High Mileage on a VFR 800? Upgrade to what?

[Eiger120]

A change in job location means a round trip of 120 motorway miles per day

Would the current VFR be the best bike for the job? Or am I better off trading her in now with reasonable mileage and getting somthing bigger and better? Its an 52 reg with 16K miles and FSH and in above average nick. New tyres, recent mot etc. I have done 10k on her this year and been pretty happy tbh, just wondering about the alternatives. Given the distance mpg is an issue, currently averaging in the low 50's which is pretty impressive imo.

What are my options if choosing to upgrade now? Opinions welcome from the BB floor....


Cheers,

John

[untruth]

IMHO it's the perfect bike for it...

[dern]

I'm sure it would be fine but you can get bikes that would be more comfy and have a longer range but maybe less fun. I use a trophy which gives 50mpg, has a range of 200 miles and you sit in a bubble at 80mph but I can't imagine for a second it's as much fun as a vfr.

[Eiger120]

Thanks guys, suspected as much but its always good to get another perspective.

Who has the highest mileage bike on here?

[untruth]

Eiger120 said:

Thanks guys, suspected as much but its always good to get another perspective.

Who has the highest mileage bike on here?

I think there is someone here with an 80,000. I know that VFRs have been known to do 80,000.

[Eiger120]

untruth said:

Eiger120 said:

Thanks guys, suspected as much but its always good to get another perspective.

Who has the highest mileage bike on here?

I think there is someone here with an 80,000. I know that VFRs have been known to do 80,000.

How necessary is the valve clearance check at 16000miles? One dealer I have spoken to suggested this could be slipped a little as you would be able to tell long before any damage would be caused. I am a little sceptical but confirmation would be welcome! Cheapest dealer quote I have had is about £450!

[untruth]

Valve clearance prolongs life of engine and life of valves. But it is not the be all and end all. If you do it, though, that engine will be more likely to go and go.

[fish]

Only because I've just got on but BMW F800ST good bike low maintenance as belt and 60+mpg

[Eiger120]

fish said:

Only because I've just got on but BMW F800ST good bike low maintenance as belt and 60+mpg

60mpg?! Is that granny speed? If I keep to 80 leptons (or is that granny speed....) or less I can generaly scrape above 50mpg.

[feef]

At my last job I was commuting a 200 mile round-trip on my FJR1300, which now has 76,000 on the clock, and is a 53 plate.

The 'storm has 72,000 (R reg) , the 'ace has 74,000 (S reg)

If it's one of the older, non-v-tech VFRs, then I'd keep it going. 16000 miles is nothing.

a

[locomotivefan1]

I also do a 120 mile motorway commute and it will slowly kill your bike. You will struggle to ride hard enough at the weekends to undo the effects of 600 miles a week of tyre squaring off. Your nice bike will very rapidly become less special.
Much better to get a second bike and ride that. I have a 80000 mile Honda CB500 for the purpose. It is worth next to nothing so depreciation is non-existent and you don't worry about it too much, it does 60-65 mpg which usefully gives a 240 mile/ 2 day tank range (nothing worse IMHO than filling up with petrol every day) and parts are very plentiful and very very cheap.

[dern]

Eiger120 said:

How necessary is the valve clearance check at 16000miles? One dealer I have spoken to suggested this could be slipped a little as you would be able to tell long before any damage would be caused. I am a little sceptical but confirmation would be welcome! Cheapest dealer quote I have had is about £450!

The chances are that your valve clearances will be fine. Mine are still fine in the blade at 40k. However, the point of checking them regularly is that if they're out you can fix it before you break the engine. You'll probably be fine but you might not be if you don't bother. I'd learn to do them yourself... it's very easy if time consuming.

[RizzoTheRat]

Get a second hand Pan for the commute and run a second bike for fun.

[Fire99]

I can't think of many better engines than the VFR to go high mileage.

At the end of the day, you could buy a cheap hack to do the miles or upgrade to an out n out tourer but the most cost effective route IMO is stick with the VFR, keep it well maintained with regular oil changes and just enjoy it.

That's my 50p anyway..

[3doorPete]

I reckon it would be fine - VFR's are bullet proof, but a Beemer flat twin would be similarly reliable and likely cost a lot less to run (tyres, servicing, etc.).

[Eiger120]

locomotivefan1 said:

I also do a 120 mile motorway commute and it will slowly kill your bike. You will struggle to ride hard enough at the weekends to undo the effects of 600 miles a week of tyre squaring off. Your nice bike will very rapidly become less special.

I appreciate where you are coming from but the reason for buying the VFR was a comfortable commute to Watford albeit two return trips a week - approx 320 miles. I bought the bike around Easter 08 with 6k miles and as mentioned previously it has now done 16k. Amazingly this was done on one rear tyre from new - had it changed a couple of weeks ago after leaving it upright without putting the stand down

[Eiger120]

Eiger120 said:

locomotivefan1 said:

I also do a 120 mile motorway commute and it will slowly kill your bike. You will struggle to ride hard enough at the weekends to undo the effects of 600 miles a week of tyre squaring off. Your nice bike will very rapidly become less special.

I appreciate where you are coming from but the reason for buying the VFR was a comfortable commute to Watford albeit two return trips a week - approx 320 miles. I bought the bike around Easter 08 with 6k miles and as mentioned previously it has now done 16k. Amazingly this was done on one rear tyre from new - had it changed a couple of weeks ago after leaving it upright without putting the stand down

ETA the main reason for post was to find out if there was anything worth upgrading to given a doubling of mileage - sorry if it wasn't clear!
AND obviously I do ride like a wuss. Biggest chicken strips you have ever seen.....

Edited by Eiger120 on Wednesday 4th February 20:45

[untruth]

Eiger120 said:

Biggest chicken strips you have ever seen.....

Not true, I win that one.

This whole long distance hack thing is rubbish imho. VFRs were designed to be mile munchers which are also ridiculously good fun for their size. I don't see why you shouldn't use a bike you like for, well, biking.