Honda at the New York City bike show. My first impression

The "gas" in some stations in Colorado ain't the 10 or 15% stuff. It's about 80:20 alky..Used to run alky in my twostoke dirt bikes. Ran fine but not without some modifications. Runs cooler too. So much that I had to rig a length of copper tube from the baseplate/barrel bolts to a couple or wraps around the carburetor. It was freezing up.

Now I suppose they got tank warmers that do the same job..

 

+1 on that, when I was looking to buy a bike I almost got a CBR1000 but 2 things convinced me to go with the VFR: Gas tank size and comfort.

 

Sure, ask as many times as you think is necessary. I've done about the same as you. I sat on the bike, talked with the Honda dudes, a Honda rider or two but just like you I really haven't ridden one yet. For this I beg your forgiveness and will kiss your ring in atonement. One question I did ask of one of the Honda dudes was , had he ridden the bike yet. He told me he hadn't.

Maybe the PR guys from Honda who popped for your hotel room and ticket will send you the forthcoming video game and you can review that for us until you get a ride on this puppy.

 

So fuel capacity doesn't matter to you? Fair enough, but it matters to me and a few others. I don't feel cheated but when I buy a bike, one of the highest things on MY list of conerns is range. It's not like I'm asking for factory training wheels and I'm the only guy. If the bike is supposed to be a tourer, then range is likely pretty high on most buyers minds in that class. Like marketing a truck as a towing rig with low torque - doesn't make sense.

>> To answer your question directly and subjectively, no it doesnt matter. I am certain you will ask why. Mainly I don't rely on any motorcycle as my main form of transportation. What you should do and of course this is only a suggestion is to write Honda in Japan, bill yourself not as " Tinkernwitstuff but as maybe something like or similar to "THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS" and plead your case.

Most folks who rely on bikes for thier major mode of transportation are the "lifestylers" comprised mostly of lawyers who ride, CPA's who ride and dentists who ride. Some dudes have those teleportation gadgets like on Star Trek too. "Beam me up Scotty, set the dials to two! I'm ridin the Fat Boy again."


Originally Posted by 02 VFR Rider
Billy your opinion on the new VFR 1200 is????????????????????????????????????
Have asked many times, but still no reply.
I think that's a pretty fair question since you are quick to respond to every one else's opinion but don't seem to offer much of one yourself?

>>Oh my, do you really want my opinion or is the question one of those feeble attempts for me to do a guilt trip. Sorry dude, Homey don't play that shit.

 

I'm gonna take my ball and go home.

 

as one of those so called lifestylers, range is a concern. I dont want to have to fuel up every day or so, my vfr800 lasts a week if i am careless, two if im carefull. I am not white collar and neither is the other lifestylers that I know. You may not care about the size of tank but there are those of us that do and with the bike being heavier and having a smaller tank means less ride time, more pump time. one of the many, though not the main reason, I went with a vfr over cbr or cr is that it had a further range. the market guys may be aiming for those sport wanabe white collars, but the bread and butter is from us blue collars as we buy more often.

 

Don't blame the 1200 for being big, heavy, not a sportbike; Honda offers you the CBR 1000 too.

Take your choice, but don't blame one for not being the other.....

 

Be sure and gas up before you leave.

 

At the risk of being redundant, repeating the same questions over and over with minor changes in sentence structure is going to start lookin silly to anyone following this little rumble with any degree of acumen.

Thank-you for the small concession about whether or not I am obsessed with tank size. I'm not. So you can let that one go.

If you feel attacked then I can't help you. I'm sure that there are real windmills to tilt somewhere within the range of your gas stops. Maybe we can get together sometime soon. I am writing an April Fool piece about motorcycle jousting that needs some real first hand input.

Again I'll dismiss the kippered herring you keep tossing out about Honda and how the PR dudes bought and sold this guy with a freebies hotel room and a little razzle dazzle. He got took and still hasn't figured it out.

 

opcorn: opcorn:

 

ok billy the floor is yours please explain


opcorn:

 

Arguing online is like running in the Special Olympics; even if you win you are still retarded!

Better to respect other people's right to their opinion, they in turn are more likely to respect your right to your opinion.

 

Oh man, I haven't had this good a laugh in a long time.. keep up the good work guys.

FWIW a bit of a study of this and that, I now come to the conclusion that Honda gave us the VFR1200 because the majority wanted that type of bike, too bad I wasn't in that majority. Some what along the same lines in how the VFR 800 became what it did, folks wanted a different bike than what it was, oh well in my book. As far as range goes I remember a certain super hawk that had the same problem, funny how that went the way side as other bike also got around the same range. For me I'm ready to get off in 150-180 miles anyway so whats the big deal. Plan your ride. But something tells me this VFR will see around 200-220 miles. I'd like to believe Honda ain't all that stupid, or are they smoking something we don't know? anyway, good read, man this one cracks me up..

 

Great post!

I look at it this way: in Australia the VFR is regarded as an "old man's bike", i.e., it's not a crotch-rocket sportsbike. But it starts every time, works flawlessly and is comfortable and practical for distance riding, with a bit of sportiness thrown into the mix. A good VFR rider can easily keep pace with some 19-year-old punk on a Gixxer1000, especially through the twisties.
And I have noticed that VFR owners tend to remain VFR owners! - They don't have to buy the latest, fastest, flashiest litrebike every year; they just keep on buying VFRs.

I think that the new VFR1200F will have only a few enthusiastic early-adopters, but when people have actually owned them for a few months and the marque becomes known for it's performance they will start to sell like hotcakes.

And I'm really interested to try out this new DCT system. I would never, ever have considered it before but now that I've seen videos of it in action and read some reports of how well it performs, I can't wait to try it out.

 

Geeeeeze..... I hope some guys at American Honda are reading this thread !

Just to see the passion and divided opinions.

My thought...... is that Honda focused the 1200 to take some of the BMW market for technically advanced large all day road eaters that appeal most to well-heeled gentlemen of somewhat advanced age. And except for the fuel range, they seem to have a viable weapon to compete in that market.

 

Kawasaki updated the Concours14 this year with many small improvements to answer people's comments and that only came out, what 2 years ago?

 

How would someone who relied on their bike for their main mode of transportation be a "lifestyler?" Wouldn't they be pretty far away from that? Wouldn't a lifestyler be someone who only rode the bike when it was sunny, between 65-75 degrees, no wind, and even they only rode to the cafe/bar to meet friends, then rode home and put the bike back in the garage? As in they are living thru a lifestyle choice, not a real desire/need to ride?

What does someone's profession have to do with whether or not they love riding and/or are competent at it? Life would be a lot more painful without dentists.