Is the new VFR 1200 selling?

I think you've nailed it. Once again, Honda is dumbing down their line for the US market. With the US being such a small fraction of their market, they just don't put the effort into us that they do in Europe/Japan. They are relying on the Honda fan-base way too much... Of course, I've always dreamed of a VFR/Blackbird hybrid. But, find myself not caring that much since Honda hates the US.
That and I really want a GS now so I can change up my riding a bit.


So to answer the question, is the VFR 1200 selling? Well no. No bikes are selling. Dealerships are failing left and right. People aren't flocking to the 1200 because the BMW 1000 RR is pretty much THE bike to have right now, plus everything else KC-10 mentioned.

For sport touring, the Concourse is pretty much the crown jewel. For hyper-sport touring (my favorite thing to do until I get a GS Adventure), the BMW K1300S is brilliant in every way.

 

My local Honda dealer closed its doors several months ago with one of the first RWB VFRs still on their lot...

 

I forsee substantial incentives needed to sell those things. I don't think Honda did themselves any favors by releasing another "tweener" that is going to need lots of aftermarket equipment at the price that bike is listed!

 

San Luis Honda is gone?.......hmmm thats kinda sad to hear.

 

My only real problem with the VFR1200 is the price and the flat spot in the power from 4250 - 5500 (according to a review I read this morning).

 

The VFR 1200 that I test rode at my local dealership about a month ago is still there. I could not detect the flat spot in the power band around 5K RPM's. I definitely was bothered by the twitch or jerky throttle response, hitting a bump on the road caused a lurch in the throttle by a minor twist of the throttle.

For the price, I expect three position engine management program and electronic suspension adjustment. Both through buttons on the handlebars. But most of all, I would really seriously consider one if it had electronic cruise control.

In the meantime, I'll continue to enjoy my gen 6 and sit and wait to see what happens with the gen 7.

 

Can you clarify something? Do you intend to determine the ENTIRE sales of the new VFR1200 by just the people on this board? I ask this because of your statement above. It's a big world out there tex.

I really don't expect Honda to touch that bike for years now, but if they did, I would really hope that they would make the fuel tank larger, and redesign just the front headlight. C'mon Honda....LISTEN to the people for once.....

 

I actually like the headlight design. In fact, I like the bike. I just dont think the "bang for the buck" is there.

Flash

 

There is a real easy way to deal with the pinhead. Put him on your ignore list. It's so much easier that actually reading his drivel & then deciding not to waste any effort replying to him. He can ridicule me all he wants & I never see it. I also could care less if I did since I would venture a guess that I've forgotten more about riding than he's ever known.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Shoot, I guess suggesting that anger management that the USAF provides has fallen on deaf ears again. Seems to me that since KC is hobbled by this ability to ride it would be a good time for therapy in both areas.

 

Soooo, KC got a lil crap slung at him. The poop-slingin' seems a little misplaced to me. I get what he's saying. Honda increased the asking price 6 Gen to 7 Gen by what, another $4K to $5K? Ok, what am I getting for that? Because that's a solid '03 or '04 sitting in my garage, maybe an '05 if someone is in a bind to sell.

Let's put aside the manufacturer comparison for a minute. No comparing to BMW, etc. KC is highlighting what you got for your $$ in the 6 Gen vs what you're getting for the $$ in the 7 Gen. I find myself struggling to pay what, an add'l 4-5 thousand for nothing more than displacement, a lot of which is eaten up in extra weight anyway. So Honda is asking me to pay all that extra money, and I STILL need to add heated grips, luggage, etc... all the things I need to do a little touring comfortably, and add them all myself on top of the higher asking price? No ma'am. Honda is calling me an idiot straight to my face if they think I'll do that. Maybe all that extra cost is hidden by the fairings. I dunno. What I do know is I love my heated grips (I installed), my luggage (I installed), modded windscreen (I installed), more comfy seat (I installed), Michellins (I installed)... you get the picture. If I still have to do all those things on the 1200, it's a really poor sales pitch. I want all those things, plus extended mileage, both better gas mileage and a higher capacity tank. I want cruise control standard. Honda just can't make the price comparable to other sport tourers. It needs to make the amenities comparable as well. So, I voted NO... for now.

 

My intent was to get a feel for sales, not an accurate, scientific study. I pretty much have the results, it is a slow seller. Out of 85 votes, 7 have purchased it. The bike I tested more than a month ago is still sitting at my local dealer so it is not just that few VFRW members have not purchased one.

I think time will be kind to the 7th gen and I believe it will have similar success as the previous generations, that is, it will get a lot of respect, it will be considered a great all around bike, and will not set sales records. Instead, as previous gens, it will have a long run and a loyal following.

 

What makes you think that Honda hates the U.S.? Trying to start World War III with the Japanese? lane:

My local dealer told me that they have three new VFR 1200's and that two are spoken for, and they may not be able to sell the third. I think it's just a nonesense marketing tactic by Honda because the same VFR has been on the floor for a month now. I think this bike is destined to sell about as well as the Varadero and the CBF1000 - my local shop has these units sitting around from 2008, still. It's unbelievable - my dealer has more 2008's and 2009's that 2010's!
My bet is that it's not going to sell. There may be a bang for the buck issue, but I think the bigger issue is the bang for Buck Rogers - the thing just looks a little too odd to make me really drool over it. You gotta get me in the heart if you want me to buy your bike, Honda!!

 

I can appreciate your concern with the price of the 1200....but after 1200 miles of riding mine there definitely is no flat spot in the 4200-5500 range. Extremely smooth power delivery and throttle response.

 

Saw the 1200 for the 1st time at local dealership. Thought I could dig it, just cannot do it. Rumor has it that Honda has plans to adapt the 1200 V4 to a Adventure bike. Yamaha has the Tenere 1200, basically the Japanese version of the BMW GS1200 but with a parallel twin, and NOT available in the US market, if so I'd get it yesterday. If Honda does similar, and it's worthy, I will be all over it.

Here's the Yamaha YouTube - 2010 Yamaha Super Tenere XT1200Z official video

Honda surely can offer the same but with a superior V4 1200 package.
Here's an intern et concept http://dalefranks.com/cycles/wp-content/uploads/hondags.jpg

 

My local dealer gave me the same story, with the spin that the buyers plopped down $10k deposits on the units, sight unseen, and a month before delivery to the store. The "third" one has been on display for the past month and a half. There are also an 08 and 09 on the floor which have both been there for over a year.

 

Prices of toys is relative. I can see myself in my new Ferrari but my bank account says differently. No flat spot in mine either with less than 1K miles. Another review by someone who may have ridden one read by someone who has never ridden one and likely re-worded in an attempt to make some point.

Kinda reminds me of ol KC's "review". BTW, I have just received from official USAF channels a pic of ol KC at work somewhere in the air over New Jersey.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3133908509_cfa296544b.jpg

 

I take it you haven't run out of gas yet! Probably haven't gone far uh?:spam:

 

For long distances between gas stations, I take my trusty 91 that gets 85 MPG and can peg out the speedo at 175.

800 miles and change on the 1200 and no Jo-jo stains on the seat yet.