VFR1200F Available Jan 28

I was at the local honda dealers the other day buying a bolt (because I can't get elsewhere) and the salesman, who knows I ride a VFR, actually they all know me well there, as there aren't many Australians lurking around these parts... he lets me know the new 12F will be available as of the 28th of this month... he didn't mention the price but I know it's 15,999�, manual tranny mode only at the moment and that it will be available in the three colours we have seen so far:

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Candy Prominence Red, Pearl Sunbeam White and Seal Silver Metallic.

It also has a three-year warranty and one-yearly maintenance schedule.

He says: Come around and check it out.
I say: I'll definitely do that and at least have a sit on it and fire it up right?
He says: No worries.
I say: You will be offering it on Honda Day right?
He says: Naturally, but you come around on the 28th and we'll talk.
I say: You got it!!

Even if he doesn't let me loose on it, a friend of a close friend of mine has already been promised a 3-day test ride on it real soon... and I know he'll let me have a burn... I can't afford to buy one at that price, or even half that price at the mo, but over here we were tossing up whether the price would get up to 18 thou. or more. We all knew it would go up, so it looks like they haven't overdone the price hike... (new VTEC around 14 thou.)

The 28th is just 4 days away... I'm going to bug the hell out of the salesman to let me take it for a spin on the highway... there's a set of highspeed uphill curves (three lane highway, new asphalt) not 10 mintues away that'll put it in perspective... I'll mention trading in the VTEC and the 5th gen (although I just sold the 5th gen hehehe)... I have no intention or means of purchasing... but would like to get as many kms in as possible between the three potential trial runs.

If you take it for a ride, let us know your opinions, por favor. :biggrin:

Auspanol,

if you do get her out for a spin and you are gonna cane her, do build in a 5-10 minute stop.
So if you bring her back and they timed you and took note of the kilometrage when you took the bike out, the average speed ridden will still look ok.... :biggrin:

I believe here in the USA we will only get the Red version. I saw it Saturday at the NYC show. Personally, that color red would be my last choice. I'd much prefer Honda red (or white, or silver, or black, or...). But that probably wouldn't stop me from buying it (only my slim wallet will do that). From what I could tell at the show, it looks to be a great motorcycle. Posted Image

[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 24 January 2010 - 04:42 PM, said:

Auspanol,

if you do get her out for a spin and you are gonna cane her, do build in a 5-10 minute stop.
So if you bring her back and they timed you and took note of the kilometrage when you took the bike out, the average speed ridden will still look ok.... :biggrin:


Good thought. :laugh:

Here some customers who were told their VFR would be delivered before the end of januari when they put down the order some time ago, have been contacted by their dealer that delivery has been posponed to somewhere in march.

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Honda brought some demo's to a VFROC meeting.

[image: View Post]VFR4Lee, on 24 January 2010 - 09:08 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 24 January 2010 - 04:42 PM, said:

Auspanol,

if you do get her out for a spin and you are gonna cane her, do build in a 5-10 minute stop.
So if you bring her back and they timed you and took note of the kilometrage when you took the bike out, the average speed ridden will still look ok.... :biggrin:


Good thought. :laugh:


Dutchy, are you pulling my leg?? This is Spain mate... and besides, once I give it back to them there's very little they can do about what I've already done with the bike... 'cause as far as I know, there ain't no such thing as time travel (yet).

I can guarantee you they're not that on the ball. In fact at this stealers, I think they lost the ball over the neighbour's fence... you know... one beer short of a six-pack... like I said, I only bought the bolt there because it can't be had elsewhere. (We're talking about people who said that the shuddering my front brakes had developed was due to the ABS and therefore normal... my bike doesn't have ABS!! :unsure: :unsure: )

:ph34r: :ph34r: :ph34r:

[image: View Post]V4 Rosso, on 25 January 2010 - 11:28 AM, said:

Here some customers who were told their VFR would be delivered before the end of januari when they put down the order some time ago, have been contacted by their dealer that delivery has been posponed to somewhere in march.

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Honda brought some demo's to a VFROC meeting.


Cool, but... the 60 million dollar question: Did you get to ride one??

Not yet. I would have been to trickey as the lots of roads were too slippery due to fresh snow.

Wow, 15.999�, here (Finland) it cost 20786� :ohmy: and the later automatic will be close to the 30000� mark...

One thing I wounder, all I read say it has a 190 rear, but some say a 190/50, other a 190/55.... if its a 190/55 st rubber will be hard to find other than the stock RoadSmarts

I want one, but can't have one ... IT'S NOT FAIR :rolleyes:

.....3 day test ride??? :unsure:

....dealers bringing bikes over to show forum members??? :comp13:


What planet are you guys living on??? :huh:


I WANT TO MOVE THERE! :pissed:

[image: View Post]keny, on 26 January 2010 - 02:18 AM, said:

One thing I wounder, all I read say it has a 190 rear, but some say a 190/50, other a 190/55.... if its a 190/55 st rubber will be hard to find other than the stock RoadSmarts

According to the Honda website it is a 190/55 and when I look at the website of a tire supplier there is lots to choose from in that size.

