The first time I ever rode a motorcycle on the streets was Nov 2007(after 2 rides at the MSF class).  It was 40 miles from the dealership to my house, and I was hooting for joy the whole way home.  I put on a steering damper one month after I purchased the bike to help with what I felt was a "loose" feeling while turning.  It could have been since I was a noob, but I wanted anything that would help.  I'm 190# which is well over what the suspension is tuned for. It just doesn't "feel right" while cornering.  Maybe it's my lack of skills(just hit 4000 miles today)...on the last leg of the ride today I switched bikes with my buddy...2006 VFR.  After I got used to the riding position, I was taking turns smoother and faster.  After the ride my friend said my front suspension feels REALLY soft.  I know the VFR is a lot heavier and has adjustable forks.  I'd like to get my bike to handle better.  Getting new springs put in next week, will this and/or clip-on's change the cornering dynamics of the bike dramatically?  And getting a new bike is not an option...I'm keeping this one forever!!

Me too

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3882.0

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=4318.msg66590#msg66590

Your bike's suspension is characteristically soft.  Still capable but not any where near the stiffer and adjustable damping of some of the higher line bikes.  You can either have your front forks rebuilt and tuned to you or modify upgrade to the higher zoot items. Same for the rear shock. It makes a day & night difference.

 I own a 6th Gen VFR also and have had it for 4 years now. The bike is a marvel of engineering in many ways. The bike is heavey yet Honda somehow nailed the suspension. How is it that you can have a super compliant suspension that sucks up bumps mid corner or anywhere for that matter without transmitting it to the rider. All this and it is still firm and provides feedback to the rider. I have owned many bikes and riden many more and the 6th gen vfr is the best suspended bike by a mile. My Monster is no slouch and out handles the heavy VFR but at a cost in compliance. The VFR is like on rails and doesn't get upset by much. I have 30 thousand on mine and it feels like brand new.

The VFR is one of the best made motorcycles ever...enough said.


Your Monster is not made to corner aggressively. You mentioned clipons and respringing your forks...yes, that will help. You need to get more weight forward and clipons + raising the rear help with this.

Thx for the feedback...I'm gonna get the suspension tweaked this week, and will hit the twisties again to see if it helps.

I have an 03 VFR that I've had for a few months and while I've tried to love it all I can say is that, to me, it lacks the character of the Monster. It's highly competent but I found that I'm putting mine up for sale because 9 times out of 10 I'd rather take the Monster out.  I'm thinking of upgrading the suspension on my Monster so the VFR just has no more place in my garage.

+1 on the VFR's... excellent bikes, i rented one in Vancouver, BC once and rode it up to Whistler, it was excellent.  I've thought about buying one ever since and still might.  I think I'd go for one without the VTEC personally though (5th gen), the one I had was 6th gen and the VTEC annoyed me a bit. For those who don't know it runs on half the valves until about 6500rpm (iirc) and then it kicks the rest in, so you had to be careful about what gear/revs you were at in corners.

My first street bike was a VFR 750. It was cool. specially those gear driven cams.

fwiw, vtec doesnt open more valves, the cams accually have 2 sets of lobes and vtec switches between lobes. most times they have to compromise between low end or top end power, vtec allows them to have both.   but yes, because its an older technology of variable valve timing, its very abrubt and can get ya into trouble.

interesting, thanks for clarifying that knightrider!  that makes more sense actually..

Quote from: stopintime on June 21, 2008, 06:42:16 PM
Me too

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3882.0

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=4318.msg66590#msg66590

yay my thread got linked /endthreadjack

 I also owned a 1986 VFR 750 which Honda campaigned it superbike and took many titles with Fred Merkel , Wayne Raney, Bubba Shobert, and it even won the 1990 Daytona 200 on the 1986.  ( times out of ten I take my monster out and yet I won't sell the VFR as I dont need to and I will have it for a long time as the monster is no match for it on the open road as a sport tourer. The Vtec is neither hear nor there as it is plenty fast shifting before 7 grand. I disagree with the Monster not being made for aggressive cornering part too as the only Monster I have tried is the 696 and it handles superbly, just a stiffer suspension than the VFR.  People might want to concider that the 6th gen is a step in the sport direction compared to the 5th gen. The suspension was stiffened and generally out handles the 5th.

Hey, I've got an '86 VFR too...a really awesome machine for it's day. I think the monster is actually faster down a twisty road, but it feels a lot more nervous.

Quote from: AleksT on June 22, 2008, 11:57:51 AM
I have an 03 VFR that I've had for a few months and while I've tried to love it all I can say is that, to me, it lacks the character of the Monster. It's highly competent but I found that I'm putting mine up for sale because 9 times out of 10 I'd rather take the Monster out.  I'm thinking of upgrading the suspension on my Monster so the VFR just has no more place in my garage.

+1

I traded rides for a while with a riding buddy who has a 6th gen VFR.  I thought it was very bland.  I couldn't wait to get back on my S2R.   [moto]