Is this a derby?
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2010/january/jan0610-designers-defend-the-new-honda-vfr1200/ (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2010/january/jan0610-designers-defend-the-new-honda-vfr1200/)
Personally, I've always liked the 749/999, and even though it's a snobbish response to criticism, I honestly think they were ahead of their time. Anyways, it doesn't sound like Terblanche is in love with the new VFR, but he does have a good point:
QuoteThe bike market is very conservative, and it's not easy to create a bike that innovates and is drop-dead gorgeous.
The new VFR's problem IMO is weight...not looks. I think it (like the CBR 1000RR) looks pretty good.
I don't mind weight in a sport tourer, I'm kinda old school but I always thought a little weight on a long haul bike was good. Keeps it from being bounced, blown, and thrown all over the road. The engine should have all the power it needs to haul the heft, the only real complaint I have about the bike would be the headlight. I grew up with Optimus Prime... I still don't think he belongs on a motorcycle, apparrently others don't either judging by the success of the B-King.
I don't care what a bike weighs or how fast it is if it's ugly. Speed and light weight will never make up for that. Ugly lasts forever. Even if it's cheap that's nothing more than lipstick on a pig. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but we all know an ugly bike when we see one. [puke]
From what I've read, it's not just that it's ugly, but that (according to those who have ridden it), the bike as a whole can only be described as "eh."
"A long, pointed nose is very good for super-high speed stability, but it compromises the handling. This is why the MotoGP bike and the Fireblade both have very short fronts."
Bulls**t.
There is no way that adding a few ounces of plastic to the front to style the nose correctly would in any way affect the handling. If it did, then the new Multistrada would handle like crap (not like the Multistrada looks good, either).
Jebus, weight is one of the most important things to me. The Honda is 120 lbs. heavier than a Ducati 1200 MiltiStrada. A make the beast with two backsing 120 lbs.
I had a new VFR1000F a long long time ago and I was looking to see the evolution of the engine, but it never came. I'm glad they're doing it now.
There are some great V4 engines out now. Do ya think Ducati could build a good one for cheap (that's a relative term) after all that GP experience ? Yea, maybe. [coffee]
I don't mind the Honda styling at all, it's the weight.
There's supposed to be a 1200 Multi at the bike show this weekend. Have to give it a look.
LA
Quote from: Scissors on January 08, 2010, 07:32:51 AM
From what I've read, it's not just that it's ugly, but that (according to those who have ridden it), the bike as a whole can only be described as "eh."
It was reviewed well in Cycle World...
Quote from: LA on January 08, 2010, 07:36:19 AM
Jebus, weight is one of the most important things to me. The Honda is 120 lbs. heavier than a Ducati 1200 MiltiStrada. A make the beast with two backsing 120 lbs.
I had a new VFR1000F a long long time ago and I was looking to see the evolution of the engine, but it never came. I'm glad they're doing it now.
There are some great V4 engines out now. Do ya think Ducati could build a good one for cheap (that's a relative term) after all that GP experience ? Yea, maybe. [coffee]
I don't mind the Honda styling at all, it's the weight.
There's supposed to be a 1200 Multi at the bike show this weekend. Have to give it a look.
LA
I agree... on the right bike. This isn't a superbike. If you want that then this isn't the right ike, get the RR if that's what you want. As a sport-tourer, weight means less, it's about some corners and eating long distances fat in comfort. It's competitors are the likes of BMW and the Concours 1400, niether are light weights either.
I always thought the 749/999 bodywork would have made a beautiful Aprilia. It just wasn't the marriage of muscular, organic shapes and machinery, what I like about the Monster, and now the new SBKs.
Terblanche has a point, but good-looking bikes look good in 2-D, too. It should not be necessary to see the bike in 3-D to get it. The new VFR is not sexy by any means, but if I wanted a tourer, looks would be low on my list of priorities.
Quote from: LA on January 08, 2010, 07:36:19 AM
Jebus, weight is one of the most important things to me. The Honda is 120 lbs. heavier than a Ducati 1200 MiltiStrada. A make the beast with two backsing 120 lbs.
it comes with a little Japanese honda repairman under the seat.
Quote from: Triple J on January 08, 2010, 06:26:48 AM
I think it (like the CBR 1000RR) looks pretty good.
Big ol' +1
It also has a poor range fuel tank wise, so automatically its out. Can't tour if you can't get to your destination.
Quote from: Latinbalar on January 08, 2010, 09:52:01 AM
It also has a poor range fuel tank wise, so automatically its out. Can't tour if you can't get to your destination.
What's the range?
Quote from: Triple J on January 08, 2010, 09:56:03 AM
What's the range?
It has a 4.9 gallon tank. Conservatively assuming the bike gets 40 mpg, that's about 160 miles before you're looking for fuel. (not too bad, IMO)
Generally, I like to get off a bike every 2 hours or so, so a range like this wouldn't be a deal-breaker for someone like me.
Quote from: Scottish on January 08, 2010, 06:48:19 AM
I don't mind weight in a sport tourer, I'm kinda old school but I always thought a little weight on a long haul bike was good. Keeps it from being bounced, blown, and thrown all over the road. The engine should have all the power it needs to haul the heft, the only real complaint I have about the bike would be the headlight. I grew up with Optimus Prime... I still don't think he belongs on a motorcycle, apparrently others don't either judging by the success of the B-King.
I'm pretty sure the B-King was not a sales success. It only lasted for one year. It is no longer being sold. I totally get your point though.
