It's official: VFR1200 is all time favorite

I bought my DCT new when it first came out, was happy to get it for $16,000 OTD. I have years of experience riding, worked for a couple of national mags in the 80s. I've ridden scores of bikes and currently own 28 very good ones.

Three days ago I bought a new 1200 manual in Ohio for $9500 OTD and have been riding it back to Washington State. After 550 miles of break in, then fresh oil the next morning, it's been a steady 90-105 most of the way. In the process, I've had an chance to think about why the new VFR has been such a sales dog. Price, sure. I have a 2009 V-Max, and the same problem applies: Too much money for a Japanese bike other than a Gold Wing.

But I've heard gripes such as 'I'd rather have an ST!' Or 'It's too heavy,' or 'It has shaft drive.

I've had two original Interceptors, an RC 30, 2005 VFR, and I've ridden others.

The new 1200 is a different breed, I agree, but for what it does, it has no equal. As pure touring, while the seat is comfortable and the optional luggage good, the bar position is bloody awful. Not as bad as a Ducati Panigale, but it's a short day twisty road riding position at best. But it can be cured: I have LSL bars on the DCT and Helibars on the F. Both are good. I prefer the Helis. Either one completely transforms the motorcycle. I just averaged 650 for three days straight. That's not Ironbutt territory (which I have done,) but it's respectable. They were short days, too.

What the pissed off 750/800 riders don't realize is the power differential of the 1200 engine. If you want lighter, then stick with the 800 and about half the horsepower. Moreover, the 1200 is vastly more sophisticated in suspension, braking, handling. I ride the twisties fast, and the VFR is a bullet. A bullet. The old VFRs are not even close. Nothing wrong with them, but if you want horsepower, the 1200 will blow you away. It accelerates from 60-110 HARD, and there's plenty more. The sweet spot is 90-110. All day long, without stress.

And that's the deal: it is a very very fast GT bike with the emphasis on handling and speed. If I want to superslab only, I'd pick something else, although the VFR has been good on nothing but three days of fast interstate riding. But I like to tour sporty and faster than anything in the road. My Panigale? Even with factory tank bag and tail bag, I wouldn't take it on more than a one day trip, along with plenty of Advil. Harley Ultra? Fine even for twisty west coast roads when I want to sightsee.

But if you want sporty fast to touring with the emphasis on fast, the new Viffer is in a class of its own.

(Right now, I'd choose the manual. But the paddle shifters on the DCT are excellent. It's a bit quirky, but I still love mine. Either way, you can't go wrong.)

 

What do you think of the "limited" range? I've done over 200 miles between stops on my '97. Sometimes out here in the west (the part of America between where you're at and the Big Muddy) you have to.

 

Thanks for the write up and it sounds like you are a die-hard motorcyclist, so it carries weight and I found it very inciteful.

 

Just rolled into home at the end of a 2783 mile trip on the 1200F. Today? 950 miles in 12 hours 1 minute. My opinion becomes more favorable the more miles I rack up. My butt? I can feel it a bit, but that stock saddle is one of the best ever. The Helibars ... I'm probably going to switch the LSL handlebars I have on the DCT to Helibars. My throttle hand is very sore, but most of that comes from not having put long miles on in awhile, so it's out of practice. As to the fuel range: I got 160 miles to the tank, though I probably could have stretched it to 180 comfortably. And that's at high speed, typically running 90-105 and even a steady 110-115 for about 40 miles. It's a sport motorcycle. It isn't a touring motorcycle. But it's a very capable, very fast sport motorcycle you can tour on. I think back to the original Interceptor and what an exciting motorcycle it was for the time. I put 22,000 miles on one of mine, another 8,000 on the other, and many of those were fast touring miles down the west coast (US 101 and California 1.) The new VFR1200 continues that tradition in a big(ger) way, and I can see the direct lineage surprisingly more than I could in the earlier gens. Not sure why, but it has that ... feel and purpose.

If touring touring touring is your primary gig, although the VFR will suit you, there are other bikes probably more to your liking. I also own a 2008 BMWR1200RT, fabulous motorcycle, great for touring and not shabby in the corners. I also have a 2007 BMW K1200GT, which has more power than the R bike, a very capable high speed tourer with lots of power. But both are very soft compared to the VFR in the handling, braking and suspension departments. If you ride fast, if you live for the corners, that's where the VFR is in a class of its own. I'd sacrifice fuel capacity for that.

