Honda Crossrunner review
Discussion
I've been meaning to do a write-up for a while and now that I've done 5,000 miles through most weathers I thought it might be useful to someone to have a more real world update.
As background I mainly use it for commuting. I ride about 70 miles a day which ranges through quick-ish A road, motorway and then the usual London crap. I've also been away camping a couple of times, done a few long-ish runs (Kent to North Devon in one hit) and most things imbetween.
In terms of history my last bike was the pre-vtec VRF800 which was good but not so comfortable for the amount of round town work I did every day. Previous bikes have been everything from an NSR250 through to a GSXR1100. My natural preference is for a big lazy engine and if I was buying a bike without having to worry about commuting it would probably be an FJR1300 or similar.
Anyway - enough history.
I first noticed the Crossrunner at a local dealer but only when the sales guy pointed it out and told me that if I test rode one you'd see why people buy them. The image of the Crossrunner had been tarnished for me by the pre-2015 one which was both ugly and poorly executed. At the time I'd asked myself why anyone would want one when they could have the new VFR?
I was looking around because with advancing age (40 and a bit) my neck and back were causing me grief using the old VFR every day. I knew I wanted something more comfortable for long runs and more upright both for visibility and for ergonomics. Other than that I was open to pretty much anything that could sensibly filter in London traffic.
I test rode a few bikes - Tracer, Versys etc. The Tracer has a great engine but the suspension was poor and choppy. I would also need to add a bunch of accessories which negated the price advantage. The Versys was a nice compromise but the mpg wasn't great and it's a big old lump - though the new one is much nicer looking than the previous one eyed munter. I looked at the Suzuki (very cheap but felt it), the KTM 990 (too tall for me), the Super Ten (too wide for London) and the BMW GS (too wide for London).
So after a test ride of the Honda I was sold. I bought a second hand 2015 plate with 800 miles on the clock from the excellent Lloyds Honda in Cumbria.
The comfort is quite impressive. The riding position is excellent though it takes a little while to get used to such a different feel from the bike. Initially I felt that the front end was too vague and as a result was reluctant to push on and really enjoy the bike. I now know that it was the tyres causing this problem. The OEs are Pirelli Scorpions that look a bit off-roady and while they're OK in the dry they're a hazard in anything else. I threw them away after about 200 miles and after receiving a set of free Metzeler Roadtecs to test. They really suit the bike and it'll be a tough decision between them and a set of PR4s when the time comes.
The bike came with a bunch of accessories - Honda's way of justifying the 10k price tag I assume. Sat nav, heated grips, akra end can and top box all part of the standard equipment. It meant that I didn't have to add anything which was ideal. But the real selling point for me was the suspension. It's an incredibly capable set-up, floats over bumps where the old VFR would have had me reaching for the pile cream. There's a remote rear suspension adjuster and other than an additional couple of clicks on that I've left it well alone.
Between the suspension, the tyres and the ergonomics it's properly comfortable.
The engine is standard VFR800-vtec. Actually surprisingly quick when you rev it but a little flat in the midrange. However once you kit 7k and the vtec kicks in it takes off. It's actually a pretty good compromise and in the dark rattling along what passes as an a road in North Devon I had the most fantastic ride. Quick, dependable, lovely induction roar and never once putting a foot wrong. The VFR chassis takes a lot of the kudos for that I'm sure but it was a brilliant run.
If you are just bimbling around then I've seen as high as 70mpg on the clocks though my standard is about 53mpg. That comfortably equates to 200 to the tank - usually about 190+ when the light comes on with plenty in reserve. This is great for me as being able to do 210 miles means filling up every three days instead of every two. That may sound like a stupid thing but it removes an annoying point.
The wind protection is OK - not too bad for me at 5'10", though people in the Crossrunner forum complain of buffeting. I haven't really found that unless I'm following a large vehicle but you get that anyway at that point.
All in all I've been pleased with the purchase. The only real downside is that it's burning oil. Honda don't want to know, nor do the dealers. I've put in a litre in 5,000 miles which strikes me as way too much when my old VFR didn't use any at all. Honda UK say that 1 litre per 1000 miles is acceptable. To who I don't know. Not to me.
Anyway, I hope that helps someone who's looking at a Crossrunner. There's such a dearth of information out there for what I think is a really good bike that I wanted to add something from my experience.
