Is the new VFR 1200 selling?

Im sure its a great bike but not the direction I was hoping the next Gen VFR would go. Price puts it out of what I am willing to spend on a bike. Wieght went up. More of a GT type bike then a ST bike now. For the price theres a lot more options to choose from to fit my needs.

 

Bought mine today. I do 500 miles a week going back and forth to work in heavy traffic and this will be my new scalpel. I have a lot to learn about it, but so far I think it's going to be great. i come from BMW land where this bike is right on par OTD price wise and probably way cheaper to service. The dealer said they are kind of scared to keep these in stock, so I bought his one and only. After calling around LA, this seems to be a common story; had one sold it, can't get any more for a while.

 

He actually offered a decent price to me the day I went, but I know that in time he can do better!

 

I need to change my vote ...

Cos I bought one, great bike and the dealer gave me a good price on the 18,000 mile 6th gen I part x'd.
Initially I thought it didn't look very good mainly because of the exhaust and I'd only seen it in pictures. However in the flesh it grew on me, particularly after a test ride.
I bought one new because I think it's a keeper so residuals are irrelevant. Apart from the riding dynamics it's a quality Honda and it will last.

 

The 1200 look nice when i go on vacation . I,m going to my local dealer
too see what she has but sorry to say my 06 is still working well
so i,m going to lean on the side of no . I like a chain drive

 

Seen a used one at the local Honda dealer with an aftermarket pipe. Doesn't do much to improve looks. New pricing here puts the 1200 straight into competition with the BMW K1300S, which is no competition IMO. I'll take the Beemer. Wouldn't mind taking on 2009 Gen.6 black n white, though.

 

Therein lies the problem, IMO. What do you get for $15k? Pretty much nothing. Just like the stock VFR800. Well, at least a stock VFR800 came with a center stand. $1000 more for the ABS? Puleeez. I called it before they were even out. The new VFR1200 is an unflushable turd in the toilet. Just like the NT700V. Albeit they have great build quailty, they're just not what a rider wants or needs.

If I have to kit it out with bags and heated grips and a center stand to get what SHOULD come stock on a SUPPOSED sport touring machine Then it's not a seller to me. I can get a 2010 Kawasaki Concours 14 WITH ABS and traction control, heated grips, TPS monitors, and the best rated tranny and shaft drive according to all reviews so far... all for less than a stock VFR1200 or FJR1300. THAT'S a no-brainer... IF I felt like upgrading. I am quite happy with my 2006 VFR800. And don't get me started on their obvious lack of a large fuel tank and crappy mpg. There's a test ride on YouTube where the test rider actually ran out of gas on the ride at less than 180 miles! SHEESH! POS.

I would be happy if Honda were to upgrade a VFR800 with shaft drive and heated grips, but NOOOOOOOO... that would be too easy.

 

I'd like to add that the looks of the bike have nothing to do with my opinion. I can take or leave it as far as looks go. Hell, I owned a Vstrom! There are lots of people that think the 6th gen is ugly (lots of them are 5th gen owners). I'm not one of them, but they're out there.

I sat on a VFR1200 at the dealership. The footpegs on the VFR1200 are more cramped than my 6th gen. At 6'2" the 6th gen is good for me even on long rides. I suffer no knee stiffness.

I have yet to see a dealership with a VFR1200 on the floor with bags on it. I am sure they stick out pretty far, as they are still an afterthought and not an integral part of the concept of the bike.

I am also a bit off put by people, and even Honda itself, referring to the VFR1200 as a 7th gen. It's NOT a VFR800!! The lineage stopped at 2009 people. There is no more VFR800. It's gone. A 27 year run and they just give up... stupid.

 

"I sat on a VFR1200 at the dealership."

We have read your resume for the postion of Official Reviewer and unfortunately we have no openings at this time.

 

And with over 1600 posts in this forum you still have nothing of value to say... lol. But I somehow still like reading them. Kinda like being addicted to watching Family Guy.

 

Thank-you for being such a loyal fan. Your facility with numbers is amazing.

Perhaps some reviews of your favorite TV shows would be your best bet. Just some advice, do not sit on a TV set. You really need to watch the shows. Word has it that sitting on a TV could result in one not becoming a family guy.

 

I agree that that the VFR1200 is expensive for what it is, but I also think you are comparing it to the wrong bikes. My sense is that they didn't include the center stand because it is supposed to be a sport bike, hence the placement on the website. It is a completely different animal than the C14 (and I have 25k on mine). The C14 feels like all of its 670 lbs., the VFR feels like less than 590, especially when you compare how it feels to stop these two bikes. Slowing down quick on the C14 feels like you are shifting a ton of weight to the front of the bike and really working the front tire and brakes. Even with limited mileage, I think the VFR slows down more like a sport bike, pretty fast without much drama. The fact that the C14 is such a good value is undeniable. It has more features and is definitely more bike for the money, but still a different sort of bike. The VFR claims to be a sport bike, but is obviously a bit too heavy and lacking a chain to really qualify. And it's not shipped as a sport touring bike with bags and grips and the like. But you know if I can get my throttle gripes sorted out, it might be the best commuting bike I could imagine. The motor is like nothing I've ever ridden. It has twin torque power, but the civility of a four, and the hushed exhaust note of a scooter. It pulls in any gear like I thought the C14 should, but in reality doesn't. The real target of this bike, is the BMW K1300 and I think that is a fair comparison, but after years of leaving the BMW dealership steaming at what I just paid for a part, I am ready to make new friends at the Honda parts counter....

