blainerides
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Honda VFR800 "adventure" bike...now even more ridiculous than ever!
- Thread starter blainerides
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blainerides
New member
Sooooooo, this is my fourth VFR in the last 12 years (previously owned VFRs, in order of ownership, a 2001, a 2002, a 1997, and I now currently have a 2003...). I LOVE the V4 engine to death. Not vibe-y, not whine-y...juuuuust right.
In addition to the aforementioned VFRs, I've owned two Ducatis (Monster and SS 750's...), a Honda CBR1100XX "Blackbird" (put 68,000 miles on it...), a heavily-modded KLR650 (1996 model - EVERY mod done to it, courtesy of Dual-Star, etc), a Kawasaki KZ550 LTD "cafe racer" (1982, baby), and a CBR 900RR. I've always lusted after KTM 950's and 990's, currently lust after the sexy F800 GS's, and have rented/ridden/demo-ed many other BMWs (1200GSA's and R1200RT's) and Ducatis (Diavel Carbon, Multistrada GT/PP, etc). For 7 full years (June 2002-July 2009, I rode only my various motorcycles (no car, and no public transportation when it rained...), while living in the "perpetually-misty-weather" mecca of Seattle, WA.
After I got a car, I still didn't drive it that much...I'm a two-wheeler for life (my grandparents met on motorcycles...bikes are in the Stockinger blood, I suspect...).
Point in babbling all that out, is to give you a frame of reference - a window into my mind. No, I'm not 20; no, I'm not "inexperienced"; and no, I'm not bat-**** crazy. I'm not as rad as some of the lucky inmates over at ADV who have had longer "'round the world adventures" (or been around a few decades longer), but I've accumulated around 125,000 miles on street bikes since I got my motorbike license in 2001 (not too shabby for only being 32). Because of my modest, but relatively broad motorbike experiences, I'm a guy who knows what he wants. I'm also a guy who (as Ewan McGregor would put it...) put "knobblies" on a VFR sport touring bike. Ah, but why butcher a sport touring bike and "Frankenstein it" into an "Adventure" bike...?
Well, because A) I'm a ****in AmeriCAN, so why the hell not try it for a summer?; B) because she's been down a few times and has some cosmetic flaws, so she's a good test subject; C) because the VFR is such a wonderfully universal combination of desirable Honda reliability, chassis design, bodywork style, header routing (they "protect" the oil sump!) and that smooth and torque-y V4 powerplant that if any "inappropriate" bike can take me anywhere, she's it; D) because I have enough student loans to keep me married to just one bike for at least the next five years (if you have kids, DO NOT let them go to college, unless you can pay cash for it!); and E) because I believe, like the story of your own life, an "Adventure" bike is defined by where YOU make it (let it?) take you. Oh, the places we will go...
I'm posting a few "intro" pictures. The real "adventure" season is just now upon us (I pretty much just commute to work November through April, up here in Seattle), so this will be my posting place for ongoing adventures here in the PNW.
I'm not trying to turn this classy lady into a brute. No increased-suspension-travel mods, no spoked wheels, no jumping tree stumps. This is being predominantly used as a two-up (125lb wife) paved road/rough paved road/Forest Service road "exploring machine". Might hit some easier WABDR sections (probably NOT Packwood to Ellensburg), in the mid-to-late (drier) summer months (can't ford more than 18" or so). For a quick overview, these are the notable "dirt road" modifications, so far:
1) Continental Twinduro TKC80s (surprised at how "good" they are on paved roads; huge change in "feel" from Michelin PP's, but not scary, at all).
2) Rear suspension shimmed up 7/8" and front fork tubes dropped down 7/8" for equally increased ride-height front and rear (need that ground clearance!).
3) Pro-Taper 1-1/8" Contour bars on riser shims (drilled/mounted at top fork plate).
4) -1 F / + 2 R for more "git '"er goin'" down-low grunt. The torque is now more accessible at starting RPMs, though this increases revs at cruising speed of 85, but oh well. Will try it for a bit.
5) Adjustable MRA "Vario" windscreen to get air up and over my increased upper-body profile, due to dirtbike riser bars (sitting more upright, now).
