(My) VFR1200F

[bolidemichael]

Biker9090 said:

Pent said:

Just read this from the start.

Good reading and a nice thread of ups and downs.
It would be good to understand how much you have actually spent on that bike as opposed to buying a well sorted bike for a similar price? Perhaps the s1000xr.
I really want to try out that bike and a ktm super duke gt as my next bike.
I currently have a kwak 1000sx 2021 and feel that spending money on a bike, making it something it will never be.

Keep us updated on your biking life

I bought mine for £5k Inc a full valve service. Spent £440 on a Nitron shock and £380 Inc fitting on K tech springs and fork pistons. I may at some point do the ECU flash and seat.

What you're forgetting is that the overwhelming majority of stock bikes have st suspension, st fueling and st seats. Upgrading st parts is hardly "making it something it will never be". All the bikes you mentioned have generic weight springs for their suspension and would benefit from customised setup - anyone thinking otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about.

Precisely this, any bike will require an element of personalisation if you're handy on two wheels.

[bolidemichael]

Do you find any significant wear as the bike ages, or is it a case of 'now or never', with respect to finding a low mileage DCT? Would you look abroad, given that it was more popular in Europe?

[A993LAD]

bolidemichael said:

Do you find any significant wear as the bike ages, or is it a case of 'now or never', with respect to finding a low mileage DCT? Would you look abroad, given that it was more popular in Europe?

No I've not had any significant wear noticeable on either of my VFR1200's, but I just suspect I'll be riding these for years as I can't get another dct with the same attributes. So if I buy another of the latest possible versions with really low miles it will (in theory) be fresher and last longer.

Saw a 2016 one advertised last week with 4k miles but then realised it wasn't dct. As I say, no hurry to find one but am now keeping my eyes out. Don't think I'd go to the bother of importing one though.

Really surprised at how quickly I've racked up 40k on my current bike.

[HairyMaclary]

Really enjoyed reading this thread. I commented earlier on saying that I like the look of these and still do. Still haven't had a go on one and the versys was chopped in for a big adventure bike after trying the 1000sx and GSRS1000. Felt the grandad spec, arm chair riding style suited my use more than sports tourer.

Hey kids has released a review video today on the vfr1200f.

https://youtu.be/JYsu-2S3cog

[A993LAD]

Good well balanced video so thanks for posting.

He kept going on about how much he preferred the bike in the gold colour scheme though. I don't think I have ever seen a gold one

Not sure I want one either.......

.

Edited by A993LAD on Saturday 31st December 23:18

Edited by A993LAD on Saturday 31st December 23:20

[A993LAD]

Nice review video explaining why the owner believes his VFR1200F is the perfect "Goldilocks" bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBI947_IrY

Particularly emphasises that the bike is more sporty than one might expect.

Contains Ozzie "humour" - "it's (VFR) like that fat that's surprisingly fit" !

Love it

Edited by A993LAD on Friday 27th January 12:22

[bolidemichael]

That was a nice review, though undermined a little by the guy's limited riding experience.

It has been marked as a 'great buy' in this month's RiDE mag. Though if he thinks that handling is good, he should've tried mine, which is superb!

[bolidemichael]

I got as close as I ever have done to running empty... with a theoretical half litre remaining.





So I could've got close to 170 miles, which isn't so bad.

On another note, the average speed cameras around the crossroads at Loomie's on the A32/A272 go on for far too long. It's a nightmare and has ruined a great part of the A272. Evidently, the spirited enjoyment of motorcycles are going to be extinguished from our roads within a generation.

I wish that they'd never allowed Loomies to have opened on the first place.

[bolidemichael]

Not too much to report at present, other than the fact that the VFR now rides absolutely superbly.

The dark days of stalling, poor low speed control, continually dropping it -- all cured and the issue most defintely wasn't the rider, though a few years lack of riding big bikes wasn't helpful, there's no way that one's skills would've dropped off a cliff in such dramatic fashion!

The lower bars really help with manouevring, the ECU remap makes it extremely docile and predicatable at low speed whilst the big V4 lazily thuds. At higher speeds, the suspension is excellent and the Michelin tyres arguably better than the excellent Metzeler Sportec 7 (iirc) that they replaced. The big service sorted out the stalling at biting point and the OEM spoiler sorted out the unwelcome buffeting.

I think that it's now a really well sorted bike and a real credit to Honda -- other than the OEM suspension that really benefitted from aftermarket/uprated suspenders (but when is that ever not the case?).

Next steps? I'm not sure whether a 2023 tour is on the cards, but one never knows! However, I am managing to get out regularly on Sunday mornings, which is really enjoyable. I'm also considering whether to instal the low speed exhaust valve -- I do love the sound but it really is quite outrageous

[Biker9090]

Just came back from Wales on mine over the weekend, 560 miles. Rode the Cat and Fiddle on the way homd and it made me realise how truly fkING AWFUL the fuelling is - especially in 1st and 2nd. Really absolutely ruined that road for me and made it genuinely scary at times. I'm going to have to get it reflashed. The throttle is like an on/off switch, truly the worst I've ever experienced. The seat also desperately needs a refurb as it looks like the dogs been at it!

Was sublime through the faster roads though, the Roadsmart 4s are the sportiest tyres I've used on it.

[bolidemichael]

Absolutely, speak with Geoff at Hilltop -- his work is amazing and transforms the bike in the lower gears particularly but also throughout the entire rev range.

What year is your bike? I do have an as-new OEM saddle which doesn't fit mine (which leads me to suspect that it's a pre-2012 saddle).

Have you changed the air filter and spark plugs recently? That may have an impact too.

I rode mine to Shoreham Airport today. It was a great run, though the front end was under steering. It has been a couple of weeks since I checked the tyre pressures, which is very naughty of me. As it's such a heavy bike, it's very susceptible to lower pressures, it seems.

Edited by bolidemichael on Sunday 2nd July 22:21

[Biker9090]

Can someone remind me if the seat is the same for all years? Looking to part ex mine for one.

[bolidemichael]

There’s pre and post 2012 and I’d love an in tact post 2012 seat.

[A993LAD]

Yup, Honda parts lists shows this for 2010.....

https://www.bike-parts-honda.com/honda-motorcycle/...

Part No 77200 MGE 023 (replaces 77200MGE003)

And this for 2015........

https://www.bike-parts-honda.com/honda-motorcycle/...

Part No 77200 MGE D41

BUT

Are you sure they differ in fittings? When I bought my replacement seat with memory foam and new cover the supplier sent the new one to me before I returned my original seat to him under the exchange deal. I don't think he ever asked me the age or part number of my seat. If they differed he would surely need to know or he'd forever be sending seats back and forth because they were for the wrong model year? Just a thought.

Also I'd be surprised if Honda modified the subframe to receive different seat fittings between the model years.

My seat looks like this and doesn't seem to have a part number but does seem to have a penned build date of 2013.

Edited by A993LAD on Sunday 16th July 08:56

Edited by A993LAD on Sunday 16th July 08:58

[myvision]

Got my first European trip booked for September on my VFR1200 can't wait for it.

[Biker9090]

This is odd. Same on Facebook, 50% are saying the seats will interchange and 50% not....

[bolidemichael]

Well I have an as-new condition VFR1200F saddle in my garage that doesn't fit!

[A993LAD]

Does it have a date stamp on it?

[bolidemichael]

I’ll have to have a proper look and let you know. I may have even posted detailed photos to this thread last September.

[Biker9090]

Yeah, a few people have said about lugs being different. Found a 2011 seat on ebay that's been recovered etc from the guy in Shrewsbury from a private UK seller who wants £300(!) - to part ex mine it'll only be £260!