The evasive VFR1200F rear carrier

Hi, VFR friends!

This is my first post.

I've been studying the VFR1200F for several months and finally bought a 2012 manual trans model with less than 5,000 miles on it. I turned down a 2012 DCT model with full luggage because I wanted the lower miles and manual trans.

I thought I could find the rear carrier somewhere on planet earth and was sorely. I have ordered it three times from suppliers that turned out not to actually have their hands on it. I'm waiting for a 4th and 5th supplier to come through with "hands on rack" confirmation. Do any of you have a line on the rear carrier, part number 08L71-MJM-D10?

Some mods I'm making are:
National Cycle touring windscreen
Helibars handlebar risers
ASV F3 shorty levers
BoosterPlug simple fuel injection remapping
DAM exhaust

Some projects to work out
Repaint, perhaps a black red
Corbin seat, but with a custom profile and color
Sport bike seats in general, including the Corbin, seem to angle too far forward.
I'm always rammed up against the tank.
Some luggage system
Looking at the Bagtec P74 panniers but don't like the mounts
Looking at finding maybe stock panniers but don't like the cases
Looking at a Givi V58 top case but want to mount it to the stock rear carrier if I can find one
I will play with the suspension when I have more miles and understand what I'm dealing with

I really appreciate all of your sharing on the many posts here. I have learned a lot about the transmission DCT quirks, the fuel mapping problems, suspension issues, and luggage challenges here. Oh, and I really appreciated the very scientific approach to the windscreen noise problem.

I will share some of my own findings when I get further along with my project.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Mark

 

Pics!

 

Hi Mark and Welcome to the MadHouse

When you get time please add a post in the "introductions" section to say hello to the rest of the folks on here and tell us a bit about your riding history and motorbikes - and don't forget to add at least one photo of your VFR (they like photos on here) just click the "upload a file" link and follow instructions to select and upload photos - then use "More options" to choose how the image will appear in the post.

You may also want to update your forum profile (top of the page) to include an approximate location city/state is ample - that way if you need help with an issue it will appear beside your posts and you may find someone living nearby is willing to swing by and offer advice/pick up a wrench especially if you have a well stocked beer fridge.

Sadly the 1200VFR never sold in huge numbers and of those relatively few were ordered with the top box carrier. Honda parts only carried a limited stock whilst the model was offered new. Since then they have become unobtanium apart from occasional second hand carriers recovered from a motorbike being dismantled. In part this was because like the 7th Gen VFR has fittings for OEM panniers incorporated discretely into the rear of the bike so many wanting luggage just opted for OEM panniers .

In Europe the top box carrier on early 7th gens had a different part number - 08L42MGE800 - so you might walso want to look for them as retailers (CMSNL) still have them listed.

Good luck with the search

 

Welcome ….throw the booster plug away, it’s a POS

 

OK, regarding the rear carrier...

First of all, it doesn't exist on planet earth! I passed up another low miles DCT with full luggage because I didn't want the DCT. I started to regret my choice of getting the manual trans version without luggage.

I must have ordered the rear carrier from a half dozen places that had it listed, allowed me to add it to the cart, and pay for it. Then, a week or two goes by and I received messages saying that they can't get the rack.

One of the places I found that said they carried it was in France. I used to speak French a bit and, of course, there is Google Translate so I was able to get a conversation going regarding that part. The communication lag time was quite long. However, I also was able to add it to a cart and pay for it. Then... silence!

I checked in with Blackpool Honda as was mentioned in this forum somewhere but awhile ago. That wasn't that easy either, although there was no language barrier. Blackpool Honda is associated with at least three other companies. I started communicating with Darren at Blackpool and he did say they could get it but it would have to come from Belgium. After several emails I told him to go ahead and order it for me because I was not getting any affirmative communication from France. Ordering from Blackpool wasn't easy because I had to wire the money to their business account and that required a physical visit to my bank. The info Blackpool Honda gave me was incomplete and introduced me to two more companies that are associated with Blackpool. My bank couldn't complete the wire transfer because of the confusing data. Ultimately, Darren came through and got me the correct information. In my research I learned more about international banking, British postal codes, and much about the conglomerate of Blackpool related Honda businesses. Darren was great. We have a total of about 30 emails back and forth to make this happen. The rack is in the mail.

Just after I committed to ordering the rack from Blackpool I received confirmation from France that they had acquired the rack and will be shipping it but needed even more money for additional shipping charges. That company is not used to shipping overseas. I'm sure Blackpool is not either.

So, these racks... Dealing in gold would have been cheaper and less time consuming. Now I have two of the most expensive racks ever produced! They are both in the mail, so I won't count those chickens just yet.

 

Regarding luggage:

Top case: Givi V58
Now that I have the stock rear racks coming in the mail I have decided to use the Givi V58 top case in silver. That will require mounting a Givi plate to the stock Honda rack.

Side cases: Honda stock
For the side cases I have decided go with the stock bags if I can find them. I seem to have found several possible sources but the two cases are over $1,000. The only sources I have found are all for VFR800 part numbers. I imagine anything with the stock VFR1200 colors are long gone. No matter, I have a paint scheme that will be a little out of the ordinary. We'll get to that story later.