First Ride Impressions

I waited 6 months for this ride. I scoured the web for any morsel, read every magazine article, lurked on every message board. I wanted this motorcycle in a bad, bad way. Did I set myself up for disappointment? Was it worth the wait?

Motor: This is the really important part... the root word of "motorcycle". A big reason of mine for wanting the VFR was its unique motor. An unconventional, powerful V4 that looked or sounded like nothing before it. What surprised me is that the VFR came with 2 motors. There's the quiet docile smooth but mostly unexciting motor that provides propulsion under 5500RPM and there's the howling fighter plane motor that takes over after that.

The sound is unusual. It actually sounds like 2 motors running simultaneously. The crankshaft layout and firing order are said to make the motor behave as 2 parallel twins, and it even sounds that way. It's quiet and unassuming below 5500RPM but above that the noise is just awesome. I've heard it likened to an old radial-engined warbird... I think that's a good comparison.

The VFR is powerful but like other fast Hondas, it's "deceptively fast" which is to say that the speed sneaks up and catches you by surprise. And it's torquey. If not for the gear indicator I would have been completely clueless as to what gear I was in. It's smooth and powerful at all speeds, and was hitting the rev limiter well before my senses were programmed to expect it. It isn't an overly exciting motor, it's just a really good one with lots of power all the time but never intimidating or overwhelming.... and it makes cool noises. Walk softly and carry a big stick.

I've been defending the VFR from all of the critics, cynics and haters, and one of the biggest criticisms is the limited range. Well, as much as I love the bike, this criticism is deserved. On my first ride, I stopped for fuel with 2 bars (out of 7) showing on the fuel gauge and 160Km showing on the odometer. It took 12.3 Litres to fill. Later, on the way home, the bottom bar started flashing.I got stuck in a traffic jam, but made it to a gas station near my house with 215Km showing on the trip odometer which I had reset when I filled up. It took 16.5 Litres of fuel. If my calculations are right, I was getting just under 31MPG (US Gallons). That's a range of 150 miles out of an 18.5L tank. That's shit. Now to be fair, I wanted to break the VFR's engine in using the "motoman" style... which is to say, I rode the bag off it. It spent much of its first day at full throttle, often over 120MPH for extended stretches. It will get better mileage under "normal" riding and I'm sure the motor will "loosen up" as it breaks in but I'm still disappointed. Yes, I defended it and I drank the Kool-Aid but Honda, you fucked up. The VFR1200 should have a bigger tank.

Gearbox / Drivetrain: The gearbox is perfect, though it will take me a while to get used to the ratios. My last bike was designed with racing in mind and had gear ratios that worked on a racetrack. The VFR is purely a road bike and has ratios that work on the road. The biggest difference for me was a short first gear. I unintentionally tested the slipper clutch twice when I clicked down to first prematurely. (worked great BTW) The shift quality is perfect. I recall a Motorcyclist magazine test where they complained of it being notchy or clunky but I don't know what the hell they could have possibly been referring to. Changing gears on the VFR requires almost no effort at all, just a really light tap on the shifter. No clunks, barely even a click. Clutchless upshifts are a cinch. I hit a false neutral 1 or 2 times but only because I'd gotten so used to just lightly breathing on the shifter to make a change.

Shaft drive? Didn't notice. It didn't jack, snatch, lurch, shudder or any of it. I did notice that the final drive assembly gets quite hot... after some fast riding it is almost too hot to touch. The owner's manual recommends changing the final drive fluid every 24000 miles.

Brakes: Perfect. Firm, great feel, easy to modulate, and very powerful. It seemed strange to me that Honda didn't include their new C-ABS on this bike but I think I understand now. They worked really hard to make these brakes feel perfect, and no matter how good the technology is, you couldn't simulate "feel" this good. I haven't had the pleasure of testing the ABS yet. I stomped on the brake pedal a couple of times at low speeds to see if I could get it to lock up but it wouldn't. The back brake is linked to the front and actually slows the bike pretty effectively. I'm still trying to train myself to use the back brake... I never once touched it on my 600rr racebike.

Ride / Handling / Comfort: My first ride on the VFR happened to be my first ride on a streetbike in almost a year, so I was a bit rusty and overly cautious. The very first sweeping turn that I took on the VFR immediately had me at ease. It bends into turns and transitions effortlessly. It's unbelievably stable when leaned over and holds even a bad line with zero effort. A few times I found myself drifting inwards mid-turn, as I was giving it more effort than neccessary for the required amount of lean. This was easily remedied by adding throttle. Throttle adjustments are no trouble at all mid-turn. It's so smooth that even the biggest ham fists couldn't screw it up. The fact that I felt so at ease so quickly on this bike says a lot for it. Especially considering the off-season rust that my brain and body had accumulated. A light push on the bar or footpeg flops the VFR just as far over as you want it. The handling has a feel of quality that lets the rider know that a lot of people spent a lot of time getting it right. It is really really really good. I expected it to be good but I'm still impressed. The handling is brilliant.

Low speed handling is a laugh. Though the bike is heavy and a lot of work to push around the garage, once you're moving it feels extremely nimble and stable. Feet-up u-turns are a breeze. Parking lots are cake.

Air management is excellent... The layered fairing does its job very well. It provides a nice pocket of calm, still air from the feet to the shoulders... no turbulence, no buffeting. I get a calm steady flow of air into my helmet. When I tuck my head down to the tank, I can pinpoint the exact perimeter of the "bubble" as I go inside it. It feels like when you're driving your car down the highway and you roll up the open window. Lots of wind, lots of noise which slows a bit then stops suddenly when the window fully closes. And then instant serenity. Cool air is directed through the layers to the rider's legs... which is important, because the rear headers are next to your right leg. At low speeds the heat is very noticeable, but once you get rolling you can feel the fairing doing its job. The way the VFR manages air is very clever.

