Saw the new VFR in person

Visited the Honda tent this weekend in Daytona.Sat the new VFR in person and was impressed. Fit and finish is the best I have seen in a bike, it surpasses any Ducati or MV Agusta. Beautiful paint and looked very high quality. It looks much better in person.
Seating position was very similiar to the current VFR but is a little larger. It has more leg room than the old model. I was able to sit on each one since they were parked side by side.
It has a great seat. Best stock seat I have sit on. The passenger seat looked a little small though.

It was pretty sharp. They had 2 models there. The normal one and the paddle shift model. I think I would go for the paddle shift model. Each comes with ABS. Luggage is extra of course.
They did not offer test rides on the bike or any other Honda product.

Had all the VFR's there from the years. Nice display of them.

I was disappointed with the luggage. The side and top cases seem rather small for a supposed "touring" bike. In fact, they don't look right, either. Should be bigger IMHO.

Stopped by the local dealer last week. "April" was the response I got for when the first unit is to arrive. I got the vibe from the salesman that there had not been a ton of interest shown in it. Like you said, I bet it top-notch, but it better be for the price. Good stuff.

I saw the bike at the DC IMS show, the only had the conventional transmission bike there. They did have a Honda Rep that rides a VTEC. He gave me the full walk around on the bike and apologized for the lack of accessories on display, no luggage, no centerstand (not an option in my book), no heated grips (so no way to judge the new slimmer design),etc.
I did like the seat a lot and felt very comfortable on the bike even with someone holding up (see should have a centerstand).
The Reps said he already had his order in for one.
So here is what I thought.

[image: View Post]Knife, on 08 March 2010 - 08:27 AM, said:

I was disappointed with the luggage. The side and top cases seem rather small for a supposed "touring" bike. In fact, they don't look right, either. Should be bigger IMHO.

From just the pictures I have seen of the luggage on the bike with a rider, the cases seemed too small from the side, and not wider than normal from the back. I'm already watching and waiting for twisted throttle to have some adapters from SW-motech to mount my givi e360's. Their not as cavernous as I might wish at times, but I know they are way bigger than those new honda cases, and I already own them for my other bikes.

[image: View Post]Snaefell, on 08 March 2010 - 06:52 PM, said:

Stopped by the local dealer last week. "April" was the response I got for when the first unit is to arrive. I got the vibe from the salesman that there had not been a ton of interest shown in it. Like you said, I bet it top-notch, but it better be for the price. Good stuff.

Hey two of the three local honda dealers are not planning on getting even one new vfr in. The owner of the last store says he will get one even if he has to trade with an out of state dealer to get one ASAP. But then again he always gets one of every new model, just to see how well it might sell. He got a DN-01 and it sat on the floor, it was still there the other day when I stopped in to try and get some info on another project. He's already got his nt700V, but I told him that I want a test ride on that vfr1200 when he gets it in.
He said "of course" but then again how can you not trust a guy that was your shop test pilot??

Right about now the only things other than the dang sticker price that I want to change is add Black to the color choices and somebody show me nicer shaped tinted windscreen.

Stopped in at the local Honda dealership in Dallas (Al Lamb's) and they got their first VFR in last night. They had it right up front and I got to sit on it. Boy does this thing have a nice seat. I'm liking the muffler more and more - it's very unique for sure. Okay so the Z1000 is almost a carbon copy.
I thought the paint and finish was a knockout from 10 feet at the IMS, but damn up close it is impressive. All that money Honda sunk into their new paint facility was worth it. Looking at back of the tank was like looking at black glass. I stood it up just to get a feel of the weight and it feels about as much as my '97. The best view I thought was from the front looking at the headlight - so cool.
Salesman were pretty uninformed though, they didn't know what prices were on accessories, when they were getting them in...one even said it had VTEC. They did say it was the first VFR in Dallas though, that I can believe. When the time comes I know which salesman I won't be going to. Excellent stealer*cough*dealership overall though.

I can report on the heated grips option to be both VERY effective and no larger than standard.

Hey I saw the same at Daytona, bike week was great. The new VFR was really nice but the new style will have to grow on me.

I Visited the Honda dealer in Carbondale,IL and they said flat out that they would not get one because it is too expensive ( salesman) actually said buy a Busa and have money left over.. So much for brand loyalty eh...

He said I could try a couple other Honda dealers ( Glodich, xxxxx) to find out when they were getting one.

[image: View Post]Nailer45, on 03 April 2010 - 02:25 PM, said:

I Visited the Honda dealer in Carbondale,IL and they said flat out that they would not get one because it is too expensive ( salesman) actually said buy a Busa and have money left over.. So much for brand loyalty eh...

He said I could try a couple other Honda dealers ( Glodich, xxxxx) to find out when they were getting one.



Honestly, for the money Honda is asking, Id rather have a BMW K1300S. It is faster, has more bells and whistles and is right around the price of the new VFR. Honda should really rethink the price of this bike in my humble opinion.

Flash

[image: View Post]flash1034, on 03 April 2010 - 10:42 PM, said:

Honestly, for the money Honda is asking, Id rather have a BMW K1300S. It is faster, has more bells and whistles and is right around the price of the new VFR. Honda should really rethink the price of this bike in my humble opinion.

Flash


That's where your pricing and ours differ I guess. The BMW with ABS (no other toys) comes in at �50 less than the VFR12 here. IF you want all the toys (computer, quickshift, traction/ESA) you're paying another �2k+ for the BMW.

You have to compare like with like. Obviously if you MUST have the electronic gadgets then there's no contest, the BMW wins.