VFR vs. FZ1 vs. Bandit vs. Speed Triple

[ironbeak]

Similar market. Similar appeal - Upright ergos, long distance comfort, naked, good power. Which would you take?

[V4]

the 02+ VTEC VFR is my choice....the 91-97 VFRs are my favorite though...

Yes, I am biased only because I have one but it suits all my needs....sporty enough for backroad scratching yet comfortable for all day riding....

I'll have other bikes in my stable again but the VFR will always be my primary bike...

[budbandit]

Guess I would have to pick the Bandit for the following reasons:
1. stealth factor - few realize the potential of this bike
2. torque
3. tunability
4. robustness - 50k miles, still running strong
5. comfort and seating position
6. stuntability

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/051/654/749862-budbandit_wheelie8.jpg

[ttretas]

well, the only similar bikes are the bandit and the trumpet.

for long rides I would take the VFR although I've eard many complains about the V-TEC system that kicks in way to suddenly making a little dangerous to ride in the wet and while leaning.

for long rides and city it would be the FZ1. It's the most balanced from the 4 bikes, if you don't mind having a little less wind protection than the VFR.

bandit- see above

trumpet- sounds awfull IMO and doesn't look that good.

[V4]

Originally posted by ttretas
....for long rides I would take the VFR although I've eard many complains about the V-TEC system that kicks in way to suddenly making a little dangerous to ride in the wet and while leaning.



I dunno.....

I have the VTEC VFR and I don't have a problem in the wet or when leaning.....:teeth

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/051/654/750070-ohoh.jpg

[Corb]

The Triple is the best looking most fun bike out there, The Bandit best value/money, the FZ1 the best bike of the four and I'd take a VFR800 of all them
But I'd prolly take a astfalt black 919 over that too if given the choice. [only as a second bike, I would have to have a track weapon to be happy living with any of those bikes]

[thunderex]

kawasaki zrx.

[donoman]

I'd also take a VFR... good wind protection, good motor, good ergos for a passenger, and most of all, they are very popular and a lot of people have them and have modified them.

I think my next streetbike will be some kind of land missile with 1100+ cc's, but I do a lot of highway droning and 160 hp might be kinda fun for that.

[donoman]

I can tell you that Streetsquid on the forum has an FZ1, and that bike is VERY quick when he gets on the gas, I think it might even be as fast as my RC51 when it was geared stock...

[ttretas]

V4 , like I said I eard ppl...I never rode a V-tec, but from several owners opinions they like their VFR800 and wouldn't trade it for the V-TEC.

Maybe the guys who were complianing weren't just used to it, but it seemed like it kicked off real bad. This is in Portugal, I don't know if there's any dif for the bikes in the states.

Oh and yes, this bike is gorgeus

http://ymedc.introweb.nl/en/archive/street/images/fz6/fz6-studio-black600.jpg

[Union Jack]

Okay, my .02. I have a Speed Triple and love it like a rock but I wouldn't love it so much if it were my only bike. The 955i triple motor is a torque-monster and sounds like nothing on the road. Thay're very reliable, handle well (especially with Ohlins) and the brakes are real retina-stretchers. It also has the biggest :eek factor when people see it, or maybe it's more of a :bigbarf factor, especially in Roulette Green. But as an only bike, it's probably not as comfortable for long hauls as the others. I'm a little over 6'4" with a 36" inseam and can only do maybe 100 miles before I have to get off the bike for a half hour or so. Also, mine has a solo seat cowl which makes carrying anything other than a tank bag just about impossible.
All that said, it's also the bike that I daydream about rippin' on when I'm having a lousy day at work. It also passes the Starbucks test (ride for a couple hours, stop for coffee and stare at your bike for an hour) with flying colo(u)rs!
So I can't imagine not having one, but I can't imagine having one as my only bike.
Hope this helps!
:thumbup

[lfrc322]

Originally posted by ttretas
well, the only similar bikes are the bandit and the trumpet.

for long rides I would take the VFR although I've eard many complains about the V-TEC system that kicks in way to suddenly making a little dangerous to ride in the wet and while leaning.



Ive had my '02 since june and put over 6000 miles on it already, and I have never had problems w/ the Vtec kicking in. most of the time, you actually dont feel it kick in, but when you do feel it, its nothing that would jolt you off your bike or make you lose control over it. As far as im concerned, I wouldnt be giving up this bike for anything, but i'll probably end getting another bike in the future for a track bike, so the VFR can have some company in the garage.

[bsd43]

Originally posted by ttretas
for long rides I would take the VFR although I've eard many complains about the V-TEC system that kicks in way to suddenly making a little dangerous to ride in the wet and while leaning.

The VTEC kick-in is smooth, not a jolt. With ABS, I'd rather ride it in the rain than anything else...

Hm, this sounds like one of those "I heard it from a friend of a friend" thing, where the story gets slightly more exaggerated until it's out of whack.

The biggest VTEC complaint I've heard is the cost of the valve clearance check every 16k miles, but I haven't heard of anyone needing adjustment after checking... If I had a Duc or Kawk, that interval would have been two or four valve checks already. And even then it's only about $400.

