Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: stormi on February 07, 2010, 02:27:12 PM
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I went and bought my first brand new streetbike.
Yes,.. It's brand H,.. but I still love you all,... equally.
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Congrats, you'll really like how well balanced VFR's are.
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Is this something like waking up the next morning with a tattoo? If you still have the receipt, maybe you can take it back... :stickpoke:
Congrats. Will be looking forward to hearing all about your new adventures.
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Way to go Stormi...
Based on your pic, I assume it is a new, non-current 2008 model? Great bikes...I thought I always wanted one, but I pretty happy with the Sprint ST 1050.
I guess we've both got a couple of months to go before this season kicks off. How much snow have you got there? Not much here, we are getting +2 or 3 C every afternoon, and only -3-5C at night.
Again, congrats on the new ride.
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Wow.... :congrats: on the new mo'sheen!!!
Guess you'll have to sign up at VFRD.... :rofl:
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Congrats, you'll really like how well balanced VFR's are.
It felt it in the showroom. It seems less top heavy than the 919 I ride right now, despite weighting a heck of a lot more. I also really liked the fact that I can get a lowering link for it. Not a luxury that I had on the 919.
Is this something like waking up the next morning with a tattoo? If you still have the receipt, maybe you can take it back... :stickpoke:
Congrats. Will be looking forward to hearing all about your new adventures.
LOL! I won't lie,.. I woke up the next day and thought,... "wha,.. what did I do!?!?!" But I think it's more like going to Vegas with an old friend that you're secretly a little attracted to, and waking up with a ring on your finger. It could be worse. :) It's not like I'm marrying a Harley. :rofl:
I can officially pick it up Mar 31, and they'll deliver it if I want, but it will depend on the snow. They also made the sale subject to a test ride (if I can get it in before Mar31st.) If not, I'll make my decision the same way I did for the Bandit, the KTM, and the 919 - without test ride.
The Mar 31 deadline is so that I get the 2nd year of warranty, and the 2years of road side assistance rolled in. I'm thinking I'll get them to do my heated grips, so I don't have to worry about warranty issues.
Way to go Stormi...
Based on your pic, I assume it is a new, non-current 2008 model? Great bikes...I thought I always wanted one, but I pretty happy with the Sprint ST 1050.
I guess we've both got a couple of months to go before this season kicks off. How much snow have you got there? Not much here, we are getting +2 or 3 C every afternoon, and only -3-5C at night.
Again, congrats on the new ride.
Correct. My favorite dealer had it left over. Actually, they have 2 of them. I get the one in the crate still. And I didn't pay near that much either. In case a bunch of you think I'm nuts.
Well, I am,.. but not that nuts.
I was never really crazy about the look, but it's started to grow on me. I'm still not crazy about the look from the front, but (in no particular order):
1. No one's going to mistake it for a cruiser
2. The mirrors will be useful
3. I can ride later in the year, and earlier in the year, because I will have some wind protection.
4. I can lower it if need be (it's a tiny bit taller than the 919 as best I can tell, or the sag is set higher on the one in the showroom.
5. Hopefully it's not going to hit me in the ass as I go down St Albert Trail anymore (I suspect the bad roads combined with the 919s flex frame contributes to me getting a smack in the rump on every bump. I've taken to riding that road MX style.)
There's a fair bit of snow here, and we're "seasonal", so around the -10C mark,.... And now I"m stir crazy for summer. I'm not sure why though. :roll:
Wow.... :congrats: on the new mo'sheen!!!
Guess you'll have to sign up at VFRD.... :rofl:
Thanks!! My first new Streetbike, this should be interesting. I'm gonna need to put a lot of miles on it, perhaps it's time to start planning a Bandit (and VFR, and 919) gathering this summer
My guess is PNW, but we might be able to make it further to accomodate some of our lower states friends. :grin:
Yeah, I think I'll lurk there, and stay here instead. :grin:
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Looks great I thought maybe they sold it here but could only find the VFR 1200 for about the same price. Even though Im a Suzuki fan I know Honda makes the best bikes if your willing to pay the price. I myself wont buy any for off-road except Honda. That bike is probubly going to ride perfect right from the start and engineering pretty much the same. Congrats!
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They did sell the VFR800 until this year. The 2010 version of the bike is a 1200. I have absolutely no need for that much power (in fact, I'm technically taking a downgrade as best I can tell by moving to the VFR.)
That said, our prices, compared to your prices are usually pretty out of whack.
What I really love is that the model didn't change much (fuel mapping, I think was the main change, less of a hit at 6000rpm with the newer mapping) from 2002 to 2009. That should mean very few "bugs" to deal with.