As background I mainly use it for commuting. I ride about 70 miles a day which ranges through quick-ish A road, motorway and then the usual London crap. I've also been away camping a couple of times, done a few long-ish runs (Kent to North Devon in one hit) and most things imbetween.
In terms of history my last bike was the pre-vtec VRF800 which was good but not so comfortable for the amount of round town work I did every day. Previous bikes have been everything from an NSR250 through to a GSXR1100. My natural preference is for a big lazy engine and if I was buying a bike without having to worry about commuting it would probably be an FJR1300 or similar.
Anyway - enough history.
I first noticed the Crossrunner at a local dealer but only when the sales guy pointed it out and told me that if I test rode one you'd see why people buy them. The image of the Crossrunner had been tarnished for me by the pre-2015 one which was both ugly and poorly executed. At the time I'd asked myself why anyone would want one when they could have the new VFR?
I was looking around because with advancing age (40 and a bit) my neck and back were causing me grief using the old VFR every day. I knew I wanted something more comfortable for long runs and more upright both for visibility and for ergonomics. Other than that I was open to pretty much anything that could sensibly filter in London traffic.
I test rode a few bikes - Tracer, Versys etc. The Tracer has a great engine but the suspension was poor and choppy. I would also need to add a bunch of accessories which negated the price advantage. The Versys was a nice compromise but the mpg wasn't great and it's a big old lump - though the new one is much nicer looking than the previous one eyed munter. I looked at the Suzuki (very cheap but felt it), the KTM 990 (too tall for me), the Super Ten (too wide for London) and the BMW GS (too wide for London).
So after a test ride of the Honda I was sold. I bought a second hand 2015 plate with 800 miles on the clock from the excellent Lloyds Honda in Cumbria.
The comfort is quite impressive. The riding position is excellent though it takes a little while to get used to such a different feel from the bike. Initially I felt that the front end was too vague and as a result was reluctant to push on and really enjoy the bike. I now know that it was the tyres causing this problem. The OEs are Pirelli Scorpions that look a bit off-roady and while they're OK in the dry they're a hazard in anything else. I threw them away after about 200 miles and after receiving a set of free Metzeler Roadtecs to test. They really suit the bike and it'll be a tough decision between them and a set of PR4s when the time comes.
The bike came with a bunch of accessories - Honda's way of justifying the 10k price tag I assume. Sat nav, heated grips, akra end can and top box all part of the standard equipment. It meant that I didn't have to add anything which was ideal. But the real selling point for me was the suspension. It's an incredibly capable set-up, floats over bumps where the old VFR would have had me reaching for the pile cream. There's a remote rear suspension adjuster and other than an additional couple of clicks on that I've left it well alone.
Between the suspension, the tyres and the ergonomics it's properly comfortable.
The engine is standard VFR800-vtec. Actually surprisingly quick when you rev it but a little flat in the midrange. However once you kit 7k and the vtec kicks in it takes off. It's actually a pretty good compromise and in the dark rattling along what passes as an a road in North Devon I had the most fantastic ride. Quick, dependable, lovely induction roar and never once putting a foot wrong. The VFR chassis takes a lot of the kudos for that I'm sure but it was a brilliant run.
If you are just bimbling around then I've seen as high as 70mpg on the clocks though my standard is about 53mpg. That comfortably equates to 200 to the tank - usually about 190+ when the light comes on with plenty in reserve. This is great for me as being able to do 210 miles means filling up every three days instead of every two. That may sound like a stupid thing but it removes an annoying point.
The wind protection is OK - not too bad for me at 5'10", though people in the Crossrunner forum complain of buffeting. I haven't really found that unless I'm following a large vehicle but you get that anyway at that point.
All in all I've been pleased with the purchase. The only real downside is that it's burning oil. Honda don't want to know, nor do the dealers. I've put in a litre in 5,000 miles which strikes me as way too much when my old VFR didn't use any at all. Honda UK say that 1 litre per 1000 miles is acceptable. To who I don't know. Not to me.
Anyway, I hope that helps someone who's looking at a Crossrunner. There's such a dearth of information out there for what I think is a really good bike that I wanted to add something from my experience.
Two things that I forgot to add.
The headlight is LED. This means that it's very bright and works better than a loud exhaust in clearing a path to filter through in Lodnon. It also means that it doesn't provide a spread of light like a normal headlight. There is a bar of light projected out which actually is in exactly the right place but it's kind of unnerving that it's then completely dark until a very close smaller light which lights up an area about 5 feet around you. I thought that the main beam would be spectacular but it's just a slightly broader swathe of light. It does the job though.
