V4 1200cc V-Tec Blackbird replacement?

**Mountlocal1** · 12th June 2008, 16:31

Holy Crap Batman!!! Or Blackbird..

Just been speaking to a Honda dealer in Auckland about the replacement for the current model Blackbird... He said it is going to be a V4 1200CC V-Tec! Due to be realeased in the states round September.

Anyone else heard about this? If there doing a 1200cc V4 will there be a 1000cc V4 VFR??????

**Cajun** · 12th June 2008, 16:33

they been talking about a replacment blackbird/vfr for years, and we still waiting.

**Mountlocal1** · 12th June 2008, 16:35

Originally Posted by Cajun

they been talking about a replacment blackbird/vfr for years, and we still waiting.

Yeah I know... But this guy had heard it direct from Honda.. Apparantly it has been in the design process for years...

Fingers crossed....

**yod** · 12th June 2008, 16:44

hmmmm.....sounds suspiciously like my next bike

**NZsarge** · 12th June 2008, 16:51

Originally Posted by yod

hmmmm.....sounds suspiciously like my next bike

I thought your next bike was gonna be a 1800cc horizontally opposed 6 cylinder....

**yod** · 12th June 2008, 16:53

Originally Posted by NZsarge

I thought your next bike was gonna be a 1800cc horizontally opposed 6 cylinder....

**vifferman** · 12th June 2008, 17:11

It sounds more like this guy got his info from the Interdweeb.
The rumours have been around for very long time - the one I posted above dates from 2004.
There are two possibilities:

Both the current VFR and the Blackbird will be run-out models, and not replaced when sales drop off to uneconomic levels (most likely).
There will be a VFR1000/1200 to replace both bikes, and it will have a "Super VTec" engine like the new V6 Accord, that drops 1 or 2 cylinders when cruising.

Personally, I think Honda has given up on the Firestorm, VFR and Blackbird and won't replace them.

**Hitcher** · 12th June 2008, 20:42

Honda hasn't done anything really innovative for quite a while. Most of their likely new bikes would have been flagged at international bike expos. I reckon it's unlikely that a radical new 'bird is likely to appear out of nowhere into general release between now and September.

**Swoop** · 12th June 2008, 20:49

"V4" and "1200cc" do not mix in my mind.

Something is afoot, but I fear it will be something of a "bitser" of a bike. Trying to be something that will please all the owners of the retired bikes - and we know that isn't going to happen!

**Mountlocal1** · 13th June 2008, 08:28

Well all I can tell ya is it was Greg (?) at Cyclespot Honda in Auckland that told me about the above spec's and American release date.... Surely these guys would know what their talking about?

**Jez** · 13th June 2008, 08:34

Originally Posted by Mountlocal1

Well all I can tell ya is it was Greg (?) at Cyclespot Honda in Auckland that told me about the above spec's and American release date.... Surely these guys would know what their talking about?

a salesman that knows what they are talking about ... that would truly be an innovation!

**vifferman** · 13th June 2008, 09:11

Cyclespot, you say?

**Mountlocal1** · 13th June 2008, 09:14

Originally Posted by vifferman

Cyclespot, you say?

When I spoke to Bluewing about the VFR I asked them to put me onto their best and most experianced dealer... Thats the number they gave me....

**vifferman** · 13th June 2008, 09:25

Originally Posted by Mountlocal1

When I spoke to Bluewing about the VFR I asked them to put me onto their best and most experianced dealer... Thats the number they gave me....

Oh dear....

As for the VFR1200 - Honda did lodge some patent applications years ago for a New! Improved! new bike, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will make production. (It was on Motorcycle News some time back - try goooogling for it).
Me - I'm gunna wait and see what falls out. The VFR's model cycle was 4 years, from its inception back in the 80s until 2006, when an all new model should've come out. Since then (in fact, since 2002, when the VTec fell short of expectation/hype), every year has seen renewed speculation about what the new VFR would look like. For me, the fact that each year sees no completely new model, and that Honda has broken its model cycle says that either the development is SO radical that it's taken them more'n 6 years to develop, or that they've decided the sport-tourer market is too small to sink lotsa money into. Either way, like most manufacturers they're concentrating their resources on race-replica bikes, as they're what sells and is easiest to promote.

It's kinda academic to me though - I've been told "this bike is the last one you're having, so enjoy it while you can!"
Mind you, I've heard that with each of the last four bikes, so who knows. Although I'm kinda bored with this one (I've had it coming up to four years now), I've also got it customised just about the way I want it. A custom map and seat, some gold valves in the forks, and mebbe a touch-up of the paint, and it'll be perfect.