My last bike was this 2011 white VFR 1200, Does anyone else own one and what do you think about it? Not to put to fine a point on it I think Honda missed the mark by a mile. It's got one of the hardest seat of any bike I've owned, the tank isn't big enough and the luggage is tiny.
Hi I have just bought a 2012 VFR1200 DCT , got it mainly to go touring on next year , I have already had the seat modified by a guy called "Tony Archer" , he is well know in West Yorkshire for his bike seat work , I have also fitted a Leo Vince to it , when you say the tank is not big enough , big enough for what ? , went touring round Germany and Austria this year with the Blade and mates on other sports bikes , we where ready for a stretch and a drink after 120 - 130 miles , which Im sure the VFR is well capable of , there is no shortage of fuel stations in europe now , I have a Garmin sat nav fitted , when running low you can hit a button and it will find you the closest fuel station for you so not a problem , I have read many reviews before buying the bike and dont think many of the negative points dont really stand up , I dont mind though as due to the bad press is probably the reason I was able to purchase a £13000 bike with 5000 miles on it for £7490 with side panniers included , Honda heated grips , rear hugger and front carbon mud guard extender , I have been out a few times on it now and I can honestly say there is no problem with it keeping up with 1000 sports bike , After saying all this though I will be keeping my Blade , Its my pride and joy lol
I think that those levels of depreciation only prove the point. The bike wasn't Hondas finest moment, especially after years of build up and hype.
I had one for 2 1/2 years. i traded it in for a new Blade 2012, if it was not for the fact i got £1300 of the blade the trade in would be very embarassing. It was a very good bike, i did 500 miles in a day no problem. I never found the tank a big problem. However my partner did not like being on the back and so then i added a Pan to my garage and in the end a big part of what i bought the vfr for was redundant. i felt I was as well have a top notch superbike in the garage rather than the vfr and so the right time and the right price saw it happen. However I would say to anyone that is considering the VFR1200 and is getting it for the amazing secondhand price and you are tired of your full on superbikes and throw over bags, this is the bike to have.
The engine was great and would pull in any gear but it was a pain when touring with my mates on Sprint's, CBF 1000's and BM 1300's to keep topping up every 130m. I looked at having the seat modified but I couldn't find anyone that could get the seat back to me in less than 3 weeks. (hadn't heard of Tony Archer). The top box was tiny and we could just get 1 helmet in the panniers. Give me a Blade anytime but hope you have fun on yours Bobmg.
Thanks Bardo, At 48 this is my last dance with the superbike world and hopefully the last bike I will buy. i think the blade suits my riding style and this one will be with me until my bones wear out. The VFR was very good but not special. The blade is a legend and a lovely feeling to know its in my garage. I never really got that with the VFR.
Well guys it looks like have the best of both worlds as I'm keeping the Blade ,got this really to go touring on next year ,I think I will have ample space with the luggage as I'm going on my own
Indeed you have, if I did not have the pan then that is a pretty good combination. I will miss that V4 Growl, centre stand, very very good shaft drive. Great riding position. A very good bike badly marketed by Honda and wrongly hammered by a bias press, Enjoy it mate it’s a very fine bike and probably the absolute best value second-hand bike ever.
I got myself a CBF 1000 when I sold the VFR as a second bike to the Blade. It hasn't got the power or the sound of that lovely 1200 but as you say Bobmg the blade is the main ride and this is for touring with the wife. Cheap and cheerful.
Hi i got a vfr1200 and i love it very comfy for the wife and me and love the power and sound off the v4
You do find yourself going for the clutch in the begining of the ride , what it does do in the sport mode is let you concentrate on your riding , no more am I in the right gear for the corner , It is also good in traffic no more in and out of 1st gear while crawling along , I got this bike mainly for the touring and for taking the girl friend out on , Took her out on the Blade this year and she found it very uncomeftable after 50 miles or so , She has been out on the VFR and prefered it , although I have had the seat done for touring and comfort purposes
Cheers for the update..... i did not think about the ease of filtering on it, but i guess it would be a bit easier through standing traffic.
I love touring on my 2009 Fireblade. Comfy, ABS, quick etc but I miss a decent sized fuel tank coming from a vfr800 vtec (22L). The Fireblade has all the toys from a race bike - forks, bodywork, frame and the rest...but where is the 25L tank? I cannot stand stopping for fuel. If Honda did a 25L tank as an option I'd have it like a shot.
I really do like the look of them, i know some dont like how they look but i do. If i ever did get one then it would in DCT mode, i understand from reviews that the auto system on the bike is excellent and given i will only be using it to get to work and back it may be ideal..... panniers though.... no way, not for filtering !!!
I had a VFR1200 to go along side the Blade. I got rid after 6 weeks as it was driving me crazy with the uncomfortable (for me) riding position and poor mpg. The panniers were too small. I loved the engine and the brakes along with the fact that you can treat it like a sportsbike in the corners after that initial vague feeling just before you tip it in. My mate bought one at the same time and has still got it so i must have been too picky.
