A friend told me about a guy he knows that said....

Found a link on a local board I read talking about the VFR1200. The link is to Hell for Leather and references something a MCN (which I know isn't held in the highest regard by some here) test ride where Honda instructed them not to allow VFR owners to test... I spent a couple minute on MCN's website, but didn't find anything about it.

Unconfirmed yet, but I found it interesting...


http://hellforleathe...-owners-fr.html

Mals

They're going to have more of these leftover than 08 CBR 1000rr haha

My guy who owns the Kaw dealer says that he did want a Honda franchise, but doesn't now...they shove bikes down the dealers throats!!

My next $16,000 motorcycle will be a BMW s1000rr, Aprlia or Ducati 1198.....sorry honda....buh bye! :fing02:

Honda UK bans VFR800 owners from testing Shamu? Sorry, in Amurca the 7th gen 1200 has become the "Buffalo". That aside, what kind of crap is that? Banning 800 owners from testing the Buffalo? Sounds totalitarian, doesn't it? A great comment off of hellforleather.com as well:

"A clear case of a bike that was designed around a customer that never existed. It's not a tourer, its not a sport bike, nobody wants all of that crap technology, automatic transmissions are for geezers, nobody ever wanted VTEC, its too heavy. And $16K ? for that money you can have a ducati, mv agusta, aprilia or any other capable jap bike and still have tons left over to buy a real VFR.

Can we just have a softer CBR1000RR with a V4 motor like the 1990 - 1997 VFRs?"

And, I own a 6th gen, damn, I coulda' had gear driven cams. :goofy:

P.S. I had gear driven cams in my 2nd gen, but I sold it...damn again! My VTEC valve adjustment is due when, BR?

Amazing what some people will believe what they read on the net.

Big thread over on ST.n and there's a link to a UK message board where one of the MCN editors comes clean about what Honda threatened to do, and actually did.

www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,49527.0.html


Apparently MCN was going to let some Punters ride the new VFR and publish their remarks along with the test of the new VFR1200. "No way" says Honda, so they took their ball and went home. :(

Quote

MCN VFR1200F test cancelled
Guys, I've posted this elsewhere on the site, too, but as the invite to our VFR1200F test was originally posted here, we thought everyone should know.

Very regretfully the VFR test involving you guys has been canned. Honda's PR department saw the post on this or our site and insisted, at the 11th hour, that unless we changed our plans and did not use you guys in the test, they would come and get their test bike back. We were gobsmacked. We've never had any problems using members of the public in tests before.

For our part (this all coming to a head Monday lunchtime with departure on the test due first thing Tuesday morning) as: a) getting genuine prospective owner feedback was the whole point of the test and also the logical next stage having already ridden the bike twice ourselves, b) being unwilling to let manufacturers dictate what sort of test we do (especially when we were in no way planning anything inappropriate) and c) having little chance to change our plans anyway, we decided to cancel the test entirely. Honda's man in a van arrived to take the VFR away shortly after.

Honda's argument was that our test would compromise the dealer launch on 13/14th as they had promised that no members of the public would ride the bike before then. There's an element of truth in that, although I'd argue that our test brought no complaints from you guys and would obviously have been a big service to you. I've also never, in 20 years of being a motorcycle journalist, had a manufacturer prohibit a test (especially such a useful, relevant and reasonable one) or demand its test bike back.

Sorry if anyone was mucked about, it certainly wasn't our intention.

Thanks for your help

Phil West

Executive Editor, MCN

[image: View Post]Solomoto, on 30 January 2010 - 12:22 AM, said:

Amazing what some people will believe what they read on the net.



Believe it mate. I was the VFR800 (and Blackbird) owner that was going to test it. Everything was ready to go until the evening before we were ready to set off, then Honda pulled the plug. Phil's post (that has been copied here) explains the situation. I was, as you can imagine, gutted.

