Honda VFR1200 a big fat lemon?

**R-Soul** · 11th March 2010, 12:37

Honda VFR 1200:
Power: 172 bhp at 10,000 RPM.
Torque: is 129 NM at 8750 RPM

Wet Weight 267

Blackbird:
Power; 164 hp 112 KW @ 10000 rpm
torque; 119 Nm @ 7250 rpm

Wet weight: 267

Hayabusa:
Power: 197hp @9800
Torque: 154 Nm @ 10200
dry weight: 220kg
Wet weight: ? ( I guess add about 50 kg)

2010 Kwakka ZX-14:
Maximum power 142 kW {193 PS} / 9,500 rpm
Maximum power with RAM Air 149.5 kW {203 PS} / 9,500 rpm
Maximum torque 154 N·m {15.7 kgf·m} / 7,500 rpm

Curb weight (not sure what this is ?) : 566.7 lbs.

2010 Kwakka concourse:
power: 156 horsepower
Maximum Torque 100.3 LbFt @ 6,200 rpm
Dry Weight 606 lbs. 615 lbs. (ABS model)

The honda is not THE hyperbike.
But it aint shabby anyway- especially when you take into account the supposedly great handling - not something you can put a number to...
It seems to focus on producing the high numbers of USABLE power.
Again, in the Honda tradition, a bike for the road and not the track....

**Blackbird** · 11th March 2010, 14:05

Originally Posted by R Sole

its also about where the weight is placed.

I couldn't agree with you more about that and is one of the contributing reasons to selling my 'bird after 8 years. Increasing age, short legs and a high C of G is not a healthy mix! Incidentally, I see that the VFR 1200 had the biggest sales of any bike in the UK in February.

**SPman** · 11th March 2010, 14:16

VFR1200 biggest seller in UK in January...
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-...2010/9844.html

**R-Soul** · 11th March 2010, 15:42

Originally Posted by SPman

VFR1200 biggest seller in UK in January...
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-...2010/9844.html

Interesting; in the associated story, the author says "It doesn't feel Blackbird fast but it's still bloody quick through the gears. Top gear roll on feels pretty impressive, too".

How can it not feel 'blackbird fast' when it has more power and torque than the backbird? And at lower revs? And in a smaller bike?

People only see what they want to see..

**Blackbird** · 11th March 2010, 15:50

Originally Posted by R Sole

Interesting; in teh associated story, teh author says "It doesn't feel Blackbird fast but it's still bloody quick through the gears. Top gear roll on feels pretty impressive, too".

How can it not feel 'blackbird fast' when it has more power and torque than the backbird? And at lower revs? And in a smaller bike?

People only see what they want to see..

I've seen this comment before by other riders testing it. I'm therefore inclined to think it's not a question of being one-eyed but how the power is delivered. The 'bird has a big power step at 7000rpm. The Triple I now ride delivers 85% of its torque at 3000 rpm so the torque curve is very flat and you don't notice that "shove". I suspect that the VFR 1200 might have a similar torque curve where you don't get that kick, but get a seamless shove instead.

**R-Soul** · 11th March 2010, 15:53

Originally Posted by Blackbird

I've seen this comment before by other riders testing it. I'm therefore inclined to think it's not a question of being one-eyed but how the power is delivered. The 'bird has a big power step at 7000rpm. The Triple I now ride delivers 85% of its torque at 3000 rpm so the torque curve is very flat and you don't notice that "shove". I suspect that the VFR 1200 might have a similar torque curve where you don't get that kick, but get a seamless shove instead.

Good thinking- I reckon you are right.

Riding some of those 250cc 2-stroke motocross bikes can be more scary than riding my 1000cc V-twin, because they hit that powerband and just explode, making it seem a lot wilder than it really is.

**Swoop** · 11th March 2010, 16:51

Originally Posted by R Sole

The sound is supposedly good at higher revs (I mentioned that it is muted, car like, at low revs - maybe not a bad thing when you're idling outside your neighour's window at 7 on a sunday morning before a ride).

All honda V4's sound crap with stock pipes. Something equivalent to an asthmatic ant carrying some heavy shopping. Heavy breathing and little more. The aftermarket boys will be doing a lot of work here. Hopefully...

Originally Posted by banditrider

dunno what you could do to make the muffler look better though...

The word "hacksaw" comes to mind...

**zeocen** · 11th March 2010, 20:19

You're right Geoff, both about the Bird's high centre of gravity and intense warp speed at 7k rpm, the VFR1200 felt ridiculously light when moving, even doing a u-turn in a tight street wasn't a problem at all. The power delivery isn't as abraisive as the Bird either, it's linear and very typical "Honda" in that regard - that doesn't mean it won't bite you if you give it too much stick!

It's silly to compare it to the Blackbird, they're very different bikes. The Blackbird is a legacy, it can't get replaced unless it's a new generation of THAT particular bike (see ZZR1100 -> ZX14). What made me dislike the VFR1200 in the first place is the letters I got in the mail from Honda with the Bird XX on it, signifying it's a new generation kinda pissed me off. It will take more than a shaft drive and a few more ponies to make a new generation Blackbird.

But I can't take anything away from the VFR1200, it was just so nice to ride. It's a pity it's a luxury price :/

**quickbuck** · 12th March 2010, 11:42

Yup,
There is no way is is a new generation Blackbird... Even by Honda's Convention!

The Bird has an ancestry dating back to the CB750, where as the VFR1200 dates back to the VF range of yesteryear.
They are cousins, at the closest!

Yes, yes, ithe Letters only really designate the engine configuration, but in realaty that is the heart of the bike at the end of the day.

So, really it is the "All New" (and improved?? hate it when informerciald say that) VF1000R...

**vifferman** · 12th March 2010, 12:26

Originally Posted by Swoop

All honda V4's sound crap with stock pipes. Something equivalent to an asthmatic ant carrying some heavy shopping. Heavy breathing and little more. The aftermarket boys will be doing a lot of work here. Hopefully...

There's already at least one equipped with an aftermarket muffler - a Leo Vince. Trouble is, due to the weird V4 arrangement, it still doesn't sound that great.

**Big Dave** · 12th March 2010, 13:56

Originally Posted by quickbuck

Yup,
There is no way is is a new generation Blackbird... .

For me, seeing as I didn't like the Blackbird much at all - and am quite Fizzbung about the VFR, that may not be a bad thing.

**Big Dave** · 12th March 2010, 17:06

**scracha** · 14th March 2010, 18:45

Originally Posted by Big Dave

FaIL................

**Maha** · 14th March 2010, 18:57

Saw it in Gunmetal? Silver? today at the end of the Westpac ride, must say, it looks like a bike I could own but not at that price, no fuckin way in hell would I ever pay close to $30K for a bike, dont care how fantastic it is.

**scracha** · 14th March 2010, 20:10

Originally Posted by Maha

Saw it in Gunmetal? Silver? today at the end of the Westpac ride, must say, it looks like a bike I could own but not at that price, no fuckin way in hell would I ever pay close to $30K for a bike, dont care how fantastic it is.

It's heavy and ugly enough to add tassles, chrome and a HD sticker. I'd then sell by the bucketload.

Thread: Honda VFR1200 a big fat lemon?

Thread Tools

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions