Joining the VFR family

[CT_Ron]

Hey there,

My name is Ron. I owned a fair amount of bikes in just a timespan of 10 years: FJR600, Vulcan VN700, Virago XV1000, Shadow VT600, VT700. After my old choppers kept breaking down and leaking oil, my touring distances increased, my love for bikes grew bigger and Idecided to ride 365 days a year, I got the Pan European ST1100, Varadero XL1000, a '12 NC700X and recently the CRF1000L Africa Twin from 2016, which was a HORRIBLE experience for me.

I wanted to 'settle' with a bike that I would keep for at least 10 years to come. It was all between the VFR or the Vstrom 1000 and the AT. I test drove the CT in DCT which I disliked. The Vstrom just didnt have that Honda feeling and the AT had a nice sound, and I wanted to do more off-road (Varadero was to heavy, the NC was ok-ish with 17" front wheel). Being lighter an newer I took the AT home and I was living in hell for the next 6 months. Long story short; after a lot of technical failures and time consuming repairs and maintenance, stuck suspension tubes, random killswitch glitches, I decided to ditch the AT .

Luckily a dealer here was still interested and even offered to pay ME the difference in price for a used manual CT with 89K on it. I was a bit cautious due to the milage and my previous experience with the DCT CT, but after learning this bike just arrived from Germany (with mandatory yearly MOT), every 12K a dealer maintenance, has a pristine paint job, no rust, absolute beauty to see, and having a pleasant ride after half a year, I took the deal. I just finished upgrading it today with heated grips, Tusk panniers (which I carry with me since the NC700X) and a new comfort seat. I'm a serious rider and would like to upgrade it's supension in the future.

Ok sorry guys, I can chat all day about motorcycles, I'll stop here

I'm hoping I can add another 100.000 km's on it!

[Red Boll]

Welkom / Welcome !!! 

( What was wrong with the AT? )

[CT_Ron]

Anodised coating inside the front tubes were gone. Front suspension wouldn't absorb small irregularities, instead stay stiff (€2000,- repair). Starter/killswitch would work randomly while riding, electric switch poorly protected from water (short-circuit the start/killswitch button). Control buttons kept getting stuck. I obviously started noticing this after my purchase...

Just stepped of the VFR, what a smooth bike ;)

[Hartley]

Welcome Ron.

So unusual to hear such cristism of the AT, the bike that Honda feels is far more worthy of updates and continued support of than the CT.

Glad youre happier with the Crosstourer.

[Dave56]

Hi Ron and  along to the colleCTive. 
Really sorry to hear of your troubles with the AT, especially as Hartley has mentioned Honda’s apparent total commitment to it.
I’m sure you’ll suffer no such issues with the CT.
As for “chatting about bikes all day” feel free Ron, there’s always people on here willing to listen with interest, for example - me. 

[Stevensweert]

  from Limburg Ron. ;-))

[phantom53]

Welcome to the family Ron....you will find plenty of info here...