Ryanme17

Have I mentioned that these are by far the best bang-for-your-buck accessory that you can buy for your VFR?

If the engine was properly fueled there wouldn't be a lean miss, which requires more throttle to make the same power. Cut out some wrist twist, get mileage back. I'd believe in the lean running thing if this engine actually liked to run that way, and it obviously doesn't. Sure, you CAN use less wrist when it's running properly, but who takes their suddenly smoother engine and responds by riding like a grandma? And yes, FI VFR's, especially 2000+ models do tend to run on the lean side. They do not run so lean that they are missing, or requiring twice as much throttle to make the same power, but it does affect how smoothly the engine and throttle transitions feel. I don't understand what you're saying, but now we're way .

I'm just wary of any protective equipment that starts with "kill a man...."

A Power Commander can delete fuel. It adds or deletes a percentage from the factory map. The reason PC's tend to hurt fuel mileage is that VFR's tend to run lean, so to make an improvement, you have to add more fuel.

I'm a 6th gen guy, so forgive me if my answers are terrible. 1. If you want to buy a new aftermarket seat people generally prefer Sargent seats. This of course depends on your butt, though. Sargent You can also have your seat re-worked for much less money. Something like this: Spencer 3. The PC also helps with throttle smoothness and transitions. FI bikes just are more touchy when they are too lean, but it is still just as bad on the engine to run lean. 4. The newer mirrors look better to most.

Wouldn't this make it easier to set up map-by-gear on a PCV? Since there is already a speed sensor rigged up?

Isn't the 2006+ ECU also map-by-gear? Or did you already do this with your PCV by rigging up a speed sensor?

Thanks guys, this is great! P.S. Either you need to set your bike clock, Kaldek, or you make VFR videos WAY too early in the morning! :)

Am I the only one who feels bad for Michelin? Taking all this crap online over 1 tire from 1 rider who probably messed it up himself?

The VFR is a heavier bike, you weigh more than the tiny Asian guy manufacturers seem to design motorcycles for, and you're riding two-up. Pilot Powers mostly see use on 400 lbs sportbikes with one smallish rider. Could just be too much weight for the tire is causing cupping.

A picture would be helpful, but it sounds like you need a new tire.

I am going to just paint my helmet the brightest flourescent color I can find. I will let you know how it goes, but since I recommend hi-viz gear to everyone, I am willing to bet I will soon be recommending that everyone does this. I accidentally went for a ride the other day without my hi viz vest. Within 10 minutes I heard a screeching behind me, I car came so close to rear-ending me she slammed on her brakes so hard the she ended up sideways in the other lane at a stop light. Whereas cars have avoided me for the past 10,000 miles with the vest. Hi Viz is definitely the way to go, I'm hoping with the helmet being up highest having some flourescent up there will help.

I could swing over to GH sometime if you want to try my jacket on, but I'm about 170, so it might be more like a scene from Tommy Boy than anything. Do you have gauntleted gloves?

THe PPOwer rear has an extened marshmellow edge, there's no rim support in this area , so you can get a waffle feel at times, especially since the vfr is kinda heavy for the tire. There's generally no traction lost( ever). I Run them up at 43 psi. But their life is low. I much prefer the support feel of the Proad2 rear over the Ppower on the steet. Hmmm, I don't know about that. It hasn't actually ever really slid out (or if so just a tiny bit, like the feeling of hitting a small patch of sand in a corner). In either case it's not a fun feeling and something I've only experienced on the Pilot Powers. I think it might be a general rule of thumb to say if you're wearing out the sides first, a dual compound tire is definitely not the way to go, but if you wear out the center first the PR2's can't be beat.

For the casual rider who doesn't live in super twisties (such as myself) who is not sure what to make of this thread let me add that my Pilot Powers with 2,500 miles on them look liked my last set of Pilot Road 2's with 7,500+ miles on them. Incidentally, the Pilot Power rear keeps stepping out on me under acceleration out of corners. My guess is that it cools down too much during the few miles between corners? Never had this problem with the Pilot Road 2's. So for a casual rider PR2 = great miles and great grip. Also, I've gone months without checking tire pressure, and never had to add air with PR2's. This might have been a mounting issue? The point is to choose the tires for your type of riding.

Why would one go through all that trouble of custom fabricating all the mounting hardware, then not paint the bags?

The ABS controller is under the side panels. Not sure how you'd get it to integrate with a 5th gen ECU, or if it even needs to, though. I've looked at a lot of Dyno charts on here and I agree, but we're not going to convince anyone otherwise. So timing is close enough between the two engines below 7k RPM? I guess I just ASSumed it would be noticeably different.

Don't worry about the throttle bodies and ECU. Keep those both 5th gen. The ECU will HAVE to be 5th gen. The difficulties will all be wiring-harness related.

So let's see: $4 O-ring $ O-Ring $8 in gas. You're $16 in for a throttle lock that doesn't work, and at best will require a lot to roll on and off. NEP or Vista Cruise cost $20. Just saying.

Definitely. As will the fact that you aren't drag racing it, no power wheelies, etc. A 520 won't make your bike explode into a fiery fire ball of fire as soon as you turn the key over. It just won't last as long. Isn't the stock gearing on 5th gens 17/43? Nothing wrong with lowering a few RPM's at cruise, either.

Yes. 190's are made for wider rim's, so you'd be squeezing a wider tire onto a narrower rim.

Reading what you have written so far, I would recommend going with Pilot Road 2's in the 180 rear 120 front (STOCK) sizes. You could manage to fit a 190 rear onto a VFR wheel, however, it will distort the tire's profile and have serious consequences on handling. Not good for someone who needs all the help they can get in corners. Also, if you need help in corners, you might want to consider slowing down...

That might be helpful if I spoke German....

If all you want is remote preload, I'm sure you can find a used shock off of an ABS bike for cheap. Having an 800A I can say that remote preload is super nice for riding two up.