From a driving course Director, please go get yourself some driving skills. It’ll bring you a lot of freedom and a lot more free resources to drive further and safe. Breaking into the corner and throttle out is a way to learn better skills to get better flow through out the trip 🙏 It will make your world 5 to 10 times bigger for the rest of your motorbike life
Quite agree with you, you can brake and power through the corners better but once you know the surface of tarmac and road surface. Having travelled thousands of miles on foreign roads biggest catch out has been over confident riding when the adrenaline up and especially when riding mountain roads. Having road down the mountain one way and found the road surface to be excellent except for the cobbles. Then turned around and came back definitely didn't video that trip.. Will agree we can all learn more 48,000 miles on the vfr now.Back out to Germany,Austria,Italy and France in June.
Well said and thank you. Delighted to have a 2012 candy blue. Also get that objection noise to low rpm with low throttle and as you said, drop down a gear or give it a big more juice. Think I'll live with it as opposed to getting a soft tune (stabstef or similar) which i read gives a much smoother power delivery and performance at low rpm. What do you think?
Nice Review, He said he was maybe taller than the average rider at 6.1 lol im 6.6. I have a Honda Blackbird but its never been very comfy for my height,and I get the same wind buffeting that he said he got on the Vfr before getting the 4 inch taller Givi screen,different bikes but similar problem and I'm now looking at Vfr1200,s to replace the bird.He said 269 kg they're actually 276 kg so a good weight but if any thing should make it feel more planted.love the fairings and looks of the Vfr lovely bike .mpg sounds amazing
Your spot on, I agree with everything you’ve said, I have a 2016 Vfr1200f and it’s everything you said it is. I’ve had it for a about 5 months, I got it with only 4000 miles on the club It’s unreal to ride, I love it
Great review. This seems to be one of those bikes that's quite polarizing in terms of how it's perceived by journos vice actual riders. Appreciate the real world perspective.
Honda is the ultimate the best and the most long lasting and durable bike ever . I dare u compare to other bike such as kawasaki , yamaha even bmw and i bet all other bike part especially on engine part will broken down after 3years . But not for honda . It will reliable even after 30years of using it .
Shaft is not keeping up with the wheel at 2.3k to 2.5k so it gives you a huge backlash, resulting in clunking like something is whacking your engine. Then above 5k rpm it gives you vibrations so storng like a bike is trying to throw you off. Despite these, when you accept the short commings, this bike is owesome and I've got for myself a 2016 model. Asside from it - you wont know about it since you have a custom seat - OEM seat eats your back side so hard that you need to stop every 100 miles or so. Otherwise you will be numb for days. What i agree with you is the weigth distribution - its quite low which makes cornering, leaning or even slow speed just a breeze.
I've had my 1200 for 10 months now and what a awesome machine it's got 9000 miles on from new and it's a 2010 love it and I've rode many bikes and by far the best tourer yet I've got a vfr 800 as well and the 1200 makes it feel like a 125 Yes mine has the final drive clatter but it's the only bike that makes me smile when going to work honda bring it back
Great review. Had a 2017 VFR 1200X DCT, which I really liked but it was just a temporary bike until I bought my 2018 Goldwing DCT, non tour, brilliant touring bike. I really would like to get my hands on the F one day. Ride safe…
Schönes Video. Tolle Maschine. Geile Strecke. Nur fährt der Kamerad fast durchgängig zu weit am Mittelstrich, lenkt zu früh ein und landet am Kurvenende regelmäßig beinahe auf der Gegenspur. Riskant! Dem gewohnten Linksverkehr geschuldet? Jedenfalls weiterhin immer gute Fahrt.
Just got 2013 model had vfrs over the last 25 years traded my 2015 model 800 in for one its only done 7000 miles not done many miles due to weather but what miles i have done it i have liked it very much like the 800 but with more grunt.
Great honest review, thank you, it's helped me make my decision about buying a VFR. Can I just ask about the seat you mentioned, it sounds like you said "Melroy" seat but I can't find anything with that name on the web. It must be an awesome seat if you've done 1400 miles in a day on it (I struggle to do more than 250 miles on my bike before the seat kills.....) where did you get it from please? Was it CM seats Leicester? Thanks.
Thanks for the review, love that blue color. Could you point out the main differences between the 1200f and the blackbird? Who should prefer the bird in your opinion? Thanks
Two totally differant bikes. Top speed Blackbird wins. Acceleration VFR WINS. Handling VFR wins. Brakes VFR wins.. Both have superb engines. Drive train VFR WINS SUPERD Shaftdrive. Tank range Blackbird wins. VFR does suffer from low fuelling causing some minor hesitation when not under power,easily cured by fitting power command or similar remapping. Comfort not a lot in it, but the low center of mass on the VFR makes it handle better at low speed. 42,000 miles and nearly 9 years on the Finish on the Vfr is superb and is running better than new. Value for money the Vfr wins, in time the Vfr will become the same classic that the Blackbird is and deserves.
@@storm5357 From the specs I saw, the balckbird is ~40kg lighter and has a chain, I'd think it would be the better handling bike :) So interesting how they managed it! How about smoothness? which has less vibrations / rpms at say 85mph? Thanks again!
@@ohreally1021 Yes the Vfr is heavier but the weight is set lower, when I originally test drove the Vfr couldn't believe it was heavier. As for smoothness and vibration There is virtually none. As for the sound,with the factory end can Don't rate it ,I had the Akrapovic can fitted when new and with baffles out it does sound better but I wouldn't say that you can't be the sound of a screaming V4. But that's just a personal taste..
It’s a toss up between a 2015 vfr1200 white and black or a brand new 2021 Kawasaki ninja 1000sx both sports tourers both have great reviews but something about the HONDA that looks timeless
This video doesn't really start until 6:48. Dude, it doesn't matter what you paid, paint will rub at points of contact. I can't believe they bothered to address that seriously. If you ride, paint will scratch. PERIOD. It takes a real candy ass to avoid scratches, goes well with chicken strips. Don't waste time talking cosmetics cause nobody gives a shit and it has nothing to do with riding. 10 ply bub
Don't no what they charge for doing it,did mine at about 30,000 miles can't remember now how long it took but I think it was around four or five hours,even at this mileage they were all in tolerance.
@@storm5357 well done !!!! I had one in red years ago on a 12 plate . I bought a new Goldwing 12 months ago after having a ZZR 1400 but I love the VFR and thinking of getting another .
Hopefully will be out and about soon nearly 42,000.on the clock now and still running like new. A trip to Wales and Scotland on the cards for this year. Will post an aupdate then.
@@storm5357 Great to know you're alright and still riding. My VFR unfortunately is in the workshop but should be back in a month. Anticipating your trip to Wales and Scotland. Safe travels. :)
Yes my 2012 model clatter and clunks a bit on light load, low revs, even with power commander fitted(previous owner). However I forgive it as its such a fantastic bike otherwise.
You sound like a pain in the a7se customer - for which I salute you - why do they make you have to do that rather doing the right thing from the start?! First MPG figure for this bike that I would trust so thank you. My 800vtec used to give me 42 to 45 commuting and touring so I'd be pleased with 51. Will be buying one as soon as we are allowed to visit dealers again.
Still have it,as with every one else this year not done a lot of miles,42000 miles on the clock now still looks like new and goes even better What I have noticed that with the power command fitted the long journey fuel average is still excellent, but short tripping is not quite as good; probably due to the fact that the command .unit is fuelling more at low revs to over come low fuelling issues. A very small price to pay for a turbine smooth motor. .
Fantastic bike. I have one since 2011 and cannot sell it because I don’t find anything better. Everybody says : go for a GS pe similar but mine is soooo much besutiful powerful and cheap to maintain ! Also as you say , gas tank has never been an issue. You need to stop anyway after 250 km , don’t you ? Geat video ! Thanks a lot
1- at 15:00 didn't though you would make the corner. cam view is different, I know- still looks edgy. 2 -in such a beautiful pass you didn't stop to watch the view? 3- safe rides.
12 months ago bought a 2010 model with £4k miles from J&S in Swansea. Had the touring pack on with screen, panniers, and top box. Brilliant.....love it for all reasons Johnathon points out
Bought my blue 2012 and took it on a trip. I don’t think it’s great at touring. It works, but it makes a much better sports bike. All in all, it is what I was looking for and do love the bike.
i have just bought the 2013 model ,never ridden one and have to get it shipped up the country ,but it seems like such an incredible machine i have to have it. Keeping me ole RF900 and i'm hoping the weight difference between the two is not too great? What a road to ride it on...I was hoping you would turn around and go back over
I still love my inline4 blackbird which i crashed, and have an Rc51, but being more throttle happy guy - I ll stick to 4c8
From a driving course Director, please go get yourself some driving skills. It’ll bring you a lot of freedom and a lot more free resources to drive further and safe. Breaking into the corner and throttle out is a way to learn better skills to get better flow through out the trip 🙏 It will make your world 5 to 10 times bigger for the rest of your motorbike life
Quite agree with you, you can brake and power through the corners better but once you know the surface of tarmac and road surface. Having travelled thousands of miles on foreign roads biggest catch out has been over confident riding when the adrenaline up and especially when riding mountain roads. Having road down the mountain one way and found the road surface to be excellent except for the cobbles. Then turned around and came back definitely didn't video that trip.. Will agree we can all learn more 48,000 miles on the vfr now.Back out to Germany,Austria,Italy and France in June.
Well said and thank you. Delighted to have a 2012 candy blue. Also get that objection noise to low rpm with low throttle and as you said, drop down a gear or give it a big more juice. Think I'll live with it as opposed to getting a soft tune (stabstef or similar) which i read gives a much smoother power delivery and performance at low rpm. What do you think?
Excellent Explanation good service to Humanity and Riders Thanks next time give some technical details thanks
Just got a 2014 dct model, coming from a Blackbird, which I loved, this is a fenomenal bike. Love it.
Nice Review, He said he was maybe taller than the average rider at 6.1 lol im 6.6. I have a Honda Blackbird but its never been very comfy for my height,and I get the same wind buffeting that he said he got on the Vfr before getting the 4 inch taller Givi screen,different bikes but similar problem and I'm now looking at Vfr1200,s to replace the bird.He said 269 kg they're actually 276 kg so a good weight but if any thing should make it feel more planted.love the fairings and looks of the Vfr lovely bike .mpg sounds amazing
Your spot on, I agree with everything you’ve said, I have a 2016 Vfr1200f and it’s everything you said it is. I’ve had it for a about 5 months, I got it with only 4000 miles on the club It’s unreal to ride, I love it
Still have it nearly 50,000 just done a trip to South of France clocked up nearly 3,000 miles still runs like new.
You did well not having to stop for gas once during this ride! Seriously though, a great (though very busy) stretch of road.
did you say mpg was 50? 50 miles per gallon?
Outstanding! Ride safe…
Great review. This seems to be one of those bikes that's quite polarizing in terms of how it's perceived by journos vice actual riders. Appreciate the real world perspective.
you sound propper cornish....great review......dont suppose you know anything about RAM pumps???
Honda is the ultimate the best and the most long lasting and durable bike ever . I dare u compare to other bike such as kawasaki , yamaha even bmw and i bet all other bike part especially on engine part will broken down after 3years . But not for honda . It will reliable even after 30years of using it .
Shaft is not keeping up with the wheel at 2.3k to 2.5k so it gives you a huge backlash, resulting in clunking like something is whacking your engine. Then above 5k rpm it gives you vibrations so storng like a bike is trying to throw you off. Despite these, when you accept the short commings, this bike is owesome and I've got for myself a 2016 model. Asside from it - you wont know about it since you have a custom seat - OEM seat eats your back side so hard that you need to stop every 100 miles or so. Otherwise you will be numb for days. What i agree with you is the weigth distribution - its quite low which makes cornering, leaning or even slow speed just a breeze.
Great review. Do you still have it, and if so did you have any other problems with it.
Still have it 43000 miles and has never missed a beat.
Get out the way everybody, your spoiling my fun it’s my race track. I wonder how many people on just this one ride said look at that dick head?
Good review
I've had my 1200 for 10 months now and what a awesome machine it's got 9000 miles on from new and it's a 2010 love it and I've rode many bikes and by far the best tourer yet I've got a vfr 800 as well and the 1200 makes it feel like a 125 Yes mine has the final drive clatter but it's the only bike that makes me smile when going to work honda bring it back
Great review. Had a 2017 VFR 1200X DCT, which I really liked but it was just a temporary bike until I bought my 2018 Goldwing DCT, non tour, brilliant touring bike. I really would like to get my hands on the F one day. Ride safe…
Schönes Video. Tolle Maschine. Geile Strecke. Nur fährt der Kamerad fast durchgängig zu weit am Mittelstrich, lenkt zu früh ein und landet am Kurvenende regelmäßig beinahe auf der Gegenspur. Riskant! Dem gewohnten Linksverkehr geschuldet? Jedenfalls weiterhin immer gute Fahrt.
Just got 2013 model had vfrs over the last 25 years traded my 2015 model 800 in for one its only done 7000 miles not done many miles due to weather but what miles i have done it i have liked it very much like the 800 but with more grunt.
Great honest review, thank you, it's helped me make my decision about buying a VFR. Can I just ask about the seat you mentioned, it sounds like you said "Melroy" seat but I can't find anything with that name on the web. It must be an awesome seat if you've done 1400 miles in a day on it (I struggle to do more than 250 miles on my bike before the seat kills.....) where did you get it from please? Was it CM seats Leicester? Thanks.
I found the seat on the Jaws Web site for the Honda Blackbirds .They don't sell them but recommended them and had the site address on theiri site.
Excellent, well done to you ….
Fabulous vies, Eee there’s nothing like that in Wallasey, Merseyside. Haha. Cheers all, great video.
Bloody cobbles, on a tight bend! What are the authorities thinking of! Hells Bells.
Thanks for the review, love that blue color. Could you point out the main differences between the 1200f and the blackbird? Who should prefer the bird in your opinion? Thanks
Two totally differant bikes. Top speed Blackbird wins. Acceleration VFR WINS. Handling VFR wins. Brakes VFR wins.. Both have superb engines. Drive train VFR WINS SUPERD Shaftdrive. Tank range Blackbird wins. VFR does suffer from low fuelling causing some minor hesitation when not under power,easily cured by fitting power command or similar remapping. Comfort not a lot in it, but the low center of mass on the VFR makes it handle better at low speed. 42,000 miles and nearly 9 years on the Finish on the Vfr is superb and is running better than new. Value for money the Vfr wins, in time the Vfr will become the same classic that the Blackbird is and deserves.
@@storm5357 From the specs I saw, the balckbird is ~40kg lighter and has a chain, I'd think it would be the better handling bike :) So interesting how they managed it! How about smoothness? which has less vibrations / rpms at say 85mph? Thanks again!
@@ohreally1021 Yes the Vfr is heavier but the weight is set lower, when I originally test drove the Vfr couldn't believe it was heavier. As for smoothness and vibration There is virtually none. As for the sound,with the factory end can Don't rate it ,I had the Akrapovic can fitted when new and with baffles out it does sound better but I wouldn't say that you can't be the sound of a screaming V4. But that's just a personal taste..
It’s a toss up between a 2015 vfr1200 white and black or a brand new 2021 Kawasaki ninja 1000sx both sports tourers both have great reviews but something about the HONDA that looks timeless
Anthony, must be about time for a new video? It's been 4 years!!! Have you still got the bike?
Still got it ,will do a new won shortly.
Go on then lol
This video doesn't really start until 6:48. Dude, it doesn't matter what you paid, paint will rub at points of contact. I can't believe they bothered to address that seriously. If you ride, paint will scratch. PERIOD. It takes a real candy ass to avoid scratches, goes well with chicken strips. Don't waste time talking cosmetics cause nobody gives a shit and it has nothing to do with riding. 10 ply bub
Nice rider, ggod job.
Best 22 euros I ever spent riding that
Yeah your right you don't need buttons to control the bike as it's got gears leaves and throttle just got to use the right.
Brilliant ☘️
How fast were you riding???
Is getting the valve clearances checked expensive, compared to other bikes.. maintenance cost?
Don't no what they charge for doing it,did mine at about 30,000 miles can't remember now how long it took but I think it was around four or five hours,even at this mileage they were all in tolerance.
One question!!! Did you upgrade / change when you said you would?
No still have it. 42.000 and still as good as new.
@@storm5357 well done !!!! I had one in red years ago on a 12 plate . I bought a new Goldwing 12 months ago after having a ZZR 1400 but I love the VFR and thinking of getting another .
Hope you're doing well, wish you had more videos. Be safe happy trails. An update would be cool. :)
Hopefully will be out and about soon nearly 42,000.on the clock now and still running like new. A trip to Wales and Scotland on the cards for this year. Will post an aupdate then.
@@storm5357 Great to know you're alright and still riding. My VFR unfortunately is in the workshop but should be back in a month. Anticipating your trip to Wales and Scotland. Safe travels. :)
Awesome video & bike
The
Yes my 2012 model clatter and clunks a bit on light load, low revs, even with power commander fitted(previous owner). However I forgive it as its such a fantastic bike otherwise.
Really useful feedback - but what happened ar 3:45? Sun in your eyes?
You sound like a pain in the a7se customer - for which I salute you - why do they make you have to do that rather doing the right thing from the start?! First MPG figure for this bike that I would trust so thank you. My 800vtec used to give me 42 to 45 commuting and touring so I'd be pleased with 51. Will be buying one as soon as we are allowed to visit dealers again.
Still have it,as with every one else this year not done a lot of miles,42000 miles on the clock now still looks like new and goes even better What I have noticed that with the power command fitted the long journey fuel average is still excellent, but short tripping is not quite as good; probably due to the fact that the command .unit is fuelling more at low revs to over come low fuelling issues. A very small price to pay for a turbine smooth motor. .
You're a complaints nightmare lool
Fantastic bike. I have one since 2011 and cannot sell it because I don’t find anything better. Everybody says : go for a GS pe similar but mine is soooo much besutiful powerful and cheap to maintain ! Also as you say , gas tank has never been an issue. You need to stop anyway after 250 km , don’t you ? Geat video ! Thanks a lot
1- at 15:00 didn't though you would make the corner. cam view is different, I know- still looks edgy. 2 -in such a beautiful pass you didn't stop to watch the view? 3- safe rides.
12 months ago bought a 2010 model with £4k miles from J&S in Swansea. Had the touring pack on with screen, panniers, and top box. Brilliant.....love it for all reasons Johnathon points out
Bought my blue 2012 and took it on a trip. I don’t think it’s great at touring. It works, but it makes a much better sports bike. All in all, it is what I was looking for and do love the bike.
Buying a 2012 blue this weekend. One owner, 7kmi. Can’t wait to take it on some trips and some fast canyon runs!
Thanks for the review ...am getting this bike
i have just bought the 2013 model ,never ridden one and have to get it shipped up the country ,but it seems like such an incredible machine i have to have it. Keeping me ole RF900 and i'm hoping the weight difference between the two is not too great? What a road to ride it on...I was hoping you would turn around and go back over
How are you liking the bike now