Rumors of a Honda Supersport apparently false

[dsmack]

I have to chuckle at the display, with the front wheel stand supporting the bike and no center stand evident anywhere!

Has anyone seen other pictures of one of these on a center stand? I'm thinking the marketing guys thought it looks "sexier" without the stand under there? Anyone know the facts?

Also ~ Does anyone know tha actual capacity of the side cases on the FJR? I see the Honda bags are listed as 29 Liter capacity... too bad they have appeared to give them a strangely shaped floor to clear the exhaust situation. Just sayin'

Don

 

[SockMonkey]

Also ~ Does anyone know tha actual capacity of the side cases on the FJR?
Don

I searched for that number earlier and came up with a figure of 35L ea. Does that sound right..?

 

[escapefjrtist]

This thing had better get 60 mpg to make up for the tiny gas tank. Sure does look sexy though...Checkbook poised and ready.

--G

 

[user 213]

This thing had better get 60 mpg to make up for the tiny gas tank. Sure does look sexy though...Checkbook poised and ready.
--G

It weighs 580 lbs. I keep seeing 36 mpg as the 'estimated' economy. figure less than 200 miles to the tank. What is it you think it will do that your FJR won't? (other than empty your checking account)

 

[user 213]

Seriously?
Yeah... that VFR. What a dog. :blink:

Ever spend much time on one?

Only a couple hundred miles. Couldn't get off it fast enough.

You own one don't you Fred? Do tell us, what does the VFR do really well?

 

[BIODSL]

You own one don't you Fred? Do tell us, what does the VFR do really well?

Maybe I'm getting to be an old fart, but it might be helpful to look at the VFR historically. When it first came out, it was Honda's rip-roaring 3/4 liter sportbike and it was competitive in that role. It made the most horsepower of any VFR to date (present 1200cc company excluded), won superbike races yet still had a decent riding position. Honda saw the direction of the race-replicas and decided to go it's own direction with the VFR; that of street-able GT bike. Let the GSX-Rs and FZRs have the track, Honda and Kawasaki when another way. I give Honda credit for the decision.

Unfortunately, that decision had it's consequenses. Over the next two generations, the VFR got heavier and slower. They became less sportbike and more sport tourer. Still, there were buyers for the small numbers Honda was producing. There was a ray of hope with the fourth generation. The 1999-2001 models lost a little weight, gained some displacement and horsepower and some snarl in the exhaust. Even though a good 600 (of the day) made as much power, the gear-drive adds to street-cred. What we wound up with is a very sporty bike that a fit 40-something could actually travel on. Or a fit 50-something as my good friend Ky proved on many occasions.

This all brings me to your question, Eric. Remember 1999? We didn't have FJRs ST1300s, or Connie 14s. The K1200s were pigs compared to the K1200s of today. The VFR didn't do anything really well, but it could take you on a multi-day, multi-state ride and give you sport bike handling when you get to the fun stuff. It really was a sport bike that could travel. It's really only when viewing things throught today's perspective and what the fifth generation VFR became (more weight, more wait, more maintainance) that the VFR really has lost it's luster.

I personally think this latest version is the model's last gasp. This bike would have been the **** 10 years ago. There are too many better choices now. A lighter, faster ST1200 on the other hand...

 

[SkooterG]

FUGLY.

 

[user 213]

This all brings me to your question, Eric. Remember 1999? We didn't have FJRs ST1300s, or Connie 14s. The K1200s were pigs compared to the K1200s of today. The VFR didn't do anything really well, but it could take you on a multi-day, multi-state ride and give you sport bike handling when you get to the fun stuff. It really was a sport bike that could travel. It's really only when viewing things throught today's perspective and what the fifth generation VFR became (more weight, more wait, more maintainance) that the VFR really has lost it's luster.

Ohhh, I see, you mean it was a poor imitation of the Yamaha FZ-1. Guess what bike I was riding when I tried the VFR? Yep, a lighter, faster, more nimble bike with better ergos and less plastic. True, it did still have a chain. Thus the upgrade to the FJR when it became available. I rode that bike thru many states and to Alaska as well, (just barely).

You know, the Hurricane wasn't a bad bike for it's day either. A little fragile in the electronics dept, but fun to ride.

 

[Fred W]

The FZ1 was late to the party Eric. It wasn't even introduced yet when my VFR was being made, which BTW was already the 5th generation of VFRs.

But the VFR was a, if not the, precursor of what eventually led to the full on sport touring machines we have now. Bikes like our FJRs. Both bikes are like swiss army knives, they do everything well, (except not 2-up in the case of the VFR).

The one thing the old VFR (can't speak to the latest one) has over the likes of the FJR in spades is in the handling. It is far more nimble than the difference in weight alone might indicate. Not that you would be able to appreciate that difference, being that you ride around now on car tires and can't tell the difference... And the V4 engine is truly unique in both sound and power delivery. The engine alone makes the bike worthy. That's not to say that I would get rid of my FJR for one, but it certainly isn't a worthless dog.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I'm pretty-sure the VFR will be remembered as a worthy sport-touring motorcycle (maybe even the V-Tec model, too...?).

But.., "The moving finger writes: and, having writ, moves on."

"Long-live the VFR...!"

If Honda was still selling a 'ton' of them -- we'd be seeing new versions. But, it appears that a competitive sport-touring bike must now be at least 1200cc...?