The VFR isn't as comfortable as I imagined it. Maybe I'm just too short. (5'9" with a 32" inseam)The seat is great... with a wide flat area at the back, a nice "berm" to hold the rider in place under heavy acceleration, and a narrow part at the front which allows me to hug the chassis with my knees and stand flat-flooted at a stop. For me the problem is a long reach to the bars. I end up sitting on the narrow part of the seat, which creates pressure points. I have to either straighten my arms out in front of me or bend my waist at an acute angle to sit on the wide comfortable part of the seat. Maybe I'll get used to it? Still, it's a typical VFR riding position that compromises sport and touring very effectively. The mirrors are excellent; good wide field of vision and no vibration.

Appearance / Quality / Fit & Finish: Can I say anything about the paint that hasn't been said? It's fucking exquisite. I've never seen anything like it. The fairings fit together immaculately, all of the materials are high-quality. Every surface has a quality texture. The instruments are clear and easy to read. The controls are excellent. Higher-grade switches are used. They are accurate, with no slop of freeplay. The click-on-click-off 4-way flasher switch is excellent. The horn button is big and has a good feel. The buttons even have a deep metal-flake finish. The attention to detail here is unbelievable.

Not all of the fit and finish was perfect. There are a couple rough spots: The little cowl that holds the tail lights is flimsy, and the front covers on the mirror stalks have a bit of an ugly big gap. Other than those 2 things.... wow.

Style is subjective but I just love the look of this bike. Every time I look at it I find something new that I never noticed before. Particularly beautiful to me is the way the tank cover flows into the fairing. It looks great from head-on, from behind, and from front or rear 3/4 views. Initially I wasn't sure about the slim tail attached to the girthy "core" but it just works. I love the way the seat integrates into the tail. Strangely, when looked at 2-dimensionally directly from the side the design seems a little incoherent, maybe awkward. But the VFR is very much a 3-dimensional design, and needs to be seen and felt in person to be appreciated. I think it's beautiful.

My overall impression is that I bought a motorcycle that a lot of people put a lot of thought into. The more I ride it the more I appreciate it. It seems the designers agonized over the details, then they agonized to make them all work together. Their effort shows. On paper it might not blow anyone's mind, but the attention to detail won't reveal itself in a spec sheet or brochure.

This is a magnificent motorcycle, and I look forward to many years and many miles with it.

 

I forgot to include a bit about the suspension: Quality feel... soaks up bumps but firm and well-damped. The factory setting on the back was way to stiff for my 170lb carcass... bounced me right out of the seat a couple times on bigger bumps. I reduced preload by 1 click (half a turn) and it was perfect.

 

Wow, great writeup Phobe. Glad to see you're enjoying the new girl. Be sure to keep us updated with any other opinions on the 7th gen as you break her in.

 

Phobe, thanks for all the details and the pictures. Let us know your second opinion after you have a few miles.

Ron

 

I wondered about the target market they had for this bike. I would consider me, looking for a sport tourer, to be in that area except for that very small tank. You gotta get 200 miles on it!

 

Congratulations on your new bike! 7th gen owners are increasing!

 

Excellent review! I couldn't have done any better myself! Thanks!!

 

Great review, I am am at 1340 miles no complaiints, wow what a bike, agree too many gas stops.

 

Oh yeah i need my heated grips and hard bags, frozen fingers this am and a back back bs!!!

 

Clutch pull is a bit stiff for my liking...


Handles beautifully with a passenger. The soft part of the power curve below 5500RPM works great for providing the pillion with a smooth ride.

 

yeah had the girl on tried some hard braking good behavior
, i don'r like passengers she has her own bike but i like to know what a bike will do under heavy braking two up pass all the way.

 

Excellent review, the tanks size really depends how you view the bike. As sports bikes looking for petrol at 110\120 miles is pretty normal and this is spirited riding which still returns around 36 Uk mpg. However thats based on every other report i have heard. I am only on my 2nd tank so I don't know what the real score is. However I am hoping that in touring type riding I will get at least 40mpg. Maybe i am just usde to bike were i got in he habbit of filling up after 100 miles, so i don't think it's an issue for me.

The VFR1200 is very much a sports bike, it is maybe a click back from a fireblade but that suits me. It gives me all the performance that I will ever need, delivered in a way that I feel at one with. The fact that I can easliy convert it to tour those few weeks a years is a bonus.

 

Sorry to disagree on the paint comment, but it was one of the first things I noticed at the dealership, the orange peel, you can clearly see it compared to the fairing plastics smooth finish, wasnt impressed.

 

Congratulations! I love the red better than the silver.

Thanks joining today to comment on this new owners thread so you could put your two cents in about the paint quality. We get it, you hate the 1200. This was a new owner happy about his purchase. Take a deep breath and enjoy your 6th gen.

 

I've got a pretty good eye for paint and I see no orange peel, fisheye, dust nubs, runs, swirls or any other flaw.

 

Huh? This is the finest paint job I've ever seen on a motorcycle!

 

x2 on that

And I am with you on the comfort I think if I was not 5'9" also with a 32 inch inseam it would be better. But I am still enjoying it. When I find a company to make helibars it will be perfect.

 

There's only one 1200 on fuelly.com. He's showing pretty decent fuel economy after 4 fill ups...


New VFR (Honda VFR1200F) | Fuelly