Don't road test

Hi all

I thought i would have my VFR800 VTec for life, i went to the release on the 14th and cancelled my test drive the following day. Since then the bike has really grown on me. I made the mistake of going for the road test last week. My faithful 800 is back at the dealers and the 1200 should arrive this week.

My 800 was a great bike, i did not think for a minute that i would fall for the 1200 but the test drive blew me away and that was that. Another brilliant VFR. This one is a slow burner for the public but i think that is going to change.

 

Seeeee..............!! No one believed me!!

 

Each positive review here gives it a little more credibility in my mind.

 

I have no doubt that the 1200 is going to be a fantastic motorcycle, and congrats on you, sounds like you're in love. You mentioned the publics less then warm reception to the 7 gen, and I think you are right in saying that in time this bike is going to win many consumers over. A good portion of this angst that's being directed toward the VFR 1200, in my opinion, stems more from Honda's failure to produce a V4 superbike along side the VFR 1200, and that that is the real fuel behind the anger rather than the 7 gen itself. Had Honda released two versions, I think we would be seeing less negativity and blame being placed on the 7 gens shoulders. In other words, appeasing both the superbike and sporty touring parties could have prevented some of the misguided finger pointing that the VFR 1200 is wrongfully receiving. The question is; Did Honda produce the bike that many of us desired? No. Does that in and of itself make the VFR 1200 a bad motorcycle? Absolutely not. Quite the contrary in fact. I think that many of the haters out there should try to understand just what that means.

 

Congrats on the 1200! Post up some pics too.

 

I have thought about the negative attention that the new 1200 has had. I think it is now subsiding as people are beginning to get the bike.
I can understand people having problems with the looks, I never thought it was ugly, but just very different from the norm, but once you adjust to the bike and begin to see the very fine detail in the design and once you see it in the flesh and see the astonishing quality and then once you actually ride the bike any doubts fade away.

Even the silencer has grown on me and that I have to admit I did think this was ugly. I thought the VTEC had the greatest under seat exhausts I have seen and I would have preferred something like that on the 1200 but I also get the technical elements to why the 1200 system is better and I have to say the 1200 sounds better.

In my opinion the fuel range debate is never going to go away. For me 120 miles is my normal fill up and so not a problem and after years of bikes with the mid 30’s mpg and 19L to 20L tanks I have gotten used to it.

If I was going to tour the world, then I would buy an all out touring bike like the Pan but for most of my riding year this would be overkill and I accept that most other bikes would require you to carry extra fuel if you were planning such trips. If I was lucky enough to do such a trip I think carrying extra fuel would be on the agenda anyway.

Unfortunately for Honda the problem they created when they announced the bike is that most thought it to be a VFR750\800 replacement, this upset the old guard right away; they saw a shaft drive touring sort of machine with very odd looks. They wanted a V5 1000CC bike and quite a lot probably still do.
So from the off we were unsure whether it was a replacement for VFR or even the Blackbird or really were did it fit in. You can understand the Blackbird\VFR owners just wanting more of what they had.

Then at the last minute we found out that the 800 was staying in the range and Honda rebranded the 1200 as a road sports machine.
I don’t know what that is but after riding it, this is a true V-Four retaining all the quality that we love in this engine, It is without a shadow of a doubt a VFR with the matching power of a Blackbird and even a tinge of a superbike like the Blade. With that in mind the fuel tank size makes sense and if Honda had just thought about how they would market the bike I think there would have been a lot less negativity.

I think they have created a fantastic new shaft drive sports VFR genre but they failed in getting that message across at the early stages.

 

I for one applaud Honda for what they have done for the motorcycle industry in the direction of the VFR 1200, but until I ride one I will be skeptical that it is worthy of the VFR branding. The VFR has almost always been a race bred machine geared towards touring and it appears as though the 1200 is more touring bred geared towards racing. I will admit that it has grown on me quite a bit as I have thought about things.

One of the things that makes me applaud Honda here is that they have broken the mold. Lately it has felt like a stalemate with new models. They all look and perform almost identical with only some small changes here and there for practically the last 10 years or so. New suspension, redone body, and mild engine/electrical advances are all that have appeared with recent models. Honda has finally added something entireley new to the equation with unconventional design throughout the entire bike. The ENTIRELY new engine is much welcomed and the unprecedented dual clutch tranny with electronic shift is amazing to have. The physical appearance of the bike is something totally new as well. No more conventional fairings, headlight, or exhaust, its all new. Then we tack on the low-maintenance shaft drive integrated into the SSSA whuch gives you one less thing to worry about and more time riding.

