Honda VFR1200 a big fat lemon?

[Big Dave]

It has a much higher spec than a Bandit though - it even has a thermometer!

[Swoop]

No centre stand.

Fairly sure there is a centre stand fitted as standard.

[TerminalAddict]

The nice chaps at Botany Honda let me have the keys to their tasty red number while my bike was being looked at, I had my helmet cam with me at the time so I decided to bust out a video of it - it's not exactly Big Dave super-awesome material, but it's the VFR1200 and as Big Dave said, it's good. Real good.

Pt.1 first impressions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBbLigiT6qg
Pt.2 Walk around
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC1lahuYEp8

full of dodgy quotes.

"firm but in a good way"

"Not as fat as in the pictures"

The horn vs indicator is funny as hell .. everyone in Hamilton hit the horn as they were leaving the shop

loverley bike

[TerminalAddict]

Fairly sure there is a centre stand fitted as standard.

Centre stand is a $399 addition .. not standard

[Blackbird]

There seems to have been an insurance cock-up in the UK with Honda failing to sort out an insurance category with the insurers. Insurance sounds pretty horrific too. Thread here: http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/foru...d.php?t=105830 and a lot more info on the UK VFR forum in general.

[Swoop]

Centre stand is a $399 addition .. not standard

[zeocen]

The seating and position is a slightly more relaxed VFR800 feel, the pegs are higher than your average sports tour (so, kinda like the VFR and the Blackbird were). The fancypants model isn't out here yet, I'm guessing I rode the same model as BD.

I would have to agree the price is still steep no matter how you look at it - seems to be Honda's new theme. If all the extras added up to the 29,000 price tag then I would most certainly take preference to the VFR1200 over, say, the Concours (I can't comment on the FJR having never ridden one). The VFR1200 felt like it could be a great sports tour that had the potential to be a heavyweight sports bike when you take the luggage off, rather than something like the Concours that kinda just stays more of a tourer than sports when the luggage is off.

I personally (this is just my opinion) wouldn't place it near an SV1000 or Bandit, purely on just how well made this bike feels, and how sturdy it is, it's an effortless fun, thrilling ride - the only downside I found was the small gas tank (while being actually quite physically big, which i loved) and the price tag.

[Big Dave]

Doesn't need a centre stand anyway.

Shaftie drivie (and it can wheelie) and tubeless tyres.

Put a nice trolley jack in the shed for cleaning the wheels and job done.

Saves lugging the weight of it around everywhere.

[zeocen]

You should try source a centre stand for the Hornet 900! It's even more than than the VFR1200's!

[Big Dave]

KR first draft starts:

It is a shame that the first internet reportage that came my way on the release of the Honda VFR1200 was by an Editor who vented a minor diatribe at the ostentatious claims and hyperbole published in the bike's Press Release – rather than concentrating on the merits of the machine. I think it has tainted some people’s expectations of the bike; which is entirely unjust.

Not long after reading that snippet Mike Esdaile forwarded me some quotes from the VFR online forums where there has also been some ire vented about ‘maintaining the heritage of the VFR marque.’

So when I picked up the Press Bike from Local Distributor Blue Wing Honda I was delighted to discover it’s a simply stunning machine.

If we were true to form I should open with how miserable my first recollections of riding a VFR were. Late 80’s and I had a desk in a design office that looked directly across the road to the local Honda Dealer. Parked out the front was a used Black and White VFR 1000 that looked like a bit of me – so one lunchtime I wandered across the road for a quick spin.

One of the worst experiences I’ve had on a bike. It had a tendency to death wobble in various circumstances – including ‘going’ and ‘stopping’. When I got back and asked what the??? It was attributed to the 16” front wheel. I didn’t know any better then. It probably only had 10lbs in each tyre. But it was enough to taint my opinion of the Viffer for a long time.

So here’s the contrast – the new one knocked my socks off.

I rate the VFR a highly desirable sports tourer with the emphasis on Sports, or it’s a very tidy sports bike for a couple.

[Ixion]

Actually the market space it probably most closely fits is that of the Honda Blackbird. But it's a lot dearer than the Bird.

Agrred, if it had the same fruit as the Concours or FJR, it'd be a better buy. But adding luggage, adjustable screen, centre stand , prolly going to push it well over $30k, getting up into BMW territory.

[jim.cox]

Nice looking bike.

NOT

It's fugly

[Big Dave]

Nah - I like it. 'Very concept' said the young man at the BP Witford.

Back quarter treatment is really nice and the overall finish appears where the $28.5k comes into it. Many nice touches - of course value judgments are an individual thing.

Don't like the headlight aesthetics much, but it functions well.

I pity Dolds trying to make a guard for it.

[jim.cox]

Back quarter treatment is really nice.

Rear is ok, but everything from the 'zorst forward is really really ugly to my eye - tank, fairing and light especially so - sure wouldn't get my $$$

[imdying]

Out of interest... do you have any? Money that is. Do you even buy brand new motorcycles on a regular basis?

I'm picking a lot of the people commenting aren't actually ever like to be in a position to afford a toy like this.