Comments on: Solo Moto Thinks More Upright VFR1200F May Replace ST1300 This Fall (Bike Reports) (News) http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/ Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Cooper http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-3144 Cooper Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:10:19 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-3144 I recently went to my local dealer and saw a new VFR1200 in person. I've read about it for the last couple months in magazines and on the net. To be honest, I didn't give it a second glance. It doesn't look like fun. My favorite bike was my 2001 VFR800. And now I'm on an 04 Concours. I am currently dreaming about an FJR. The new Connie is way to big when I sit on it. The FJR just fits better with more leg room and less stuff in my view. In fact, there was a VFR800 sitting next to the new VFR and I was more drawn to it. maybe if the new VFR had hard bags or looked meaner? something to really peak a desire? Honda has always watered down their bikes. I assume it is to make them more desirable to a larger audience. I don't see the real advantage of so much technology. All I see are dollar signs for the dealerships when these things break. Give me a motorcycle with no valve adjustments, shaft drive, an adjustable windsheild(manual is fine), tires that last more than 4,000 miles, and most of all a COMFORTABLE seat! Why the heck can't they put a comfortable seat on anything? Corbin, Sargeant, and others love this I'm sure. But when I buy a 12,000 dollar motorcycle, it better massage my rear end! haha. I might have to go to Triumph or BMW now... Sorry Honda. I recently went to my local dealer and saw a new VFR1200 in person. I’ve read about it for the last couple months in magazines and on the net. To be honest, I didn’t give it a second glance. It doesn’t look like fun. My favorite bike was my 2001 VFR800. And now I’m on an 04 Concours. I am currently dreaming about an FJR. The new Connie is way to big when I sit on it. The FJR just fits better with more leg room and less stuff in my view. In fact, there was a VFR800 sitting next to the new VFR and I was more drawn to it. maybe if the new VFR had hard bags or looked meaner? something to really peak a desire?

Honda has always watered down their bikes. I assume it is to make them more desirable to a larger audience. I don’t see the real advantage of so much technology. All I see are dollar signs for the dealerships when these things break. Give me a motorcycle with no valve adjustments, shaft drive, an adjustable windsheild(manual is fine), tires that last more than 4,000 miles, and most of all a COMFORTABLE seat! Why the heck can’t they put a comfortable seat on anything? Corbin, Sargeant, and others love this I’m sure. But when I buy a 12,000 dollar motorcycle, it better massage my rear end! haha. I might have to go to Triumph or BMW now… Sorry Honda.

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]]> By: smokey http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-2954 smokey Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:45:57 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-2954 One thing that concerns me when looking at the VFR1200 is the cost and difficulty of doing valve adjustments. All that bodywork plus the cramped quarters around the rear cylinder head mean valve adjustments will probably cost hundreds of dollars. At least on the ST1300 the cylinder heads were out where you could get to them. I don't remember for sure but it seems to me that one of the magazines said the adjustment interval was 15,000 miles. That's one year's riding for me. When this is factored in with the cost of those high dollar sport touring tires the VFR will be expensive transportation. One thing that concerns me when looking at the VFR1200 is the cost and difficulty of doing valve adjustments. All that bodywork plus the cramped quarters around the rear cylinder head mean valve adjustments will probably cost hundreds of dollars. At least on the ST1300 the cylinder heads were out where you could get to them. I don’t remember for sure but it seems to me that one of the magazines said the adjustment interval was 15,000 miles. That’s one year’s riding for me. When this is factored in with the cost of those high dollar sport touring tires the VFR will be expensive transportation.

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]]> By: Skipper http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-2913 Skipper Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:12:35 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-2913 The BMW R1200RT is possibly the only true full on sport touring bike on the market. The rest are just a sport bike with added side cases and heated grips. The VFR is too heavy and who wants a auto trans on a sport touring bike. Honda should keep the auto trans for the lead Wing. The BMW R1200RT is possibly the only true full on sport touring bike on the market. The rest are just a sport bike with added side cases and heated grips. The VFR is too heavy and who wants a auto trans on a sport touring bike. Honda should keep the auto trans for the lead Wing.

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]]> By: jimbo http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-2825 jimbo Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:49:15 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-2825 Yeah! Style it like the 2008 BMW concept Lo-Rider based on R1200R. A V1300R with switchable cosmetic options, flat track style, cafe racer, etc. Yes! (Honda will NEVER do it...depressing...please don't suggest such cool bikes any more.) Yeah! Style it like the 2008 BMW concept Lo-Rider based on R1200R. A V1300R with switchable cosmetic options, flat track style, cafe racer, etc. Yes! (Honda will NEVER do it…depressing…please don’t suggest such cool bikes any more.)