The other is the dash which is excellent. Simple, easy to read. The only thing I'd prefer is an anaologue rev counter but everything else is ideal. Not flashy but it works really well and gives you all the information that you need from gear position to the level of the heated grips to the level of traction control you're using.
The headlight is LED. This means that it's very bright and works better than a loud exhaust in clearing a path to filter through in Lodnon. It also means that it doesn't provide a spread of light like a normal headlight. There is a bar of light projected out which actually is in exactly the right place but it's kind of unnerving that it's then completely dark until a very close smaller light which lights up an area about 5 feet around you. I thought that the main beam would be spectacular but it's just a slightly broader swathe of light. It does the job though.
The other is the dash which is excellent. Simple, easy to read. The only thing I'd prefer is an anaologue rev counter but everything else is ideal. Not flashy but it works really well and gives you all the information that you need from gear position to the level of the heated grips to the level of traction control you're using.
@DanSI - I get where you're coming from but I paid £8k for a 600 mile bike not £10k for a new one. And the fuel economy is a pleasant surprise. Only filling up every third day is a surprisingly useful thing and the fact that it can do that makes my commute less painful. Hence the happily surprised 215 miles before the warning light kicks in posts.
But you're dead right - I could have got a maxi scooter or an NC if I'd wanted it to be more commuter friendly, cheaper and focussed purely on the commute but that wasn't the only criteria.
My key considerations were:
1) Quality as I tend to keep my bikes for a long time and the Honda has that in spades.
2) Reliability as I can do standard servicing stuff but am not that excited by the "character" of being left stranded somewhere by an unreliable machine.
3) Comfort - I didn't have to change from my old 2000 VFR - there was nothing wrong with it - but it wasn't comfortable enough for me on my 60 minute plus London commute.
And I also wanted it to be fun enough to want to go off for a run at the weekends despite riding it for 10+ hours a week to and from work, and capable enough to go and do a euro tour or similar.
So its primary use is as a commuter but for me the criteria was more all rounder. And it's shrugged off camping trips to Wales and runs to Cornwall quite happily and been enormous fun through the twisties in the process.
I hope that helps put my purchase into perspective.
But you're dead right - I could have got a maxi scooter or an NC if I'd wanted it to be more commuter friendly, cheaper and focussed purely on the commute but that wasn't the only criteria.
My key considerations were:
1) Quality as I tend to keep my bikes for a long time and the Honda has that in spades.
2) Reliability as I can do standard servicing stuff but am not that excited by the "character" of being left stranded somewhere by an unreliable machine.
3) Comfort - I didn't have to change from my old 2000 VFR - there was nothing wrong with it - but it wasn't comfortable enough for me on my 60 minute plus London commute.
And I also wanted it to be fun enough to want to go off for a run at the weekends despite riding it for 10+ hours a week to and from work, and capable enough to go and do a euro tour or similar.
So its primary use is as a commuter but for me the criteria was more all rounder. And it's shrugged off camping trips to Wales and runs to Cornwall quite happily and been enormous fun through the twisties in the process.
I hope that helps put my purchase into perspective.
Bit of a thread resurrection.
I still have the Crossrunner. Thankfully I no longer commute into London so the mileage has slowed but the fun has increased. I bought a 2nd hand set of panniers and now use the bike for occasional commutes, touring and general rideouts.
The bike has not missed a beat. It has been super reliable with just simple consumables needed. It's now done 21k and while the London parking bays took their toll on it (written off for some simple cosmetic damage - dent in the tank, scratches and scuffs from being knocked over by a van whilst in the parking bay) it still looks OK, rides perfectly and makes me smile.
I replaced the chain and sprockets at the last service (17k) and it will get another set of Metzeler Roadtec 01s next Thursday. They really suit the bike and I have got over 10k from the two previous sets and could probably have got more if I really wanted to.
I took it on an Old Gits trip last year to the Dolomites and it was flawless. Comfortable, frugal on the motorways and dual carriageways, loads of fun through the passes and amazing roads in and out of Cortona d'Amprezzo. The chassis is pure VFR so you have great handling and stability. The brakes are solid though if you're coming from a bike without longer travel suspension that does take a bit of getting used to.
I find the suspension to be really high quality. It's fully adjustable, so when I had the luggage on I just used the remote adjuster. Nice and simple.
If you're after all the electronic bells and whistles then you're looking in the wrong place. The dash is good - clear and simple even for my dodgy eyesight. If I wished for something it would be cruise control but other than that it's good.
The only real pain is the screen which generates wind noise. On longer or higher speed runs that can be quite wearying. I've got some adjusters for it and will play around some more before my camping trip in Wales next week to see if that will help fix it.
The other mod I've made is adding a USB plug under the seat. A cable runs up to the bars and I can plug in my phone there as a sat nav. That's been really helpful for touring and reduces the number of devices that I need to take with me which is great.
I'm sure that there are lots of other bikes out there that are demonstrably better in a number of ways but for me this is a brilliant, all-round, package. It tours, commutes and scratches and it still brings a smile to my face when I'm getting ready to go for a ride.
So while I'm sure it's not for everyone it's been the perfect bike for me. It's actually at the point where I struggle to see what I'd replace it with, as and when the time comes. Maybe the new Triumph 900..? More than likely another CR but we'll see. That time is some way off yet thankfully.
I still have the Crossrunner. Thankfully I no longer commute into London so the mileage has slowed but the fun has increased. I bought a 2nd hand set of panniers and now use the bike for occasional commutes, touring and general rideouts.
The bike has not missed a beat. It has been super reliable with just simple consumables needed. It's now done 21k and while the London parking bays took their toll on it (written off for some simple cosmetic damage - dent in the tank, scratches and scuffs from being knocked over by a van whilst in the parking bay) it still looks OK, rides perfectly and makes me smile.
I replaced the chain and sprockets at the last service (17k) and it will get another set of Metzeler Roadtec 01s next Thursday. They really suit the bike and I have got over 10k from the two previous sets and could probably have got more if I really wanted to.
I took it on an Old Gits trip last year to the Dolomites and it was flawless. Comfortable, frugal on the motorways and dual carriageways, loads of fun through the passes and amazing roads in and out of Cortona d'Amprezzo. The chassis is pure VFR so you have great handling and stability. The brakes are solid though if you're coming from a bike without longer travel suspension that does take a bit of getting used to.
I find the suspension to be really high quality. It's fully adjustable, so when I had the luggage on I just used the remote adjuster. Nice and simple.
If you're after all the electronic bells and whistles then you're looking in the wrong place. The dash is good - clear and simple even for my dodgy eyesight. If I wished for something it would be cruise control but other than that it's good.
The only real pain is the screen which generates wind noise. On longer or higher speed runs that can be quite wearying. I've got some adjusters for it and will play around some more before my camping trip in Wales next week to see if that will help fix it.
The other mod I've made is adding a USB plug under the seat. A cable runs up to the bars and I can plug in my phone there as a sat nav. That's been really helpful for touring and reduces the number of devices that I need to take with me which is great.
I'm sure that there are lots of other bikes out there that are demonstrably better in a number of ways but for me this is a brilliant, all-round, package. It tours, commutes and scratches and it still brings a smile to my face when I'm getting ready to go for a ride.
So while I'm sure it's not for everyone it's been the perfect bike for me. It's actually at the point where I struggle to see what I'd replace it with, as and when the time comes. Maybe the new Triumph 900..? More than likely another CR but we'll see. That time is some way off yet thankfully.
I'm glad that it's been useful. I can't help feeling that it's a forgotten bike. I've been very happy with mine.
Richy Vida did a nice video that shows the lights working: https://youtu.be/Efqfj6cLpes
Iminquarantine said:
Thank you for the write up.
Not sure if you have the pre or post facelift Crossrunner. I had a shortlist of a facelift Crossrunner and a BMW F800GT when I was buying a bike last month. Ended up with a BMW F800GT, but only because I'd had 10 years straight of Hondas and wanted a change. The Crossrunner was a better all round bike.
Anyone thinking of one, I think they have the best lights of any bike on the market now; important if you ride at night. 2 x low beam LEDs and 2 x high beam LEDs.
I have the post facelift (2015) and the LED lights are very good. They take some getting used to though as there is a strip of light cast out in front. It's not the pool of light that you might expect. There's also light for low speed turns almost like turning lights on cars which work very nicely.Not sure if you have the pre or post facelift Crossrunner. I had a shortlist of a facelift Crossrunner and a BMW F800GT when I was buying a bike last month. Ended up with a BMW F800GT, but only because I'd had 10 years straight of Hondas and wanted a change. The Crossrunner was a better all round bike.
