More Honda V4 sneak peeks...

[DDO-VFR]

This one looks interesting. As quoted from Motorcycle Daily...

If Honda has angered some of its loyal customers with a relative lack of new product in recent years, that might be about to change with this interesting, upright adventure/sport model that will be unveiled in production form at the Milan show. Expected to displace approximately 800 cc, the new bike should have the ergonomics of an adventure machine, i.e., completely upright with wide bars and a comfortable footpeg position, together with 17 inch wheels and street rubber. Our readers hung up on whether this is an “adventure” bike, or not, should note that Honda is not really calling this an adventure bike, but a street machine with the upright ergos of an adventure bike. Here is a brief quote from Honda regarding the new machine.

“This mid-range machine is an exciting new approach – a crossover machine that represents the best aspects of two separate biking genres. It will have the flexibility and exciting attitude of a Naked performance machine, with the more comfortable upright riding position and design cues inspired by adventure bikes.

102710top-i.jpg

Brian

[DDO-VFR]

No really... :ohmy: not ONE comment? :excl: :excl:

Maybe I should have put the word OIL in this thread :goofy:

Let me start by saying it looks good to me. Throw in a 'tuned for torque' 800cc V4...man that's bordering on porn...

Brian

[Baileyrock]

One! :laughing6-hehe:

I'm not really sure what it is suppose to be?

I've heard they will make both an 800 & 1200 V4 duel sport!

[pres589]

Is the American market going to get this and not the Transalp? If so, why?

This seems like a product other companies are already doing just fine with, hard to get excited about Honda's offering. Just my 2 cents.

[BonusVFR]

A couple of other threads are talking about this too.

Take your pick

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/63242-8th-gen-might-not-be-far-off/

I like it so far

Edited to add and Here is another pick

[superfunkomatic]

Interesting concept. Frankly, I love Honda but can't wait for a sub-$15000 bike for dual sport. The Varadero looks gigantic, expensive and not really very well suited for offroad adventures.

I bought a Kawasaki KLR 650 this week. Wow, you can really tell the engineering that went into the VFR when you ride one of these. It's going to be a perfect low-rent bike for my gravel road, forestry roads and trip to the Arctic Circle next year. It would be sweet to have a V4 powerplant for an offroad machine. Wait and see I guess….

[Monk]

With all this lean toward dual-sport, I'm just wondering about people finding off road places to ride... It seems to me that about everything is closed/posted/government/private..........?

[elizilla]

With all this lean toward dual-sport, I'm just wondering about people finding off road places to ride... It seems to me that about everything is closed/posted/government/private..........?

I'm not looking at this for actual off-road duty. I'm looking at it for terrible roads, but roads nonetheless. In Michigan I think we have more miles of what I'd describe as highly improved gravel, than we have of paved roads. They're wide, with reasonable camber, and in the right season they're often graded to a point where they are smoother than the pavement around here, but they're still gravel. Meanwhile, in the hillier parts of Ohio, or in WV, they pave those type of roads instead of leaving them gravel, but they also have quite a few unimproved gravel roads that are barely a step up from two-rutters. I've experienced this when taking impromptu detours - you can be on a road that's in the map database in the GPS, but it might look more like a jeep trail. And you can be on a paved road that just dwindles to such a thing. Instead of turning around, I'd like to keep going. Even if I do hear banjos. :ohmy:

[TexOz]

A couple of other threads are talking about this too.

Take your pick

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/63242-8th-gen-might-not-be-far-off/

I like it so far

And, of course, the original scoop thread! :happy:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/62614-australian-mcn-reporting-honda-v4-dual-sport-for-2012/page__p__733100#entry733100

[Monk]

With all this lean toward dual-sport, I'm just wondering about people finding off road places to ride... It seems to me that about everything is closed/posted/government/private..........?

I'm not looking at this for actual off-road duty. I'm looking at it for terrible roads, but roads nonetheless. In Michigan I think we have more miles of what I'd describe as highly improved gravel, than we have of paved roads. They're wide, with reasonable camber, and in the right season they're often graded to a point where they are smoother than the pavement around here, but they're still gravel. Meanwhile, in the hillier parts of Ohio, or in WV, they pave those type of roads instead of leaving them gravel, but they also have quite a few unimproved gravel roads that are barely a step up from two-rutters. I've experienced this when taking impromptu detours - you can be on a road that's in the map database in the GPS, but it might look more like a jeep trail. And you can be on a paved road that just dwindles to such a thing. Instead of turning around, I'd like to keep going. Even if I do hear banjos. :ohmy:

Yea... I've been mislead with my gps to go down dirt roads. In most cases just went ahead on the dirt.... about the only thing I wanted at that time was a dual-sport trye, and some wider bars. You make a good point for dirt roads.

[BonusVFR]

A couple of other threads are talking about this too.

Take your pick

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/63242-8th-gen-might-not-be-far-off/

I like it so far

And, of course, the original scoop thread! :happy:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/62614-australian-mcn-reporting-honda-v4-dual-sport-for-2012/page__p__733100#entry733100

Happens all the time. Fixed! Thanks

[DDO-VFR]

Is the American market going to get this and not the Transalp? If so, why?

This seems like a product other companies are already doing just fine with, hard to get excited about Honda's offering. Just my 2 cents.

Although I find this latest styling and configuration intriguing, I'm thinking of the potential derivatives we might see in the future, in particular with an 800cc to build from. Sport-tour lite, streetfighter, supersport...

Time will tell

Brian

[Knife]

Still haven't warmed up to the new plastics styling on the VFR1200 and these yet-to-be-released models. I'll probably come around eventually, but right now I'm not digging it.

[flavadave]

Crossover? Sounds like a Caravan "Sport", no thanks :laughing6-hehe:

[TimC]

I'll reserved judgment on the (alleged) new bike's appearance until I see one in person. But I bet it will be too tall for me and my short legs anyway. :tongue:

[Guest]

I like it. Being a bit of a short arse the 816mm seat height is just about acceptable. Also the straight back riding position is also appealing as long rides on my current 5th gen do tire me out.

I get the impression that the Crossrunner is primarily designed for road use, with the ability to navigate less well maintained surfaces with confidence. Again the low seat height allows the rider confidence in poorer road/track conditions. As a true off roader I believe that the bile would be too heavy and prone to damage.

With the current financial climate the only concern is the affordability of the bike, but hopefully it should compare to current VFR800 prices favourably. Hopefully this will prove the case, as here in the UK less money will be spent on maintaining the current road infrastructure (despite increases in fuel duty and taxation!), so something like this will be in a class of it's own during rush hour soon!

[blkrabit]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere, but here are some pics from EICMA:

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/News/EICMA-2010-Hondas-V4-Crosstourer-Concept-in-pictur/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/694023?contextCategoryId=48447

[E-Ticket]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere, but here are some pics from EICMA:

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/News/EICMA-2010-Hondas-V4-Crosstourer-Concept-in-pictur/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/694023?contextCategoryId=48447

Whoa. The first thing that popped in my mind was "Judge Dredd Goes Camping..."

[spud786]

And you can be on a paved road that just dwindles to such a thing. Instead of turning around, I'd like to keep going. Even if I do hear banjos. :ohmy:

Ha Ha, I have in fact heard Banjos deep in some Florida Forrest roads , they have alot of Dirt roads in the National forrest areas a long the Alamaba border .