Frogfoot

Thanks for all the positive comments everyone. Since writing this I have tried the Ninja 1000. I did like it, it felt a lot smoother than the VFR. However as Audible points out, you can't have the topbox and panniers at the same time. However, the main problem I found was that the seat was quite sore, even after about 10 mins and I still felt a bit sore 30mins AFTER I hopped off. And this was the 2017, which apparently has a more comfortable seat. Realistically the VFR is still top dog. My budget will not stretch to a brand new one, but there is a good selection of 8th and 6th gen second hand to keep a look out for. I will try for the 8th gen. However, I still want to try at least one of the Tiger Sport, MT09 Tracer or even the VFR800X before I decide.

Ok, first test ride, a 2016 VFR800F. This bike only had 40km on it so it was tight. The seating position seemed really upright, but having not ridden a VFR in two years and having just stepped off the Daytona, that's kinda expected. Everything seems kinda the same as my recollection of my 04 pretty much. I like the LED headlights, but apart from that, it is (my opinion) the same bike, only a little uglier... So no real surprises. It's not a sure thing at this stage. I'm quite taken by the Ninja so plan to test it in the next couple of weeks. I also thought to try a MT09 Tracer and a Tiger Sport, though they are somewhat a little more longer in the suspension than I was originally thinking. In the end, the option is still to see if I can pick up a 6th gen with topbox/panniers and go from there.

Hi all, been a long time since I've visited here. Like the new site After being robbed of my 04 VFR8 by an Evil Murderous Kangaroo about 2 years ago, I've been riding about on my Daytona (yes, ok, life's tough, lol) trying to decide what to do. I am right at the point that even though I love the Daytona, it isn't the bike that suits me and how I want to ride. So I'm looking at selling up and switching back to VFR. Love to keep both again, but the Boss has other ideas, and to be honest I can't store both under cover. I am perfectly happy to go out and find a 6th gen again, but I wondered what the general opinion are about 8th gen, now that they have been out for several years. I have ridden one but found little to mark it out as different from the 6th gen, some gadgets and styling choices not withstanding. Are there any consistent problems with the 8th gen? I'm well aware of most of the 6th gen (which to be honest I never really suffered with in 161,000km) quibbles, but a quick read through the forums here doesn't seem to highlight any with the newer bike. I'm thinking of things like the VTEC stutter, or the pair gains thing. I have a very short list of bikes at the moment, the 6th and 8th gen VFR8 and the Ninja 1000 has just slipped into the running as well. Any thoughts. What am I looking for? Something a little less highly strung than the Daytona, though to be honest she's very easy to live with - but my riding is mostly commuting on highways and larger roads (not city centre). Something that is a better mile eater, something that I can fit more luggage to. I've tried trackdays and hated it, I prefer exploring new roads and directions, not 500 times up and down the same road just pushing the limits. ADV and Nakeds are not being considered. Thanks all.

My preferences are top box first. Lockable and waterproof it's great for commuting and doesn't get in the way of filtering. Next is a tail pack for similar reasons. But not lockable and unlikely to be fully waterproof. Depending where your bike sits all day it may not be able to be left on the bike. A tank bag would be next, still no weight on the back and unless your commute is a twisty mountain road (apart from making everyone jealous) it won't get in the way (tank bags do ever so slightly get in the way) Last option back pack. Advantage of backpack is that if you are on and off the bike a lot, like shopping, it is easier to stop and jump off. The others need unstrapping if you're going to take them with you. Again a top box is awesome for this. Plus you can lock your helmet in there and don't have to carry it around. I had a top box on the VFR and a Bagster tank cover and bag. The Daytona has a tail pack and Bagster cover. The Bagster bag fits both cover even though they were bought ten years apart. The Top box was easily the best for commute and groceries etc. and is much missed now the VFR is gone.

Here's the long story if you're interested. http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/blog/143/entry-532-end-of-an-era/

My 04 had 161,000km on it by November 2014 when it was destroyed by a kangaroo. I think it had one stator, a couple of CCT swaps and I'd recently replaced the rear shock more as a refresh than having any problems with it. I can't see why it couldn't have carried on for another 100,000. Certainly it would have had about another 25,000 on it by now.