The early worm gets the bird...

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Gettin' the knee down (out)
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I know it's the 27th but I went round thinking they'd be setting her up in the shop window... I was right... actually they were pulling it out of the workshop so... I believe I am 6th in line to try her out... within the next couple of weeks... it's not registered yet...

They will have the automatic version around April (they don't have any official date yet)... same with the other two colours... they had it clear that the silver would be the last to show up, although all three colours are supposed to be available this year (in Spain). I really don't dig the red-wine look, looks too much like the quasi-posh wanna-be-refined trendoid turtle-neck sweater wearing I don't get grease on my hands kinda thing for me... I'd prefer the white or the silver but each to their own.

OK yes... I got to start her up... :cool: :cool: :cool: It was in reserve and the dash was flashing accordingly. It had only done 1 km no more... In as much as the exhaust noise is concerned th tth nce rted up, t wastll col nd tting to ve re quite surprising really!!

It feels very similar to a VTEC in size overall.... when I saw it I said to myself: It's tiny!! (compared to what I was expecting of course). The riding position is virtually the same as on the VTEC or the 5th gen(slightly more upright maybe)... my first thought on getting aboard was: Hell thats comfy!! Although after 10 minutes (I was hoping to get her warmed up to be able and give her some gas and try out what the exhaust sounded like when the valve opens... :ph34r: ) I felt like the edges of the seat were digging into my inner thighs a bit... of course no-one stops at the lights for 10 minutes.

I crouched down into an aerodynamic-MotoGP-300km-an-hour-on-the-straights type posture and at my 194 cm (6'4") there was plenty of room and once again, same as the VTEC... the Showroom boss wanted photos... seemed very interested in the fact that I fit very comfortably on the bike... I definitely felt more integrated into the bike, moreso than even the 5th gen, which gives me that sensation much more than the VTEC, which I feel like I'm on top of... but that low front windscreen will give us L.S.O.P.S. the same troubles as the VTEC or 5th gen in terms of wind buffeting... Ah, my knees don't hit the fairing like on the 3rd gen.

I reckon I'd go for the optional more sport-orientated seat they supposedly offer as an accessory... and some other aftermarket screen as the "Vario" look doesn't do it for me.

The R/R is huge!!

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Anyway... that's all for now... I do have a vid of the exhaust... uploading... :media:

Sorry 'bout the bad quality of the photos :blush: I didn't take them (obviously).

You lucky bugger, I am jealous!

First thing that strikes me actually is the size. I know you're quite tall but it looks quite small and, well, more compact than I imagined...

[image: View Post]Cynic, on 27 January 2010 - 06:15 PM, said:

You lucky bugger, I am jealous!

First thing that strikes me actually is the size. I know you're quite tall but it looks quite small and, well, more compact than I imagined...



That is probably because until this point we've just seen little motorbike test pilots on it.

[image: View Post]RE-Agent, on 28 January 2010 - 08:37 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Cynic, on 27 January 2010 - 06:15 PM, said:

You lucky bugger, I am jealous!

First thing that strikes me actually is the size. I know you're quite tall but it looks quite small and, well, more compact than I imagined...



That is probably because until this point we've just seen little motorbike test pilots on it.


That's a good point man those Japs must be real small. Thanks for the early report on the seating position etc. I can't wait to hear more real rider reviews in the coming months :beer:

vfr_steve, on 28 January 2010 - 09:45 AM, said: RE-Agent, on 28 January 2010 - 08:37 AM, said: Cynic, on 27 January 2010 - 06:15 PM, said: You lucky bugger, I am jealous! First thing that strikes me actually is the size. I know you're quite tall but it looks quite small and, well, more compact than I imagined... That is probably because until this point we've just seen little motorbike test pilots on it. That's a good point man those Japs must be real small. Thanks for the early report on the seating position etc. I can't wait to hear more real rider reviews in the coming months No worries... you'll get my impressions soon enough... Thing that bugs me is that they could include so much more for the price, just little things that wouldn't cost them much in the manufacturing (nor back-pocket) department... like built-in adjustability to the footpegs (vertical and horizontal, say three or four positions, whatever), the optional seats/screen adn such shouldn't be at extra cost as they could keep the ones you don't want... front and rear suspension compression damping (as much as those babies LOOK like they've got compression adjustment, THEY DON'T!!), strategically placed sliders in three positions (because if you thought fairings were expensive to replace on previous models, you ain't seen nothin' yet... b-b-b-b-baaaby you just...), and other little things that I guess it's not worth mentioning as they're not going to pay much heed... Oh, I forgot, they¡ve included a 12V lighter jack under the seat already so they've already blown the profit margin... Anyway... plug in some decent speakers and have a listen to the exhaust... we couldn't rev it high enough for the valve to open up and us to hear that supposed ROAR... as it was cold and had only 1 km on the clock (still breaking in the motor). At idle it makes even less exhaust noise than the VTEC... sorry to say so, but it's true... but there's something around 4-5000 RPM that makes me think it will growl once you give it some real throttle... we shall see. When they let me take it for a burn, I'll try and have a mate follow me with a video camera attached to his bike...

