Here's How I See It

While it's true that Soichiro-san was an innovative maverick that changed motorcycles for the world, his demise has left a company that now makes so many different machines that bikes seem to be a sideline these days. The only real "innovation" from Honda in bikes lately is the DN01, a sportbike with, sigh, floorboards. The vfr1200 with the exception of the auto trans borrowed from race cars is derivative and with it's high horsepower and weight now solidly in the category of the Kawasaki Concours, a true bargain with the features a bike purpose built to sport tour should have.

Whether Honda sells a lot of them or not won't matter much to them. Obvously they aren't too worried about it.


As an aside, while it is true that it is only by careful foot placement and concentration that I am able to complete a session at the gun range without shooting the tip off my huge penis, I prefer whisky to beer.

I never can get those tests right

 

Just to be different

Glad to say that I looked at the VFR, sat one and ordered one. I have owned a lot of motorcycles in 35+ years of riding from Honda CB350s to CB750s, VFR750, VTR1000, Ducati ST4, HD Road King and a ZX-11. Styling is certainly subjective. For me the bike works from that perspective. I looked at the old generation VFRs and although lighter by 50lbs I trade that off against a 35-40% increase in power.

Honda will sell out of these by about March for the first wave. The luggage is exactly what I want. Fully integrated luggage looks good when it is actually on the bike but take it off and the bike usually always looks like crap. With the new VFR no requirement for any type of external mounting frame it is all built in.

In short it is for me and if not for you then so be it.

 

While I do agree on the small tank size (Come on Honda you call that a tourer with a measly 170 mile range?) I got to give them props for the work on the engine and the transmission.

I do know how to use a standard transmission, every vehicle I've had and presently own all have standard transmission. However, it does get boring shifting all the time, especially if you're just riding around town. Check out this video for a more in-depth analysis on the transmission:

[video=youtube;SBfsCSZwsAc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBfsCSZwsAc[/video]

What really amazes me is that the auto doesn't have any jerky motions that would disrupt a mid-corner turn.

That being said, I heard that Honda UK is not allowing VFR owners to give the new VFR1200 a test ride. WTF? :crazy: Plus, I think Honda is becoming an engineering company not a customer company making products we don't really care for as long as it's technically cool.

I hope Honda gets their act together and start making products we all want. Even Ducatis are looking nice to me, I've got my eye on the 1098 after going on a 1198 test ride. Wow what a sexy beast!

 

I applaud you Paul you have stepped into the lions den and picked up the chair and whip..... when are you plannig on taking delivery of said new VFR? would love (as would everyone else) to see real world pictures of the beastie being put thru its paces..
I am old school.. Cars, Bikes..Not computers though.. So all the gimzo's and "wizardry " that Honda has put into this bike doesn't appeal to me... Plus in these economic times the price tag is a bit out of my range..... that being said, I sincerly hope you enjoy your purchase and be sure to tell us how the first real ride you get her on goes...and we like pictures here too..

Cheers

Crusty

 

Stepping into the loins den with a whip is sort of kinky IMO. Paul just doesn't sound like that kind of guy. Let us know when you investigate him.

 

I knew that wasn't going to get by you.

 

I'll admit to a little use of a feather but that whole chicken stuff just ain't my style.

 

hey morons,
is that sirloin or top loin?
you guys crack me up.
I like the whole frickin chicken

 

I thought it was "Live and Loin"...

Kudos to you, PaulW. I'm sure there are a lot of members who will be interested in what the new model is like after you live with it for a while.

 

Being as I live here in the frozen North in Ottawa where right now the temperature is hovering around -25 celsius it won't be in the next couple of weeks. My dealer says he will be getting delivery of the 3 he has been alloted in mid-April or so. That will give me time to get my CBF1000 out of the garage and prettied up for trade-in. It better be no later than that as we are off on our bi-annual trip through West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee in mid May. Once I have it there will be pictures aplenty.

 

KC - thanks for your service to this nation. We here that are left are thankful for people like you.

Yes, Honda missed the racing heritage with this new VFR. The BMW's (at least the older K1200GT's) are shaft drive. No chain to wory about. Will I get one? we'll have to see what is out there when this VFR goes away. Maybe I'll be like the wife and get a CanAm. Maybe it will be a gold wing. Will it be an automatic? hell no. I still like the shifting. That is why on the VFR there is still that availability to shift for yourself. Heated handgrips? optional. Looks do mean a lot, but they are not the final factor for me. Reliability, performance, reliability. Has Honda gotten out of touch? Quite possiably. But Paul, probably along with many others, thought this was the bike for them. Price on everything is negotiable. I had my dealer give me a tank bra, the saddlebags and stabilizer at their cost. They made no money off of it, and made me a happy customer.

Just my thoughts.

 

Wow you can critique people's spelling and grammer what other parlor tricks can you do...

Maybe you play trumpets like a trained seal in the circus.. you do have the hot air for it.

and yeah I thought I fixed it before I posted, sue me....

