Looking for a new ride

It seems Honda has gone all out to embrace the cruiser market. I like the new Valkyrie but without bags and wind protection it's kind of a dud. What would be excellent would be a sport touring version of the Wing or a Wing dressed in ST clothing.

 

I would really like Honda to start bring the European models to the US. It baffles me why they do what they do. I understand it is market share that drive the cruisers but their Sport Tours in the US have reached the end of their life and new innovations need to surface. Make motorcycles that have good wind protection, some factory creature features (electric windscreen, cruise control, factory ergonomic swaps, panniers included, maybe heated grips), 1100 to 1300 CCs V4, 300 mile fuel capacity, and can turn up foot pegs and hit triple digits easily in under 11 seconds. And have it competitively priced, $14k to $16k.

Is this so much to ask for?

 

I guess it is because the lion's share of the market is for road going barges and feet forward cruisers. Honda doesn't build bikes in a vacuum. They do their research and they know the sport touring riders meet in a phone booth compared to the people salivating over a new Wing. I will never be a full dress touring rider. If it comes to that I would rather take the truck with a sport bike in the back. Like you, I have found that the sit-up riding style really huts my back. My VFR is the best bike I have found, for long distance comfort, since my BMW R90 with S bars.

You might want to look at the Kawasaki C14. These guys swear by them.

 

I have owned FJR great comfortable long distance bike.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnkpM-OsyZg

 

I'm probably lighter than avg. @ 153lbs without gear but mostly I think not accelerating quickly and getting into the highest gear possible as soon as possible are things that help me get good mpg. The vast majority of my miles comes from commuting and I have a pretty mpg friendly commute with about 80% of it being highway and I am pretty much 65-70mph the whole time on the highway. Some might find my way of riding (at least commuting) boring but, I'm just commuting and instead of bitching about getting poor mpg I'm doing what needs to be done to get good mpg, relative to this bike. When I am traveling somewhere or riding some place for fun, my mpg is not as good but my average stays high since commuting mileage dominates my average.

My fuelly link
http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/honda/vfr1200f/2012/swimmer/324145

 

Swimmer thanks much

 

I average 150 miles to the tank - if you need 200 mile the vfr is not the rational choice .. However when did that play any part in the final decision get a test ride and get one

 

Just thought I would give an update.

Well after much internal debate I found myself having a difficult time leaving Honda. Whether that is good or bad really doesn't matter. I pulled the trigger and first did not buy a brand new bike as I had originally intended but I did find a good example of used bike that is nearly new in appearance and up to date maintenance at a fair price.

Here is the new ride 2008 ST1300 with slightly less than 15k miles. I know it is not a VFR but for me my old body just cannot handle the riding position for extended periods. I have ridden my wife's 2008 VFR for a couple of hundred mile in one crack and the old body was a disaster.

 

Well it's still a v4

 

It's funny but to each his own. I was seriously looking at an ST1300 and had done a couple of hundred miles on a demo and I just couldn't get used the the weight. The more upright seating position actually hurt my neck. In contrast my VFR felt light and, once I got everything adjusted to my liking, very comfortable.

 

You are right, Everybody is different and every bike is different. Compare to the 2008 VFR my wife has there is nearly 200 pounds difference. But honestly if one learns what is called the slow race, being able to move the bike at 5 mph or less the weight issue disappears for me. Coming from an ST1100 which most folks think is a tank I have found it to be a great bike whether on the highway or on twisties. The ST1300 is about the same weight but the steering geometry is much different that the 1100 making the twisties much more fun supposedly. Tighter cornering and more nimble. It is not meant to be a VFR type bike.

I find so many times that folks buy a bike and try to make it something that it isn't. Example that I see is someone with an ST making it have GoldWing feature or on the other side taking something like a Blackbird or VFR and making a true sport tour. I either case the bike will never be what it is not meant to be.

I have only clocked a couple hundred miles and like you I find the seating position a bit to upright. But the bike does have a riser block under the handle bars which comes up and back quite a bit. That will be removed today and go back to stock position. Which is similar as to what I am accustom too on the ST1100.