VFR1200: How did Honda get it so wrong?!

[pdsquire]

Has anybody seen a review for the VFR1200 that is any good? A 1200 with an 18.5l tank?! That's not a tourer! None of the sort of gadgets BMW now provide. I know you buy a Honda for reliability and quality, but it's got no more information on the dash than a 2002 V-Strom. Even the website doesn't work very well!

I fear this is a very bad sign for Honda's future. After the shocker that is the DN-01 and the continued under-investment in adventure bikes, what will they do wrong next? There seems to be no commitment to engineering - just trying to find ways to find new markets.

To be honest, there are a number of shortcomings with it, but it is the tank that really annoys me. You used to ride a Honda and people would know that whatever they could say about it, the basics would be bomb-proof and well-thought-out. No more.

Bah!

Oh, and what the Hell is that exhaust pipe going as? It's plug ugly, will fill with rain if you park it outside in a shower and will cost a mint to replace. AAAGH!

[StumpyFingers]

I did not think they had started making them yet.
It does however make me wonder wether or not Honda have make a better bike than the XRV's / XLV's as recent models seem to be a shadow of the former glory.

[winxp-master]

hey ive got an 02 vstrom!... and it's got fek all in the way of stuff on the dash, but dont tell everyone

[sbikerbud]

In my opinion Honda has been on a downward slide for quite some time.

The bikes don't seem as well made as they used to be, the selection of machines is boring and their answer to everything seems to be more cc and ugly it up a bit

[Warthog]

I've not read any reviews of the VFR but if that is the tank size, then they've made the same mistake as with the VTR back in 1999. In fact, I feel that they've not innovated for some time! The last big leap forward was the Fireblade launch!! Since then it's just been a re-hash.

I mean, Honda are still probably my favourite brand (certainly based on my past ownership), but if I wanted to see exciting lateral thinkiing in the past, I'd have had to look to Yamaha; leaps forward in quality and attention to detail, Suzuki and for sheer energy or passion, Kawasaki.

As someone said, the range is a bit dull. Dependable but dull. CCs get bigger, but so does weight and essentially performaces changes little outside the missile market.

Honda are sitting on their laurels a bit, I feel. The market is changing and they are heading the wrong way. Unfortunately, the likes of Yamaha, who are maybe more atuned to what people are buying is at risk!!

Put more simply, the last time I was tempted to consider anything that was new on the market was a TL1000s in 1999: never bought a new bike since, and far less likely to...

[StumpyFingers]

For a touring bike, I would have expected a 25 Litre tank at least.
I thought the idea of touring was being able to cover huge distances at a time.
If the VFR only has a small tank, either the MPG is huge or it is not for sale in the US of A.

[pdsquire]

Nope. The MPG is nothing special. I've read three reviews. All spoke of a range of 140 miles which means in many countries filling up fairly soon after 100 miles. An absolute shocker!

btw, I just went to the website again to see if there is anywhere to put comments (www.feelvfr.com) and was astounded again that the sound-track sounds like a Dnieper on start up - not really the right image (though the Dnieper was a single, wasn't it?) Listen to it and weep.

Anyway that wasn't the point: a chap called Mark Davies who is a brass hat in the motorbikes division tells us that he has been riding the VFR1200F on great roads for five hours. If he started with a full tank and averaged 50mph then that would mean he'd probably had to re-fuel twice! RIDICULOUS!

[jasonbc]

Has anybody seen a review for the VFR1200 that is any good? A 1200 with an 18.5l tank?! That's not a tourer! None of the sort of gadgets BMW now provide. I know you buy a Honda for reliability and quality, but it's got no more information on the dash than a 2002 V-Strom. Even the website doesn't work very well!

I fear this is a very bad sign for Honda's future. After the shocker that is the DN-01 and the continued under-investment in adventure bikes, what will they do wrong next? There seems to be no commitment to engineering - just trying to find ways to find new markets.

To be honest, there are a number of shortcomings with it, but it is the tank that really annoys me. You used to ride a Honda and people would know that whatever they could say about it, the basics would be bomb-proof and well-thought-out. No more.

Bah!

Oh, and what the Hell is that exhaust pipe going as? It's plug ugly, will fill with rain if you park it outside in a shower and will cost a mint to replace. AAAGH!

My local dealer has got hold of me the official launch date is the weekend 12th,13th& 14th feb. Dealer is having a bit of a do to draw in more interest

[Wee Jack]

I may be wrong here , but I understand that Big H are planning a number of machines based on the new engine and this is the first. I'm not sure Honda describe the VFR as a Tourer ?? do thay not state it is a "Sports/Tourer". They have plans for a Pan European replacement using this mill and that will be their full on "Tourer/GT" and probably have a much larger fuel range and more in the way of a barn door type fairing.

On the other hand I also hear there is a Varadero replacement planned , again with this engine - oh dear !! sounds like Big H are hell bent on ensuring the big trailies are going to be BIG AND HEAVY for at least another generation !!!.

Bigger is not always better - and I should know !!!!!

[raymo]

Bigger is not always better - and I should know !!!!!

with you there wee man