[mightslip]

:teeth gotta say, my vote goes for the fz1<'cause i got one> :laughing it's got the "best" maintainance schedule...24000 between valve checks> yes i said "check because from what i hear <talked to a guy with 64000 on his already and from my own experiance < 33000 on it so far> it's rare anyone needs an adjustment..<R-1 same motor more or less. and i know a couple guys with over 100.000 on them....besides the bike does kick ass... and it's a couch on the long roads.....;)

[V4]

Originally posted by ttretas
V4 , like I said I eard ppl...I never rode a V-tec, but from several owners opinions they like their VFR800 and wouldn't trade it for the V-TEC.

Maybe the guys who were complianing weren't just used to it, but it seemed like it kicked off real bad. This is in Portugal, I don't know if there's any dif for the bikes in the states.

Oh and yes, this bike is gorgeus

http://ymedc.introweb.nl/en/archive/street/images/fz6/fz6-studio-black600.jpg

:wow

now that's a gorgeous bike..!!

what is that and is that coming to the U.S...!! It'd be a sin if it didn't..

[bsd43]

Yeah, the FZ1 was the runner-up when I was shopping for a bike (along with a YZF600R). The lack of wind protection was the biggest negative, along with no FI, and no ABS was why I ended up with the VFR. The engine is quite something, though.

[morthrane]

I'm not absolutely positive, but I believe that's the naked FZ6.

The half-faired FZ6 is being imported this year, but not the naked.

2004 FZ6 (http://www.yamaha-motor.com/products/unitinfo.asp?lid=2&lc=mcy&cid=5&mid=273)

[MrCrash]

If I only had one bike, I'd probably choose the VFR. It seems to be the most versatile of the bunch, with good wind protection and sporting capability.

I can't ride a bike with high bars out of a wet paper bag. Backroads on the V-Strom and a Supermotard that I borrowed last year were a struggle. That would rule the FZ1 and the Bandit out for me.

For the money, I'd probably opt for the Blackbird over the VFR. For the $10K asking price, a bike needs to slap a shit-faced grin across my mug when I twist the throttle.

The VFR didn't do that for me. Open classers do :)

[ttretas]

That's the naked FZ6. I thought it would be available in the US market also...damn, sorry guys for teasing you:laughing

[ttretas]

No doubt, but to mod it you'll have to cope with the fairing stay and buy the front headlight and probably the gauges.

[rsrider]

4. Bandit, the engine is old but proven. the frame is also dated and heavy. It's a solid motorcycle for the price. Nothing wrong here, but it's just showing it's age too much.

3. VFR. Sorry, but this overpriced POS is the most soul less fucking hunk of technology that I have ever sat my ass upon. I wanted to drive it into a wall just so the Luddite in me could urinate on it's broken, burning corpse.

2. Speed Triple. This bike kicked the shit out of the Aprilla Tuono in a heads up comparo in MCN. With the new price point from Triumph you are getting a machine that has proven dependability and performance in a package that screams LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! (If you have an ego, this is the bike for you) With a bikini fairing this bike will take you where ever you want in comfort and style.

1. FZ1. My wife owns this bike, and the more that it is around, the more I appreciate it. At 126 rear wheel hp, this bike can lunch most anything on the road. The ergos are spot on. the handling is superb. The R1 engine is a masterpiece (even if it is carbarated, it is smooth as silk). The styling gets better the more you look at all the little bits that fit together for an overall neo-techno look (it's very japanese, but when done correctly like on this bike, it is sweet). There are so many different aftermarket parts for this bike that you can make it whatever the hell you want. There is almost nothing that you can fault on this bike. The FZ1 is the Super UJM. If you stay alert the bike can be had new for as little as $6500 (that what we paid for it, $8200 OTD), and that is probobly the best deal on any motorcycle that has this amount of quality built into it. Yamaha set the standard for standards with this work of brilliance.

I still love my Triumph Sprint RS (and won't be getting rid of it anytime soon), but it's the love of father for his over-achieving bastard son. :)

[ttretas]

^^^ he's right:laughing

[ironbeak]

I'm an FZ1 owner as well, so figure my bias. From what I hear, the FZ6 will have a much mellower engine than the FZ1 & only slightly less weight. If you ask me, the 1000 is the obvious choice.

[Zerox]

Bandit 1200 all the way, it's the best bang-for-buck bike in all of motorcycling.

[SilverBird]

Originally posted by MrCrash907
For the money, I'd probably opt for the Blackbird over the VFR. For the $10K asking price, a bike needs to slap a shit-faced grin across my mug when I twist the throttle.

The VFR didn't do that for me. Open classers do :) [/B]

That is the reason why I bought mine. Does many things well and reliably while maitaining a tremendous fun factor when opening the throttle. Also, people tend to think it is slow.

Hugo

[Wraithrider]

This would be my choice!:D

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/051/654/763863-my_bike_1.jpg

[Zerox]

Hey how about this bike, it swings both ways! :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50042&item=2446365894

[pashnit]

Speed Triple (http://www.pashnit.com/bikes/speedtriple.htm) , by far!!!

http://www.pashnit.com/pics/speedtriple/TriumphStreetFighter-9.jpg

http://www.pashnit.com/pics/speedtriple/TriumphStreetFighter-7.jpg