The bike must be in trouble if it needs to be defended. I don't think that this is the bike long-time VFR owners were looking for.
Quote from: bluemoco on January 08, 2010, 11:12:26 AM
It has a 4.9 gallon tank. Conservatively assuming the bike gets 40 mpg, that's about 160 miles before you're looking for fuel. (not too bad, IMO)
Generally, I like to get off a bike every 2 hours or so, so a range like this wouldn't be a deal-breaker for someone like me.
2 corrections.. The tank is actually 4.1 gallons and this dude was only getting 34mpg in his review:
http://ashonbikes.com/content/honda-vfr1200f (http://ashonbikes.com/content/honda-vfr1200f)
Now that's a deal-breaker for me..
(but I do think it looks great)
Kinda on topic, there are some great deals going on the leftover VFRs. I catch myself finding reasons to drive to the local Honda Powersports dealership just to oogle at the new '07 red/white/blue VFR. Makes me kick myself for not picking up the original red/white/blue '86 model when it came out. The older VFRs were good looking scooters and down right great bikes. Hopefully the new one will be well received. I am just not digging the style and looks. The humped back whale gas tank would make it hard to mount a conventional tank bag. That will be a deal killer for a lot of sport touring riders, me included. I'll stick to my sport touring Busa with it's long pointy nose and shitty handling. [laugh] At least it has a flat tank. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Travman on January 08, 2010, 11:23:58 AM
I'm pretty sure the B-King was not a sales success. It only lasted for one year. It is no longer being sold. I totally get your point though.
That is exactly my point, it was only sold for 2 years I think. So I can assume others fon't like their motorcycles to look like transformers either. ;D
B-King
www.suzuki-bk.com (//http://)
Quote from: sally101 on January 08, 2010, 11:39:34 AM
2 corrections.. The tank is actually 4.1 gallons and this dude was only getting 34mpg in his review:
http://ashonbikes.com/content/honda-vfr1200f (http://ashonbikes.com/content/honda-vfr1200f)
Now that's a deal-breaker for me..
(but I do think it looks great)
I'm an American, so I used the US Gallons measurement which is 4.9 (or 18.5L).
http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=5219 (http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=5219)
In that article you quote, they achieved 33.3 mpg with cruising speeds of 85 mph. I'd expect that my riding would be substantially slower on a freeway jaunt (maybe 75mph or so). Further, I doubt that most riders are going to be caning their personal bikes to the same degree that a moto-journo does to a test mule during a press launch. YMMV ;)
Quote from: ducatiz on January 08, 2010, 01:19:23 PM
B-King
www.suzuki-bk.com (//http://) (//http://) (//http://)
i'm still trying to figure out why a company named a bike after a fast food restaurant?
After having owned a GS1200ADV for 9 months, a bike many people think as fugly, with a whole 105hp, 270+kg fully laden..it moved very well indeed on any kind of terrain and was probably the only ex-bike I REALLY miss. The looks weren't all that and it looked like it was put together in someone's shed but, it was a great bike.
Honda have a reputation with their VFR bikes, they are mile munchers with a touch of sportiness. I think the 1200 isn't ugly and from what I have read in the UK and Spanish press it is supposed to be a hell of a ride as long as the rider doesn't forget it's not a sports bike.
A breath of fresh air and change is always good, gets rid of the monotony (this is coming from someone with a BMW S1000RR :P ).
If everyone is talking about it then Honda did their job right.
It's a HONDA. If there are slight glitches, bugs, problems (low fuel range), then they'll put the engineers to work on them and have them sorted in a few model years at the latest.
Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's a good looking bike with good performance in my book. Yeah, it's a bit hefty but I've seen GoldWings M-O-V-E out and they're so heavy they measure them in tenths of a ton.
Perhaps the magazine testers just got off the new 'Priller RSV with race tires and AV gas and then got on the VFR1200...
For those who are pining for a lighter-weight tourer, it may be worth a call to a Honda dealer. There are some VFR 800s remaining in inventory, and I'm sure dealers would be happy to move em out the door.
Quote from: Duck-Stew on January 09, 2010, 06:26:34 AM
If everyone is talking about it then Honda did their job right.
It's a HONDA. If there are slight glitches, bugs, problems (low fuel range), then they'll put the engineers to work on them and have them sorted in a few model years at the latest.
Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's a good looking bike with good performance in my book. Yeah, it's a bit hefty but I've seen GoldWings M-O-V-E out and they're so heavy they measure them in tenths of a ton.
Perhaps the magazine testers just got off the new 'Priller RSV with race tires and AV gas and then got on the VFR1200...
deals gap on a goldwing/gl1800 by yellow wolf dragons tail (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo#normal)
draggin' knee on a goldwing! woot! [laugh]
seen it live at the gap. i pissed myself.
Quote from: Scottish on January 08, 2010, 07:37:48 AM
then this isn't the right ike, get the RR if that's what you want. As a sport-tourer, weight means less, it's about some corners and eating long distances fat in comfort. It's competitors are the likes of BMW and the Concours 1400, neither are light weights either.
No, you're right, the BMW's/Concours and Hondas are not the bikes for me. A tourer is one thing, but a SPORT tourer is another. Sport should say "light".
The Ducati 1200 MiltiStrada is going the right direction with significantly less weight (120 lbs?) and great power (150 HP?) to weight. Looks comfy too. I'd take it hands down, especially with Ohlins suspension.
LA