Corporate Honda

I don't know, man...I got mine for what I feel was a pretty good price. And I didn't bargain for that long (it was mostly over the phone). I'll bet you could get it for $8500...after some wheelin' n' dealin'...especially if you're paying cash or have your own financing.

 

It wasn't my intention to make this thread a generation vs generation thread, the point of this thread was what could Honda do to revive VFR sales in today's American market, the United States is the Holy Grail of the sales market and except for the spectacular 2007 RW&B VFR, the VFR sales have been marginal at best lately.

Mello Dude point about the void left in the market and no bike covering performance with VFR type ergos was my original intention, so have we come to point in motorcycling history where a performance type bike with VFR type ergos wouldn't do well on the sales floor? I'm speculating that if they built a performance bike with VFR type ergos it would tap into the 20-30 year old sport bike buyers market and even make a bigger dent in the 31-60 year old buyer market. Personally I don't need a bike with 1098 power but a bike with VFR ergos and 848 power would certainly get my attention...

LOL Actually I do, I didn't take into consideration that this would turn into a generation thread but I guess on topics like this it's inevitable :doh:

 

Well you should :wink:
What is interesting to me is that I found that the VFR is a good seller, just not off the charts say like the 600rr, as those buyers are all very young and very impressed, and then for the most part new bike buyers, add in the bike looks hotter than anything else out there, plus has a following in the race scene as well. The VFR was the hot ticket back in 86-87 gezz Freddie and the Honda team made it the bike to have at the track and something new to go lookie what I got. The VFR of now is old as it hasn't been really anything to write home about. Nice yes, smart yes, but that doesn't make folks go crazy at wanting to buy one. I can understand why a 19yr old wouldn't want it. I might not either in todays market, but I know whats what. Not many of us do. lucky us huh?

 

I have read that the Europeans take a much different approach to motorcycles that us. They tend to love all around great bikes (like the VFR) and do not necessarily buy the biggest and baddest around

 

I totally forgot the reason why Coporate Honda pisses me off with the VFR.

They didn't do anything meaningful for the 6th Gen upgrade. They haven't changed anything other than colors for the entire 6th Gen.

Yet, yet, yet...

They raised the price $2000 over the 5th Gen. Right, that's progress.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Would you rather have that blue and yellow horid 5th gen someone posted from Craigslist or a RWB anniversary edition KC? paint is a big deal... :tongue:

 

KC-10's just pissed because they didn't offer pink in the 6th generation bikes. :biggrin:

 

Where Honda REALLY PISSES me off isn't so much with their product development, it's the fact they don't stand behind their products nearly as well as they used to. The current wiring harness recall on the 6th gens is perfect example, it was a known and well documented problem for years before they did anything about it. Don't even get me started on their CRF models piece-o-shit valves that have screwed all kinds of people, myself included. They'll get around to making that right with the consumer in a few years I'm sure, after the class action lawsuit.

phew, feel better now...rant off

 

6 years without an update to a design is total crap. That is stale engineering. I dont care if you are pro or anti Vtec, or if you liked 5th or 6th gen. New versions are crucial to the life of these creatures. It is an insult for honda to expect the VFR fans to be content with just new paint jobs after 6 YEARS.

Im in love with my VFR. But I must sadly say... my #2 bike, as soon as I can afford it, will not be another viffer, it will be something with more tech, less CCs and LBS, and more juice. But that is also cause i want variety, not just cause I think Honda is blowing it.

 

:madgrin: :madgrin: You know I was going to jump in sooner or later :tongue:

Look, I'm 100% with KC10 on this one, & you all know how I bitch about the 6th gen, & I'm still kicking myself for selling my 5th gen to by my new then in '04 my 6th gen(I still own a few other gens).

Although I have a excellent communication with Honda, HRC, & Power House Honda shops (good to know low people in high places:tongue: ).

I am surprised that they went backwords on the VFR, & the ONLY way to save face in the North America sales is give us what we want (I'm not talking about the few thousand that like the 6th gen, I'm talking average M/C riding Joe public & performance minded buyers), & that would be a lighter more powerful, good gas milage VFR whether it's current cc's or 1000cc's. with out the v-joke. They can do this w/o there current worry of competing with the ST1300 & the FireBlade(& yes they think that:frusty: ).
If it doesn't happen, it will be a Euro market only bike or go the way of the RC51, great bikes that Honda just forgot about:frown: .

Also a threat & what could be is, over the last few years in the Honda Club members rag, they have been doing long range sport touring trip articles using the CBR1000RR with more comfortable mods (Handlebars & soft luggage, seat change, ect, ect) to promote the "VERSATILE" (stealing that from the VFR) use of the Fireblade.
Another words, Honda has been hinting the VFR to to the way of the gooney bird

The cards are looking that way, I hope not, but I'd put money on it. :frown:

 

DAMN THAT GOONEY BIRD!!!!!!



alas. poor VFR. I knew him well.

I guess it is cbr1000rr's with couch cushions taped to the seats for all of us!

 

Honda builds what market research says will sell

I think corporate Honda is not much different from other companies. The 600cc market is the performance entry level, and for the entry price of a 600RR you get a lot for your money. I doubt the VFR would ever sell in the numbers needed to price it as aggressively as the 600 class.

Suzuki has an excellent 750cc bike and it is the slowest seller in the 600, 750, 1000 model group, largely because demand is for smaller and larger bikes.

BMW came out with the new 800cc bikes recently (F800s, F800St, F800GS), but the engine is farmed out to Rotax, and the bikes sell at premium levels.

Triumph boosted the 600 class to 675 with the Daytona and Speed Triple, but sales are also not very large. Kawasaki tried the same with the 636.

Maybe the new 800cc racing series will help, but I doubt that people looking for an 800cc racer will come to the showroom to buy a VFR.

The sad truth is that the VFR is an "oddball" bike for Honda. It's too expensive for many buyers who would rather put the money into the 1000RR and get more power and the latest technical toys from Honda. For less money you can get the 600cc bikes and have more horsepower and performance, again for less money. The RR designation is Honda's product for the racing crowd. They want a dedicated machine, not a VFR with a more moderate seating and performance envelope.

The VFR followed Freddie Spenser 25 years ago. Times have changed and Honda is following the change. The V-4 engine hasn't been a big hit, maybe because of early problems, and it is probably more expensive to produce. We all know that maintenance isn't exactly cheap.

So Honda is doing what for it is logical - investing in new technology in models that have greater sales appeal in the market. This doesn't mean that they don't "love" the VFR crowd, but to be frank a 25 year run on any model is an exceptional timeframe. Be glad that we can still get parts and that the VFR community is as robust as it is, but expecting a lot of money going into the VFR may be optimistic unless the target market is sufficiently large to pay Honda back for the R&D.