 

Welcome back, KC. Good to see you on here. Glad you are still suckin O-2 and pissing people off. Kristin, my girls and I are heading up to the Cycle World show. We will get to see Shamu in person. Little bummed no BMW at this show, but look forward too seeing the other new trends. Will bring back pics

 

Long time bud.. glad your safe. mate..

ALSO hey some of us are lucky to get 140miles to a tank..

 

Welcome back KC, hope to see you at a track day this year.

BZ

 

Not to worry. I am gridding my lions for your next frutian slip.

I do play piano and I bet you like to toot your police whistle.

Had you "fixed it" as stated, we wouldn't be here.

Sue you? LOL I might give it some thought if you had a new 1200 paid for.

 

You are to be commended for your service and I am glad you have returned home safely. I greatly appreciate your sacrifices.
From North American opinions of the previous VFR models and general rants from sites such as this I think Honda would be confused as to what the real wants or don’t wants of the “faithful” truly are. Honda has in the past delivered to fickle and diverse markets numerous bikes that pleased at least some of us. They do have a reputation. They build what they see as marketable to a “world” market. With government requirements for a road machine in North America we are lucky to get any bikes. How do the manufacturers satisfy all the requirements that are first on the list as well as listen to our sorry asses? Too bad it falls so short in you opinion. You must have been a bear on Christmas morning if you didn’t get what you wanted!
So it’s ugly. Fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down! So subjective! Somebody will love it! You don’t. That’s OK.
There have been so many complaints from riders about the serious difficulty with throttle and gear control through valve actuations etc in the 6th gen that suggest riders don’t have the coordination one would expect. How about the threads about “at what RPM do I shift?”. Automatic transmission? Maybe. Or just ban the golfers from riding!
The extra weight may attract the boys who want the “iron” feel. Who knows?
The smaller tank is a complete no brainer. More fuel stops. More exposure. You meet the nicest people on a Honda. Bar some. About the same size tank as the BMW K1300s….interesting!
Why should it have standard bags. The VFR has, I believe, always been listed as a “sport bike” on Honda websites. (If anyone can show me that it has been listed in the Sport Touring list I would love to see it). Why would a buyer who has no use for bags have to pay for something he doesn’t want.
Shaft drive. BMW K1300s….interesting! I have ridden and very much enjoyed shaft drive bikes. Get rid of the dirt and oil and chain wax and worn sprockets and the other high maintenance crap. Love that “shaft”, the shaft is good donkey!
Ugly exhaust…..but it blows!
No heated grips……Wus….
The rear tire is the same as the BMW K1300s…….interesting! Guys who put out the money for this bike are not going to worry about the price of a tire that “looks” like that! Maybe the bike is for an upscale European market. Or Canadians eh?
170 HP…..now that’s funny…….
The things you like about the new bike: I like them too!
You talk about similar money for a couple of competitors. I’m curious? What price are the in the US? You say the “The BMW has too many options to list”. Now, are these “options” included in the base price??
”The bike uses a 195/55 tire……. Most likely it is a 190/55” The latter is true……Same size as the BMW K1300s…..interesting!
“At any rate, this bike is a total failure. The only people that will buy it will be the guys/girls that just HAVE TO HAVE the new thing out there. After that, there are simply too many choices that are either better or cheaper.”…..I guess we’ll see……
Thanks for your thoughts!

 

Well, I finally got to see one of these things in person. Pretty much everything I thought of the bike still stands.

Here are some random thoughts in no particular order:

To be perfectly honest, it DOES look better in person than in photos. Am I saying I like the way the bike looks? Absofreekinlutely not, it's still butt freaking FUGLY.

That muffler... uke:

The red paint look deep enough to go swimming in.

The seat is WAY uncomfortable. This in itself is not a bad thing since most Honda sport bike seats suck. In addition, the rear seat is completely useless.

The visual lines of the bike simply don't make sense or match each other. In all the years I've been around bikes, I've found one simple thing to be true. The end of the rear subframe needs to extend to the end of the rear tire. If a bike does not do this, it simply DOES NOT look right. Look at the current Triumph Speed Triple or Yamaha R1 & you'll see what I mean. If you look at the VFR1200, you'll see they had to put a gigantic fender on it to reach the end of the tire. As a result, the bike looks ridiculous.

Taking off the fairings for maintenance looks to be a complete nightmare.

They did a really good job of concealing the bag rack mounting points. Too bad you have to shell out $1000 just for the side bags & $400 for the rear case.

I LOVE the dash/instrument cluster. That is the standard all bikes should be made to.



I inquired as to the possibility of a test ride & the sales guy said (direct quote): "Really? Are you serious? No way that's happening, dude." That's pretty much exactly what I expected him to say. I thanked him for his time & walked out. If one of these things were given to me, it would be on EBay like 8 minutes later.

Honda Powersports, I got two words for you: EPIC FAILURE.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

The KC review we are all wating for is the "Time For Beany" skidlid with the prop on top. So dude it looks like losing that flight pay might be the reason you ain't springing for any new bikes much less a new VFR. Glad to hear you got to at least sit on one for your back to square one review.