HONDA VFR1200F (2010 - 2011) Review

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £250

A great all-round bike that is sadly overlooked. Bought to replace a Blackbird and everyone told me I’d regret it. I don’t. Fabulously characterful engine, a good tourer and equally good commuter or leisure tool. Few bikes can offer this level of versatility and reliability for this price point. Try one.

Buying experience: Good service from my local dealer albeit best value bikes seem to be available privately.

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £100

Finally a sports tourer that feels like a sportsbike. I've owned a sprint st1050, k1200r and a k1300gt. All of them felt wallowy, big and lardy. Whilst this is a heavy bike it seems to be much more flickable. The moment you get on it it feels taught and incredibly well built. Finish is lightyears ahead of BMW. Beautiful component quality. 100% confidence that it will get you where you want to go and back without issue.

Buying experience: Got rid of my BMW for it.

Year: 2010

Awesome. I have six motorcycles and this fits in perfect. Beautiful fantastic awesome what a great daily ride

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £250

Fantastic power and smooth drive train, Low speed fueling is terrible but easy work rounds, ecu flash. Throw away the original rear shock for a quality aftermarket item transforms the handling. Its a fantastic V4 mile muncher

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £120

The engine is a dream,Power everywhere! This is one beautiful, solid machine that handles well. The bike is built tall and all the accessories are expensive but well made. Should come with a center stand. If you want a unique bike that's athletic with a supermodel body and performance then get this bike. Love the ABS/Link brakes!

Buying experience: Brought from a dealer out of State with 8,000 miles with bags, heated grips, lowering link already installed. 6,900 I believe.

Version: VFR1200F

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £64

The seat to me was way to slick and hard. The foot pegs are little high for me but lowered them which helped. I always wanted to buy a VFR1200F but the price was way too high. I got mine very cheap with less than 8k miles on it. The bike is very impressive with the power it has. The MPG varier from 39-48 it depends on how i ride it. The fuel range is about on par with bikes i had like the ZX14 and ZZR1200. The V4 engine and shaft drive makes this a sleeper to people tha don't know anything about these bikes. Its a jewel that i will keep for years.

Buying experience: I bought this used and I feel I got a great deal on it and I would never buy the new model because I feel its way over priced.

