The bike the new VFR1200 should have been?

I've been taking a close look at bikes the last few weeks, looking to get one again after about 6 years without. I'm 49, will use the bike mainly for local stuff, but will also foray out into the hinterlands for day rides (think Texas hill country). Long-time VFR fan, but not a complete Loyalist, so I at least like to think I have some objectivity.

Looked at the Ninja 1000 at a dealer on Friday. Nice bike. Felt very comfortable. Price is definitely right. Very much part of the short list.
Checked out the VFR at a dealer on Saturday (for whatever reason I had not done that since the 7th-gen's introduction). LOVED it. Love the looks, and the idea behind the multi-layered fairing (hopefully it works as intended). Fit and finish are obviously at a very high level. Bike fit me SO well. I left there thinking "man, I LOVE that bike!", and I've got to say I have not had a strong reaction for any other bike I have evaluated.

I think I'd be over-joyed with acquiring either of these bikes, but am leaning very much in the way of the VFR. Can't wait!

 

The VFR1200 is starting to gel with people, a friend took me over to a Honda dealer to seriously look at buying one to complement his current GSXR1000, being a sportsbike rider all his life at 47 he's now after something more comfortable to tour the 500 odd miles ( the long fun way ) it takes to get to our favourite twisty Alpine roads on but still sporty enough to have fun on when he gets there.

Unfortunately our trip was wasted the demo had just been sold and they haven't had new stock for a few weeks, after riding the Ninja 1000sx he found it doesn't interest him being build wise a bit of a toy in comparison. His other choice is a K1300S but he's still leaning towards the Honda VFR1200 name down waiting for new stock to come in.

 

The Ninja 1000 is getting great magazine reviews. So is the 1200 VFR. I'd say go with your gut, the one that grabs you, the 1200 VFR.

 

Maybe we'll see this?

Sporty version of the new VFR?

Honda RVF1000R | Coming Soon? - Motorcyclist magazine

Maybe a slightly detuned version will be the next VFR?

 

Or, you could check out the Triumph Sprint GT...

 

As a Triumph Speed Triple owner, I demo'd a Sprint GT a little while back as I love that 1050 engine. They're kind of bland in both the ride and styling. It didn't even come into the choice when I was finally ready to trade the 6th Gen in for the Kawi or 1200. Every time I ride that 1200 I'm happier and happier with my choice. The bike is really so sweet.

AKS801 - it sounds like you're trying to make the same choice I was faced with. I hope you go with the 1200 as well. You won't regret it one bit, especially if they pull the price down to be close enough to the Kawi to make it a non-issue. Good luck with your purchase!

 

Thanks all.
I checked out a Sprint GT at a dealer. I'm sure it is a strong, capable bike, and I do love Triumphs. Just wasn't struck by the bike, it just felt rather cheap.
Getting a discount on the VFR (or not) may lay a big factor in the decision.

 

What we have here is turf defending in any number of iterations from a few dudes whose input then output is from planting their posteriors on the seat at a bike show until the next set of warm buns get's a turn, to some that maybe don't want to make the financial commitment, and never seem to get around to really checking prices on most bikes. Then there are the dudes who don't even have an older VFR or bought one of those early models that weren't such a hot buy after all and need all kinds of bucks pumped into them to keep them on the road. These are the types that won't even look around for one of the last of the 800s that are getting blown out the door of most honest shops.



SOS as Harleydoods do. Closet Harleydoods? LOL

 

For reals, player? Can't speak for anyone else in here, but I'm just trying to decide on what my next bike will be, and am open to listening to all kinds of feedback. FWIW, I love the 6th-Gen bikes, and there are some amazing deals out there. Just don't think those are a fit for me.

Not sure where your rant is coming from, but it is weak cheese.

 

Maybe a Harley from Stubbs? It's clear you need to do more homework. Six years is a very long time to be off a bike for any reason. You will find that since this is a VFR oriented BB the overall thrust is toward the marque. What you subjectively have decided is a rant is information actually directed towards "The Gitar Man". You were passed on Loop 610 two miles back player.

 

I love my 6th Gen - although I modified it more toward the sporty side of the sport-touring spectrum. Even so, it IS a 500+ pound motorcycle.

I have never ridden a smoother motorcycle. If you don't mind a bike in the 100 HP range, you can't beat a 6th Gen or a 5th Gen.

BUT if I were shopping around and had the money to plop down on a brand-new SPORT-touring bike, I would look hard at the new (1200) Ducati Multistrada.

Used bikes are great! I have ridden the Ducati ST4 and it's very fine. Or maybe an ST3.

I have not ridden a 7th Gen, so I have nothing to say about it. Except I like the way it looks and I have read the reviews, which aren't universally favorable.

Every time I ride a different bike, it makes me more pleased with the unique compromise that my 6th Gen makes.

But it's always worth comparing . . .

 

Well done, sir!!!

You skewered me with a Stubbs blast: that was rich. Well played, actually.

Of COURSE the thrust is on the VFR, that's why I'm here. Certainly there is an inherent bias toward the "raison d'etre" of the BB. I'm a V4 fan from way back (the first bike I rode on the street was a then-new '95 4th-gen in Scottsdale, AZ).

I won't get between you and Gitar Man.

Peace, bro!