Steve

[image: View Post]Veefer800Canuck, on 30 January 2010 - 02:06 AM, said:

Apparently MCN was going to let some Punters ride the new VFR and publish their remarks along with the test of the new VFR1200. "No way" says Honda, so they took their ball and went home. :(

[image: View Post]Cynic, on 30 January 2010 - 05:00 AM, said:

Believe it mate. I was the VFR800 (and Blackbird) owner that was going to test it. Everything was ready to go until the evening before we were ready to set off, then Honda pulled the plug. Phil's post (that has been copied here) explains the situation. I was, as you can imagine, gutted.

Steve



I think I just called Steve a Punter. :unsure:


Sorry Steve! :biggrin:

Good on Honda to smack down a cheap stunt. Meanwhile there is allegedly a waiting list to get a 1200 in the UK...

unbelievable Honda, wtf! I was looking forward to that test :(

[image: View Post]phobe, on 30 January 2010 - 09:53 AM, said:

Good on Honda to smack down a cheap stunt. Meanwhile there is allegedly a waiting list to get a 1200 in the UK...



Cheap stunt? MCN and other magazines have published reader's ride impressions before as a sidebar to an actual test.

Whaddya mean, cheap stunt?

It's a bit like rigging the jury isn't it? What are they so worried about...?? Real live people will be riding the bike soon enough and commenting on it ALL OVER THE PLANET in all sorts of media... word travels fast Honda... the Internet exists and most people in this postmodernist world are already sceptical, knowledgable and critical enough to imagine that any new bike may not be completely what they're looking for... I mean... one man's crotch is another man's... oops... how did that saying go?? :unsure:

[image: View Post]Luvmyvfr, on 29 January 2010 - 11:05 PM, said:

They're going to have more of these leftover than 08 CBR 1000rr haha


Then I guess I'll be able to pick one up for $7500 new.

Too heavy , engine limited at 110 HP here in France , no "sport" ability , a too little tank for a "GT use" , and all those defects for 15000 euros...
I will keep my gen 4.

[image: View Post]RE-Agent, on 30 January 2010 - 05:20 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Luvmyvfr, on 29 January 2010 - 11:05 PM, said:

They're going to have more of these leftover than 08 CBR 1000rr haha


Then I guess I'll be able to pick one up for $7500 new.


Maybe in a year from now they'll be buy one, get one free!! :fing02:

[image: View Post]Luvmyvfr, on 31 January 2010 - 12:28 PM, said:

[image: View Post]RE-Agent, on 30 January 2010 - 05:20 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Luvmyvfr, on 29 January 2010 - 11:05 PM, said:

They're going to have more of these leftover than 08 CBR 1000rr haha


Then I guess I'll be able to pick one up for $7500 new.


Maybe in a year from now they'll be buy one, get one free!! :fing02:


When you guys are done blathering on about nothing, take a second to consider the only empirical data you have.

What do you REALLY think of the new VFR1200F?

1. Exactly what the new VFR should be, I'll take two! (57 votes [10.90%])
Percentage of vote: 10.90%
2. Not exactly what I asked for, but I like it (216 votes [41.30%])
Percentage of vote: 41.30%
3. Waiting on the reviews, cause it sure is fugly! (122 votes [23.33%])
Percentage of vote: 23.33%
4. That RSV4 is looking even better now... (95 votes [18.16%])
Percentage of vote: 18.16%
5. I wouldn't ride it if it was given to me for free! (33 votes [6.31%])
Percentage of vote: 6.31%

Don't you have your own forums to play in?

[image: View Post]Baketech, on 30 January 2010 - 05:21 AM, said:

LMFAO!

Honda bitchsmacks MCN and the interwebz idiot chorus...awesome!!! :fing02:

:wheel:


Really? How is that? Aren't we all part of that intwebz idiot chorus clan? The plan was to let the avarege Joe test it; you know people like you and me. And as far as I understand, this is the standard procedure for all MCN and many other bike mag tests. Now I am not saying that Honda is afraid to let previous Blackbird and VFR owners test the 1200, after all MCN acknowledges as much (they said Honda didn't want anyone from the public test the bike before Feb.14th - its official release date). I think many people would've liked this bike and some would be more critical but isn't that normal? Why does that make them idiots :huh: ?

