Replacement for my Honda VFR1200F

[sshenton1975]

Hi guys

Need some advice

My VFR has been brilliant - amazing engine and drive train, very quick with 170bhp, great for my girlfriend on the back but also fine for a good hoon! Panniers if I want them

I also have a Benelli tornado tre 900 for when I want something a bit more sporty

The VFR is a 2010 model and getting a bit long in the tooth - tbh I fancy a change. BUT WHAT?

shortlist is:

BmW K1300S with panniers
BmW R1200RS (maybe a bit too naked?)
Kwak ZZR1400 - a missile but looks are questionable?
Kwak Z1000SX - is it quick enough?
Yam FJR1300

Outsider is Tiger Sport 1050

Any views thoughts?

Currently quite like the look of a late model FJR but i do like a sporty ride - certainly dont want a Pan like experience

VfR is bloody good at everything - thats the problem!

Help!

[black-k1]

Kawasaki H2 SX or a KTM Superduke 1290GT

My money went on the H2 SX!

[fredd1e]

I 2nd the H2 SX and would look at the SE or SE+ spec as they look better in the Kwak emerald green imo. Seriously tempted to get one myself.

[black-k1]

fredd1e said:

I 2nd the H2 SX and would look at the SE or SE+ spec as they look better in the Kwak emerald green imo. Seriously tempted to get one myself.

I love mine



remapped to 220bhp! - It can cover the ground pretty quickly!!

[Reffro]

Replacing my Blackbird I had the choice of a K1300S or or VFR1200.

I went with the K1300S and haven't looked back.More nimble than a VFR, though not as roomy.

If I had to repeat the exercise, a Superduke 1290GT would be at the top of my list. Wide comfortable seat, much more nimble (you really notice the lower weight in comparison, 210kg vs 230kg for the BMW, I think the H2 is heavier still.), semi active suspension and that engine is immense, plus a good sized tank helps with touring range.

Edited by Reffro on Monday 13th July 09:28

[black-k1]

When I was replacing my K1300S Motorsport (after 6 years and 100,000 miles of K1300S very happy ownership) I looked at both the SDGT and the H2 SX. I test rode both and both are superb bikes. I would have been happy buying either. However, for me, the H2 SX was definitely a better bike. That bit was easy! What wasn’t so easy was deciding if the Kawasaki was better by enough to justify the significant extra cost. In the end, the answer for me was yes, but it was a very difficult decision.

I went out for a run yesterday with some mates – 2 on K1300Ss and 2 on KTM SD GTs. One of the SD GT riders swapped with me for part of the ride so I had another chance to ride the SD GT and again found it to be a superb bike but I think I made the right decision.

[Dr Jekyll]

Reffro said:

Replacing my Blackbird I had the choice of a K1300S or or VFR1200.

I went with the K1300S and haven't looked back.More nimble than a VFR, though not as roomy.

If I had to repeat the exercise, a Superduke 1290GT would be at the top of my list. Wide comfortable seat, much more nimble (you really notice the lower weight in comparison, 210kg vs 230kg for the BMW, I think the H2 is heavier still.), semi active suspension and that engine is immense, plus a good sized tank helps with touring range.

That surprised me. I've never tried a K1300 but I found the VFR1200 cramped in the leg department.

[Speed addicted]

I went from a Tiger 1050 to the VFR1200 (also 2010) to a Triumph Explorer.

Essentially I got the Explorer to slow me down a bit, the VFR was brilliant but I don’t have the self control to ride one at vaguely legal speeds all day.

The Tiger 1050 sport is a great bike, all day comfortable and agile enough to have fun on. What it doesn’t have is an Armageddon device for an engine so you may find it a bit flat. The 1050 doesn’t have that rush of power you get on the VFR at 6k rpm, it’s far more linear.

I’ve had the Explorer for 5 years now, it’s a heavy lump and in most ways I’d have been better off with the 1050, but I’d had one so bought the Explorer.

[GriffoDP]

Speed addicted said:

I went from a Tiger 1050 to the VFR1200 (also 2010) to a Triumph Explorer.

Essentially I got the Explorer to slow me down a bit, the VFR was brilliant but I don’t have the self control to ride one at vaguely legal speeds all day.

The Tiger 1050 sport is a great bike, all day comfortable and agile enough to have fun on. What it doesn’t have is an Armageddon device for an engine so you may find it a bit flat. The 1050 doesn’t have that rush of power you get on the VFR at 6k rpm, it’s far more linear.

I’ve had the Explorer for 5 years now, it’s a heavy lump and in most ways I’d have been better off with the 1050, but I’d had one so bought the Explorer.

On that note, you might find similar with the R1200RS compared to the K1300S at least. I've had two K1300S bikes over the years and now i'm on an R1250GS.

It's definitely a slow-down bike (and obviously generally considered a step-up from the R1200 engine power delivery) compared to the urge of the K1300 engine. I'm not saying it's slow, but it takes just that bit extra thought, possibly a down-change for rapid overtakes, and I find myself obeying speed limits a lot more.

I've ridden both the R1200RS and the R1250RS though separated in time by a year or so. I decided I wanted to go all in and not pretend to still have a sporty bike, so went GS.

Obviously I still want David's H2!

[Speed addicted]

GriffoDP said:

Obviously I still want David's H2!

That’s the problem, once you’ve sampled the delights of silly speed it’s difficult to step back!

I spend too much time looking at Hayabusas and ZRR1400s. I know I’ll do bad things, get paranoid and sell but the temptation is still very much there.

How about bikes like the Multistrada or big KTMs? They offer a good mix of performance and comfort.

[GriffoDP]

Speed addicted said:

That’s the problem, once you’ve sampled the delights of silly speed it’s difficult to step back!

I spend too much time looking at Hayabusas and ZRR1400s. I know I’ll do bad things, get paranoid and sell but the temptation is still very much there.

How about bikes like the Multistrada or big KTMs? They offer a good mix of performance and comfort.

Aha yes indeed. I split my K1300 ownership to GS ownership with a couple months of s1000rr in the middle. Fast yes but uncomfortable, so made the GS seem like a good compromise. I managed to avoid trying the H2 again when I tried their new version Ninja 1000sx or whatever it is. That was a no for me.

[sshenton1975]

Thanks guys

Any views on the FJR1300? Anyone tried one?

Looked at a 1050 Tiger today - in red - really lovely

But will it be quick enough?

[leighz]

power to weight ratio for a tiger sport 1050 (125bhp/235kg) is very similar to your vfr (160bhp/267kg) not as much torque though

the engine is very tractable with a lovely waft of torque right through the rev range making it a doddle to press on if you wish. 6th gear lazy arsed overtakes are no problem. No slouch if you rev it out. Handling is plenty good enough to make it entertaining through the twisties. All day comfort and a 200 mile tank range. Great triple sound even on standard can. Helps if you're tall (although you can always lower it).

I looked at the vfr 1200 (poor range), K1300s (pricier, reliability scares, more power than I needed), z1000sx (just didn't do it for me but potentially a bit quicker - low gearing I think).

[Jag_NE]

If you have a sports bike for blasts is power that important for a tourer that will be cruising most of the time? Anything on your list is going to be a quick bike. ZZR1400 for me...get one of the last ones as they are stopping/have stopped making them.