Anyone thinking of one, I think they have the best lights of any bike on the market now; important if you ride at night. 2 x low beam LEDs and 2 x high beam LEDs.
Richy Vida did a nice video that shows the lights working: https://youtu.be/Efqfj6cLpes
NS400R said:
Honda quality and reliability. Looked after that bike will do over 100,000 miles with no issue. I'd happily have a VFR if they did a 1000 version.
You'll recall I did 1,500 miles on the same Old Gits trip thrashing the stroker with zero issues despite its age.
Totally agree.You'll recall I did 1,500 miles on the same Old Gits trip thrashing the stroker with zero issues despite its age.
maccers said:
I’m doing some research now into replacing my 2000 pre vtec VFR with something. Was looking at a direct replacement with a new model VFR F but reading lots of good things about the CrossRunner. My only concern is the bar and mirror width, as most of my riding is London based so filtering is a big part of daily ride. Was it ok getting through gaps compared to your 2001 model? I read they narrowed the new one down but getting rid of the side mounted rads, so the F model is even thinner, but more sporty which I don’t need really!! Yes I’m getting on a bit too, and have a CBR600 FS for sports riding fun if needed...
I commuted into London on my old VFR (pre-vtec) and on the Crossrunner. They got stuck in different places. The mirrors folded in better on the VFR but were more likely to get stuck going through narrow gaps by car mirrors and the smaller vans. The Crossrunner got stuck going past van mirrors and SUVs (bars and/or mirrors). You pick your poison really. The VFR might save you a minute or two going up the Cromwell Road (or similar tight roads with too much traffic) but other than that I'd say it's a bit of a wash.The key parts for me were the better visibility - so much safer in traffic - and the comfort. I was getting back problems with the VFR and that went away with the Crossrunner. If you do find a new one (they are discontinued now as they don't meet Euro 5) then get rid of the OE tyres ASAP. They were horrific. Get some decent modern sportstouring tyres on like Metzeler's or Michelin's. They are light years better in all aspects.
carinaman said:
Did the oil consumption decline as the mileage increased?
Yes it did. Became almost a non-factor though when I was using it really hard in hot conditions in the Dolomites and the Pyrenees I kept more of an eye on it and did top it up a bit. Other than that it's barely been worth mentioning.GM182 said:
I commented above that I might get one and I did. 2016 bike that I took from 11000 to 17000 miles in two years. No problems at all as you’d expect. Rear suspension was a bit too soft for my liking so fitted a Hyper-pro rear shock which improved but didn’t transform it.
Good value for money and the engine is a peach.
Glad you've enjoyed it. There are some good groups on Facebook that are useful for general queries. Also a decent forum at https://www.honda-crossrunner.com/index.php which has a good range of discussions though it's not particularly high traffic.Good value for money and the engine is a peach.
Gixer968CS said:
"and the BMW GS (too wide for London)".
Nice review, thanks. Like you, I think the later Cross runners are a big step forward. I commute from Kent in to Central London on a GS1200 and I really rate it as a commuter. It's only 4.5cms wider than a cross runner so while little scooters and 125s can sometimes get through gaps I can't not many grown up bikes can in reality - sports bikes are a nightmare in traffic (I did it for 10+ years before seeing the light) as although slimmer they have no steering lock and so struggle with gaps I can often get through on the GS. I'm lucky on the commute from Kent though as most of the roads are quite wide and so it's rarely an issue, only really when something has gone wrong and chaos ensues!
Fair point - for me there are plenty of places that the CR already feels too wide - usually where a road designed for two lanes has been made into three and there is very limited space. I suppose i should have added that the GS I tried felt huge - maybe after a while I would have acclimatised. But roads like this would be quite intimidating on anything much wider than I've got.Nice review, thanks. Like you, I think the later Cross runners are a big step forward. I commute from Kent in to Central London on a GS1200 and I really rate it as a commuter. It's only 4.5cms wider than a cross runner so while little scooters and 125s can sometimes get through gaps I can't not many grown up bikes can in reality - sports bikes are a nightmare in traffic (I did it for 10+ years before seeing the light) as although slimmer they have no steering lock and so struggle with gaps I can often get through on the GS. I'm lucky on the commute from Kent though as most of the roads are quite wide and so it's rarely an issue, only really when something has gone wrong and chaos ensues!
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