I've had a few hondas and no matter how technical they seem to handle a rather good hiding. Servicing cost is about middle of the road and everyone I've ever had has handled like its on rails.
Had a good long hard look at a spanking new VFR today, one down two to go, may not need to look , its a bit like choosing paint i feel, the more colours you look at the harder it is, thanks viffer for your post, Mr Honda man did talk up the bike, but thats his job, he even said somthing that you said about the Sprint so im sure he was on the level, there was a blackbird there also, very nice, at the end of the day these are sort of bike i want/need and i know Mr finance man loves me..............:rolleyes:

[Maha]

Decision made. Went with the Triumph, test road all three last saturday and would have got the Honda if i hadn't rode the Triumph, the Yamaha was great but was 3rd in my book, plus i got lost in AKL while out on it....:laugh: it had high pillion pegs and a few band aids hiding a few marks.

[Maha]

Off down to the North Shore today to pick up the Triumph, first thing to go will be the super sized man bag on the back....:yes:

[vifferman]

Congratulations, maha man!
Did you test-ride a 2005 Sprint ST? Very nice looking bike that one. Still, the one you've bought looks kewl, and it's the best colour.:niceone:

If you don't like the huge top-box, there are smaller ones, and there's one that incorporates a backrest, which I'm sure your missus will appreciate (it's also possible the backrest will fit on the topbox you've got).

They're a good delaership, are Holeshot, so that was a good choice too (unlike their neighbours...)

[Maha]

Thanks for that vifferman, yeah i will get something to replace the suitcase, and this is the 3rd bike i have got from Holeshot

[Hitcher]

I presume from the photos you posted you're buying a used bike and that the Triumph is the previous model, not the sexy new 1050? If so, buy the Honda. If you're buying new, buy the Triumph.

[crazefox]

Im fixing up a 05 sprint mate its nice i can do you a good price if your keen.
Send me a PM if you want more info:rockon:

[Biff]

The VFR is propoably one of the world's best ever all round machines. A great bike to tour on, but IMO, VTEC engines suck. However in terms of being fun to ride - the Trumpy wins any day.

Anyone seen Viffer lately?

[Maha]

Its Home safe and sound, met up with Busa Pete at Upper Harbour on ramp and stoped at Dairy Flat BP, im sure he approved, and nice little wheelie at Orewa Pete, bling for you for doing that.......:blip: Point is, i love the bike and have made the right decision, roll on sunday and the Great Northern...:sunny:

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Its Home safe and sound, met up with Busa Pete at Upper Harbour on ramp and stoped at Dairy Flat BP, im sure he approved, and nice little wheelie at Orewa Pete, bling for you for doing that.......:blip: Point is, i love the bike and have made the right decision, roll on sunday and the Great Northern...:sunny:
I found it. You sure know how to get a man in trouble don't you.is that pay back for the hillbilly thing
Very nice bike pete just said it had good leg room for pillion so i said i wanted one.Look forward to seeing it on sunday.

[Maha]

The wheelie thing??..... opps, might not have been you, might have been, um, um, um, nah it was you.............:eek:

[Mr. Peanut]

Whoever said that vtec was peaky...

I thought the whole idea was to give you a flexible engine?

[Highlander]

What was it that clinched the deal in favour of the Triumph.?

I'm a couple years away (short of winning LOTTO) from making a change, but am thinking of the VFR / Triumph being the prime contenders.
This is based on looks and what I have read, never ridden either and too scared too (I know I'll gets the wants if I do).
Plenty of time for something to swing my view though.

[Colapop]

How's the new beasty going Maha?

[Maha]

How's the new beasty going Maha?
Love it, big ride on Sunday with the Akl/Nof guys, no where near up to the speed of those guys, but great being a participant of such an event. Was like years ago when i ran the Flatcher Marathon, i did it as a participant not a competitor and enjoyed it just as much, and the body feels the same as it did after running 42km, never riding that far before and will more likely than not.... do it again.....:yes: