Questions to which there is probably no answer...

[Hitcher]

Should I test ride a Honda VFR800 and would I enjoy the experience?

If I wanted to test ride one, where would I go and would I have to "buy" the bike first?

Why are franchise dealers all moderately piss poor about marketing bikes?

Why don't the master agents invest more in demo models? People won't buy what they can't see and kick the tyres of...

[vifferman]

Should I test ride a Honda VFR800 and would I enjoy the experience?Yes. Probably not inasmuch as you'd find it a bit slow after the ZRex.


If I wanted to test ride one, where would I go and would I have to "buy" the bike first?Any dealer what has one should let you have a ride. I test rode lots of bikes at dealers in the quest for a VFR replacement, then went and bought summat else (the FahrtSturm).


Why are franchise dealers all moderately piss poor about marketing bikes?They're not all moderately piss poor. Some are exceedingly piss poor, and some are just slightly piss poor. And some are just poor.


Why don't the master agents invest more in demo models? People won't buy what they can't see and kick the tyres of...What I want to know is why BlueWhinge Honda don't have stocks of reasonably common parts, so everytime I order summat it has to come from Japan.
OTOH, they (Blue Whinge) have had some good demo days.

[Dr Bob]

Are you suggesting that there might be a reason not to go and ride a bike that you haven't ridden before that belongs to someone else?

[jrandom]

Should I test ride a Honda VFR800 and would I enjoy the experience?

I'm presuming Sir refers to the pre-VTEC model.

[jrandom]

People won't buy what they can't see and kick the tyres of...

There were over 2000 Rocket III orders already placed by the release date, IIRC.

I'm not sure that VFRs can claim quite the same sexiness coefficient, though.

I mean, what kind of person wakes up in the morning, thinks "Gawd! My current bike is far too exciting!", and phones an order through to the dealer for a new VFR?

[Blackbird]

I know there has been quite a lot of controversy over the V-tec model because of it's high servicing costs. On the VFR site in the UK, costs of 500 quid (~$1500) are not uncommon where checking the valve gear is concerned :calm:

Overall, the VFR is a fine all-round bike. The Blackbird doesn't have v-tec (yet) if you want a bigger capacity machine with the legendary Honda build quality :not:

Geoff

[Hitcher]

Are you suggesting that there might be a reason not to go and ride a bike that you haven't ridden before that belongs to someone else?
Maybe, maybe not...