Year: 2011

I find myself feeling rather protective of these bikes. They are fine machines but with a number of niggles that mean they don't suit everyone. Some of the press coverage has been harsh, perhaps understandable given how expensive they were new, but second hand the quirks are much more forgivable. I've owned mine for two-and-a-half years and 25,000 miles and have grown very fond of it, indeed it's the first bike I've had that's earned a name - Mabel - so I feel well qualified to comment. So, worst first: The worst thing about this bike is the seat, which is thin, hard and remarkably uncomfortable. Perhaps my 100kg and 6’2” frame doesn't help but, really, 10 mins before getting a numb bottom is not acceptable. Fortunately £300 at Custom Motorcycle Seats magically transforms it into a relaxing, all day comfortable sofa, that makes you sigh as you settle yourself onto it. Looks better too. The 18.5 litre fuel tank is irritating. My previous bike was a VFR800 which had similar fuel consumption and a 21 litre tank. It makes a difference with my 100 miles a day commute, the old bike needed filling up every other day but the new one is more like every day and a half. Actually I did get 200 miles out of it once, with some very dull riding and the help of a long stretch of roadworks with 50mph average speed cameras. I'm not doing that again. More reasonable commuting/touring riding gets 10 miles per litre, so 185 miles a tank. Also irritating is the decision to swap the horn and indicator switches round. You get used to it (until you get on another bike) but someone needs a bit of a slap for that one. It's heavy, so can be a struggle to push round and you don’t want to be dropping it. That weight falls away when riding, for a hefty girl Mabel is respectably nimble with a slim waist and made the (similarly heavy) Triumph Sprint GT I tested at the same time feel a bit of a barge. Equipment levels are poor. Features absent from my bike include cruise control, traction control, computer, selectable riding modes, flashy colour dash, heated grips, centre stand, quickshifter, LED head and tail lights, adjustable screen. I feel slightly short changed, but if I was that fussed I could retrofit some of this stuff or upgrade to a later model. Not having it means less to go wrong as the bike ages and there's an argument that things like riding modes are not required on a properly engineered bike. You do get ABS, shaft drive and the feeling that the development budget was spent on getting the mechanicals right rather than the electronic fripperies. It seems odd that Honda went to the expense of the shaft drive - which clearly says 'touring’ - and then didn't fit other touring accessories like cruise control, as if the development team wasn't properly coordinated. I reckon that if Honda had given it chain drive - making it lighter - and spent the saving on more equipment (and a bigger fuel tank) then the bike would have been much better received. I appreciate the maintenance savings of the shaft drive but I'm not entirely sure it's worth the extra weight and there was a recall on it. Dobles told me it was all fixed but a subsequent magazine article suggested a permanent solution was still in the pipeline so I'm keeping an eye on it. It's worked faultlessly so far. Mine did come with Honda 29 litre panniers which are solid and waterproof if a bit oddly shaped to get round the exhaust and swingarm. One of them fits a helmet with a bit of persuasion. Honda top boxes are small so I fitted a 56 litre Givi one which comfortably takes 2 helmets. I also got a hugger to protect the rear shock and remote preload adjuster, which may be helping prevent it seizing, a common problem. I've added a Rider420 satnav which, as well as being invaluable when touring and showing traffic news, made me realise that the speedo overreads by nearly 10%. The riding position gets some criticism but it suits me well. You do reach forward to the bars but I find that stretches out my back nicely and cancels out a day slumped in front of a computer screen. Bikes with more upright riding positions tend to make me slouch. On the open road there's little weight on my wrists, though long periods at low speeds through traffic do get uncomfortable. The pegs are fairly high, I stop every 1.5-2 hours to stretch my legs. My other half sometimes rides pillion and is very happy back there. The standard screen works so well I've not bothered with the touring version. Servicing costs can be high. My last one included a new brake disc (£235), spark plugs (£90, only needed at 32k), both tyres (Bridgestones £265) plus quite a bit of labour as that bodywork doesn't come off too easily and the bike is generally cramped to work on. If you dropped it repair costs to all the (intricate and beautifully finished) plastic would be significant. The service schedule includes many expensive valve clearance checks which my (non Honda) garage assures me are mostly unnecessary. So far so good on that. On the plus side, service intervals are 8000 miles, tyres last just about that long, there's no chain/sprockets, fuel economy is fine and insurance surprisingly cheap - mine was £170 this year. Ride quality is decent, the only adjustment I make to the suspension is to up the rear preload when I've got a pillion. If I've got it set too high the bike can weave under low speed braking, backing off a couple of clicks stops this. The suspension can struggle a bit at speed down bumpy country lanes. There's a lot of weight to control, you just have to back off a little and accept it's not that sort of bike. Brakes and gear change are confidence inspiring in an unobtrusive way, controlling a rapid and heavy motorcycle without fuss. I've never had cause to trouble the ABS. Build quality is even more Honda than usual. Unfortunately you get used to it after a while but, getting back on Mabel after riding something else, she feels sumptuously well engineered. Reliability has been good, just the consumables you might expect plus a brake disc. So, to the best bit. Performance is very strong. In fact, in the real world, these bikes are as fast as anything out there. The engine is an understated masterpiece, smooth, makes a great noise and has a decent top end but it's the wall of torque lower down the rev range that make it so potent. You can be in the wrong gear, not paying proper attention and badly positioned on the road but, come a gap in the traffic, just twist the throttle and none of that matters. Helping this is a very stable chassis, there's no twitchy cornering, wheelying or wheelspin and the bodywork manages the airflow superbly to make high speeds effortless. Two examples: A few weeks ago I was filtering through traffic on a roundabout on my way home from work when a sports bike with a loud, meaty exhaust started following me. He was getting very close, blipping the throttle, clearly not happy to have an aging sports tourer with a top box in his way. As we cleared the roundabout there was a bit of a gap in the oncoming traffic and we leapt forward, the sports bike a fraction of a second back. It wasn't a large gap but as we tucked back in I checked the mirrors and Mabel had put 50 yards on him. Another gap, another 50 yards. We carried on like this down the road, I smirked as he got smaller in the mirrors, gave Mabel a pat and told her what a good girl she was. Another time, riding to work I was following a Hayabusa down some busy A roads. He was riding quickly and well, using the power of the Suzuki to blat past lines of cars, ducking back in for corners and oncoming traffic. We - that is Mabel and I - followed and found to my surprise that we didn't have to try too hard to keep up, rarely changing down or even using full throttle. Now, Mabel is not going to get near a sports bike round a circuit where you're always in your power band and lightness and agility really count. Similarly, given enough space to use it's power and aerodynamics a Hayabusa is going to thunder away, but those circumstances don't really occur on the road. Here Mabel’s accessible torque, confidence inspiring stability and comfy, practical riding position make her as fast as any of them. So, as you might have gathered, this bike suits me very well. It's not perfect but the plus points easily outweigh the negatives which is really what matters. Mabel's a keeper and, hopefully, with that Honda build quality will last me another 10 years. Just as well as, with the demise of the sports/tourer class, I'm not sure what else I'd get. Maybe in 10 years I'll be OK with something more upright, say one of those trendy adventure/sports things?

