Akl Honda heads - Taking some VFR1200 photos tonight

**Big Dave** · 16th February 2010, 15:37

It's been a while since I did a night time bike shoot and the Red VRF1200 will make a nice subject.

If any of you AKL KBers want to see the bike - or catch up - I'm going to mosey on down to Carlaw Business Park around 8.00pm and start from there. (Nice light right in the guts of it)

I can take a snap of your bike too - and maybe do some vox pops where I ask for your impressions on video for the KR site - (Of the bike - No bad Peter Sellars or John Wayne allowed).

If the rain currently on the Radar does move North - it's off.

**Swoop** · 17th February 2010, 11:28

Hope it went well. If in fact it happened.

Any piccies?
Pretty please!

**vifferman** · 17th February 2010, 12:45

Crap.
I didn't see this thread. Without appearing too unkind, I hope it was off...
I'd like to see the VFR1200, but don't want to visit the nearest shop because I'm still holding a grudge against them...

**zeocen** · 17th February 2010, 15:44

If it's any help to anyone, I took one for a spin and had my helmet cam with me at the time, so I gave my impressions of it as I rode it for the first time. I'm not a reviewer by any stretch of the sense so it's somewhat limited to "Wow" and "Cool!"

Here's the initial ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBbLigiT6qg

Here's the walk around and ride back to the shop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC1lahuYEp8

**Big Dave** · 17th February 2010, 17:06

Nah - I went - got some stunners too.

Did the test loop and a whole lot more on it today. Wow it's cool. :-)

**Armitage Shanks** · 17th February 2010, 20:25

Originally Posted by zeocen

If it's any help to anyone, I took one for a spin and had my helmet cam with me at the time, so I gave my impressions of it as I rode it for the first time. I'm not a reviewer by any stretch of the sense so it's somewhat limited to "Wow" and "Cool!"

Here's the initial ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBbLigiT6qg

Here's the walk around and ride back to the shop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC1lahuYEp8

Great Vid's mate and thanks, saw the VFR12 today for the first time in the shop and it look's pretty cool, indeed. 28k sounds a little steep though ( To put it mildly ) I was hoping Honda may have , for the money , generated a bit more of a 'Hyperbike ' .....but, never mind . 25K for a new ZX14 and only 20K for a new Hayabusa, can somebody explain the commercial logic behind the pricing here ?

Aside from that, here's my new girl ......Cheers ..

**merv** · 18th February 2010, 07:30

Simple - Suzuki have always been the price leader. Buyers take that as they may.

**vifferman** · 18th February 2010, 07:34

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Did the test loop and a whole lot more on it today. Wow it's cool. :-)

I'm actually surprised to hear you say that. I thought that (a) you'd find it bland, (b) it'd be too small/cramped for you, and (c)it'd just be "not quite your thang".

**Big Dave** · 18th February 2010, 07:43

It hurt my knees after 2 hours, but that's more about my knees and being 6'5" than the ergonomics.
Bland? - it's a pocket rocket that does 2nd gear power wheelies and I quite like the styling.
It's not my thing. It needs a degree of self-control with the throttle (never my strong point) to ride at the speed limit. It's a truly beautiful thing at 135kph upwards.
But the gig is to evaluate and report the bike for 'you' - not me.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 18th February 2010, 08:58

Originally Posted by Armitage Shanks

Great Vid's mate and thanks, saw the VFR12 today for the first time in the shop and it look's pretty cool, indeed. 28k sounds a little steep though ( To put it mildly ) I was hoping Honda may have , for the money , generated a bit more of a 'Hyperbike ' .....but, never mind . 25K for a new ZX14 and only 20K for a new Hayabusa, can somebody explain the commercial logic behind the pricing here ?

Aside from that, here's my new girl ......Cheers ..

I was sitting on the dunny this morning reading a test of the new ZX14: it does appear that the VFR is taking aim fair and square at that. The ZX won "Best sprots tourer" in CW in 2008 and 2009, its been revised for '10, and Honda are gunning for it.

as to pricing: on RRP its a bit over ten percent difference between the 14 and the VFR: some of that is the NZ "Honda Premium" as I like to think of it: their (Honda) bikes are ten to fifteen percent too expensive for what they are, just because of the badge (IMO). but the VFR is all new, all singing, all dancing, and the 14 is revised. so manufacture costs of a new model vs an existing one though worked over.

Riddle me this: Honda want $20k for the CB1000F. It replaced the CB900 Hornet which was $11k: sure the CB is an all new bike, and by all accounts a good one, but why does that cost 20 large when a brand new from the contact patch up thing with all the lectrickery and a brand new motor (and V4s are expensive to produce) with full fairing, cost $28k? I just do not understand that.

**Richard Mc F** · 18th February 2010, 12:09

Originally Posted by vifferman

Crap.
I didn't see this thread. Without appearing too unkind, I hope it was off...
I'd like to see the VFR1200, but don't want to visit the nearest shop because I'm still holding a grudge against them...

Go south young man, there is a demo bike at Botany Honda

**Muppet** · 18th February 2010, 20:27

Originally Posted by zeocen

If it's any help to anyone, I took one for a spin and had my helmet cam with me at the time, so I gave my impressions of it as I rode it for the first time. I'm not a reviewer by any stretch of the sense so it's somewhat limited to "Wow" and "Cool!"

Here's the initial ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBbLigiT6qg

Here's the walk around and ride back to the shop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC1lahuYEp8

Gidday mate, very impressed with your two vids re the VFR1200. Good honest opinions with a bit of humour. Two things about the bike which struck me is it's very CBRish from the cockpit view and much smaller than the photo's in mags make it look. Keep up the good work.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 19th February 2010, 08:47

Originally Posted by zeocen

If it's any help to anyone, I took one for a spin and had my helmet cam with me at the time, so I gave my impressions of it as I rode it for the first time. I'm not a reviewer by any stretch of the sense so it's somewhat limited to "Wow" and "Cool!"

Here's the initial ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBbLigiT6qg

Here's the walk around and ride back to the shop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC1lahuYEp8

"It isnt as fat as it looks in the picture" Right on!

I like your video also.

**dipshit** · 19th February 2010, 09:26

Originally Posted by zeocen

Here's the initial ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBbLigiT6qg

Has that bike you road got some kind of automatic gearbox or clutch system..???

**zeocen** · 19th February 2010, 20:58

Thanks for the compliments guys, I had a ball on it, I envy Big Dave being able to take it around the important parts of the country!

dipshit: That particular model is due out later I was told, this was the somewhat bare-bones model. Though the gear box is like a knife through butter and the feeling is sublime, I don't think I would even feel the need for a 1200cc Scooter!

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