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Honda Canada Press Release

19 posts Started 21 Oct 2009 Last recovered post 21 Oct 2009 Wayback Machine snapshot 9 Feb 2011

#1
Found this some where else...

KINGSTON, ON -- The distinctive new Honda VFR1200 willl form a cornerstone of Honda Canada's 2010 model plans, company officials revealed on Friday.

In a press briefing at Kingston, ON's Fort Henry, the VFR1200 was introduced to journalists along with the CBF600, the other new street/sport model that will come to Canada for 2010. Honda's latest cruisers will be unveiled in November.

The VFR1200 features a number of innovative and unique styling elements and is meant to become something of a signature model for Honda. Although defined as a sport tourer the bike is closer in design and performance to the CBR1100XX Blackbird sport bike than VFR800, according to Honda Canada's Warren Milner.

"This is a grand tourer in the classic sense," Milner said. "It is meant to be a statement bike."

Designed in Europe the VFR1200 has very distinctive lines, with an hourglass profile when viewed from the front, with the top and bottom of the bodywork curving in to a very narrow middle section. The fairing is distinguished by its two-layer construction, which helps regulate airflow around the bike and rider and is intended to assist in heat, noise control and rider protection.

The centrepiece of the new VFR, however, is a brand new V4 engine, with a narrow 76-degree vee-angle as opposed to the more traditional 90-degree vee. The narrower vee gives more freedom in positioning the engine in the chassis, while any issues with vibration caused by the narrow vee-angle are mitigated by an off-set crankpin, which has been used-previously in twin-cylinder bikes but never in a four. The UNICAM camshaft design, with the camshaft situated directly over the intake valves and rockers operating the exhaust valves, weighs less than a more conventional twin-cam layout. The UNICAM concept is also used on the latest CRF450 and 250 motocrossers. The engine also features a revised piston layout, with the two rear pistons inside of the forward pistons, as opposed to a more conventional staggered layout. This also permits a more compact engine design. Power output of the new engine is quoted at 172 hp.

The VFR1200 also features an all-new shaft final drive which is said to produce a feeling more similar to that of a chain drive design. The Honda has a new ABS braking system, with six-piston radial mounted calipers at the front and a revised throttle by wire set-up.

The bike is available with manual or automatic transmission. The automatic could be more accurately described as an automatically shifting manual transmission, where the transmission shifts like a manual unit with a computer operating the clutch. The system is similar to that on Honda's TRX420 ATV and is new to the motorcycle world.

The VFR1200 will be available to all Honda dealers, both Powerhouse and non-Powerhouse, and will be priced in the high teens or low 20s in thousands of dollars. Available accessories will include Garmin GPS, topbox, sidebags, windshield and heated grips. It will be available in Candy Prominence Red, Seal Silver Metallic and Pearl Sunbeam White.

#2

[image: View Post]dweese, on Oct 20 2009, 11:09 PM, said:

The VFR1200 will be available to all Honda dealers, both Powerhouse and non-Powerhouse, and will be priced in the high teens or low 20s in thousands of dollars.

Figured as much... Wonder what they'll charge in the states. Given that the Dollars are almost equal, we'll probably just be getting ripped off, as usual.
#3
So does this mean we get white and grey in Canada?
#4

[image: View Post]phobe, on Oct 20 2009, 07:50 PM, said:

So does this mean we get white and grey in Canada?

So Canada, a smaller market, get's 3 color choices?

WTF? :pissed:
#5

[image: View Post]UFO, on Oct 20 2009, 11:57 PM, said:

[image: View Post]phobe, on Oct 20 2009, 07:50 PM, said:

So does this mean we get white and grey in Canada?

So Canada, a smaller market, get's 3 color choices?

WTF? :pissed:


It's still not shown on the Honda.ca site, so who knows...
#6

[image: View Post]UFO, on Oct 21 2009, 03:57 PM, said:

[image: View Post]phobe, on Oct 20 2009, 07:50 PM, said:

So does this mean we get white and grey in Canada?

So Canada, a smaller market, get's 3 color choices?

WTF? :pissed:

That probably means that NZ (one of the smallest markets in the world) will get a colour choice too.
Doncha think it's high time you sorted out your Honda dealers?
#7

[image: View Post]UFO, on Oct 21 2009, 01:57 PM, said:

So Canada, a smaller market, get's 3 color choices?

WTF? :pissed:

Its was that way for a long time. With the 5th gen while the US had red, red or their choice of red, Canadia and the rest of the world had blue, Yellow, Black, Dark dark Green, Silver.
#8

[image: View Post]magicman, on Oct 20 2009, 07:34 PM, said:

[image: View Post]dweese, on Oct 20 2009, 11:09 PM, said:

The VFR1200 will be available to all Honda dealers, both Powerhouse and non-Powerhouse, and will be priced in the high teens or low 20s in thousands of dollars.

