New Honda 1200 V4 CrossTourer!!!

Discussion in 'Japanese polycylindered adventure bikes' started by Two Plugs, Nov 2, 2010.

  1. eakins

    eakins Butler Maps

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    they are indeed selling for the time because people are not flush at the moment.
    i asked my local honda dealer about the crf250L, 700x and the 500s. they said the 1st 2 fly out the door the 2nd they get one and they have deposits on the 1st bunch of 500s that arrive. 5-8K is sweet price point these days to get things sold.

    honda sells a boatload of 125s outside the US plus is quickly capturing the mid-market in the US. no other mfg has moved so fast into this segment. i think honda does a ton of r&d and has plenty of bikes developed already depending on the buying mood. these mid-size bikes don't popped out of the oven, honda has been working on them for years.

    my guess is the vfr1200T(ST) was done years ago but the timing was not right to sell enough. they'll be expensive and honda will wait till people are flush again to buy them.
  2. RocketJohn

    RocketJohn Hook 'em Horns! Supporter

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    I hear ya... but there are so many ST people, they could sell quite a few... and if it's really badass, it would steal RT owners away as well...
  3. GB

    GB . Administrator Super Moderator

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    Meanwhile the ST1300 carries on unchanged for 10+ years, while the GTR/Concours14 are on their second generation and the FJR is on Gen III, with updated electronics: cruise control, traction control, throttle by wire, 2 fuel maps, full function on board computer, etc...

    So what does Honda do? Take a niche bike like the VFR800 and make it more "nichy" and price it higher than a base K1300S. :baldy Honda desperately needs an updated sport touring bike..
  4. xrcris

    xrcris Been here awhile

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    Honda desperately needs to get it's head out of it's ass.....from leading the charge to eliminate two strokes, getting rid of the highly successful line of XR's (except for the "L" which has been unchanged for TWENTY years, a new 230 dual sport LRP (little red pig) that weighs 15#'s MORE than my 650! With the new focus on budget bikes, Honda forget the axiom to "dance with the one that brung ya" by doing absolutely nothing performance oriented....
  5. idahoskiguy

    idahoskiguy Long timer

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    Have noticed the local law enforcement riding the new VFR1200.
  6. J-P

    J-P headbanging adventurer

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    I`ve been riding the VFR1200X DCT since early september. Having ridden ST1100/1300, switching to R1100-R1200GSA and back to R1150GS i can only say that the crosstourer kicks the butt of all GSses I have owned, on the tarmac. On paper it`s heavier than it`s competition but once you let the wheels spin the weight seems to disappear. Even walking the bike into the garage seems easier. I`ve done 16K kms (10K mls) with it now and it was effortless, a breeze. Smooth engine, the DCT is quite amazing too. It`s not your average automatic gearbox, it works like any other normal gearbox, only no clutch handle and no gearshifter at the LHS. The 2 switches to go up and down the gears work like a charm when riding on manual, which I rarely find myself doing. I mostly ride in S(port) setting and use the "-"switch to downshift when approaching corners or roundabouts. You can ride without using your brakes, simply downshifting makes the engine braking sufficiently.

    Now, it`s less of a dual sports bike than the GS, going of the tarmac it`s just less suitable, but very few people take their heavy dual sports off the road anyway.. The USD front suspension is hardly protected and one serious off road ride proved painful to my front fork seals. This was solved under warranty by the dealer (who also replaced braking pads because they ware greased) and after that we placed some neoprene inner leg protectors. Other than that, you can do pretty much anything you want with it. Going off road, the boxer character is more suitable, the VFR engine is just too powerful and nervous for those conditions. But on the tarmac, it kicks ass!

    Here`s mine:

    [​IMG]

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  7. Salvo

    Salvo Adventurer

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    Originally Posted by twinrider
    I was astounded that Honda USA opted to import the CB1100 but passed on the Crosstourer.

    Boggles the mind, what is Honda thinking??? In a growing market they FAIL to bring this bike to the US.... WTF?????
  8. fredz43

    fredz43 Long timer

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    Honda USA is going to announce 3 new models on Feb 8, including 1 in the "touring" category. Perhaps a long shot, but maybe???????
  9. cb4017

    cb4017 Adventurer

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    Hmm, I've been wanting a Versys 1000 but this would be an option if Honda imports it to the US.
  10. ishmac

    ishmac Long timer

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    A quote from someone above on this thread;

    "Honda desperately needs to get it's head out of it's ass...."


    I agree, but Suzuki are also a LONG way behind, all they have in the UK is the Suzuki Bandit 1250cc as their ONLY (large) touring bike, the V-Strom DL1000 has been dropped from the UK Suzuki range for over 3 and a half years now. So no great choice, pathetic really..!!!!!

    Kawasaki/Yamaha/BMW/KTM are well ahead of the game etc....
  11. Podman

    Podman Rocketman Supporter

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    So what's the secret here. Where is this info coming from? Everyone I have talked to saids "clueless" they have not heard a thing. Why Feb 8th? Why nothing leaked yet? You would think at this point someone would have picked up on this on. Is there any concrete evidence of this happening.
  12. Podman

    Podman Rocketman Supporter

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  13. fredz43

    fredz43 Long timer

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    Trust me. Those bikes will also be on display at the Chicago Motorcycle Show that day. Definitely 2 new to the USA models, more likely 3. Also the "touring" model may be nothing that we adv types are interested in, but it is a possibility. We shall see. There will be no official announcement until that day, so you won't see anything on their website.
  14. Podman

    Podman Rocketman Supporter

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    Ok you got my attention. Now I just wait:freaky
  15. TripleDaddy

    TripleDaddy Hoping my skills exceed my horsepower

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    Wow, what a good looking bike in RED!

    [​IMG]
  16. Lu

    Lu Adventurer

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    This was also hinted in the Feb 2013 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News

    Although, I think the "touring" might be the updated ST1300. I think Honda classifies the CrossTourer as "Adventure". We'll see next week.
  17. cb4017

    cb4017 Adventurer

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    Just Honda or will any other manufacturers be making a new model announcement?
  18. fredz43

    fredz43 Long timer

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    I have no idea what other manufacturers will be doing or when they will be doing it, sorry. :D
  19. Podman

    Podman Rocketman Supporter

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    2 more days!!:wink::freaky
  20. fredz43

    fredz43 Long timer

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    The dealers will be able to view the video after 2 am CST on Friday. That's way too early for me! Sometimes they post it on the consumer website (http://m.powersports.honda.com/model/street) the same time that it is released to dealers. We shall see.

    We're getting excited and the "touring" model will probably be a big V twin bagger. :D