XLR8's VFR

[XLR8]

I think the Asphalt color is a little too stealthy for me.  Perhaps if the wheels were powdercoated metallic dark grey or something to break up all that black.  However, I can see the allure of such a color scheme.  It begs to be blinged up though in my opinion.

Still shopping?

You know, the ultimate test of weather you are about to make an impulse buy is to give it the two-week test.  You wait two weeks and see if you are still very interested.  I think the amount of time you've been interested means you really are interested.  Go take one for a test ride already and/or take it home.

I always do the two week thing too.

There are none to be had around here. They don't sell. They aren't fast enough and they are too heavy.

I am still looking around and since my TE 610 sold I have money to spend.  

My deal with myself was that since I already have a gorgeous KTM 990, that I would just get a nice used VFR and not go excessive and get a ZX-14.

I'll try the VFR and if it doesn't work for me then I can get a ZX when I get done with my master's degree, maybe as a present to myself or something. But really, I think I'll like the VFR just fine assuming I can find one I like.

I would love to find a red 05/ABS with silver wheels. But I could get the red 02 and powder coat the wheels myself. I will talk to the dude tomorrow. I haven't been able to get a hold of him.

[MisterSmooth]

Sold the 610?   Yeah, so change your sig already.  

[Rogue]

I would love to find a red 05/ABS with silver wheels. But I could get the red 02 and powder coat the wheels myself. I will talk to the dude tomorrow. I haven't been able to get a hold of him.

I've seen the ZX14 in person and it is a well built machine.  Kawasaki lavished it with the best they have.  

I used to own a Hayabusa and it was similar in performance, build, and mission.  I think if you are really into speed, nothing will ever compare to these incredibly powerful machines.  The issue I had later on was not with the bike but the lack of a venue to really use all that massive power.  It wasn't fun having so much overwhelming power but not being able to use it as much.  With my VFR, I have just enough power to give me the feeling of speed.  Yet it is not excessively powerful as to greatly tempt me into doing really outrageous stuff--like passing multiple cars or more.  In other words, it keeps me honest yet very satisfied.  I hope you find your VFR soon.

[XLR8]

I've seen the ZX14 in person and it is a well built machine.  Kawasaki lavished it with the best they have.  

I used to own a Hayabusa and it was similar in performance, build, and mission.  I think if you are really into speed, nothing will ever compare to these incredibly powerful machines.  The issue I had later on was not with the bike but the lack of a venue to really use all that massive power.  It wasn't fun having so much overwhelming power but not being able to use it as much.  With my VFR, I have just enough power to give me the feeling of speed.  Yet it is not excessively powerful as to greatly tempt me into doing really outrageous stuff--like passing multiple cars or more.  In other words, it keeps me honest yet very satisfied.  I hope you find your VFR soon.

Rogue thanks for the info. My 610 just drove away so now I can shop even more.

But..you could pass multiple cars at once if you wanted to yes?  

[mtrider16]

  Pass several cars at once!  I did it several times last weekend, in the wind, and uphill.  Jeeze, the bike is a little porky, not a gutless KLR.  

David

[XLR8]

  Pass several cars at once!  I did it several times last weekend, in the wind, and uphill.  Jeeze, the bike is a little porky, not a gutless KLR.  

David

Ya know, one just reads so much crap from racer boys with liter bike envy or whatever that it's hard to know. I was watching a you tube vid tonight and it seemed like the bike moved along just fine.

[mtrider16]

 

Did the guy with the '02 call back?

David

[kevin_stevens]

  Pass several cars at once!  I did it several times last weekend, in the wind, and uphill.  Jeeze, the bike is a little porky, not a gutless KLR.  

David

Ah, but what about when you need to pass several VFRs at once...  

KeS

[XLR8]

Sold the 610?   Yeah, so change your sig already.  

I'm busy.  

[MisterSmooth]

I'm busy.  

Hey, hey, now.  I notice another sig line change...........

[Rogue]

But..you could pass multiple cars at once if you wanted to yes?  

No.  It's a slug.  

Of course you can.  But not in the same way you can with today's liter class plus bikes.  I mean back in my Hayabusa days, the only thing that held me back from passing as many cars in a single bound is the limitation of the speed I would be carrying when I get to the end of that line of cars.  That's because the Hayabusa accelerated and accelerated and the faster you went, the harder it accelerated.  So, you would be be at the end of a 5 car line up and you are now doing 150 mph and still accelerating!!    You can foresee the danger in that.  If one of those cars pulled out to pass as you are about to go by at 130+, it's all over!  You can do that anytime, anywhere on the Hayabusa.  But you can't on a VFR.  Well, you can.  But it will take longer to do.  So, because you know it will take longer, it gives you pause and forces you to be a bit more sensible and conservative when you pass on a VFR.  I like this about the bike because it checks my aggressiveness.  The Hayabusa rewards aggressiveness.  But you just know someday your luck will run out and fate will take it all back in one fell swoop!  

When I'm on the VFR, I feel much more relaxed.  I can easily dial up just the right amount of acceleration but I know it has limits that I can reach.  The Hayabusa felt like it had no limits.  That in itself made it, with me on it, a very dangerous combination.  That's because I found it hard to control my desire for power!

[kevin_stevens]

Don't be a slave to your willpower.  

