Idiot, Genius, or just rehashing what�s already been said?

I was perusing Honda MS website this morning looking at the 2010 models when I had a bit of an epiphany. They still have the Interceptor listed and to the left of the CBR1000 is the VFR1200, which got me to thinking. Why not have a full line of VFR bikes as their own class?

VFR 800: SPORT/Touring
Bore it to true 800+ cc�s
Lose the VTEC
Lose some of the techno-trickery
Lose some weight: Optional center stand, Optional hard bags, lighter exhaust,
Add Some Sport: Sportier suspension, Sportier brakes, Bump Hp

Essentially return the 800 to its racing roots and make it the sportiest of the class.
$10,000 price point.

VFR 1000: SPORT/TOURING
The bike that does it all well, but nothing really spectacular.
More torque than the 800 � and in the usable range for better �around town� or light two-up touring. Sporty enough to take to the track, but comfortable enough for commuting and touring.
Lose some sportiness add a little techno-trickery.
Basically a 6th Gen with a more substantial power-plant
Center Stand standard
$13000 price point

VFR 1200: Sport/TOURING
Flagship model that gets all the gadgets, technology, etc�
Perfect for light two-up touring, or heavy one-up touring.
Little more comfort/amenities � little less sport
Essentially the "BMW 7 Series" of the VFRs. You could still track it when you remove the hard bags etc. But its real forte would be the Tour, while maintaining enough sport that you could have some fun in the twisties.
$16000 price point

Now I know that the geniuses at Honda have done market-research out the a$$ to develop a line-up that will work for them. But instead of watering down one V4 bike, why not look at the German car manufacturers� model of sport/luxury progression through their model lines:
BMW: 3 Series � 5 Series � 7 Series
Audi: A4 � A6 � A8
The idea being, get them while they�re young in the A4. Sold on the brand they progress to the A6 as they mature. And finally, move them into the A8 if they reach a level where they can swing it.
Just thoughts�

I just don't think that there is a market for it, not that it isn't a great idea. I would love to see all of these produced, just don't think enough would sell to make it worth it to Honda.

Interesting idea, but I agree that there just isn't a market for it. Sad, but true.

I would also argue that they already have a progressive product line that one can grow with. It just isn't dedicated to our favorite engine layout.

When I was in college, I wanted a CBR600F2 so bad I cried myself to sleep at night. I even thought the purple and teal colors of the day were just gnarly, dude.

Fast forward 20 years and I have grown out of that (WAY out of the latest RRs) and luv my VFR. But it would not necessarily have been a V-4 that attracted me when I was 19. Heck, I didn't discover the joys of a V-4 until last summer. In 20 more years, I may need something even more barge-like than a VFR1200. Who knows.

Anyway, my point is that there are paths in the current lineup (CRF-CBR-VFR-ST-GL) if you want to stick with Big Red. But even car manufacturers rarely keep the same engine configuration across a product swath so broad. It's usually more like I-4 to V-6 to V-8 to V-12 as you move up the ladder, right?

So yeah - good idea, but you are preaching to the choir. I think it's a pipe dream - admirable but improbable.

I am also wondering whether it would be good to keep the current VFR800 in the line-up, mildly update it (better suspension from other Honda models, improved ABS, mildy breathed-on engine with smoother VTEC action etc.) and offer it as an introductory V4 bike in the line-up. But if you think about all the unsold VFR800s in Honda's dealers where they can only be shifted by huge discounts, I doubt Honda will invest more in the current 800, let alone create a whole new 1000 which would do nothing but steal sales from the new 1200. Nope, VFR1200 is all we are going to get for quite sometime...

I understand completely that there really isn't a market for this. This post was somewhat an exercise of thinking out loud... or, err... thinking with a keyboard?

And I agree with arrow that a sportier redo of the Interceptor might be a good idea. Alas, Honda would still be pouring R&D, design, testing, and production into a bike that would siphon sales from the 1200, while still not moving in great volume. Shame really, as the Interceptor is such a great all around bike when tweaked a little bit...