Sprint or VFR

Sometime in the next twelve months (but I hope later rather than
sooner) my place of work is moving to the lower Hunter, about 110 km
away. At this time, I will be less than two years from retirement.
This will leave me with the choice of
a. eary retirement
b. moving house, or
c. commuting.
I can't afford a, don't want to do b, which would leave me with c, and
about an hour twenty commute each way.
I don't want to buy another car, and I don't fancy riding this
distance on my present bike, a Hornet 600. This conveniently provides
me with a reason to buy a new bike, and I have been looking at a
sports tourer - need the sports part for fun, and the full fairing for
weather protection if commuting in winter.
After looking at ST2, Aprilia Futura, Honda VFR and Triumph Sprint, I
find myself unable to decide between the Honda and Triumph. Initial
cost is about equal, both are enjoyable to ride, and I seem to prefer
whichever one I rode last.
Can any one provide me with a reason for preferring one of these bikes
over the other?

KenH

 

Without trying to sound stupid (but achieving it anyway), ones a honda,
ones a triumph.

Perhaps compare fuel consumption, check service costs of each.

Which do you like the look of better? (hey when it comes down to close
decisions like this, looks comes into it).

Are you able to take each of them on a relatively long ride to see if
theres any niggles or if the seating position becomes uncomfortable for
you after a while.

If you'll be carrying a pillion, test ride it with a pillion.

Thats about all i can think of, having ridden neither in personal
experience i guess that wasnt too much to offer.

 

Go for the sprint... Everyone's got a VFR, and Triumphs seem to have much better resale value.

Jules

 

Hi Ken,

First - it would be interesting to hear your thinking against the ST2. I've
ridden all of the above (except the Aprilia) and owned an ST2 for a while.
It was a perfect machine for the kind of riding you describe and very
comfortable - well, for me at least. Were the bars too far forward at a
guess?? When my wife and I rode the Viffer, she took an instant dislike to
it comfort-wise having just spent the best part of 15,000 kms on the back of
the Ducati. Strange to me but that's women for you - it's supposed to be up
there with the best for pillion comfort.

As for the whole Honda/Triumph thing - a mate just bought a new Daytona and
then spent the next few weeks trying to convince me not to buy a Honda - Jap
crap etc.... This, incidentally (and unsurprisingly) was the length and
breadth of his formidable argument against my purchase considerations. I
did buy the Honda and he dropped over to take a look at it. Some weeks
later his wife told me he'd immediately written a scalding letter to Triumph
stating his shock at seeing a "Jap" bike with orders of magnitude better
build quality than the Trumpy. (Sorry Alister... your bike is an exception
of course... ). Have a look at this element if you get the chance.

Incidentally, he bought the Daytona as the 10mth old TT he just owned (from
new) had been off the road with electrical faults for a good part of the
time he owned it. Probably an outlier but that was the case for him.

At the end of the day, you have to get as much saddle time as possible
before purchasing as you will be sitting on the thing for a lot of your day
coming up (lucky guy!).

Good luck and keep us posted.

Cheers,
Dave ZZR600 => ST2 (stolen) => '03 XX

 

about an hour twenty commute each way.


just get a 1500 goldwing...oh wait u've only got 105600 km to go to work and
back till u retire...whether it rain or snow or the hot wind blow off the
desert...3 hours every day...
have you ever ridden a goldwing?

 

I've found that fuel economy on the Sprint is impressive, regularly
getting better than 20 km/litre on the highway at legal speeds, with a
best of 23 km/litre using 98 octane fuel. (I won't use the 'O' word

I reckon the Sprint is best, but I suppose I'm biased...

cheers,

Bill_H
'01 Sprint ST
*** replace the *deadspam* bit of the email addy with optusnet.com.au
I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned most people die of natural causes.

 

Why not buy something which will suit all weather, get you to work in total
comfort, is quite sporty when you can get away with it, costs peanuts to
service, and has an excellent resale value while providing you with that
certain cachet of smugness?.....R1100/1150RT

 

I've got a VFR.

It's one of those bikes that's just hungry for miles, and 1000k in a day is
no big deal. It's rock solid reliable - get a Scottoiler, and it's
virtually maintenance free. Looks are a personal thing, but it sounds real
good with a set of Staintunes (or whatever aftermarket cans you prefer).
There also seems to be few second-hand bargains about.