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I can officially pick it up Mar 31, and they'll deliver it if I want, but it will depend on the snow. They also made the sale subject to a test ride (if I can get it in before Mar31st.)
I was wondering about that. We've had three ice/snow events since the first of the year (including today's surprise 4" of snow), so I know you've had even less rideable days than we have.
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Last season was an "awesome" year for riding, we were able to ride into November (if you had the heated gear, and a faired or windshielded bike (neither of which I have, so my last ride was about Nov 2)
After that? It was too cold to ride, below 32F for the most part, and in Dec, we got dumped on pretty good. We've really only had one really good "ice / snow event", but it was a doozy. I think something like 3 feet, and it's still here.
I fully expect our usual Feb deep freeze, and our Mar / Apr/ May snow dump still, but I'm hoping that I will get a clear enough day to try the bike out at the very end of March in between the dumps.
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What I really love is that the model didn't change much (fuel mapping, I think was the main change, less of a hit at 6000rpm with the newer mapping) from 2002 to 2009
IIRC they changed the VTEC engagement rpm, in '07 or '08. The origional used to change from 2 valves to 4 at 7000 rpm. The newer versions change to 4 valves at 6200 rpm. Likely there have been some changes to the fuel and ignition maps as well. They were trying to get at the complaint that the change when the VTEC engaged the 4 valves was too abrupt, something that put me off about the earlier model...
I haven't ridden a new version, but it IS a slick, smooth, powerful, comfortable, tourable, sport bike. Like most Honda's, the fit and finish is pretty darn good. I'm sure you'll love it. :beers:
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IIRC they changed the VTEC engagement rpm, in '07 or '08. The origional used to change from 2 valves to 4 at 7000 rpm. The newer versions change to 4 valves at 6200 rpm. Likely there have been some changes to the fuel and ignition maps as well. They were trying to get at the complaint that the change when the VTEC engaged the 4 valves was too abrupt, something that put me off about the earlier model...
I haven't ridden a new version, but it IS a slick, smooth, powerful, comfortable, tourable, sport bike. Like most Honda's, the fit and finish is pretty darn good. I'm sure you'll love it. :beers:
You are correct sir. r_outsider said that this happened in 2006 though. After that, we had a big discussion about how the VTEC works. I think I understand a little more. Good thing I should have a couple of months before I have to deal with a valve adjust for that thing.
I had heard the same thing about the "old" version, and had had someone from Scona recommend that we wait for the 2006 (back in 2005.) I waited a little longer apparently. :)
What I'm really hoping for is that I can ride for a longer period of time at a time, than with the 919. I can usually go about an hour on the 919, then I need to stretch.
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"It could be worse. :) It's not like I'm marrying a Harley. :rofl:"
Hey........whats wrong with Harley's! ................................................ :yikes:
Whooooooopst........Wrong fourm.............I retract that statement :bigok:
Just :stickpoke:
:congrats:
Congratulations, nice motorcycle! Looks like a lot of fun.
Brent
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What I'm really hoping for is that I can ride for a longer period of time at a time, than with the 919. I can usually go about an hour on the 919, then I need to stretch.
If you want to ride with Red01 and Bobcat, those two won't stop for at least 2 hours +(and sometimes at 100 mph!! :yikes: ), so you'd better get your butt used to it before we do a serious Bandit Alley PNW ride this year.
We should start taking about when and where we can ride in 2010. In 2009 I know Tony(greyhound) got his ride in mostly solo, and Cargo7 and I got out for a couple of extended weekends, but we really need a decent Bandit Alley ride this year. Maybe well have to meet you south of Calgary, and run through Glacier National Park, down past Libby or something. When will you and R-ousider be able to take an extended weekend?
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You better make sure they install the other side of that swing arm looks dangerous :stickpoke: . And congrats!
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"It could be worse. :) It's not like I'm marrying a Harley. :rofl:"
Hey........whats wrong with Harley's! ................................................ :yikes:
Whooooooopst........Wrong fourm.............I retract that statement :bigok:
Just :stickpoke:
:congrats:
Congratulations, nice motorcycle! Looks like a lot of fun.
Brent
Oh,.. uhm,... nothing,... I meant,.... uhm,... only the harley scooters..... yeah,... yeah. That's it. :bolt:
:bigok:
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I would think that with the combo of your trailer and bikes your ride season must be extended now, flying south for a part of the winter.
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If you want to ride with Red01 and Bobcat, those two won't stop for at least 2 hours +(and sometimes at 100 mph!! :yikes: ), so you'd better get your butt used to it before we do a serious Bandit Alley PNW ride this year.