Well done Auspa�ol nice video, yes you can certainly tell that if you revved it any harder the sound would change to a growl given half a chance. I love the sound of my newly acquired 5th gen at 5500rpm when the butterfly valve opens and it really sounds gorgeous.

:offtopic: >> By the way, talking of lighter sockets, I've got one on the side fairing of my bike, what kind of stuff can you run off these things providing you have the right cable of course?

[image: View Post]V4 Rosso, on 26 January 2010 - 09:43 AM, said:

[image: View Post]keny, on 26 January 2010 - 02:18 AM, said:

One thing I wounder, all I read say it has a 190 rear, but some say a 190/50, other a 190/55.... if its a 190/55 st rubber will be hard to find other than the stock RoadSmarts

According to the Honda website it is a 190/55 and when I look at the website of a tire supplier there is lots to choose from in that size.

Have a link?
In webshops the only sport tuoring rubber I find is Dunlops RoadSmart, the oem tire, other are sport rubber.
EDIT: Also Michelin Pilot Road 2 and Bridgestone BT021 found in 190/55

http://mopedreifen.de/
Select tire size and you get a list of what's available. 190/55 is the same size that is used on one of the VFR's main competitors: the BMW K1300S. Also the new BMW1000RR has a 190/55 rear.

[image: View Post]vfr_steve, on 28 January 2010 - 01:43 PM, said:

Well done Auspa�ol nice video, yes you can certainly tell that if you revved it any harder the sound would change to a growl given half a chance. I love the sound of my newly acquired 5th gen at 5500rpm when the butterfly valve opens and it really sounds gorgeous.

:offtopic: >> By the way, talking of lighter sockets, I've got one on the side fairing of my bike, what kind of stuff can you run off these things providing you have the right cable of course?


Normally used for recharging gizmoes with rechargeable batteries: i.e. mobile phone, GPS device, lantern, Ipod :musik20: intercom set, vibrating rubber duck :blink: Absolutely anything you can get a 12V charging accessory for... oh and if your bike's battery is running flat you can recharge it on the go... :cool:

Short video showing the VFR1200F being assembled.

Cool vid, thanks for sharing. I wonder if I've caught a glimpse of my own 1200 in there?

Sure looks good with its clothes off... I dare say a VFR1200 streetfighter would look badass.

[image: View Post]Auspa�ol, on 28 January 2010 - 01:25 PM, said:

At idle it makes even less exhaust noise than the VTEC... sorry to say so, but it's true... but there's something around 4-5000 RPM that makes me think it will growl once you give it some real throttle... we shall see.

Can't wait to see what the aftermarket comes up with to replace that aesthetically horrible, triangular, OEM can.

[image: View Post]V4 Rosso, on 29 January 2010 - 08:22 AM, said:

http://mopedreifen.de/
Select tire size and you get a list of what's available. 190/55 is the same size that is used on one of the VFR's main competitors: the BMW K1300S. Also the new BMW1000RR has a 190/55 rear.

As does the Yamaha R1 and Kawasaki ZX10.

For SportTuoring tire also Contis new RoadAttac2 seem to come in 190/55. Proberly more as othre models start to use it. As sport tires the selection is huge thro. Just wounder how they will last on the VFR1200, high power and tourge whit high weight.....hmmm... Thro the BMW K1300S comes stock whit sport rubber if I remeber correct...


And nice vid by the way :fing02:

hi all members,just read about uk vfr1200 show room prices �11,595 on the road,still to much for me !im going to see the machine in the flesh at the mcn london show on sunday,should be a good day out.may be ill get a brochure as a keepsake . :wheel:

[image: View Post]vfr_steve, on 28 January 2010 - 01:43 PM, said:

Well done Auspa�ol nice video, yes you can certainly tell that if you revved it any harder the sound would change to a growl given half a chance. I love the sound of my newly acquired 5th gen at 5500rpm when the butterfly valve opens and it really sounds gorgeous.

:offtopic: >> By the way, talking of lighter sockets, I've got one on the side fairing of my bike, what kind of stuff can you run off these things providing you have the right cable of course?


As Brad said, Powerlet makes cables for nearly anything. I use mine as a reverse battery charger (hooked trickle charger output to Powerlet plug) with a socket wired via fuse panel direct to battery (no switched connection on that line). I then use that same port for my heated gear (don't forget to turn it off if the motor isn't running!).

[image: View Post]robwalmsley, on 01 February 2010 - 01:27 PM, said:

hi all members,just read about uk vfr1200 show room prices £11,595 on the road,still to much for me !im going to see the machine in the flesh at the mcn london show on sunday,should be a good day out.may be ill get a brochure as a keepsake . :wheel:



Id be interested if you do get to see it. Honda UK told me they weren't exhibiting there this year and that the dealers representing them wouldn't be allowed to show the VFR prior to the launch date on 13th. Let me know if you get a chance to have a look.

Bikes from Honda are shown here http://www.mcnmotorc...manu-honda.html