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]]> By: Dave http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-2802 Dave Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:11:32 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-2802 After a lot of research, I ended up with a pre-owned 2007 BMW F800ST. Good upright ergonomics, 60 mpg, light weight. The ST1300 and VFR are priced too high for me. I came from a 1996 CBR 1000F to my BMW. After a lot of research, I ended up with a pre-owned 2007 BMW F800ST. Good upright ergonomics, 60 mpg, light weight. The ST1300 and VFR are priced too high for me. I came from a 1996 CBR 1000F to my BMW.

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]]> By: jimbo http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-2783 jimbo Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:21:43 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-2783 IMO BMW's coming GT and LT 1600's will turn the bike world around. I have no money for either. But the GT1600 may be so irresistible that that may not stop me from getting one. BMW can only under or overproduce those two very costly models. One tends to presume they will under-produce. Wouldn't be surprised if both sell out early in the model year. Probably be a good time for used Lead Wing shoppers. IMO BMW’s coming GT and LT 1600′s will turn the bike world around. I have no money for either. But the GT1600 may be so irresistible that that may not stop me from getting one.

BMW can only under or overproduce those two very costly models. One tends to presume they will under-produce. Wouldn’t be surprised if both sell out early in the model year.

Probably be a good time for used Lead Wing shoppers.

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]]> By: jimbo http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-2782 jimbo Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:15:05 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-2782 I've owned about 70 motorcycles of all types, sizes, brands. IMO there is no such thing as a chain drive touring bike. Obviously some disagree. I do very much admire the new Multistrada. Very, very much. I’ve owned about 70 motorcycles of all types, sizes, brands. IMO there is no such thing as a chain drive touring bike. Obviously some disagree.

I do very much admire the new Multistrada. Very, very much.

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]]> By: Tom http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-2748 Tom Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:52:44 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-2748 Now let's be fair. Regardless of how much you (or I) are unimpressed with Honda's recent endeavors, it would be silly to conclude that Honda "no longer cares about motorcycles". This criticism is especially incongruous when offered in the context of the VFR1200, which is innovative enough to make even BMW jealous. There is no telling how much R&D money went into the development of the VFR1200, and Honda would not have spent that money if they no longer cared about motorcycles. The VFR1200 is compelling evidence that Honda still cares very much about motorcycles, regardless of whether you happen not to like it much. Either the engine or the transmission considered by itself would be reason enough to regard this bike as one of the most novel bikes to have come along in decades. There is also a novel approach to shaft drive, and a novel approach to the muffler, and a novel approach to the fairing, and no doubt any number of other novel ideas of lesser impact. Now, I'm not arguing that Honda doesn't even do stupid stuff. I thought that the Rune was just plain stupid, and as stupid as it was, the DN-01 is about ten times that stupid. Now let’s be fair. Regardless of how much you (or I) are unimpressed with Honda’s recent endeavors, it would be silly to conclude that Honda “no longer cares about motorcycles”. This criticism is especially incongruous when offered in the context of the VFR1200, which is innovative enough to make even BMW jealous. There is no telling how much R&D money went into the development of the VFR1200, and Honda would not have spent that money if they no longer cared about motorcycles.

The VFR1200 is compelling evidence that Honda still cares very much about motorcycles, regardless of whether you happen not to like it much. Either the engine or the transmission considered by itself would be reason enough to regard this bike as one of the most novel bikes to have come along in decades. There is also a novel approach to shaft drive, and a novel approach to the muffler, and a novel approach to the fairing, and no doubt any number of other novel ideas of lesser impact.

Now, I’m not arguing that Honda doesn’t even do stupid stuff. I thought that the Rune was just plain stupid, and as stupid as it was, the DN-01 is about ten times that stupid.

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]]> By: Tom http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-2744 Tom Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:37:40 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-2744 I would have been inclined to agree, prior to Ducati having introduced the new Multistrada. It is chain drive, and many people won't like that, but it has an eccentric adjuster, and the chain drive means that it is a good deal lighter. Because its peak power is so much greater than the peak power of the R1200GS, it will practically run circles around the R1200GS on the street. And you could probably make it comparable off pavement merely by putting the right tires on it. I would have been inclined to agree, prior to Ducati having introduced the new Multistrada. It is chain drive, and many people won’t like that, but it has an eccentric adjuster, and the chain drive means that it is a good deal lighter. Because its peak power is so much greater than the peak power of the R1200GS, it will practically run circles around the R1200GS on the street. And you could probably make it comparable off pavement merely by putting the right tires on it.

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]]> By: yaya http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2010/08/solo-moto-thinks-more-upright-vfr1200f-may-replace-st1300-this-fall/comment-page-1/#comment-2734 yaya Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:19:55 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=10426#comment-2734 ...CB1000F is available in Europe , Canada and Austrailia I think. …CB1000F is available in Europe , Canada and Austrailia I think.

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