Version: GT

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £250

Superb all round bike, best bike you will buy second hand.

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £600

I would recommend this bike to anyone that is a sensible rider that enjoys riding in all weather. You can be seen on this bike and heard. Wet weather driving is a joy as the weight and stability it gives in the wet can't be over looked. Side winds over bridges are no longer a worry as the bike sticks to the road and give you lots of confidence.

Buying experience: Bought from dealer, this was a good buy and already looking for the new 1200 VFR to upgrade to.

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £150

The best thing about this bike is undoubtedly the engine. It's fast, comfortable, refined and has an air of quality - a true Gentlemens' Express. Shaft drive gets rid of chain maintenance worries. Yes, the fuel range could be better and it is too expensive new, but they last well and a used model can be very good value. I bought my bike second hand and it came with a Scorpion end can as well as the original. Interestingly I found that I can get another 30 miles from a tankful with the can fitted. Would I recommend one? I would definitely recommend trying one out if you are in the market for a fast sports tourer - you may be pleasantly surprised. I haven't ridden one, but a post 2012 model with TC is probably the best bet. Bikes I have tried in the search for a replacement (with a more upright riding position) have so far included both a BMW R1200RS (competent) and an S1000XR (manically competent). In my view, even the latter struggles to match the VFR for accessible mid range punch though.

Buying experience: I bought this bike almost on a whim. I liked the look of it, was blown away by the test ride, and thought what the hell - I can always change it after a few months if I don't get on with it. Still enjoying it 3-1/2 years later. Purchased from a dealer in September 2012 for £7250, part-exing my 2007 Fazer FZ1S. Simples - if you have the cash.

Version: Standard transmission

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £200

The styling is polarising - I get that. But upon seeing it in person, it was love at first sight. It's a big, heavy bike that is difficult to move around in a garage, but once you are above 5 mph it feels like an 800 cc machine. The engine is an absolute gem - with more power than I know what to do with. I miss the howl of my old VFR, but the right after-market exhaust should take care of that. The gas tank should be a couple litres bigger, but that's not a huge consideration for me.

Buying experience: I bought this bike brand spanking new at an extremely reduced price. It seems the market never understood this bike and it never took off in my part of the world. It blows my mind... I guess the plus side is that I have something unique.

Year: 2010

Have owned my VFR1200 for a year and done 12,0000miles, including a trip around the Alps. Awesome engine, fast, stable, handles well for a heavy bike, classy integrated luggage, good brakes, takes a pillion with little change in performance - overall a great bike. Little is said about the fairing's ability to duct heat away but in the summer this is a revelation - my mate's ZZR14 is like sitting on an Aga oven by comparison! Downsides - can't get away from the excessive weight and poor tank range, also the wind blast is surprisingly bad. Shaft drive is convenient but I find it snatches and I'm not sure it is worth the weight it undoubtedly adds. Not an easy bike to work on - just try getting the fairing off. And lastly nice legs, shame about the face - looks great from the rear but the front is never going to set the pulse racing. I owned a VFR750 (97) for many years and miles - a fantastic bike let down by dreadful brakes (Blade, Firestorm and CBR600 all had better brakes at the time).

Version: 2010 FA

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £180

owned it for 3.5 years, put 20,000 miles on it, a great mile muncher good bike, 400+ miles per day comfy for 3 days in a row, good on the road with solo and pillion, loads of torque from engine, never failed to start, nothing broke off, finish on paintwork is great honda luggage easy to use but a bit small centre stand essential for cleaning and maintenance standard screen worked better for me than aftermarket screens tank range is not as bad as it is made out to be, i'd normally get 120 to 150 miles to reserve light, a full gallon in reserve = 45 miles to empty, was never an issue for me. its a heavy bike, esp when pushing it around a yard, weight is gone when moving

Buying experience: bought from a dealer, www.ccsunlimited.com excellent, will buy off them again

