Honda to release VFR1200

**wkid_one** · 18th August 2004, 22:17

Honda is looking to release a 1200cc V5-engined replacement for the Blackbird. It will be have anti-crash electronics and be capable of cracking 320kph.

Insiders say it should be on sale in 2006 with the most powerful engine a road bike has ever used - making somewhere around 190bhp.

The bike - named the VFR1200 - will feature traction control and the latest development of Honda's combined braking alongside ABS.

**badlieutenant** · 18th August 2004, 22:24

Originally Posted by wkid_one

Honda is looking to release a 1200cc V5-engined replacement for the Blackbird. It will be have anti-crash electronics and be capable of cracking 320kph.

Insiders say it should be on sale in 2006 with the most powerful engine a road bike has ever used - making somewhere around 190bhp.

The bike - named the VFR1200 - will feature traction control and the latest development of Honda's combined braking alongside ABS.

wow! and heavy i bet, great in a straight line

**Mr Skid** · 18th August 2004, 23:20

Originally Posted by wkid_one

Honda is looking to release a 1200cc V5-engined replacement for the Blackbird. It will be have anti-crash electronics and be capable of cracking 320kph.

Anti-crash electronics? I'm fascinated with what that might involve..

Maybe built in knees to judge the lean angle, or emergency deployable trainer wheels to prevent lowsides? I reckon the best idea would be holographic fairings - would look the same, but impossible to scratch!

**andy1** · 19th August 2004, 01:15

Hey wkid what about the new suzuki busa 1400cc!!

**Hitcher** · 19th August 2004, 09:10

Originally Posted by wkid_one

[left]Honda is looking to release a 1200cc V5-engined replacement for the Blackbird. It will have anti-crash electronics

Little training wheels that descend at low speed, or pop out on the low side once the peg scrapes, and a large inflatable styrene proboscis to mitigate frontal impacts?

**Devil** · 19th August 2004, 09:14

Ejector seat!

*BOING!*
complete with parachute.

**vifferman** · 19th August 2004, 09:15

Originally Posted by wkid_one

Honda is looking to release a 1200cc V5-engined replacement for the Blackbird. It will be have anti-crash electronics and be capable of cracking 320kph.

Hey, wkid_one - it wouldn't have hurt to actually put in the link to Motorcycle News, so that people could actually read it for themselves and see the bogus photoshopped image blending a VFR and Blackbird...

An earler article somewhere else (sorry - can't remember where, but probably MCN as well) actually said that the V5 derived from the RC211V was actually going to be some exclusive (read: VERY expensive) repli-racer. So I dunno that this new report is any more credible, apart from the fact that the VTec VFR wasn't what VFR buyers really wanted (no extra power, but more complexity), and I can't see Honda adapting the RC211V for the market if they were only going to make a few expensive bikes. Before the Vtec was released (which was after the RC211V debuted) there were rumours the new VFR was going to be a V5, so there was a lot of disappointment that it was what was perceived as a backward step at worst, or a stop-gap bike at best.

**vifferman** · 19th August 2004, 09:44

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Little training wheels that descend at low speed, or pop out on the low side once the peg scrapes, and a large inflatable styrene proboscis to mitigate frontal impacts?

Heh heh... visions of the Sbaro (SP?) BMW-based fully enclosed thingo with training wheels exactly like you've described, crossed with Gonzo from the Muppets...

Photoshop that, MCN!

**rodgerd** · 19th August 2004, 09:56

Originally Posted by paparazzi

Anti-crash electronics? I'm fascinated with what that might involve..

Well, if the 4WD market is anything to go by, probably some sort of throttle and brake management to make it hard to exceed the designer-imposed bike limits. Hell, with the elcxtronic steering dampers Honda have now, you could have them limit the steering dynamically, too.

**Mr Skid** · 19th August 2004, 19:16

Originally Posted by rodgerd

Well, if the 4WD market is anything to go by, probably some sort of throttle and brake management to make it hard to exceed the designer-imposed bike limits. Hell, with the elcxtronic steering dampers Honda have now, you could have them limit the steering dynamically, too.

yikes! You mean to say no wheelies / stoppies / burnouts??

How are we meant to get the young 'uns into bikes when they're like this? :P