 

No comprendo Badbilly...? I have 7500 miles on a 1050 engine in a Triumph Speed Triple (basically the same motor as the Sprint GT). I have 8500 miles on a 6th Gen VFR, and now 500 miles on a 7th Gen (soon to be LOTS more), and I demo'd the Sprint GT. Did I say something out of line?

By the way, at 6'3" with long legs, the front fairing on the Sprint GT drove me crazy. My knees were knocking into it the whole ride. That alone was enough to make me not want it. And this was a bike I was drooling over in the Triumph owners magazine and was definitely an object of lust for me. The reality of it just didn't bowl me over.

What'd I do, what'd I do? Can I say 12 Hail Marys and be forgiven? ope2:

 

LOL! Man did that get almost FUBAR..

I hear with real ears, most of this from the Harleydoods in my hood who got most of thier "learnin" from watching a Sony TeeVee and contend that any bike other than a Harley is made from old Bud cans. Got some dudes here on the BB, that were shitting bricks about the 1200s had not seen one yet, or at best sat on one for 2-3 minutes and made motor noises then decided that Honda screwed up.

"Stubbs" is Stubbs HD in Htown. Jerry has probably gone to the Great Hogpen in the sky. Likely the tradition lives on. Ironically, ol Jer started life not as an amoeba as many suspected, but as a Triumph dealer.


Anybody want to hear about my 91 that gets 75 mpg and tops out at 190 mph?

 

Ah, that's what I thought. I'll stop genuflecting now.

I definitely try not to criticize or talk about things I don't have real-world experience with. I don't care if anyone calls the VFR1200 ugly because looks are such a subjective matter and I happen to think the bike is beautiful; quite striking and very attractive in the flesh. It sits boldly in my garage next to an MV Agusta F4 which is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful sportbikes ever designed and I think it handles itself quite nicely. It doesn't look big or ugly next to such an iconic machine.

I absolutely can't stand the ignorance and prejudice of HD owners of which you speak and I try my best not to emulate them. I have an open mind towards all motorcycles (except Harleys unfortunately thanks to those same owner attitudes) and think that anything with 2 wheels is a blast and is worth its salt. I think it's kind of sad that so many older-generation VFR owners have shut off their brains when it comes to the new generation. It's a fantastic bike and although it was not a step in the sportier direction, the VFR left its pure sporting intentions behind a long time ago (maybe even since 1990???).

I have very few complaints about the 1200. Is the tank too small? Yeah, they should have made it at least 6 gallons. I'm not sure what Honda was thinking there unless they were trying to keep the bike from becoming too top-heavy? That's one of my only criticisms really. It's not overly large or heavy, it's still a 100 lbs lighter and much smaller than a Concours for instance. It handles well, accelerates better than any VFR that came before it, and is certainly ahead of its time in the styling department (just like all the VFRs before it). For the price it should have come with saddlebags as standard. I've read about people complaining about fueling issues. I certainly don't think it feels any worse than any other stock motorcycle I've ever ridden and have no complaints about the ride except that the gearing feels a little off in 1st and 2nd (1st is a little short and 2nd is a little tall). Maybe this perception has to do with people not being happy about the bike having some artificial tampering in those gears. To be honest, I never would have known that had I not read about it in the forums. The bike is still stronger and more aggressive in the acceleration department than my 6th Gen. I may purchase the Bazzaz unit just out of curiosity if it's not crazy expensive, we'll see.

Anyway, I feel very lucky to own such a great bike and can only chuckle at some of the misconceptions that are being bandied about by people who have no direct experience with the bike and I just shake my head and feel sorry for them every time I step into my garage or have another wonderful experience on the machine. If you notice, almost all the actual journalist-written articles and even the "first rides" done by bloggers and magazines on Youtube etc are very positive. Most of them have the same outcome - the person had all the same misconceptions about the bike which were then obliterated as soon as they starting riding it. I've seen very few negative reactions although there have been a few. Of course, there are always going to be a few people that hate on ANY new bike no matter how good it is. The only time I pay attention to the negative reviews are when they are put out there by actual owners. Some of their points I can understand but sometimes I wonder if we're actually riding the same motorcycle! Maybe it's just because my riding style (aggressive sport rider) suits the bike better than someone who just putts around town as a commuter. It certainly seems to be more in its element when ridden harder and faster, just like a VFR should!

 

Solid take, Guitar man. By the way, totally jealous of your stable. That's really well done.

A lot of the negative reaction to the bike comes from the VFR-philes themselves, and their various contingents. HMC could really have made only any one segment "happy", everyone else would have varying levels of disappointment. Goes back to that old saw about you can't make everyone happy so why try.

Anyway, it sure looks to be what I want, and if all goes right I'll be putting one through its paces around Christmas time!

By the way, I think a nice refrain of "Kumbaya" is in order....

 

Cheer up guys! I have a solution for that tiny tank. Garmin has a bike GPS out that shows among other things where all the gas stations are. I like the stations that have Jo-jo's mself. The Garmin is only 700 bucks and change.

Anyway we have come a long way since Knuckleheads and Dick Tracey wrist radios.. For that we should be thankful.. Amen..

 

My Droid does it for free. ;-)

 

Carnal knowledge is not a good thing..

There's one a them in my hood. Rumor has it that to make some corners one has to use a floor jack.