I've also been looking at the BMWSuperbikes.com website and a member called "Mirage_ZA", who's from South Africa and owns a K1200S tested the new VFR. Here's what he said:

"Looks great in red and black...silver is just ok, I would skip white.
It feels smaller than S and certainly smaller than GT.
Brakes are great. It just stops.
Suspension is also good, I expected mushy ride (being a tourer), it is very composed.
Motor, out of all things is disappointing ! On/Off throttle transition abrupt, flat spot around 3500rpm. I don't know what are they saying about V4 torque - my K12S pulls like a train. Around 7000rpm Honda takes off. Motor is smooth, like sawing machine, just purrs, any revs. Certainly, as bike had only 8 km on the speedo (it was first demo in the country and I was first to ride it), it will get stronger.
Flat spots and throttle response will improve with different pipe. Any pipe will do - original so doesn't look appropriate on the bike (lines of the bike flow nicely and exhaust is all triangular).
Gearbox is fantastic. Slipper clutch too. BMW, can you please buy one Honda, strip their gearbox and see what voodoo magic is inside ?
Shaft drive...oh, is it shaft driven ? Yes, execution is that good.
Best thing of all on VFR - handling. It feels like comfortable superbike. It turns, flicks, you can trail brake (stands up more than K BMW). I have to say, going back to my K12S with super triangular front Michelin Race, it still felt like my front tyre was flat - it is soooo much effort to turn BMW.
Honda is narrow and one is very sure footed, it is better suited for everyday commuting.

There is nothing WOW about Honda and that is sad.
K13S on acceleration feels like a rocket ship, on hard braking it just sits, no dive, nothing. That is WOW for me.
It is lighter with more gadgets - no traction control on Honda, no electronic suspension.

I appreciate Honda's great handling, that is why I am going to ride it again for half a day tomorrow, breakfast run route so I can compare apples to apples. Although, overall, VFR is good machine, it is just another Honda. It does everything well, but nothing really stands out so you decide to purchase it on spur of the moment. If they decide to market it as competitor to GT, it will be a mistake, for few pennies you are getting much more on GT. If they market it as S competitor, S will eat if for breakfast in straight line. And I still have to find why it's so heavy !!!"

This is the second post:
So today I rode VFR again, with pillion.
Had more time, less traffic and checked things I wanted to check, directly comparing it with my K12S.

"Pegs are lower on BMW, less pressure on bars on Honda (although Shiva thinks rider is more forward on Honda).
Seat on Honda is harder and made from material that slides more than BMW. Wind protection (compared to my double bubble Puig) is about the same, maybe Honda has a tad better protection (or less turbulence) with standard screen vs BMW with standard screen.

Gearing is longer on Honda - 6000rpm on BMW is around 160km/h, on Honda it is 180km/h. Slipper clutch is great but now there is something I didn't like - there is virtually no engine breaking. Maybe I am just used to BMW but I would rather have engine braking on turing bike than slipper clutch which certainly helps more on the track.

Motor again....this time, riding it in civil way (with pillion)....if you roll it on gently then it pulls much cleaner - still 7000rpm kick is evident. There were reports that there is a buzz etc on Honda. It is much smoother than my S, electric like in its operation. Has to be noted, for similar performance, Honda has to be one gear lower than K12S.

Suspension, brakes, handling....it works really well, nothing to add on.

To conclude, and to close chapter personally if I should purchase VFR.
I will not.

We all know that K13S is improved K12S so from performance view, BMW is winner. It is lighter too, although Honda feels nimbler (great mass distribution) it is false sense of security, more mass in the corner = more force so in theory at least, on the edge BMW will slide later than Honda.

To Honda's credit, one can ride it real smooth and I think it will appeal to riders who like to ride fast-er. No more, no less.
With my K I can mix it superbikes at any time, with Honda, over breakfast runs I would have to look for excuses for being on the back of the pack. And I am not back of the pack kind of guy"

Here is the link to the two posts this gentleman added:
http://www.bmwk1200s...&sd=a&start=200

I hope it's OK to add this here, please tell me if it isn't and I'll remove everything...