Maybe Honda decided it was too risky to spend alot on new technology on such a limited seller -- better to go "The Full Monty"...?

 

[SkooterG]

But the VFR was a, if not the, precursor of what eventually led to the full on sport touring machines we have now. Bikes like our FJRs.

Oh Puleeeease!

Fred, where did you pull that one from?

I would be much more apt to give BMW credit for originating the 'sport-touring' genre than the VFR.

 

[Fred W]

But the VFR was a, if not the, precursor of what eventually led to the full on sport touring machines we have now. Bikes like our FJRs.

Oh Puleeeease!

Fred, where did you pull that one from?

I would be much more apt to give BMW credit for originating the 'sport-touring' genre than the VFR.

True dat, in one important sense: BMW machines have always leaned toward a sport touring riding position. So from that aspect they were clearly way ahead, one could argue, all the way back to the /5's. But their engine performance has traditionally been abysmal, until just recently. Even the early K bikes were pretty wimpy in the power department. I know, I had a K100RT for a couple of years (an '86, I believe it was).

What Honda did with the VFR was to mate a much more powerful, sporty engine with the same sort of running gear as BMW had established. This was especially true of the early 750's, but the 800's were no slouches either. Part of the metamorphosis through the generations included the bike continually increasing in weight. But, even at the end of its run, it was still no where near as porky as an FJR or any of the other current big engine ST bikes.

I would argue that the VFR1200 IS the VFR800 6th gen with a bigger engine and other updates (including shaft drive). It is the next logical step in the progression of that bike. Did they sell a ton? Hell no. But neither has Yamaha sold a ton of FJRs. It's the nature of the beast. Sport Touring is NOT all that popular as compared to cruisers and crotch rockets.

I am still waiting to see what Honda comes out with to replace the ST1300 next year.

 

[beemerdons]

But the VFR was a, if not the, precursor of what eventually led to the full on sport touring machines we have now. Bikes like our FJRs.

Oh Puleeeease!

Fred, where did you pull that one from?

I would be much more apt to give BMW credit for originating the 'sport-touring' genre than the VFR.

As Fred G. Sanford, as played by Redd Foxx, would say" "Oh, this is the big one! You hear that, Elizabeth?! I'm coming to join you, Honey!" Actually hearing Skooty praising BMW out loud has me reaching for my heart medication. Pigs are now flying!!

 

[Fred W]

Well, he is surrounded by them now. Maybe the kool aid is starting to absorb by osmosis...

 

[wheatonFJR]

Well, he is surrounded by them now. Maybe the kool aid is starting to absorb by osmosis...

When yer a salesman...you'll say ANYTHING.

First motorcycle I yearned for...when I was 14...was a BMW R90/6.

 

[beemerdons]

Well, he is surrounded by them now. Maybe the kool aid is starting to absorb by osmosis...

When yer a salesman...you'll say ANYTHING.

First motorcycle I yearned for...when I was 14...was a BMW R90/6.

Keep your eyes on our Forum, my good friend Wheatie. Papa Chuy just may be taking a R90S stroll down memory lane soon!

 

[SockMonkey]

From Motorcycle USA: 2010 VFR1200F First Ride Blog

From Motorcycle.com: Honda VFR1200F - First Impressions

Yeah, I'd say they like it...

 

[user 213]

The FZ1 was late to the party Eric. It wasn't even introduced yet when my VFR was being made, which BTW was already the 5th generation of VFRs.

Bio was speaking of circa '99. And you're right Fred, they just couldn't figure that poor bike out. But they kept trying and trying to get it right. Still working on it too. And I think the one guy that liked Vtec on the VFR lives in Florida. (No slight to the FL boys)

Bikes like our FJRs. Both bikes are like swiss army knives, they do everything well, (except not 2-up in the case of the VFR).

I beg to differ, The FJR does only a couple of things really well. It does many things OK. The VFR, IMHO, does nothign really well, but is passingly medocre in many things.

The one thing the old VFR (can't speak to the latest one) has over the likes of the FJR in spades is in the handling.

Pluease! The VFR was decent in handling, not stellar, but decent. The FJR is about the same. Both have many weaknesses in the handling dept, but can be ridden well with practice and effort.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Sure does look sexy though...Checkbook poised and ready.
--G

What is it you think it will do that your FJR won't? (other than empty your checking account)

You misunderstand Eric. There will always be an FJR in the garage. In the same manner that the GS Adventures... for some strange reason speak to me, this Honda does as well. Drain the checking account and make no sense, yup. Any more than one bike in the garage doesn't make much sense either, but I still have two. Now, if the prediction of 36mpg in real world riding is true... :blink: that's too bad for Honda.

We'll see what the new year brings, and maybe wait for the second model year for the bugs to be worked out.

--G

 

[Khunajawdge]

Sorry to further soil this already well fertilized thread, but the Honda is going to take beyond a third seat on my wish list of choices;

#1 = 2010 Kawasaki C-14 (Prolly the next bike I will actually expect to buy/own!~)

#2 = 2010 Yamaha Super Tenere' (for the Dakar Dream/Lust alone)

#3 = 2010 Suzuki GXS R1000 (for the pure balls of it = as a two wheeled Duc Hunter)

No Honda's for me on this round!