Comments on: 2010 Honda VFR1200F Breaks Cover

By: Ol' Jair

Ol' Jair — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:48:08 +0000

This is a great technological leap forward. A sportbike with a trouble-free shaft drive and an auto trans to eliminate the awkwardness of foot lever shifting, which I find awkward on many sportbikes, as I’m over 5’10″ tall and my legs are already tucked into an uncomfortable riding position. If you are a racer, the weight might be a problem, but for ordinary street riding by people of average skill, forty pounds here or there isn’t going to make a difference. A 600lb 1200 sportbike should be more than fast enough, if you have the training to handle the twisties at speed.

I personally am very impressed with the VFR1200, but am waiting to see if this transmission setup is made available on the ST1300 replacement. In my opinion, that would be the perfect bike for me, as I prefer sport tourers, with their more comfortable riding position and more available amenities (cruise, heated grips, etc).

By: Destiny Altered

Destiny Altered — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:51:16 +0000

Are the bags “standard equipment” included in the weight?

Thirty pounds (5%) heavier than the BMW K1300S (also shaft drive) ) and 150 pounds (34%) heavier than my 2000 Honda CBR 929RR (chain drive) which replaced my 603 pound 1990 CBR 1000F (chain).

Yeah, 591 pounds is better than the Yamaha FJR 1300 and the Kawasaki Concours 14 “sport” tourers, if your sport is weight lifting.

C’mon Honda why didn’t you aim at BMW? What a disappointment.

By: MATRQL8R

MATRQL8R — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:36:03 +0000

It looks promising, but it does sound as if it will be heavy. I had a 2004VFR and I loved it, but while riding w/my partner (2006 Huyabusa), I simply needed more “pop.” I now have a Kawi ZZR1200 that I really like (and is fast…had a ZX-14 also), but Honda braking is some of he best, and the reliability can’t be touched. I’m sure they were aiming at the K1300S and GT w/this bike, so it will probably be EXPENSIVE. And you KNOW Honda doesn’t usually make deals

By: BigDog

BigDog — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:06:38 +0000

I agree she is a little girthy, however she would drop some weight fast if they would drop the buck rogers exhaust system. Looks like a nice design.

By: Hayabrusa

Hayabrusa — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:30:26 +0000

Hey – do you guys wonder WHY they haven’t released pricing yet? Surely, they are not gauging interest first, then deciding on a price, right? I mean, they’d have to know what it costs to build, so I’m wondering – if they get people begging for it, they can tack on a few hundred more for extra profit? I agree the weight is plenty, but I don’t ride crotch rockets per se’, so I imagine it should feel pretty decent on the open road.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:40:52 +0000

I was a bit nervous about the weight when I saw it but my zrx is nearly 600 all fueled and loaded and its not nearly as nice or as fast as this VFR is likely to be. I’ll have to see one in person but it looks pretty promising for my purposes, eg mountain touring two up. I’ll probably skip the auto, price reasons only.

By: GeddyT

GeddyT — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:04:01 +0000

I’ve been following this bike with quite a bit of excitement. As I get older and honestly evaluate what it is that I actually DO with a bike on the street, I’ve realized that a focused sportbike is just not for me. For instance, I’d like something that I can ride two-up for a couple hundred miles without my wife crying in pain after a half hour.

Step one was trading in my 1000RR on a Multistrada. For the most part I like it, but just wish it had a bit more oomph. I also am not an irrational Ducati lover that just ignores all of the “joys” of riding Italian (oil leaks, terrible parts availability, spotty fueling, etc.). So I’ve been following the news on the new VFR quite closely. I’d much rather be riding a reliable and well-built Honda.

Also, although I definitely like to be in control of my bike, I’m not such a tough guy that I can’t admit when I see a helpful new technology like this transmission. The fact that it allows for such smooth shifts has me longing for a day when I won’t get a head-butt from my wife every time I shift gears. I’d bet this smoothness would also allow for much more extended rides two-up without pain. Sure I’d miss rowing through the gears myself, but how often do I find myself with the bit between my teeth like that?

After all this though, sadly, there is one number that completely erased any desire I previously had for this bike: 613. Sorry, if I’m going to pilot a vehicle that heavy, I might as well just drive my car. After the radical weight reduction plans this generation 600RR and 1000RR experienced, it’s just inexcusable that the VFR GAINS 60 pounds. Hell, I thought the old Interceptor was too heavy of a bike for anything resembling sport riding and would only have been interested in the new model if it were lighter than the last gen. In fact, I’d be first in line with a deposit. (And don’t tell me higher displacement requires higher weight. The 1198 would beg to differ.)

By: Asphalt_Rubber

Asphalt_Rubber — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:43:28 +0000

2010 Honda VFR1200F Breaks Cover – http://bit.ly/17D4ZR #motorcycle