I am currently considering a CBR1000RR. I have been looking at the VFR and even the ST1300, as I am looking to do quite a bit of touring as well as local riding in the New England area. I will do a few track days a year and was wondering if anyone had advice on:
[ul][*]Any particular model year differences?[*]Is it worth waiting for the 08 model?[*]Aftermarket parts.... lighting... bars... heated grips etc....[/ul]
I am 6ft 3in, 210lbs, pretty fit, will not have a passenger (wife has her own bike). I like the VFR, the ST1300 is big, but very comfortable and handles pretty well, but am still looking for the excitement of the sport bike.

Last bike was a BMW K1200RS.

Any input welcome......

 

I'll lend you my limited knowledge on this. I have a 07 1000rr and i love it,i wouldn't want anything else. It's super powerful,handles very well,the only complaint i have is on long trips,it's kinda uncomfortable on your bottom. Feels like my dirt bikes. But it's not made to be comfortable,it's made to be the superbike that it is. Dont have a clue about the other bikes,but I'm sure the other members can help ya out.

 

1000 RR all the way...

 

Well, if you're looking at trackdays, that will be the main deciding factor. The 1000RR was made for it; the VFR will handle the track and touring (might lack a little on track); and the ST1300 is strictly touring. I've done a few long distance rides on my 07 1000RR and it's really not that much of a comfort problem once you've ridden it for a few months. I'm 6'2" and about 240. Hard to say about waiting for an '08 model since you won't be able to see one until late winter/early spring and play with it in the showroom. You'd be able to swing a pretty sweet deal on an 07 though.

 

You're on the CBR Forum, so you can expect us to recommend the 1KRR, but it's not a sport/touring bike. You can, of course, tour on it, and I've done plenty of weekend "tours" on my RR and my RC51 for that matter, but a VFR might suit you better. You can get factory hard bags for it, and it's fairly light and sporty. Track days wouldn't be out of the question, either. The ST1300 is a nice bike, but it's more touring oriented and it's heavy. All bikes are a trade-off in one area or the other, so you'll have to decide which area ("sport or touring") you're willing to compromise in.

 

i found the perfect sport tour bike but the deal didnt work and i decided on the cbr 1k instead. am getting use to the riding position some. only had it a few weeks. have found some touring stuff for it. i was gonna buy a sv1000s you can fit givi trunks to that bike. handles both sport and tour. with risers and a corbin seat i think the 1kr will be ok for me. i found a rear rack that could hold a top case for it. would realy not look right but? with a top case a tank bag and better seat and bar risers i think i will be fine for my long road trips. heck i did 2700 miles in may on a speed triple. with a duffle bag straped to it. if you ever want to find out whats out there for your bike to make it more comfy check out www.twistedthrottle.com they have lots of stuff for sport bikes you might have never know were out there.

 

There are Helibars, a sargent or Corbin seat, and rearsets that are made that can lower the footpegs almost 2 inches (Cycle Cat), plus a double bubble windscreen or sport touring windscreen to help keep more of the windblast off than a stock windscreen. So you could turn your CBR1000RR into a decent sport tourer if you wanted. There are soft bags available and I have even seen a metal rack with rear grips for the CBR but there aren't any hard bags available if that is the way you want to go. Twisted Throttle has a very large tail bag that also hangs over the sides with an internal aluminum frame that can hold up to 100 liters of stuff if you don't need a hard bag.
If you are planning on touring most of the time I would also look at the VFR800. It has lower rearsets, taller clip ons, and a taller windshield plus tire sizes that allow sport tires if you want to track it. It does have a centerstand that would need removal for track use.
Also longer rides will need some sort of chain oiling system or may many stops along the way since it should be done every 500 miles.

 

I have a 2005 1000RR for sale 10,400 miles on it with track plastic professionally painted red that I will sell for 8,500. Has a Micron slipon, rear seat cowl, frame sliders, swing arm sliders, smoke double bubble windscreen, carbon fiber blinkers, fender eliminater kit, and super clean never been down. I just changed the plugs, oil changed every 3000 miles, and new Pilot power 2CT's. PM me if you are interested and I will send you some pics. It is the bike in my avatar.

 

Here are a few pics of it on the track

 

A few regular kinda bad pics but I can take more if you like.