When you can write a glowing report after a long journey, the last day of which was 950 miles, it says a lot about a motorcycle.

 

i stiill swear that Honda built the VFR12 especially for me,.....glad to see that you guys enjoy it too !!!

 

Coming from someone with a stable such as yours, that is saying a lot.

My experience mostly mirrors yours. I mostly prefer twisty backroads and tried to avoid superslab, but a few weeks back I had to make a day run to DFW and chose the VFR1200. For most of the way there and back on I-45, I was cruising at 85-100, but it would sprint effortlessly to 110-115 with a quick twist of the wrist. At the end of the 600 mile day, my right wrist was sore, and that was with stock clipons. I'm still on the fence about helibars, but probably will do it eventually. Also, my butt was whining a bit, after been on the Honda optional low seat all day. All in all, what it told me was that while there are touring rigs and canyon carver, the VFR1200 is one that I can actually tour all day to carve the canyons the next day. That... makes it a rare breed indeed.

 

I bought my first VFR1200 -- the DCT -- in Portland OR and rode it down the coast in cool weather. After a 450 mile day of moderately winding roads, I thought someone would need a crane to lift me off, so sore I was, especially wrists and elbows. I recommend the Helis without hesitation. Huge difference. I've had Helis a number of times before. Sometimes great, sometimes hardly a difference. These are great.

I have Corbin saddle on the DCT and might get one for the F. Sitting on the fence. The Corbin looks better, works well, but after this trip I give accolades to the stock seat.

I fully agree about that effortless twist of the wrist for a sprint to high speeds. No substitute for HP.

 

BTW, tell your friends there's a new 2010 DCT on eBay for $10,085 OTD. I just bought my F from that dealership and rode 2700 miles home. It's a steal at that price, and the dealership was terrific. Honda Direct Line in Bellaire OH, just outside Wheeling WV.

 

I've got about 15-16k in parts on my fake V4 (crossplane) R1 and without a doubt for scalpel, local corner attacks, there is no contemplation. For anything other than local, the VFR is that good. I told my mechanic recently that I'm glad I didn't buy the VFR first. It might be the only bike in the garage. It does need some suspension work however.

 

I was just about to ask what dealer you bought it from, because I'm up near Columbus. I'm really interested in the 1200. I'm trying to decide whether I want to stay naked for my next bike like the bigger Monster 1100 or Speed Triple, or go with something faired like the 1200. I know the position will be similar to the Monster, where the S3 will be more upright standard. With the small tank on the 12, all 3 should have similar range. The 12 will have the HP advantage with the S3 being next. Seating position and wind don't bother me though. I just rode my 696 up to Mid-Ohio for the AMA Superbike races the past 3 days. It was about 125 miles round trip each day. Whats funny is my back/neck/arms never crossed my mind once, completely fine. It was my lower body. I'm just a taller guy and the little 696 has me all folded up and my knees/hips were screaming after a half hour or so. That's when I decided it was time for a bigger bike. Now I just need to land that corpo job so I can afford one... lol :wink:

 

Couldnt have said it better.
Sums this bike up perfectly.
You sir, have a very nice turn of phrase (and I feel the same way about my R-1 that you do about the Panigale).
I am just so blown away by how easy the VFR12 is to ride really quickly with so little effort or drama.
I think the boys in Hamamatsu knew what they were doing (and priced it accordingly).

 

amen:love-struck: what a machine

 

I've done over 200 miles between stops on my 2010 with sidecases fully packed.

 

At first I thought I'd be upgrading the suspension. The recommended suspension settings in the owner's manual are pretty awful for spirited riding, but I was able to get it dialed in to the point where I can confidently drag pegs and knees. I posted my settings here:
http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/46762-Suspension-Settings-Dialing-It-In?highlight=suspension+settings

 

OP, if you are not, you might consider registering on VFRD. It's a much more active forum for discussion of the 7th gen. Plenty of us showing appreciation of the bike over there.

 

Look at the date of this thread. Over two years old and counting.

 

Yikes! Missed that.