Glad your wife & kid are ok. Glad she didn't maim any motorcyclists. Hope she's done with this. I commute by motorcycle So I'll keep my eye on the mirror & be ready to tuck between the cars in front of me if need be.
Good to hear this. I just ordered an RS1 in Hi-Vis yellow after retiring my Arai at the track the other day. Getting it from Nathan at Riders Discount for a good price. I've always ridden with Arai's in the past but really don't like spending the $$$, probably for their high level sponsorship programs.
536 & 255 used to be goat trails before they were paved. Well suited for sumo riding. If you like goat trails try Dalzell road off of 821. Ride safe, have fun.
My baby cbr does the trick for me. I regularly embarrass Harley guys commuting through rush hour traffic on I480 & I71 by just maintaining the momentum. I don't know about "wheelieing around" although it's 23 HP powerhouse engine will loft the front wheel skyward if I brutalize it. Overtaking in the twisties on it is not for the faint of heart. I just use it for local transport mostly.
26 K on the stock 530 DID chain on the 1000rr & it wasn't past time to change it. Replaced it with a 525 EKK ZZZ this spring. I think lubrication & proper tensioning is the key to long chain life. Cleaning with a brush & chemicals is over rated.
When I brought home my first sportbike, upon initial inspection by my wife, she says; "The passenger is supposed to sit up there? &I put their feet up there? I don't think so." She got her own bike then. I have taken a passenger on my 1000 & it sucked. Front wheel kept lifting & scaring the shit out of her. The weight distribution is just wrong. Sorry I don't have any positive advice for you on this.
I recommend the 2008+ cbr1000rr of course. You'll probably like the drive out of corners compared to the vfr. Also, the light weight and mass centralization.
If getting to good roads faster is what you want head down the 83 to the Coshocton area. 83 gets interesting just south of Wooster (if you keep the speed up a bit). Once in the Coshocton area hit up 541, 79, 206, 520, 715 to name a few.
Welcome. How are you getting to 26/ 800. Being a west sider I recommend 83 to 78 east to 260 south. Have fun & ride safe. Lots of no cellular service areas down there.