Sport-Tourers: Pick your fav
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1,897 Posts
BMW K1200RS 
You can take this bike to the track, then ride all day back home in comfort :bike:
You can take this bike to the track, then ride all day back home in comfort :bike:
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9,263 Posts
VFR Interceptor is, by far and way in my opinion, the best all around bike going still today..power,comfort,style, all wrapped up in 1 package. Bike is as comfortable as can be for riding a couple hundred miles a day, yet will tear up deal's gap with the best of em.
AAhh..someday!!!
AAhh..someday!!!
Ahh, such a tough decision.
I had an '03 VFR. I loved the bike. I have to say that I wish I'd had a pre-'02 though. The '02+ VFRs feel as though they carry their weight higher. Also, the VTEC added nothing good and the gear driven cam whine's non-existence is disappointing...
The VFR would have been a much better bike in the twisties if it had decent suspension. There's the problem though. VFRs are not cheap. For a bike in its price range I'd expect it to be completely competent in all areas from the factory. The lack of adjustability of the forks and shock really made the bike suffer handling wise. Don't get me wrong, it handles pretty well, but just not REALLY well. It IS, after all, a sport TOURING machine, I know...
I think the Falco is actually a more competent machine in the tighter twisties...
A CBR F3 with Heli-Bars is an EXCELLENT choice. I kid you not... My fiancee has one. The Heli-Bars made the bike MORE COMFORTABLE than my VFR was! The bike's a LOT lighter. It carries its weight VERY low, and has about the same horsepower! I could do 500 - 600 mile days on it with no problem...
I guess, from the factory, I'd choose an FZ1 as the "best overall" sport tourer. Even though my Tuono is absolutely sick in comparison handling wise, the FZ1 has much more leg room, much better wind protection, and it's not ridiculous hideous to put luggage on it.
I use my Tuono as a sport tourer. It's VERY comfortable. The only problem is that my legs get a little cramped after a few hundred miles, but nothing a little walk around the gas station parking lot doesn't fix. The handling is absolutely amazing. Aprilia truly offers the BEST value for your dollar as far as component quality and build quality goes.. There is truly no bike on the planet I'd rather own... Most of my sport touring is to get to GOOD twisties. My Tuono is comfy enough to get me there and then AN ABSOLUTE BLAST to ride once I arrive... I'd much rather have it that way than to be ultra comfy on my way to the twisties only to be only partially happy with my bikes handling once I arrived...
I had an '03 VFR. I loved the bike. I have to say that I wish I'd had a pre-'02 though. The '02+ VFRs feel as though they carry their weight higher. Also, the VTEC added nothing good and the gear driven cam whine's non-existence is disappointing...
The VFR would have been a much better bike in the twisties if it had decent suspension. There's the problem though. VFRs are not cheap. For a bike in its price range I'd expect it to be completely competent in all areas from the factory. The lack of adjustability of the forks and shock really made the bike suffer handling wise. Don't get me wrong, it handles pretty well, but just not REALLY well. It IS, after all, a sport TOURING machine, I know...
I think the Falco is actually a more competent machine in the tighter twisties...
A CBR F3 with Heli-Bars is an EXCELLENT choice. I kid you not... My fiancee has one. The Heli-Bars made the bike MORE COMFORTABLE than my VFR was! The bike's a LOT lighter. It carries its weight VERY low, and has about the same horsepower! I could do 500 - 600 mile days on it with no problem...
I guess, from the factory, I'd choose an FZ1 as the "best overall" sport tourer. Even though my Tuono is absolutely sick in comparison handling wise, the FZ1 has much more leg room, much better wind protection, and it's not ridiculous hideous to put luggage on it.
I use my Tuono as a sport tourer. It's VERY comfortable. The only problem is that my legs get a little cramped after a few hundred miles, but nothing a little walk around the gas station parking lot doesn't fix. The handling is absolutely amazing. Aprilia truly offers the BEST value for your dollar as far as component quality and build quality goes.. There is truly no bike on the planet I'd rather own... Most of my sport touring is to get to GOOD twisties. My Tuono is comfy enough to get me there and then AN ABSOLUTE BLAST to ride once I arrive... I'd much rather have it that way than to be ultra comfy on my way to the twisties only to be only partially happy with my bikes handling once I arrived...
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7,333 Posts
Suzuki RF900RR. Had a 94 and it was great.
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9,263 Posts
wow, this thread hasnt seen action in quite awhile. Nice write up man!
I've always been a fan of VFR's as you'll notice the more you hang out here, there's truely not been a better sport-touring bike that's stood the test of time better than the VFR. I agree the VTEC did nothing to enhance the performance in any significant way, the new body styles here of late are definately much more appealing IMO. I've ridden these bikes many times, and just cant say enough good about them.
