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2nd Gen FZ1 vs 6th Gen VFR

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rigger4343

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Hey Guys, I think I have narrowed down to what I think I may make my next bike. I am leaning towards finding a good used 2nd Gen FZ1 or a good used
6th Gen VFR800.

I have ridden a 1st Gen FZ1 for only a few minutes and really liked it. I have not ridden a 2nd Gen FZ1 but I like that bike better from what I have read about it.

I have owned an old 97 VFR750 and I have ridden a 6th Gen VFR800 and I really liked both of them.

I am looking for comparison opinions of the two bikes, hopefully from some of you that have owned or ridden both.

Most of my riding is commuting during the week, back roads on the weekends. Sometimes with a passenger. One or two trips in the mountains a year with passenger and some light luggage. Normally I trailer my bikes on a longer trip and ride when I get there so long hauls on the bike probably wont happen to often.

Thanks for any opinions.
 
I' be owned all 3...Gen I & II FZ1 and '03 VFR with ABS.

Had the Gen I first and the the VFR. I really liked the VFR but really found I missed the power of the FZ1. The VFR was better as a tourer and a bit more refined. I also loved the ABS, the single sided swingarm, and VTEC sound. To get the bike set up properly requires about the same amount as the FZ1. That said the FZ is heads and shoulders above my VFR in power and sportiness. To me its really a toss up....I'm FZ biased though. My Gen II is an absolute beast now with the reflash and all the upgrades....I could easily add luggage too and have a badass tourer.
 
We have quite a few ex-VFR owners here on the forum and I've recently purchased one myself. Sadly, I have only put a few thousand km since I got it and don't really have any sort of proficiency on it. I will say one thing based on your post: If you're mostly commuting and hauling the bike on a trailer for trips, get the FZ1.

I really like the VFR. I like all VFRs. I like the V4 motor, I like the build quality and I like their blend of long distance capability with sportbike performance. The bike I had before the VFR was a Honda 919 (rip), a very similar approach to the FZ1 but with a different motor characteristic completely. It was a great bike, my favourite of any bike I've owned. It was agile and with loads of torque around town and absolutely railed on twisty roads. The only downside for me was long distance touring which got a bit tiring day in day out--thus, the VFR was my purchase. If you're loading the bike on a trailer and skipping all the mile munching and Interstates, the FZ1 will be a much better bike

:welcome::welcome:
 
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A few guys on here have either had the 6th Gen VFR or currently have one, I think Hail recently sold his and Dustin currently has one. I have had both. It has been a few years but my recollection was that the VFR was a great bike to drive at freeway speeds but it lacks power compared to what the FZ1 gives you. The ergonomics on the VFR are a little more aggressive so there is some additional pressure on your wrists compared to the FZ1. I thought the VFR was kind of heavy compared the FZ1 also. Other comments are welcome, I would imagine many people have ridden both. I would suggest you ride both as close in time as possible before making your decision. Good luck with your decision.
 
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cos_fz1 said:
The ergonomics on the VFR are a little more aggressive so there is some additional pressure on your wrists compared to the FZ1.
Click to expand...

This is what helped sway me towards the FZ. After a little time on a VFR I was eager to sit up straight..but, I do have a lower back problem. Still a hell of a bike, though.
 
I'm with everyone else. I've ridden both, riding buddy has a vfr. Great bike looks sexy (better than the fz IMO) I found the v4 to have less vibration than my I4. Just doesn't have the get up the fz does. I found myself shifting a lot more riding his vfr than my fz. You need to be in 4th on the vfr to get the same pull the fz has in 6th. I also have a k&n and slip on which really opens up top end in the fz and as far as I know his vfr is stock, so it may also benefit from similar mods.
 
Thanks a lot for your thoughts guys. I also have lower back issues but it was never my back that bothered me on my XB9R, (unless it was 8 hours on the bike), but it was knees and wrist that hurt me.

I think either one of these bikes would be a good choice for me. I don't have to have every last HP I can get out of the bike so the VFR would probably be okay with me as far as HP goes.

I really do not like riding interstates at all. When I do go somewhere on a bike, I almost always run the back roads if possible.

Normally I don't keep my bikes very long but now that I am getting a little older, I am wanting to get something that I can keep for a while, hopefully because I will be happy with it. How is the long term ownership of both? Cost to own, up-keep and so on.

A couple of advantages I see to the Yamaha is that it seems as though it is a much simpler machine. To me, that seems like it should be much easier to maintain and from what I know of the bike, very reliable. I also work for a Yamaha Outboard dealership so I can get any Yamaha part at dealer cost.

I do like the way the Honda looks better. And being that I have put seat time on the Honda, I am more comfortable with making a choice to purchase one but I feel very comfortable with an FZ too. I think it will just boil down to which one comes available to me first that I think is a good bike at a good price. Seems like from what you guys have told me, I don't think I could go wrong with either one.
 
Well I'll put it this way to ya. ANYTHING with an engine HATES me. I can buy brand new and it's no help. However both the wife and I ride fz's and all I've done to either is general maintenance. Not gonna lie and say I'm not kinda hard on my toys but it shouldn't be ride fix ride fix, and always something else to fix not the same thing 3-4 times.
Can't vouch for the vfr, but I don't think he's had many issues with that either.
 
Everyone hit on some things I meant to add but was typing on a small tablet and I didn't want to spend all day typing it.

The VFR does have a little more aggressive ergonomics which I kinda find strange since it is (or should be considered) more of a touring bike that the FZ is. I had Heli bars on mine and it was still more aggressive that my FZ and I found I got upper back/neck pain on long rides...getting that "I want to sit up straight urge".

Then the shifting.....this is what bugged me the most. Up in the hills and mountains I was constantly shifting to either keep up or stay in the power. Its a 750, but compared to the FZ it feels like a 600.

Also the VTEC engagement is/can be abrupt. I had a PCIII to smooth that out and it helped tremendously.

But like others have said, well engineered (other than crap suspension) like anything Honda.
 
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