I can't speak for all generations of the VFR, but my 6th gen offers decent weather protection, even with the stock windshield. I can duck down and put my knees in tight to the tank and avoid some rain, at least for a short burst. But riding through a steady rain you're going to get wet. This obviously isn't a full-blown tourer, but it's decent. Same goes for colder weather. I only wish I had heated grips, but I never got around to adding them.
Agree. I don't have an aftermarket exhaust, but Jamie rebuilt a rear shock with a stiffer spring for my weight, and one of the best mods on my bike is the Sargent seat. It has lasted years, but probably needs to be redone at this point. But one of the best things about the VFR in my opinion is that you don't see them everyday. I like having a bike that's a little rare where I live. Plus, anytime you go into a shop and start talking to people, when you say you ride a VFR they'll invariably nod and say, "Nice bike." That's pretty cool.
As for mileage, it's great to see so many 8th gens with some decent miles already. I don't have a photo, but my 2004 is nearing 96,000 miles. I'm seriously hoping to see 100k on it before the end of the year. I didn't ride much from 2016 to 2018, averaging just 1,500 miles per year, otherwise I'd have hit six figures already. But I'm fairly certain this will be my last season with my VFR, which has been my only bike since August 2006.