KeS

[XLR8]

No.  It's a slug.  

Of course you can.  But not in the same way you can with today's liter class plus bikes.  I mean back in my Hayabusa days, the only thing that held me back from passing as many cars in a single bound is the limitation of the speed I would be carrying when I get to the end of that line of cars.  That's because the Hayabusa accelerated and accelerated and the faster you went, the harder it accelerated.  So, you would be be at the end of a 5 car line up and you are now doing 150 mph and still accelerating!!    You can foresee the danger in that.  If one of those cars pulled out to pass as you are about to go by at 130+, it's all over!  You can do that anytime, anywhere on the Hayabusa.  But you can't on a VFR.  Well, you can.  But it will take longer to do.  So, because you know it will take longer, it gives you pause and forces you to be a bit more sensible and conservative when you pass on a VFR.  I like this about the bike because it checks my aggressiveness.  The Hayabusa rewards aggressiveness.  But you just know someday your luck will run out and fate will take it all back in one fell swoop!  

When I'm on the VFR, I feel much more relaxed.  I can easily dial up just the right amount of acceleration but I know it has limits that I can reach.  The Hayabusa felt like it had no limits.  That in itself made it, with me on it, a very dangerous combination.  That's because I found it hard to control my desire for power!

Exactly the same for me when I had my GSX-R 1000. I knew one day I was coming home in handcuffs or a body bag.

[Rogue]

Then you fully understand where I'm coming from.

I thought that I would end up missing the power of my Hayabusa.  But you know, I don't and it's been over two years now.  Even when I had the Busa and my '01 VFR, when I got on the VFR I didn't miss the Busa's power.  I missed its torque though when I forget to downshift a gear or two.  Now with the Firebolt, I got the torque.  

I think that if I lived in a land where speed limits where more liberal, and cops weren't such speed Nazi's and sportbike-haters, I would want a bike like the Hayabusa.  Even then, I still believe the VFR is the best balanced bike out there.  It doesn't give you any more than you will ever need in terms of power and acceleration.  But it gives you a whole lot more versatility, quality, reliability, and overall competence.

[XLR8]

Well there has to be some kind of magic with the VFR. Ever notice that there's a VFR in 8 out of 10 pictures that show on the top of the pages here.  

[mtrider16]

   Some might say that UFO is biased.  I think its just a great bike.  

David

[mtrider16]

Ah, but what about when you need to pass several VFRs at once...  

KeS

   Albert said that FTL travel was impossible.    

Okay, that was a very sloooow reply.  

Thanks for keeping the conversation light Kevin.

David

[fxrbill]

Once again the sig line will be needing a change

[mtrider16]

Once again the sig line will be needing a change

   Looks like its been changed.  

David

[Faith7]

 They are '05 '06 '07 in crates brand new if you look and some '04 vfr's still in the crate. I bought a '04 last year new in crate for $6900, which I thought was a decent deal but not great. So far no trouble and satisfied in every way. They are out there for sure if you look. If you need more info I can put you in touch with a owner that sells them Honda's like hot cakes. He has at least three warehouses full of them and that is just what he has on hand, he also has a network of dealers he swaps bikes with. Just for an example, he had 12 '04 vfr's and a tractor trailor full of Cr250r and xr250's (last year model of both). All sold with in weeks once the word  got out about the sweet deals going on.

[XLR8]

Urban Legend?

I keep hearing about all these sweet deals on VFRs in crates. I called a dealer in Ohio about some 2006s he had listed on Cycle Trader for 10k and suggested the price might be a tad high. He pretty much went ape shit telling me how it was the most popular bike they sell and they will sell every single one of them at sticker price.

They don't sell here and they are very rare from what I've seen. The dealer doesn't even bother to bring any in because they sit there.

[Faith7]

Well that's why they are in crates and I'm riding one, why not you? I'll call monday and see what he has and let you know.  

[XLR8]

Well that's why they are in crates and I'm riding one, why not you? I'll call monday and see what he has and let you know.  

Thanks very much for the offer to do that, I really appreciate it.

I purchased a bright red 2002/ABS last week with very low miles. I have no idea why I'm so stoked but I can't wait for it to get here. I'm shipping it from the buyer. 

[Rogue]

FINALLY!    

Seriously, congratulations!  Remember:  

Also, because you made us wait so long and kept us in suspense as to whether or not you were going to be a VFR owner, you are now required to take some quality pics.  I prefer frontal/side shots when the bike is in a shaded spot (no sun means softer lines).  If possible, a pic with you on the bike so we know you really own it.  Oh, and none of those cheap sitting-in-the-driveway or stuffed-inside-a-garage-at-night shots!

 

On a side note, never call a dealer and ask for a "deal".  No matter if you think their price is ridiculous.   Most dealers are smart enough to know a REAL buyer from a shopper.  Know the value of the bike you want, then go to dealership ready to write that check.  You will probably still have to haggle it down if you find an older bike-in-a-crate deal.  But if you come in and show them you trully are serious, AND you offer a fair price (knowing its value), they will NOT turn you down.  Their business people afterall and they understand money today is worth more than maybe more money later.  Put another way, a sale today is better than a POSSIBLE sale later.  99% of the time they will take the sale today.  And if they don't, they will call you within 24 hours and offer the sale to you again!  

[ol Rocket]

(Snarfle)