Oi!! I'll be little brother skippy that's running along beind going "hey!! wait for me!!" if that's the case.
We should start taking about when and where we can ride in 2010. In 2009 I know Tony(greyhound) got his ride in mostly solo, and Cargo7 and I got out for a couple of extended weekends, but we really need a decent Bandit Alley ride this year. Maybe well have to meet you south of Calgary, and run through Glacier National Park, down past Libby or something. When will you and R-ousider be able to take an extended weekend?
Well, right now, both of our schedules are pretty loose. I have my temp employment contract until the end of May, with the threat, uh,.. possibility of extension. (They've asked me to stay, but now I have to decide if I'm going to. It will mean giving up the company, because I can't manage both.) And as long as I'm working, r_outsider can take time off. If I don't stay on with these guys, his schedule gets tighter, and mine looser.
For now, the best thing to do is to plan something, and I will work around it. How many days, when and where? I like the idea of meeting south of Calgary. We can drag the trailer to somewhere somewhat central, and ride from there. I could definitely do the West side of the Libby Dam again. I sure liked that last time.
I'd really like to get a bunch of people out for this too.
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I would think that with the combo of your trailer and bikes your ride season must be extended now, flying south for a part of the winter.
The only problem so far with that plan is the whole financing the trip. I sure support the flying south for the winter. This "second coldest place on the planet" crap wears thin pretty quickly.
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You better make sure they install the other side of that swing arm looks dangerous :stickpoke: . And congrats!
You know,.. I asked for the other half of the swing arm. They said it would cost me another $12k,... but would come with a lot of other spare parts,... damn near a whole other bike.
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Gosh you honestly make me feel guilty. The snow-birds come down here to SW AZ from your part of the world from Oct to Mar running all over the place in shorts, and becasue I live here year round I place my bike in cold winter storage with this 55 to 65 weather Brrrr!
I need to seriously get myself an elec jacket liner and gloves and not be such a wimp LOL. Again congrats on a cool bike or should I say hot?
PS! Has the thought run through your mind on changing the forum name to Honda-Alley, this could be a crossroads pivotal moment in time LOL.
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Gosh you honestly make me feel guilty. The snow-birds come down here to SW AZ from your part of the world from Oct to Mar running all over the place in shorts, and becasue I live here year round I place my bike in cold winter storage with this 55 to 65 weather Brrrr!
I need to seriously get myself an elec jacket liner and gloves and not be such a wimp LOL. Again congrats on a cool bike or should I say hot?
PS! Has the thought run through your mind on changing the forum name to Honda-Alley, this could be a crossroads pivotal moment in time LOL.
Yep, on Blue, I'd still be riding at 55F (which is about 12.7C) I typically ride to about 10C, and then call it quits. Now that I will have something faired, it might be different.
Yeah, the snow birds have things like pensions to sustain them. I would have to work, which would mean a Visa, which from what I understand isn't that easy to do, and then when would I ride? :)
LOL! We don't need another Honda board,... the Bandits need to be represented.
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:congrats: on the new ride! :bigok:
And Paul is exaggerating, I like to stop for a stretch after about an hour due to a bum knee.
I will neither comfirm nor deny the part about the ton though... :iddi:
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Hah!! I suspect that you're a heck of a lot more aggressive than I am either way. I don't get enough time to ride when it's nice.
In other news, I picked up the VFR on the weekend, and then took it back to the dealer on Monday. They installed heater grips for me, but didn't leave a loop to accommodate the twisting of the throttle.
I twisted, and apparently managed to twist the wire right off the element.
Monday I dropped it off, Tuesday I got the call, and today I picked it up. Not too bad, considering that they're starting to move into their busy season now.
I like the VFR, it's a very different bike than the 919, and of course than Dita.
Pros:
Wind protection
A really interesting ride
Possibly the ABS and linked brakes. I haven't noticed them at work yet, so I assume they work really well.
Did I mention wind protection?
It looks like I can lower it for free. From what I've seen online, there's a triangle bracket below the rear shock. If you turn it 120 degrees counter clockwise, it's supposed to drop the bike 1.25", then you slide the forks to match. Good for the vertically challenged like me.
Cons:
Snatchie throttle. r_outsider has looked into this, and mentioned that this may be resolvable with a little tuning of the throttle bodies.
Can't get frame sliders for it that are any good, unless you're willing to cut the fairings.
It seems like it doesn't lean enough when it's on the side stand. Scares me a little, especially without the sliders on it.
It's my intention, weather permitting, to have this thing in need of its first service before the end of my vacation this month. I see it as some getting to know it time. And I'm looking forward to it.