6) Oxford "Rider Grips" strap-on "oh **** handles", so the wife is more comfortable (she LOVES them), when the inevitable evasive maneuvers happen and/or we want/need to lay down rubber
7) OEM Honda side cases (I mean, "crash protection system"), and Givi E52 top case (with Admore LED lighting kit). We need lots of storage room for extended adventures for two peeps. The top case lights and standard turn signals are hooked up to custom "hazard flasher" system. If **** breaks down, we have lots of flashy lights to be visible on the side of the road. Top rack on trunk for carrying two rolled-up sleeping pads and lashing down lightweight things like an extra jacket.
8) On-board: Expanded tool kit, medical kit, tubeless tire flat repair kit, extra fuel, Fiskars X15 #7857 23.5" axe (for removing fallen trees from roads), dromedary bag and filter, extra clutch and front brake lever, etc.
There is not a lot of acreage on a VFR (when compared to the gold standard BMW GSA or KTM 950/990/1190AdvR, and I do not like putting up with pork-y motorbikes, ever, so I've tried to be very conscious of only bringing what is necessary, to save space and improve handling as much as possible. Smart planning makes up for a lot of things, yet I must have a margin of safety for having my wife along ("iffy" things I might put up with when riding solo with some of my friends, to save weight/improve handling, is different than having my favorite lady on the back). Most of our "alone, two-up" adventures will involve relatively smooth (pick the clean line...) Forest Service/logging roads, at a moderate/safe pace. I plan on upgrading suspension front and rear, next winter, but for now, stock will have to do. Stay tuned for updates on mods (possibly a skid plate!!!), and reports on performance as the summer progresses. Happy trails, y'all, and hopefully we'll see some of you at the Touratech/Overland Rally in June!
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In addition to the aforementioned VFRs, I've owned two Ducatis (Monster and SS 750's...), a Honda CBR1100XX "Blackbird" (put 68,000 miles on it...), a heavily-modded KLR650 (1996 model - EVERY mod done to it, courtesy of Dual-Star, etc), a Kawasaki KZ550 LTD "cafe racer" (1982, baby), and a CBR 900RR. I've always lusted after KTM 950's and 990's, currently lust after the sexy F800 GS's, and have rented/ridden/demo-ed many other BMWs (1200GSA's and R1200RT's) and Ducatis (Diavel Carbon, Multistrada GT/PP, etc). For 7 full years (June 2002-July 2009, I rode only my various motorcycles (no car, and no public transportation when it rained...), while living in the "perpetually-misty-weather" mecca of Seattle, WA.
After I got a car, I still didn't drive it that much...I'm a two-wheeler for life (my grandparents met on motorcycles...bikes are in the Stockinger blood, I suspect...).Point in babbling all that out, is to give you a frame of reference - a window into my mind. No, I'm not 20; no, I'm not "inexperienced"; and no, I'm not bat-**** crazy. I'm not as rad as some of the lucky inmates over at ADV who have had longer "'round the world adventures" (or been around a few decades longer), but I've accumulated around 125,000 miles on street bikes since I got my motorbike license in 2001 (not too shabby for only being 32). Because of my modest, but relatively broad motorbike experiences, I'm a guy who knows what he wants. I'm also a guy who (as Ewan McGregor would put it...) put "knobblies" on a VFR sport touring bike. Ah, but why butcher a sport touring bike and "Frankenstein it" into an "Adventure" bike...?
Well, because A) I'm a ****in AmeriCAN, so why the hell not try it for a summer?; B) because she's been down a few times and has some cosmetic flaws, so she's a good test subject; C) because the VFR is such a wonderfully universal combination of desirable Honda reliability, chassis design, bodywork style, header routing (they "protect" the oil sump!) and that smooth and torque-y V4 powerplant that if any "inappropriate" bike can take me anywhere, she's it; D) because I have enough student loans to keep me married to just one bike for at least the next five years (if you have kids, DO NOT let them go to college, unless you can pay cash for it!); and E) because I believe, like the story of your own life, an "Adventure" bike is defined by where YOU make it (let it?) take you. Oh, the places we will go...
I'm posting a few "intro" pictures. The real "adventure" season is just now upon us (I pretty much just commute to work November through April, up here in Seattle), so this will be my posting place for ongoing adventures here in the PNW.
I'm not trying to turn this classy lady into a brute. No increased-suspension-travel mods, no spoked wheels, no jumping tree stumps. This is being predominantly used as a two-up (125lb wife) paved road/rough paved road/Forest Service road "exploring machine". Might hit some easier WABDR sections (probably NOT Packwood to Ellensburg), in the mid-to-late (drier) summer months (can't ford more than 18" or so). For a quick overview, these are the notable "dirt road" modifications, so far:
1) Continental Twinduro TKC80s (surprised at how "good" they are on paved roads; huge change in "feel" from Michelin PP's, but not scary, at all).