Sorry to all you who like this bike, but this is my honest opinion after a 4 hour test ride on a 2010 model with 5800 miles clocked. I wanted to like this bike having had a pre-vetec 800, but it didn't make me want one. I found the fly by wire throttle very snatchy when in town; almost switchlike when opened from a closed position after using engine braking. When the momentum of the bike was added on the open road, this snatching disappeared and the bike came into its own; very enjoyable. It felt smooth, torquey and planted, carrying its weight well on A roads. The brakes were strong and progressive and the suspension coped with my 12stone admirably. The instruments were adequate but fell short of what you would expect on a flagship model of this money. The build quality of the bike was very Honda and hard to fault with paint that looked amazing (wouldn't want the bill if it got damaged though) It's the detail for the money that lets it down. The luggage should be at least able to take 2 helmets, but the top box was the only place to take one. The locks and handles on the luggage do feel top drawer though. The tank range is unacceptable for a tourer, sports or not, and would mean careful consideration given to petrol station locations when touring. For a 12K bike, I think charging a centre stand as an extra is taking the p--s a bit. I didn't get the vibration from the tank others have mentioned and found the bike very comfortable for my 5'8" frame. I could also get both feet down, which felt safe and secure when stopped. I would also be interested to know what the servicing costs would be on such a high tec motor. Hopefully Honda will listen to feeback and address some of these issues. If they do, this bike could be brilliant. The fact that the 18 month old model I tested is looking for its 3rd owner tells you something I think.

I have owned lots of bikes over 20yrs of riding. I wanted a powerful bike with a quality feel & ideally shaft drive - this bike is the AMG Mercedes of the bike world. Super high quality fit & finish. A nice modern design and very high performance should you need it. I tried all the BMW's thinking I wanted one (incl k1300) but this bike made a big impression on me when I took it for a test ride. I used to own a VFR VTEC which I didn't like because of its weedy mid range. The VFR1200 is the opposite - it has absolutely loads of low and mid range grunt which translates into very rapid (and smooth) progress. It may not have a crazy top end rush but I don't ride like that anyway so I wont miss it. Take my advice and test ride this fantastic, top quality bike! You can read all the reports and tests in the world but there's no substitute for a test ride.

I have owned my vfr 1200 for 6 months its comfy easy to ride very well made quality parts no gimmicks have put 3200 miles on it will never sell it I owned a P reg VFR 750 wished I still had it but my new VFR is better have owned a gtr 1400 2010 model vfr runs circles round it no contest ave miles per tank is 150 miles with 3.5liters to spare when low fuel light comes on I have no problem with indicator postion or horn button not caused me any problems this is the best bike I have ever owned I would strongly recommend it to all your readers well done Mr Honda !

I have seen on many youtube reviews and all comment on how nimble this is for a 270kg bike. I agree 100%.I had a Sprint GT before my VFR and I can tell you this bike is much more fun and rideable.

Had quick test ride on one.Having owned a 97 vfr750 and a pre v-tec vfr800 in the past I was just curious about the engine. The bike only felt heavy parking up.It was more of a sporty riding position than expected.Dealer said a customer had bar risers fitted.Once you get going though the engines great,Smooth fast with lots of torque.I didnt notice the brakes, clutch or gear changes because they all worked well without complaint.Unlike the indicator switch under the horn.Poor mpg/range?.For the engine its worth it.The dream bike would be 750 with 800 clocks and 1200 engine,but in reality a used one in silver with mra screen,top box,centre stand,bar risers,and a slip on exhaust short enough to show that great looking rear wheel.

I ride an '03 vfr800, a bike widely reviled for its VTEC. But the bike is hugely tractable, built and engineered to the highest standards (FAR beyond a contemporary BMW) and rides like a Rolls-Royce on the interstate. Open up the motor and you have a MOTOGP engine. This new VFR120 has one huge flaw: poor MPG/no range. Honda could have upped the range and MPG with VTEC valve shutoff but no one wanted it. If you want 1200CC and 170HP and limitless torque, the bike will have no range. The VTEC critics undermined this engineering marvel.

I ride an '03 vfr800, a bike widely reviled for its VTEC. But the bike is hugely tractable, built and engineered to the highest standards (FAR beyond a contemporary BMW) and rides like a Rolls-Royce on the interstate. Open up the motor and you have a MOTOGP engine. This new VFR120 has one huge flaw: poor MPG/no range. Honda could have upped the range and MPG with VTEC valve shutoff but no one wanted it. If you want 1200CC and 170HP and limitless torque, the bike will have no range. The VTEC critics undermined this engineering marvel.

