Honda bans VFR800 owners from testing VFR1200

It's a VFR Honda. This model will sell out. No matter how much of a dog it is.

How often are consumers ever able to test a bike before or after it reaches a showroom floor?
I've never came across any dealer that would let you ride a bike before buying one or hearing about anyone but motojournalists and testers testing a bike before it's release.

Are the VFR 800 & 1200 going to be produced coincidentally? The 800 was one of my favourite rides back home... I used to ride mine 3 hours to track days, play with the rat-racers for six hours then ride the 3 hours home!!! Try that on a R6!! Anyway the 1200 will fill a niche for older/larger dudes who want to believe they're on a sport bike/sport tourer and not a Goldwing!!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shovelhead @ Jan 28 2010, 11:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Honda bans VFR800 owners from testing VFR1200
Apparently fearing unflattering comparisons, Honda UK has effectively banned owners of the VFR800 and other previous VFRs from riding the 2010 Honda VFR1200. MCN, England's largest bike publication, had scheduled a loan of Shamu post media launch in order to get real riders' opinions of the new bike. So far so good, that's standard operating procedure for the paper with Hondas and most other mainstream bikes. But, when Honda got wind of MCN's plans to put VFR owners on the bike and then publish their opinions it balked, ordering the paper not to allow anyone but editorial staff on the heavyweight V4. MCN's response? Take it back then, we don't want it. Respect.

Ignoring the sycophantic domestic press here in the land of the first amendment, European journalists have come over distinctly nonplussed by Honda's new flagship, complaining about everything from its 591lbs weight to the expected price of repair following a low-speed spill to much more serious criticisms like the 160-mile tank range and the uncomfortable seat. Following that coverage, Honda's refusal to allow consumers on to the bike before it reaches showrooms is damning, demonstrating a shocking lack of faith in their own product's ability to weather criticism. Things are not shaping up well for the new VFR.
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...owners-fr.html

What a crock! I don't know where you get your info from, but I wouldn't go there again. lol

I own a VFR800, I rode it to the test ride of the 1200F the other day. They didn't give a .....

Oh, and all you naysayers who read with relish the words of all those useless journo's, it's a fookin brilliant bike. Weight is NOT an issue, feels and steers lighter and better than my Ohlins-shod 800. The engine is superb, constant seemless perfect-fuelled pull. It's no sportsbike, but it's not designed to be. And the shaft-drive...what shaft-drive? You don't even notice it's there. It's very comfy, build quality is yet again the best on the market and it looks far better in the flesh.

Downsides...tank range is an issue and price is the stumbling block, for me at least.

So, slag it from your armchair or go and book a test ride. Your choice.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mick D @ Jan 29 2010, 01:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Are the VFR 800 & 1200 going to be produced coincidentally? The 800 was one of my favourite rides back home... I used to ride mine 3 hours to track days, play with the rat-racers for six hours then ride the 3 hours home!!! Try that on a R6!! Anyway the 1200 will fill a niche for older/larger dudes who want to believe they're on a sport bike/sport tourer and not a Goldwing!!!!

Mick, the vtec will continue to be sold AFAIK. They're toting the 1200F as a 'bird replacement, though it's obviously not a direct replacement as it is truly a VFR.

Older/larger dudes don't need to pretend they're on a sports bike (been there/done that/learned the lessons). Power Rangers is a phase, and not very sensible for the road as you can rarely use them fully whilst maintaing a reasonable amount of safety on our ever busier roads and best left as track bikes . Neither is the 1200F a 'wing pretender. Nope, it's a sports/tourer, which means it does both pretty damn well, yet does not have the full focus (and therefore lack of compromise) of either and so suits the more mature rider who doesn't need either a full-on sports bike or full-on tourer.

You'll all get there....one day!