Sorry BR. That's kinda what I was trying to say too. You just said it a lot better. My bikes do thousands of km of near freeway commuting which really lengthens the life I can get out of them. Seen pics of your riding and you sure make full use of the tyre :)

Depends totally on what you ride it like. I had 25,000km (15,000mi?) on my first set and 20,000km on the second before the VFR was written off. The PR2 had about the same so it totally depends.

Comparing the Pirelli Angel GTs to the STs is like comparing the Michelin Pilot Power to the 2CT. The GTs are way better. I also did not care for the STs on the VFR and swapped them out pretty quickly. You can't go wrong with the Michelins either. I have a set of the Power 3s on my Hawk GT and they are incredible for street tires. I also tried the Power 2CT front and Road rear on my '07 VFR 800, and did not care for it myself. But the Road 4 GT has received nothing but rave reviews. I would love to try them someday but really don't think that I need them. The Road 4s are awesome in the wet but I don't ride in the rain often enough to need them. Yeah, the STs had a really poor reputation, but the GTs as you say are way better. I put about 20,000km on Road3 and was very happy. Road4 is apparently at least as good, but I haven't tried it. The early BT20s, especially the fronts were average. But the newer BT-23 are very good too. I think they are changing the series though as I now am on my second set of S020 on the Daytona and they are great for that so far. I think they replace the BT-16s, but sure. Metzler have always been a great suggestion for the bike. I haven't tried Dunlops since the original supplied tyres.

I've put about 30,000km on two sets of them on a 6th gen and been a great tyre in all sorts of weather both commuting and touring. Highly recommended

Having two different brands is unlikely to be a factor. If you've just changed the rear, how old is the front? Prehap's its worn unevenly, some tyres do have a tendancy to scallop (the old BT020 fronts were terrible for this), though not so much in the newer models.

Then More recently (crying face)

Short version. Ride to work and back on the Daytona last Friday. OMG IT FELT AWESOME to be back in the bike. LONG VERSION. so I spent the week testing my sitting position on the Daytona. It was so tempting with it there in the garage. Doc hadn't given me the all clear but Wednesday afternoon I started her up and headed out. I got down the drive and then pulled my leg up to the peg. That didn't work and there were a lot of weird aches around the knee. I let my leg hang and wobbled back to the garage, defeated. But I couldn't leave it there so the next day I got back on and spent about twenty minutes riding around the neighborhood. The knee is really stiff but not painful. This gave me the confidence to ride in on Friday. The ride in was great. A sunny fresh morning on the open road (work is halfway to the next town along some country roads). I stretched the leg out a couple of times. The way home was more sore - enough that I was nervous I had ripped something open. I got home safely and hoped I hadn't set things back at all. Saturday I saw the Doc and was given the all clear to use my leg fully. So no harm done. It is obvious that I really need to work the leg or it's going to lose a big chunk of range of motion. I have already restarted my fitness and will get back on the bike and the push bike to sort out the leg. Being back on the bike is so amazing :)

Thanks for the comments here and the last entry. Much better now with the doc giving the leg the all clear. Friday I commuted on the other bike. Leg was real stiff but it felt great to be back on the bike. Just got to work on the leg to keep it flexible. I do have a 2 piece (Berik), but as much as they are awesome protection, when the temps are down towards 0 or below (it was 4 that evening) they are no good for keeping you warm. At 110kmh, the wind chill has a massive effect and you can't spend 3 hours at -16 in leathers. I do wish I had been wearing the Dainese pants that match the jacket though. I had bought them about 3 weeks before this crash, but not worn them much.

I don't know if I high or low sided, but I suspect it was a low side at about 120kmh. I didn't hit anything as I slid, but am also pretty sure I tumbled as there damage all over my gear, front back, sides. The photos in the blog show similar but worse damage to my Dainese jacket as this guy has. My only injuries were small graze where the guantlet part of my gloves wore through and the large wound on my leg. But I was only wearing Kevlar jeans without hard armour inserts. The areas protected by the jacket were not hurt at all. I am still of the opinion that leather is better but QUALITY textile gear can do a great job too.