Back on the old girl again!

[alexibrow]

I sold my Version R last year to a mate, and it's been sat in his garage ever since. I convinced him that he needed to get rid of the old stale fuel, so I went round to see if she's start. With a fully charged battery she fired up first time! So, what easier way to run the old fuel through than to take her for a ride? So I've borrowed her for a few days!

I replaced the SF with a VFR750 FV, and going back to the tiny 400 was a bit odd at first. She felt so slow! Then I realised I wasn't working it hard enough; the Viffer pulls like a train from 3000rpm and the SF has nothing at all so low down! As soon as I started revving the nuts off it, the smile was back on my face and I had the most fun I've had on a bike since our last ride together in November last year.

Riding the 400 again has made me realise what a good bike the VFR is, for the sort of riding I'm doing - fast dual carriageway mainly, with some really good twisties and roundabouts chucked in for good measure (A24/A264 stretch between Worthing and Crawley if anyone knows it). It has good wind protection, it's got bags of torque and power, cruises happily at 100+ (so I'm told) and feels well planted on the road. But, and it's a big but... it's boring! The Super Four is soooooo much fun; OK, it's not nearly as fast but it's so nimble and chuckable, actually caught me out a few times when turning in, taking too tight a line when it tipped in instantly, compared with the lumbering lazy old VFR!

So I'm thinking, I want to get rid of the VFR but I need to replace it with something in between. It has to be FUN!, light and nimble, fast, but with good wind protection, and reliable (I commute every day). I don't want a sports bike, nor a trailie-type thing. In fact, what I want is a faired Super Four with a 600cc plus engine!

Any ideas?

I'm thinking maybe a Hornet... Apparently the fairing off the 600 version goes on the 900 version with no bother

[meno]

Hey! sounds like you had a right hoot m8, i remeber first time i got on the sf it turned in so much faster than my gsxr it was shocking.
how about a fazer thou? reliable enuff ( bar the cheap uber stretchy chain they come with as standard), fast enuff and fairly good spread of power too, handles pretty good, nimble enuff for town work etc plus would be happy at your motorway/dual carriageway speeds.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/biker ... &R=EPI-242" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

my bias would always say speed triple speed triple speed triple... so i havent gone there lol

[alexibrow]

Hadn't really considered a Fazer. Wouldn't it be a bit heavy / tall? I'm only 5'6" with a 29" inside leg, can't get both feet flat on the ground even with the SF!

[superfourben]

Have you tried an SV? Both faired or un-faired version, not too sporty, very good fun to ride (very torquey), cheap on insurance and you can get a lower cut down seat very easily so that your feet can get flat on the floor.
Or perhaps the GSX650F, wind protection with full fairing but not sporty dropped handlebars? Haven't really heard much about them though!

[meno]

mm fazer thou is 2cm higher seat than yer veefer m8 didnt knw about your height till then!

900hornet is heavy too mind.....

[craigs23]

Riding the 400 again has made me realise what a good bike the VFR is, for the sort of riding I'm doing - fast dual carriageway mainly, with some really good twisties and roundabouts chucked in for good measure (A24/A264 stretch between Worthing and Crawley if anyone knows it).

I know that stretch pretty well. I'd aim to stay off the local bypasses though - takes a little longer in the morning commute, but oh so more rewarding riding the twistier roads Sussex has to offer.

If I was in your position I'd be tempted with a twin for lalloping along the straighter stretches - SV & ER6 spring to mind. Or maybe....even return with another Superfour? Plenty of people have made the change back (myself included) to smaller, 'buzzier' bikes.