Figured as much... Wonder what they'll charge in the states. Given that the Dollars are almost equal, we'll probably just be getting ripped off, as usual.


I agree that prices should be within a narrower margin with the US list prices. But I'm not at all surprised there is a price hike (I expect the same relative increase in the USA), it is definitely a more complex and expensive bike to produce.

I think Honda could do minor revisions to the current VFR800 and keep selling it at the same or slightly lower price.

Regards,
Bruckner
#9
I just meant that a $14kUS bike is going to be sold for $18K CAD, even when the dollar is par...

K1300S MSRP is what? $15,250... I expect Honda to undercut that by enough to look like a difference. But we'll still get raped here in Canada.
#10

[image: View Post]magicman, on Oct 21 2009, 01:35 AM, said:

I just meant that a $14kUS bike is going to be sold for $18K CAD, even when the dollar is par...

K1300S MSRP is what? $15,250... I expect Honda to undercut that by enough to look like a difference. But we'll still get raped here in Canada.

Come on magicman you should know better than that. :biggrin:

It will be $20k+ here and under $15k in the US, even when our dollar goes above par. Happens with everything else why not bikes too :mellow: :angry:

I can't see them under cutting the K1300S, the VFR's MSRP is $14,499 now. That would be too smart for Honda to price it in the area of the bike they are going after. Its a Honda remember, people will pay $4000 more to get less. All you have to do is look at their ATVs and see its working there for them now, why change their way of thinking.
#12

[image: View Post]dweese, on Oct 21 2009, 12:09 PM, said:

Power output of the new engine is quoted at 172 hp.

I wonder if I could fit this in the 6th gen....!! Anyone else interested in this idea? :ph34r:
#13

[image: View Post]Bruckner, on Oct 20 2009, 11:26 PM, said:

I think Honda could do minor revisions to the current VFR800 and keep selling it at the same or slightly lower price.

Regards,
Bruckner

:+1: I agree totally. It's been done before. I know Yamaha did it with the R6 in 05. A total redesign, but sold the previous model alongside the new one up until 09.
I bet they'd sell a bunch. But they'd probably end up taking sales away from the 7th Gen.
#14

[image: View Post]Bad Boy, on Oct 21 2009, 03:32 AM, said:

So they are bringing over the CBF600, I wonder if the States will see that too. It looks as dull as the 599 that was here a few years ago. I would like to see the latest 600 hornet in here. Now that is a bike that speaks to me.

600 Hornet
http://p1.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C11%5C04...471781-full.jpg

CBF600
http://www.bikepics....ctures/1786051/

A fairing is nice functionally but why can't they put some style into it?

On my way back from my Newfoundland trip last August I met a guy (who works for a Honda stealership) riding the new CBF1000, this model will be available here too. I was kinda hoping that we'd get the CB1000R, but sadly I believe it will remain a Europe-only model.

[image: Posted Image]

Now, if they come up with a CB600R available in Canada, they would definitely get my attention...
#15

[image: View Post]bryan217, on Oct 21 2009, 07:14 AM, said:

But they'd probably end up taking sales away from the 7th Gen.

I don't think so, two different bikes for different buyers, and different perceived values (hence different prices). Call me a sissy, the new VFR1200, for the time being, looks like too much of a bike for me. I'll be riding my VFR800 for a few more seasons it seems.

Regards,
Bruckner
#16
What is the current price in Loonies for an 09 VFR?
#17

[image: View Post]Bruckner, on Oct 21 2009, 12:07 PM, said:

[image: View Post]bryan217, on Oct 21 2009, 07:14 AM, said:

But they'd probably end up taking sales away from the 7th Gen.

I don't think so, two different bikes for different buyers, and different perceived values (hence different prices). Call me a sissy, the new VFR1200, for the time being, looks like too much of a bike for me. I'll be riding my VFR800 for a few more seasons it seems.

Regards,
Bruckner


I'm with you on that one. I find my 6th gen a little heavy at times...if I add to the stable (and finally give in to Multiple Bike Disorder) it'll be something lighter. I'm thinking a streetfighter or a standard in the 600 range...the Street Triple is at the top of my wish list right now...almost considering selling my cage to make it happen... :rolleyes:
#19

[image: View Post]FotoMoto, on Oct 21 2009, 12:11 PM, said:

What is the current price in Loonies for an 09 VFR?

Last time I visited my stealership the '09 had a price tag of about 13,000$.
End of thread · 19 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 9 Feb 2011