One of the readers over at Motoblog.it spotted an interesting bike tooling through the Alps, the new Honda VFR, in what appears to be production form, so he snapped a few photos. Honda technicians were huddled nearby along with another small group, probably a few invited media folks getting a sneak peak before the official unveiling.
The Honda is all set up in sport touring form with hard bags and a nice production paint scheme. For all of the anticipated high tech wizardry inside, the bike looks fairly normal, as previous spy photos indicated. Of course, with all of the variable cylinder, dual clutch action going on, this will be far from your average sport touring machine.
More than a few folks are eager to see the final package and how it performs in the real world. It looks like it’s coming soon.
Link: Motoblog.it
Nicolas says
Honda is making a BMW-like sport tourer with the new VFR, while BMW is doing a Honda CBR-like with the new S1000R … interesting.
Kenny says
Took the words right out of my mouth, Nick
Jackson says
I think the key will be in the pricing. They obviously have a very technologically advanced package, as does BMW with their new S1000R. BMW did a great job keeping the price in competition with other liter bikes. I hope Honda can be competitive with their pricing, maybe find a niche between the Kawasaki Concours 14 and the Yamaha FJR. This is a bike I can envision selling an arm and a leg for (then I’d need the auto-clutch).
Jar says
does it seem kinda wide to anyone else?
jp says
It does seem a little wide, though previous generations weren’t exactly svelte. Sure this isn’t the next ST1300? Sorry, viewing from my mobile and can’t see if there’s a VFR logo anywhere.
Bigshankhank says
Too dammed big, such a shame as the previous Viffer was at least kinda small compared to the jumbo 1300cc supersporttouring bikes. Oh well, I guess I’ll keep my ST3.
Fraser says
I wonder if us shorties will be able to ride it? So many great bikes, so few I can sling a leg over at 5’5″ tall…..
coho says
Not too bad.
Not as wide as the Concours14, not as long as the Blackbird, more curvy than the K-GT and less puffy than the R-RT.
That saddle does look pretty high, though.
Frank says
Its a beauty, i hope Honda wil introduce a smaller and lighter 800 version as wel.
I wonder if they wil call it a VFR1200ST (sport tour) or VFR1200F just like te older models? The CBR`s can than be replaced bij a VFR600R and VFR1000R.
Andrew says
Not too bad looking and has some interesting technical details. Waiting for the ride reviews…
Might be worth a test ride too if I manage to wear my Concours 14 out…
todd says
Honda seems to be putting a lot of its eggs in this segment’s basket.
-todd
PaulN says
It’s beautiful, but with all the added displacement, it doesn’t quite seem like a reinvention of the VFR800, but a new bike carrying an old badge. I still like it a lot, but with that engine I can’t see it being anything other than a brand new bike trying to capture a quarter century of reputation.
Paulinator says
I LIKE IT.
Question: what’s that big cone sticking out of the left side of the swing-arm?
Joe says
for all the talk about running air reaching the rear cylinders, i don’t see much evidence for any practical amount of air-cooling… I’m still confounded as to why its not just a normal V-4…
Wave says
Joe, wasn’t the theory supposed to be that they wanted the rear pair of cylinders closer together to help the engine run better when it’s in cylinder deactivated parallel-twin mode? At least that was what I thought. Really, if they’re using cylinder deactivation I would’ve said that it should be spread around all four cylinders equally to even out the wear and tear on the cylinders, but Honda probably knows best.
mark says
You can find a bit more here
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2009/July/jul0809-honda-v4-tech-details-revealed/?&R=EPI-116555
I am not certain, but I think that this is going to be quite expensive. The current VFR is more expensive than the current ‘blade. Any bets this one will be the priciest in Honda’s lineup (except for a full-flight ‘wing)/
4Cammer says
Have to pass. Why do bike makers think bikes need to be as (over) advanced as cars are? Will anyone be able to work on this bike in their own shed?
Secaman says
Could I be changing my mine over this bike? These photos are much better than the others I’ve seen. Hard bags could even make the tail section look decent. Wonder what it will weight in at? JF
todd says
Hey 4Cammer, this IS from a car company. Therein lies the problem. No one wants you to be able to work on your vehicle any more, even voiding the warranty if you do.
-todd
Nicolas says
In my younger days, the VFR was an icon to me (1995ish). Some kind of sleek and sweet looking ride, with the orgasmic sound of the V4, some do-it-all bike that would at least compete if not beat every other bikes in every domains (if well ridden), from supersport to touring. I know this image was probably squewed by my own ignorance and unaccurate beliefs, but … it seems to me that the great VFR from ago has moved along a long path that slowly changed it into a beefy tourer … (like the joke that goes around the web where you see the statue from MichelAngelo after several years in an american museum, you see what I’m talking about ?)
Maybe that’s what the guys who were riding the sleek VFR of the old days are looking for now, because themselves have gone more into packing up weight and into more comfy heavy technogeeky ride … ?
All of that to say that I don’t really recognize the VFR, and therefore don’t really like it. But I’m a punk because if I want a lighter all-around bike, there is plenty on the market, and I should shut up … except that none have the legendary V4 sound of my younger days 🙁
kwj says
Tod – It’s called the right to repair, and we have it here in the USA. They can’t legally void the warranty for repairing your own car. There are a few car companies that are in legal trouble right now for not making the tools needed to repair certain newer cars available to the public. They might try and trick you into thinking certain things can void a warranty though. Mitsubishi has taken a stance that aftermarket mods will void their warranties, but legally they have to be able to prove that the failure was the fault of the mod (i.e. a larger turbo might be able to damage the pistons, but it’d be hard for them to argue that an intake broke the transmission).
Dan says
Yawn.
Schneegz says
The more I read about this bike, the more I want one! Unfortunately, there’s no way I can afford one. Maybe I can buy a used one in about 10 years!
Nicolas:
There is a svelte V4 superbike you can buy; the Aprilia RSV 4. It’s not much of a touring bike, but you really can’t build a bike that’ll compete with a superbike AND a touring bike anymore.
JC says
it may be a great motorcycle but design wise is nothing new .
No “breaking ground” here. The front light is ugly as hell.
The BMW, Yamaha or Ducati looks a hundred times better to me.
Martin P says
Hope it is as good as my Blackbird was.At 6,2 I need a bike with a little space.I had a look at the Bmw K1300S but I was dissapointed.Roll on 200hp VFR and Honda Quality.I would like a Aprilla RSV4 but it is tiny.
Shane says
Yes interesting and apparently a lot of technology on board (to go wrong and expensive to repair) but I was really hoping that it would be a lot different from the concept bike pictures. Maybe it will be better in the flesh, maybe it will have better performance figures than we are seeing at the moment, maybe it will be lighter than similar class bikes. A lot of maybes….maybe I’ll stick with my ZX14…..
Roger says
I think the looks are amazing, especially the exhaust. Only change required would be a tinted Double Bub screen. I think I will wait for it as I am going to invest big next year and this thing has taken my fancy big style. Should be pricy but, wot the hell, the big H speaks for itself