2) Rear suspension shimmed up 7/8" and front fork tubes dropped down 7/8" for equally increased ride-height front and rear (need that ground clearance!).
3) Pro-Taper 1-1/8" Contour bars on riser shims (drilled/mounted at top fork plate).
4) -1 F / + 2 R for more "git '"er goin'" down-low grunt. The torque is now more accessible at starting RPMs, though this increases revs at cruising speed of 85, but oh well. Will try it for a bit.
5) Adjustable MRA "Vario" windscreen to get air up and over my increased upper-body profile, due to dirtbike riser bars (sitting more upright, now).
6) Oxford "Rider Grips" strap-on "oh **** handles", so the wife is more comfortable (she LOVES them), when the inevitable evasive maneuvers happen and/or we want/need to lay down rubber
7) OEM Honda side cases (I mean, "crash protection system"), and Givi E52 top case (with Admore LED lighting kit). We need lots of storage room for extended adventures for two peeps. The top case lights and standard turn signals are hooked up to custom "hazard flasher" system. If **** breaks down, we have lots of flashy lights to be visible on the side of the road. Top rack on trunk for carrying two rolled-up sleeping pads and lashing down lightweight things like an extra jacket.
8) On-board: Expanded tool kit, medical kit, tubeless tire flat repair kit, extra fuel, Fiskars X15 #7857 23.5" axe (for removing fallen trees from roads), dromedary bag and filter, extra clutch and front brake lever, etc.
There is not a lot of acreage on a VFR (when compared to the gold standard BMW GSA or KTM 950/990/1190AdvR, and I do not like putting up with pork-y motorbikes, ever, so I've tried to be very conscious of only bringing what is necessary, to save space and improve handling as much as possible. Smart planning makes up for a lot of things, yet I must have a margin of safety for having my wife along ("iffy" things I might put up with when riding solo with some of my friends, to save weight/improve handling, is different than having my favorite lady on the back). Most of our "alone, two-up" adventures will involve relatively smooth (pick the clean line...) Forest Service/logging roads, at a moderate/safe pace. I plan on upgrading suspension front and rear, next winter, but for now, stock will have to do. Stay tuned for updates on mods (possibly a skid plate!!!), and reports on performance as the summer progresses. Happy trails, y'all, and hopefully we'll see some of you at the Touratech/Overland Rally in June!
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MarcFJ60
Adventurer
Having owned a VFR, I think you're crazy.
But that's okay - "crazy" people think outside the box and show us what can be done, they entertain us, and they aren't inhibited by norms of society.
Of course sometimes crazy people stand on the corner in urine soaked clothes babbling nonsense. We will need more pictures of the VFR in action to determine if you are the "outside the box" type of crazy or just urine soaked.
But that's okay - "crazy" people think outside the box and show us what can be done, they entertain us, and they aren't inhibited by norms of society.
Of course sometimes crazy people stand on the corner in urine soaked clothes babbling nonsense. We will need more pictures of the VFR in action to determine if you are the "outside the box" type of crazy or just urine soaked.
LandCruiserPhil
Expedition Leader
Nice intro
Do tell more about your wind protection and how effective it is.
Do tell more about your wind protection and how effective it is.
blainerides
New member
Pics from our ride up to La Conner from Bellevue (home). Weather was gorgeous, but got pretty sketchballs at the end...serious thunderstorm ****. Home safe, now.
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blainerides
New member
LandCruiserPhil, the MRA Vario is pretty great (still have to wear a SNUG, well-fitting jacket with no extra material to flap around), but I still want to try a Zero Gravity Touring screen sometime. I keep waiting for a used one to pop up on fleaBay (being as I'm going to hack it up with my Dremel and I already spent $180 on the MRA). If I didn't have the riser bars AND extra height shims (most VFR owners don't do this), the MRA would be perfect. I made my choice, though. No complaints. Will report back if/when I try a ZG Touring variety
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blainerides
New member
Here's a public album from our trip to the Northwest Overland Rally last weekend...took the VFR (two-up, with my wife on the back) on about 75 miles of the BDR between Carlton and Plain. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10103167382721538&type=1&l=540e22eda4