This is good news for Honda VFR owners

[huck farley]

I was reading MCN on the internet and I came across this clip...........

Next week in MCN we reveal secret plans for Honda’s V5-powered VFR......

But they are tight lipped about the capacity of it. I will take a guess at 990cubic capacity. What do the rest of you think?
Cheers all.
Huck

[Blackbird]

MCN isn't exactly the most accurate of mags, but if there is any substance, a V5 could most likely replace the VFR AND the Blackbird, probably makes the most economic sense to a manufacture and the powerplant could be configured to both the sports touring and sports ends of the spectrum.

[Swoop]

Hmm. Moto GP engine?
Rumours have been around for ages. We will wait and see.

[scracha]

Hmm. Moto GP engine?
Rumours have been around for ages. We will wait and see.

I'm waiting on the 250 2 smokes getting booted in favour of 400's. 120bhp pneumatic valved 400's that rev to 25000rpm ?

[skidMark]

I'm waiting on the 250 2 smokes getting booted in favour of 400's. 120bhp pneumatic valved 400's that rev to 25000rpm ?

Ahhhh theres a threado n kb, its official on that...2011 season the 250 2 strokes are gone. being replaced by 600cc 4 stroke.

[scracha]

Ahhhh theres a threado n kb, its official on that...2011 season the 250 2 strokes are gone. being replaced by 600cc 4 stroke.

Umm...can't see them making much less power than the 800's though? They ditching the 125's too? Hell of a step from a 125 to a motogp style 600.

[pritch]

Hell of a step from a 125 to a motogp style 600.

Thats what I thought.

Inline four 600s would be a bit much like the Supersport class.

I don't know if a V four 600 answers the same engineering questions as the bigger ones. It'd be interesting if there were some different configerations though.

[vifferman]

Although I would love to see a (proper) replacement / upgrade for the VFR, given that there's been rumours abounding since 2000, none of which have come to fruition (unless you count the Vtec), I'm not going to hold my breath waiting. Plus (also) if there is a New! IMPROVED!! VFR, I won't be allowed one anyway. Also (PLUS!) if there is a new VFR, I bet that it will have the new super-duper eco-technology that drops a cylinder or two when cruising, like the new V6 Accords do. And that's just whack, but development of this would explain why there's been no Blackbird/VFR replacement in the last few years.
However, chances are it would also have the new "brake-by-wire" EDCBS brakes and ABS, which would be good.

[Devil]

However, chances are it would also have the new "brake-by-wire" EDCBS brakes and ABS, which would be good.

I dont know if i'd be comfortable with that!

[vifferman]

I dont know if i'd be comfortable with that!

Reading the reviews of it, it looks pretty good, and a big advance on the current DCBS brake system, which although it works well, it is a pain in the arse to bleed, overly complicated, and heavy.
The new system has ABS at both ends, normal calipers, no hydraulic link between the brakes at each end, and uses an electronic box to run it, with hydraulic pumps sorting out the amount of braking at each end. Apparently, it works very well, and doesn't feel noticeably different from a normal braking system. Honda is talking about fitting it across the whole range.

[xwhatsit]

But it's also massively heavy. More so than the DCBS. Can't see why -- perhaps the hydraulic pumps weigh a tonne?

Still, looks like it works a treat.

[vifferman]

But it's also massively heavy. More so than the DCBS. Can't see why -- perhaps the hydraulic pumps weigh a tonne?

Still, looks like it works a treat.

In the fartickle I read, the guy guessed it wouldn't weight more'n about 10kg - it was all conjecture on his part. The electronic box would weigh a poofteenth of a kilogram, and the (electric) pumps would be lucky to be more than a few hundred grams each, so I dunno 'bout "massively heavy".
The actuator arm thingo (technical term) on the left fork of the VFR, and the extra pistons in each caliper, and the extra hoses and PCV would between them weigh a lot more'n that.

[Devil]

Was thinking more about the "brake by wire" suggestion. Hrm. I haven't done any reading up though.

[xwhatsit]

In the fartickle I read, the guy guessed it wouldn't weight more'n about 10kg - it was all conjecture on his part. The electronic box would weigh a poofteenth of a kilogram, and the (electric) pumps would be lucky to be more than a few hundred grams each, so I dunno 'bout "massively heavy".
The actuator arm thingo (technical term) on the left fork of the VFR, and the extra pistons in each caliper, and the extra hoses and PCV would between them weigh a lot more'n that.

Oh -- the article I read was harping on about the weight. Got the impression that it was even heavier. They're not light bikes, either, so 10kg sort of melts away when the bike weighs more than your average South Aucklander -- and it would be all sprung weight, inboard.

[Swoop]

If they release something "revolutionary" or "all whizz-bang" tekhnologickaly advanced... I'm keeping well away from it for a year or so, until all the bugs are finally ironed out of it.

when the bike weighs more than your average South Aucklander...

Is this South Aucklander carrying a bucket of KFC as well?