On the downside, the VTEC is a bit of a dumb-arsed idea and the linked
brakes are effective but add more weight than it's worth.

I can't speak for the Triumph, which looks like a great motorcycle too.

My advice is not to buy a motorcycle on the basis of its resale value. It's
not real estate - it's a consumer item.

Good luck with work and stuff. The commute's not the Putty Rd, by any
chance? (Lucky bastard, if it is).

Neil

 

Someone who was concerned about resale value probably wouldn't be considering
riding 2hr 40 min daily on a bike.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R
'02 CBR1100XX

 

Sprint - triple pot motor.

Thus QED.

 

Conversely, having inspected one or two, there seems to be more to rust and corrode on a Veefer than a Triumph (even a "new" model
Triumph). Rust is a foreign term for Trumps, given they're from the land of salted roads in winter.

But at the end of the day, dispense with the pros and cons and just go with your gut, heart or whatever organ does the job.

PS. The Triumphs run mostly Jap electrics and I think the harnesses are built in a manner equivalent to virgin women in Havana
rolling cigars for Castro

 

and corrode on a Veefer than a Triumph (even a "new" model

Oh, that's right, it's always summer in Japan. But when it snows they put
soy sauce on the roads.

 

and corrode on a Veefer than a Triumph (even a "new" model

of salted roads in winter.

Rubbish... I bought a new sprint in 98, kept it for four years... rust
appeared on the bolts on the disk rotors, various bolts around the frame and
corrosion on the wheels.

They are a fun bike, and the motor _feels_ nicer than a VFR motor does, but
the veefer does have a slight but noticeably better finish to them.


Geoff and Jodie

 

oh well, I wuz wrong then on the ones Ive seen, guess I'll get over it

 

Hard pressed to find vehicles more than a handful of years old in Japan anywaz, Registration very expensive for "old" vehicles.

Must try the soy sauce trick next time. Is it really summer in Japan all the time??? Learn something new on the net every day
yessirree.

 

How do you fing the fully-faired ST up there in Clownsville, Bill?
Does it roast you when the fan cuts in in traffic? (Have you tried an RS?)

 

G'day Ken,,,being a Sprint RS owner,,I'd recommend the Sprint.The RS is a
more sporty version of the ST with lower 'bars,firmer suspension,double
sided swing arm and half fairing.'cause the re-end of the RS is kicked up
the steering is a tad sharper than the ST too.Motor,frame,brakes,tank
identical to the ST.Due to the half fairing the RS feels smaller.
Brilliant fuel ecconomy ( I get about 350kays before reserve,,21 litre
tank).Wonderful motor with an almost flat power delivery.Great brakes and
handling too.
Both the ST and RS are amazing mile munchers,,comfortable with huge fuel
ranges.

I heard rumoured the VFR can be a pain to service because of the variable
valve timing.

BTW,,,a mate has a Futura and loves it.

yogi
01 Sprint RS

 

Yeah but soy sauce is mean stuff,,,should see the bottom of my wok!!

yogi

 

....snip

VFR:
Against: reg/rec, linked brakes, they're every bloody where
For: Known mile-eaters, plenty of accessories

Sprint:
Against: Some accusations about build quality but most people I know who own
them haven't had any probs
For: That triple wail and the way it delivers power (best of both a twin and 4),
resale, you don't have to have it in red

FWIW the two Aussie bike mags have done some comparos between the two if you
want to dig one of those up it might help clarify your thoughts. Trumpy is
usually a little cheaper you must be either getting a very heavily discounted
VFR or you should shop around a bit more on the Trumpy price - last I looked the
RRP of the Sprint was a grand cheaper than the Viffer.

JL
(If it was me I'd take the Sprint but there's not much in it)

 

Planning on about 100.000km then....
FJR13
Test-ridden one?
Long-distance donk, lazy sports tourer perhaps not quite as sporty as the
VFR/Trumpy, just a lot more effortless.
Better weather protection.
No chain, no mess, and if looked around long and hard enough, not much more
$ than the others.
Just a thought.
cheers
pete