 

Yes, I agree that the VFR1200 is probably more sport than tour. I could tell by the ergos. But the lack of 'pull' at any rev range of the Con 14 is deliberate in its gearing. You want different gearing, buy the ZX-14.

You unfortunately bought the first year production of the Con 14, so you don't have the options, or you paid extra for the grips, and certainly don't have the traction control feature, the wider/taller wind screen, or the redesign on the fairing for the heat issue. The 'heaviness' in steering was addressed in 2010 also with different rubber hitting the road, and also different suspenders up front. I still think BatleAx's suck though.

Yes, the Con 14 is heavy, but it is in a sport touring class, not sport. You obviously chose it over the better handling and lighter weight of an FJR or BMW K1300GT for various reasons - among which I am sure was bang for the buck. You mention you have a throttle issue with your VFR? I bet there is no such issue with your Connie.

If you look, the VFR800 isn't in the sport touring section either. I am sure the motor on the VFR1200 is stellar. I think the motor on my VFR800 is stellar. The more I ride it the more I test it, and the more I like it. I just don't feel like the pricetag of a stock VFR1200 shoul be astronomical just because the fit and finish are up to Honda standards.

Same goes for the NT700V, which is in the sport touring section. I think it should be in a section called hybrids because it's one step away from being the heaviest scooter on the market, along with it's cousin the DN-01. Now, if they redesign the VFR800, which will probably never happen, I'd take a keen look at that. If I could bolt on the NT700V's shaft drive to my 2006 VFR800, I'd be hard pressed to want another bike.

All publications say that a sport touring bike should meet certain crteria. A sport touring bike should have a full fairing and tall screen, large gas tank, shaft drive, and spacious hard cases. I believe they should add one thing: It should also rev low at highway speeds for a relaxed ride. Which begs the qurestion, What is the krpm on a VFR1200 at 80mph?

My brother's 1999 Ducati ST4 sits at 4krpm at 80mph, yet has the 916 race engine in it, slightly detuned for touring. 6th gear on that bike is for 80mph and up, otherwise useless.

 

In top gear my 2004 VFR turns 5000 rpm at 75 mph.

 

I'm not sure what you mean about the heavy steering of the C14 being taken care of by new rubber. The factory tires were rubbish and I switched to Roadsmarts (factory on the VFR coincdentally) on both the C14 and my K12. That made the C14 feel a lot less vague and reduced the understeer (not a good feeling on any bike), but it still isn't nearly as fun to ride as the K12 or the VFR once you get off the highway. For me the C14 is a tool to get to work and it does that well. I put on a CeeBailey windscreen, Throttlemeister and a Sargent seat (which is better than the factory but still a less comfortable than the VFR or K12) and living in So. Cal. I don't need heated grips.

I think the problem that so many people have with the VFR1200 is that it is just not as good a value at $16k than many other bikes. I can't help but think if it was around $13k most people would be singing its praises and the dealers would have loaded up with them. So again I agree, it's expensive, it's not for everyone, but so far, it seems to do some things extremely well and I expect to be happy keeping it and the C14 for years to come using each one for what it does best.

I didn't notice exactly where 80mph comes up on the tach, but I did notice that 5k is about 84mph, so 80 should be right about 4700. There really isn't any speed where the bikes get much smoother or rougher. It's eerie quiet and smooth at any highway speed, unlike the K12 which really likes to run at 5k or higher, but is going just a little to fast compared with the the LA traffic to keep there.

 

Which VFR?, not the 1200...

 

Are you smoking crack!? seriously?! ROFLMAO Its not low profile, you sit pretty upright, the front end looks like its face got smashed in, the back end screams for hard bags, its huge. Sure its quick I'll give it that but its no ZX-14 which is faster, sportier, riding position feels sporty (short test ride), more aero dynamic, pretty sure its cheeper then a 7 gen VFR and looks more agressive with a lower sport stance. 1200 looks like Honda's version of turning a Bently into a sport tourer, sure its fast but looks more high brow fancy then sporty IMHO. They should have made the 1200 look more like the Blackbird IMO.

 

Um, you should ride it. It feels much closer to my R1 in terms of power and handling than my K12 does and it is in a different ball field than the C14. The suspension is taught and it could definitely be fun on a track day.

 

R1
crank HP 133.9 kW (179.6 hp) @ 12,500 rpm without ram air
Weight 177 kg (390 lb)
Length 81.5 in
Width 28.1 in
Height 44.5 in
Wheel Base 1,415 mm (55.7 in)


VFR 1200
Crank HP 127 kW (170 hp) @ 10,000 rpm
Weight 267 kg (590 lb)
Length 2,250 mm (89 in)
Width 755 mm (29.7 in)
Height 1,220 mm (48 in)
Wheel Base 1,545 mm (60.8 in)


Oh yeah its just like an R1 LOL but joking aside its not a sporty looking bike IMHO, the total fraction of ppl that really like this bike is small as well. I'm sure its a great bike but its far to touring than sport to me. I like all generations of VFRs cept the 7th.. While the bike isn't that wide it sure gives the illusion that its bulbus.

 

Like I mentioned earlier, I think the direct competition is the K1300S. I suspect that earlier generation VFR owners aren't very taken with that bike either.