I firmly believe that much of this is the future of motorcycles, even with the superbikes and cruisers. We are going to see a radical shift in design across the board very soon and Honda is right at the very front of the push.

With all of this said, is the new VFR perfect? Probably not, but it is in fact the first attempt at such a stong push towards something entirely new. I bet that the 7th gen dioesn't stick around nearly as long as the 6th gen was in production before the rework some things and make it more appealing to many more.

Congrats on the new 7th gen. I hope you enjoy it!

 

Any time you change something this good it is bound to elicit a strong response. If I recall correctly, the sixth gen bikes didn't receive a round of applause in the beginning but it slowly caught on as any superb machine will. There are some holdouts that feel that the fifth gen bikes represented the pinnacle of VFR evolution. This new evolution of the VFR holds true to the VFR DNA in that it walks a different line, a line that actually makes the machine both extreme and practical in the same breath. My hat is off to Honda for doing it again and surprising us with the unexpected but why are we surprised? They raised the bar again although it may be a different bar than the previous VFRs raised, it is still remarkable.

Would I want one in my garage? If I actually saw and rode one I would likely want to take it home. The problem is that it is priced out of reach and you just can't beat the value of any previously loved VFR regardless of the generation !

 

I totally agree.............. 'VFR' stands for V Four Racing ! Let's face it, the VFR died a long time ago! I think Honda was looking for a target audience when they designed this new bike. If you want a repli-racer then buy a CBR. But, if you want a bike that will do what the Gen 5 and 6 did only BETTER, then get the Gen 7!

 

I love my 5th gen..............but I am sure I would like a 7th gen. if I tried one.................I better not try one, I have enough bills......... congrates on your new rocket !!

 

yeah.. congrats

 

I got to sit on one today and look it over real good. There is much to like about the riding position, very comfortable and being a Technonut, I do love the tech. Problem is, I just can't get past the distain I have for the bodywork. On the other hand, I can't honestly pigeon-hole the 12 in the never-gonna-buy slot as I expected either. Guess we shall see but my 06 has only 34k on her so Honda has time to seek therapy...

 

I think the new VFR would far better received if it was $2000 less expensive and came with saddlebags, heated grips, and a centerstand. Honda's decision to charge a premium for the bike then upcharge people big money for parts that should have been on the bike to begin with is making people frosty to the new bike.

Flash

 

Which people? You? They're selling pretty damn well.

 

I agree. I think they have priced it for the year 2012, meaning, that's when the $16k will feel right.

Ron

 

So they are so hot selling that they're already discounted on Ebay?

Flash

 

I'm not a fan of technology just cause we can idea which is what is done with a lot of new cars and bikes these days . My idea of a new vfr would be a lighter fuel injected vf1000 f/r with modern brakes.and gear driven cams . Let me choose what brake i want to use and i known how to change gears . I like to ride my bikes and drive my cars ,not be along for the ride .

 

still waiting for the pics.......

 

Congrats on your purchase, lets see some pics.

I am one of those people phobe, no offense, to each is their own. The current price tag makes me think of other options for the money that's all, not that the price is too much for the bike. That being said the 7th gen is not my favorite thankfully (no money to buy one) BUT it's not a bad bike by any means. I decided it deserved to be tweaked a bit. Here is the 1200 that I would buy...

I would get the non DCT model as I think shifting is part of the experience. It has a re-shaped tank and front end, slightly smaller and stealthier exhaust, color matched panels, with the touring option package. It also has fully adjustable suspension front and rear, specifically compression. The tank also hold and extra gallon of fuel. MSRP: $18,000.00 If this was the case, my wife would divorce me and my 6th gen would have company in the garage.

 

Sorry for the delay in posting, ok here is my new bike at the dealers a week ago, the day i picked it up.

I have only managed 150 miles so far but they have been absolute sublime mad smiling miles. I have taken Monday off and I am heading up North of Scotland on the ultimate running in route.


I can see people's point of view about the spec and price, i must say it was hard giving up my loaded VFR Vtec, I also thought before i bought it that it would have made sense to include the hugger and centerstand at that price.

I knew on the test drive it was very much a VFR and i just have to say that on fit, feel, performance i am more than happy with the change and if you love any VFR you will love the ride of this bike

It is a fantastic bike and I feel very lucky to be able to experience it after nearly 29 years of riding I feel I have reached the pinnacle of my motorcycling life and I also know that V4's are for life.

I will post my run up north next week, have a nice weekend all and ride safe.


Paul