New bike - VFR 800?

**raziel1983** · 28th February 2009, 15:36

Hi guy's longtime lurker first time poster!

Moving off a ZR250, I'm looking for something abit bigger (I'm 6'3"), more comfortable at speed (fairings) and with a comfortable seating posistion for longer trips!

I Had been looking at things like SV650s/CBR600f/ER6f/Bandit 600s, I sat on a SV1000 and I don't think I could handle the bar height, the ER6's are abit feminine looking to me, I've heard Bandits are heavy bikes with old tech so the CBR600f was leading the pack... Until I payed a visit to the local Suzuki dealer who had a 1999 VFR800, The bike seems to tick the size/comfort/fairing boxes and I really like the look of it to boot!

So I'm here looking for some opinions on this bike, or perhaps a good alternative I've missed, And is $7000 a good price for a "mint" 2000 model with 50000ish K's?

Cheers!

**AllanB** · 28th February 2009, 16:45

Welcome -you'll find there are plenty of opinions on KB

SV1000 - Rapid Art in Hamilton make a higher bar for these if that was the only bother. Nice bikes and well priced.

VFR800 - I've always liked them and you'll be hard pressed to find a owner who does not. GSXR riders don't, but they don't like anything that does not have GSXR in it.

Bandits - nothing wrong with these - great all rounders and last forever. The older oil cooled engine was replaced 2 years ago with a 1250 water cooled one. Don't worry about the air/oil engine - its a strong beast.

FJ1300 - take a look at these, you can add a screen and bags for touring.

GSX1400 - as per the FJ

Hornet 900 (oh yeah baby) - there is/was one on Trademe with a full set of bags set-up for touring. I highly recommend Hornets. You may find them a tad small at 6'3, but worth a look.

Then there are those Italian things.....

**vifferman** · 28th February 2009, 18:35

I love VFR800s long time. Had my current one (2001) 4 years and four munces.
But if you're 6 feet and 3 inches, then maybe you need a Suzuki 1200/1250, or FJ1300 or summat?

**Swoop** · 28th February 2009, 18:51

Good questions.
I'm 6-2 and on an '07. It fits bloody well. The seat is comfortable on longer runs and any leg issues are pathetic compared to other types of bike.
The VFR is the best of the sport/touring genre. Decent for longer hauls and still capable of getting you into the twisties with a huge smile on your face!
Price is difficult to say. Viffers seem to hold their price and you rarely see them up for sale.

**raziel1983** · 28th February 2009, 19:03

Originally Posted by vifferman

I love VFR800s long time. Had my current one (2001) 4 years and four munces.
But if you're 6 feet and 3 inches, then maybe you need a Suzuki 1200/1250, or FJ1300 or summat?

I Actually had a ride on a friends 05 FJR1300 and yeah its definitely a real nice big bike! but its possibly a little TOO big for what im after and perhaps leaning a little too far to the full on tourer side, And I really want to keep the budget around the 7k or lower mark at this stage!

Thanks for the suggestions guys, certainly gives me abit to think about.

**raziel1983** · 28th February 2009, 19:14

Originally Posted by Swoop

Good questions.
I'm 6-2 and on an '07. It fits bloody well. The seat is comfortable on longer runs and any leg issues are pathetic compared to other types of bike.
The VFR is the best of the sport/touring genre. Decent for longer hauls and still capable of getting you into the twisties with a huge smile on your face!
Price is difficult to say. Viffers seem to hold their price and you rarely see them up for sale.

Awesome, This is what I wanted to hear! I really am quite sold on the VFR already, I'm going down to take it for a squirt next week to see if we're compatible, judging from your experiences though, I'd say we'll get along just fine!

**Taz** · 28th February 2009, 19:30

Whats this FJ1300 you guys talking about??? An FJR1300 or an XJ1300?? wouldn't get an FJR for 7k.

**Wingnut** · 28th February 2009, 19:56

Originally Posted by AllanB

\GSXR riders don't, but they don't like anything that does not have GSXR in it.

I like them very much indeed - your broad generalisation of GSXR owners is misfounded my friend.

**carver** · 28th February 2009, 20:18

VFR 800's are over rated and boring
SV1000's are gutless for what they are.

a old GSXR is good, there is a nice SRAD 750 on trade me for 5k~

the ER6 is a good bike, also try a GSX650F, they are pretty bland, but pretty practical

**carver** · 28th February 2009, 20:19

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-201033580.htm

**vifferman** · 28th February 2009, 21:09

Originally Posted by Swoop

Good questions.
I'm 6-2 and on an '07. It fits bloody well. The seat is comfortable on longer runs and any leg issues are pathetic compared to other types of bike.

Yeah, OK then.
I'm just over sux foots, and I find it reasonably reasonable arthritis nowithstanding (or sometimes notwithsitting).

Originally Posted by Swoop

The VFR is the best of the sport/touring genre. Decent for longer hauls and still capable of getting you into the twisties with a huge smile on your face!

It's a goodun alright. Be bold to say "it's the best", although it's come top of more sports-touring shootouts than any other bike over the last 10 years or so.

Originally Posted by Swoop

Price is difficult to say. Viffers seem to hold their price and you rarely see them up for sale.

There were a lot of the 5th Gen (1998-2001) for sale a few months back, and they averaged around 8-9k shekeldollars.
Mine's got around 50,000 smiles on the clock at a guess, and the paint's a bit rough, but it's got a few extras (heated grips, packrack, accessory fuse box, aftermarket springs and rear shock, Power Commandeerer, extra hornage, uprated lights, holy footpeg brackets, Satantune zorst, garage door opener button, righteous right angle alloy valve doofers, chromed civic wheel nuts, electronic speedo corrector, Evo Star shifter kit, blah blah blah blather blather), but I reckon it's worth a poofteenth of not much of ferkall. I've spent prolly 15k shekeldollars on it.
I sometimes think I should look at replacing it, but I dunno what with. It doesn't really make sense to not keep it till it's properly run in (another 50k smiles or so....)

**ducatilover** · 28th February 2009, 22:41

get a viffer! open the exhaust then give it to me

**Mort** · 1st March 2009, 07:44

It depends what you are looking for. There's only one way to find out. Try all the bikes you think might suit you.. VFR's are not for everyone but they are dammed good bikes.....

**Swoop** · 1st March 2009, 08:30

Originally Posted by carver

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-201033580.htm

gsxr. Not the nicest seat, if you want to go touring on it. In fact not the nicest of seats, period. They are like a piece of wood that someone has covered in fabric.

Originally Posted by ducatilover

get a viffer! open the exhaust then give it to me

Yes! Definately open the exhaust and let the V4 symphony out!!!