Road test of HondaVFR 1200 F 2010 Descendant of prestige

the new Honda VFR 1200 F (Honda V4) will have created anticipation and anticipation with a high-profile advertising campaign. Our colleague Lorenzo Baroni (Tor Sagen's mate) managed to get his hands on the first Honda VFR 1200 F offered for test to see if all the hype was deserved.

it's not easy to approach the object of everyone's desire without a certain amount of apprehension, if not outright skepticism, such were the expectations raised. So it was with a slightly lower level of enthusiasm that the team of testers took possession of this VFR 1200 F and, fortunately for Honda, the first contact proved conclusive.

The first thing to note is the effort put into the overall quality of the machine: from the assembly to the paintwork to the finish, everything gives a pleasant feeling of nobility. The instrumentation is minimalist, clear and easy to read, and the soberly styled fairing makes the VFR 1200 F lighter and more compact than the photos suggest.

The front end is also more elegant and convincing live than on your PC screen. The rear end tapers elegantly. The whole is enhanced by an attractive swing arm and, although you'll always manage to find a few black plastic elements, notably under the seal, these are there for a practical reason.

The seat is ergonomic and feels very different from what you'd expect, partly due to the narrow tank, which is thinner than other bikes in this segment. In the end, the seat is narrower than on some sportbikes, but also much higher to offer optimum protection from the wind and allow long, comfortable highway rides.

As a result, the riding position is secure and pleasant, offering excellent grip and feel. The rider is equally at ease in bends and under braking, thanks to the shape of the tank and seat, which seem to have been designed to make riding easy and intuitive, and to reduce effort even during hard acceleration.

when it comes to riding, the VFR 1200 F is extremely surprising. It's simple, easy and comfortable, but also agile and responsive in city traffic.
The new VFR is more maneuverable than other machines in the segment, and could even tickle smaller machines like the Honda Deauville or BMW F 800 ST. On the road, the Honda VFR 1200 F is comfortable to ride thanks to optimized aerodynamics for wind protection. This is a clear improvement over the V-Tec version of the VFR.

Under acceleration, the new Honda shows great stability, but it's at high speed that you'll appreciate the great work done on aerodynamics and rider protection. The fairing is smooth and streamlined to achieve this, and the overall insulation from wind and noise is impressive.

Between these touring skills and sportier performance, this VFR 1200 F is an exciting bike to ride. Innovation is at the forefront here. It remains to be seen whether it delivers the emotion that every rider is looking for in a Sport-GT. Torque is more generous than on a classic Touring and, combined with an impeccable transmission, makes this VFR a harmonious yet lively machine.

There's no lag between throttle and transmission during hard acceleration or deceleration. This cardan shaft transmission is one of the winged brand's biggest selling points.
In practice, upshifting and downshifting is very smooth, and this feature goes beyond the technical talk and innovation Honda can talk about. You have to try it.

the new VFR is a very good motorcycle. If you like touring or if you're looking for a real sports bike, we'd avoid saying that the VFR 1200 F will be the perfect bike for everyone. But it's a solid offering if you choose one or the other, or prefer a compromise of the two. The bike is easy to handle, reacts quickly and neutrally to front-end acceleration, and has a punchy engine that makes riding a pleasure.

As on the first R1 from 1998, where you felt almost on top of the front end, the VFR gives you the feeling of being very close to the steering and the front wheel. A good thing, because this is where it all happens! The 2003 CBR 600 RR also offered similar handling and responsiveness. The new VFR gives the exciting feeling of being an integral part of the machine's front end.

The VFR 1200 F weighs in at 240 kg, but the smooth steering makes you forget all about it when cornering. In general, Sport-GTs are great at high speed, but falter a little in mountainous curves due to a "strolling" front end caused by the weight dragged along the rear of the machine. But the new Honda has found the perfect compromise, with a rear axle that matches the agile, responsive front end in tight corners, despite the weight transfer

despite being a Sport-GT, the Honda VFR 1200 F is lighter than some of the sports bikes of the previous decade (1000 FZR ExUp, GSX-R 1100...), but with a more powerful and sophisticated engine. However, to be a little critical, we'd have liked a slightly lighter bike to make the most of the machine's agility and engine power.

But in fact, this slight remark is more marked on the technical specifications sheet than in practice, on the VFR 1200 F's saddle. Bear in mind that the new V4 is far more powerful than its predecessor, by over 50% in fact, with minimal weight gain and a lower center of gravity.

if you're a speed freak, the Honda VFR 1200 F will give you complete satisfaction, and will be able to titillate the sports bikes when you stop at red lights. With a sound reminiscent of a raucous, irregular V2, the VFR raises its "voice" in a more elegant and sophisticated way than other V4s on the market, such as the 2009 R1 or RSV V4. Its powerful engine can fire explosively at just 4,000 rpm, like some of Ducati's best V2s, but with the added benefit of constant, smooth throttle response. If you want maximum performance, go beyond 9,000 rpm and you'll be treated to the V4's finest recital as a bonus. Indeed, from 7,000 rpm onwards, the smooth sound of the V4 comes into its own. Before that, it's more like a three-cylinder. The VFR 1200 F has a strong personality and remains comfortable between 5,000 and 10,000 rpm, a range that rivals some of the best sports bikes on the market.