Just come back from a 4 hour test ride(was given to me whilst my 09 Blade was in for a service. Positive's - Very surprised, engine was awsome with masses of torque from 4500 onwards, oh and the sound of that exhaust once it 5000rpm no chance of not hearing it coming. Weight?? supposed to be 20/30 kg's more than the previous VFR which i had an 08 version of, this bike felt much lighter, handled fantastic, obviously not a frieblade but hey it was still well handling, could even do a track day really!!!. Very comfortable for the rider, nice positoning. Looks, well i'm pros on eof the few who liked it when it was first launched. Negatives - Tank range, i had a pillion for the first 3 hours, stopped once after 60 miles, pillion not best impressed, said older VFR was much more comfortable...Wind blast from screen, i may be 6'2" but didn't expect it to be that bad, touring screen a definate purchase. Tank range, i only did 120 miles but when i went to fill up i had used 15.5 litres....mot goood for touring at all. Price, looking at the oposition you would think tey have the price spot on, but if you take into account purchasing panniers, top box, heated grips, centre stand etc this takes it up to £13500 with not anywhere near the standard equipment the new Multistrad Touring is offering, 'and' ny newer VFR's bought after current stock has gone you can expect to pay another £500 or so i've been told...long winded but honest opinion, would i buy one....definateyl yes, if they sorted the price and tank range....

dont listen to crap reviews ride it and see for yourself very very good bike. remember when you go ride it most people wanted it to be a beast why? this is a move forward in design and technology and a new way to ride go ride it with an open mind. It will suprise you from here things can noly get better

WHAT A BIKE, DON T LISTEN TO THE MEDIA, Its crazy fast and stable, It sounds like a spitfire on acid above 6000rpm. This hits so many buttons, Busa Boyz can keep up with on our roads, ZZR Lads also. IT ROCKS! Ride one and I guarantee you will think what the f%$k are they on about! I have bought one and I have owned ZX10R 06 SP2 05, Ducati 749R AND BELIEVE ME IT BEATS EM ALL HANDS DOWN. Riding for 15 years. I ain t paid to say this by Honda either. You will see VFR's everywhere once people jump on them for themselves! Hayabusa nearly bought prior to riding VFR in comparison Busa is so one track minded.

Well I got to spend an hour on the new VFR today. After literally jumping off my 5th gen VFR and onto the new one I felt surprisingly at home with the seating position, feeling a tad more upright with the pegs just slightly further back. But importantly over the hour I spent in the saddle no issues at all. Pulling out of the Honda dealership, grinning from ear to ear I didn't feel overly excited about the noise this thing makes, having been used to the growl and racy V4 whine of my 5th gen. Especially when pulling hard from 4k or so it doesn't pulsate and snarl at you as much. However, once you get her past that magic 5500rpm the bike changes character; very much like the VTEC coming on song (but without the jolt) and she just roars and howls just like a V4 engine should sounding 'beefier' than the 800. Of course the bike feels more powerful and torquey, which is most evident when cruising in 4 or 5th (even 6th) when she just pulls, very cleanly and with authority - very useful for pillion work. BUT I've got to say it didn't feel as strong as I thought it would. No Blackbird power rush here, it's all in the mid-range. Talking of pillion duties after my 1st 20 minutes I went to pick up my girlfriend so I could test how the bike felt. Sarah said the seat felt smaller and not quite as soft (same for me) but the grab handles were excellent and overall seating position felt the same - in fact she actually said, aside from the power difference, it felt very similar to the 800. When jumping from bike to bike I initially could feel the extra weight, particularly at the front oddly but this really doesn't translate to sloppy agility on the road. I picked some of my favourite twisty sections and with pillion, I could really flick the bike from side to side with relative ease - but for sporty sport touring duties I'd say the VFR800 will win hands down on a tight twisting road. Brakes are confident, strong and predictable. Wind protection for me, didn't feel as good (particularly my legs started to feel the cold). The bike is STABLE - and at silly speeds no issues at all, it's now too easy to go well over 100+ without realising it, and Sarah couldn't believe how quickly this thing can gain speed. Suspension felt incredibly stiff - to the point where it felt uncomfortable on certain roads my back started complaining slightly (probably for me one of the bikes negatives but with a quick tune up I’m sure it’s easily fixed) When riding home on my bike it's amazing how similar the engine characteristics are between my 5th gen and this new 1200. Very smooth, linear with hardly any vibration. But for me, at least - I shall certainly be in the market for one in a year or so - which brings me to my only main negative, it’s overpriced

After a good hour on the bike this afternoon (launch day), I feel some of the reviews are a bit harsh, particularly the gearshifts which are the best I've experienced. It is incredibly well balanced and the engine is outstanding - plenty of torque and endless performance if you want to push it. The engineering is superb, and it certainly attracts attention (took 10 minutes to get out of the petrol station with all the gawping onlookers!). Main criticisms are lack of toys (BMW trip computer has significantly more information and functionality) and excessive pricing (including options - low seat is FOC with BMW). The biggest failing is the lack of pannier space - neither holds a helmet, which is a big failing for such a high priced option. I'll have to try the K1300S to see how it compares.