The suspension issues never bothered me quite that much, but then again, im a alittle on the shorter side. I have been amazed though that over the years, honda hasnt down more with the suspension overall, to make it more competent in the twisties..but alas, they're spending their time on the CBR's more. as evidence by its lack of changes for years and years at a time. there's something to be said for , if it aint broke, dont fix it...but most vfr riders agree the suspension / handling was the only major drawback to the bike overall.
I've always been a fan of VFR's as you'll notice the more you hang out here, there's truely not been a better sport-touring bike that's stood the test of time better than the VFR. I agree the VTEC did nothing to enhance the performance in any significant way, the new body styles here of late are definately much more appealing IMO. I've ridden these bikes many times, and just cant say enough good about them.
The suspension issues never bothered me quite that much, but then again, im a alittle on the shorter side. I have been amazed though that over the years, honda hasnt down more with the suspension overall, to make it more competent in the twisties..but alas, they're spending their time on the CBR's more. as evidence by its lack of changes for years and years at a time. there's something to be said for , if it aint broke, dont fix it...but most vfr riders agree the suspension / handling was the only major drawback to the bike overall.
I really have nothing BAD to say about the VFR. Don't take me wrong. I absolutely LOVED mine to death!!! I was actually about to send the forks off to Linemann and put a Penske 2-way shock on it just before I got the Tuono...
I'd wanted a VFR ever since the first time I ever laid eyes on one. They are incredible machines...
The Tuono is just the perfect machine for me though.
I would have never known the limits of the VFR's suspension had I not gotten my GSX-R. If you LIVE for corners, and then ride a bike with GOOD suspension, you will turn into a suspension snob VERY quickly. I'll never be able to live with a bike with sub-par suspension again. For me, a Fox twin-clicker freshly completely rebuilt sprung ideally for my weight, and forks that had been fully upgraded by Race-Tech and sprung ideally for my weight was all it took to open my eyes. That's the way I bought my Gix. One track day one it and riding the VFR just made me realize its suspension limitations immediately. I could have kept the VFR and still been happy. I would have been even happier with the suspension upgrades. However, like I stated, I just LOVE my Tuono.
Oh, and the VFR does do everything well. I put a knee on the pavement for the first time on mine. I did my first track day ever on mine. I commuted every day on mine. I did 600+ mile days on mine. It truly is capable of doing it all...
I'd wanted a VFR ever since the first time I ever laid eyes on one. They are incredible machines...
The Tuono is just the perfect machine for me though.
I would have never known the limits of the VFR's suspension had I not gotten my GSX-R. If you LIVE for corners, and then ride a bike with GOOD suspension, you will turn into a suspension snob VERY quickly. I'll never be able to live with a bike with sub-par suspension again. For me, a Fox twin-clicker freshly completely rebuilt sprung ideally for my weight, and forks that had been fully upgraded by Race-Tech and sprung ideally for my weight was all it took to open my eyes. That's the way I bought my Gix. One track day one it and riding the VFR just made me realize its suspension limitations immediately. I could have kept the VFR and still been happy. I would have been even happier with the suspension upgrades. However, like I stated, I just LOVE my Tuono.
Oh, and the VFR does do everything well. I put a knee on the pavement for the first time on mine. I did my first track day ever on mine. I commuted every day on mine. I did 600+ mile days on mine. It truly is capable of doing it all...
Joined
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9,263 Posts
definately...you can provide some nice insight on your machine, as you're the first on our site, as far as I know, to ride a Tuono!
and yeah, whatever floats ur boat is all the really matters in the end! :dthumb:
and yeah, whatever floats ur boat is all the really matters in the end! :dthumb:
Basically, the Tuono is everything Mark Cook says it is. :lol
It's a true super sport bike, the Mille, sans bodywork and with a wide, comfortable handlebar.
In other words, it's a truly COMFORTABLE super sport bike. It's got an excellent suspension from the factory. Even the "non-Factory" model like mine has great suspenders. The forks are even sprung for a real size person. The reason is that they didn't change the spring rates from the Mille forks, and since the Mille has clip-ons, there's a lot more weight placed on the front of the bike than on the Tuono.
You can't help but smile and laugh while riding the Tuono. There's something amazing about having a very torquey V-Twin that weighs 420 lbs bone dry that you sit completely upright on that has race bike handling. There's no other bike like it on the planet. Period. It's truly in a class of its own...
It's a true super sport bike, the Mille, sans bodywork and with a wide, comfortable handlebar.
In other words, it's a truly COMFORTABLE super sport bike. It's got an excellent suspension from the factory. Even the "non-Factory" model like mine has great suspenders. The forks are even sprung for a real size person. The reason is that they didn't change the spring rates from the Mille forks, and since the Mille has clip-ons, there's a lot more weight placed on the front of the bike than on the Tuono.
You can't help but smile and laugh while riding the Tuono. There's something amazing about having a very torquey V-Twin that weighs 420 lbs bone dry that you sit completely upright on that has race bike handling. There's no other bike like it on the planet. Period. It's truly in a class of its own...
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