VFR1200F long-termer update

Last week, we announced that Honda’s VFR1200F had joined the Bikesales Network stable for a few months, and we’ve already received plenty of feedback through our comments pages about the ‘acquisition’.

More than any other bike I can remember in recent memory, the $24,990 VFR1200F has certainly polarised Bikesales Network readers, with a large number lauding its red-hot sporting credentials – the extremely capable handling, slipper clutch, superb brakes, slim feel, and rorty V-four engine. The type of exacting standards, precision and rich vein of form you’d expect from a sports machine.

They are the positive points. On the flipside, others have preferred to throw some gentle jabs, declaring the bike is caught in the twilight zone between ‘sport’ and ‘touring’ – not quite one or the other. And the 18.5lt fuel tank is always a hot topic, and is simply not voluminous enough for some.

Let’s put the fuel situation into an anecdotal context. Since the VFR joined our stable, the VFR has chewed up an average of 6.73 litres of premium unleaded for every 100km, based on equal parts commuting and open road.

That’s good for a total distance of about 265km, but a realistic distance of around 220-230km between fuel stops.

We’ll let you make your own judgement on that one, but for me – and my colleagues – it hasn’t been a pressing issue, and one that certainly wouldn’t be a major consideration come purchase time.

And I was seriously considering riding the VFR to Western Australia to attend this year’s Australasian Safari, which probably reflected my fuel indifference. But alas that won’t happen, based purely on logistics and timing, which is a shame.

Thus far the big Honda has acquitted itself admirably, dispatching the daily commute with ease. Despite its perceived size it’s an easy bike to trundle around on and not once have I felt that I needed a smaller bike to make the trip to and from work.

The VFR has been an impressive performer since it joined us, and the only blip on the radar was a bad batch of fuel which threw a few uninvited flat spots into the V-four party.

I have been particularly impressed with the VFR’s commuting smarts, even though it’s not the bike’s primary intended purpose.

But that has meant little to me through the regular Melbourne traffic snarls. The bike is quite athletic, the mirrors aren’t too wide and vision is superb, and the steering’s light (even with a full payload of fuel).

And although the engine really kicks into life 5000rpm and above, there’s still a solid stream of power at the bottom end, and many times I’ve just stuck the VFR in third gear and left it to its own devices, complete with the bike’s raspy V-four harmonics.

In those slow speed situations, sometimes there’s a little driveline lash, which calls for a smooth throttle hand.

Hand protection is okay, although heated grips would have been really sweet... But it’s now spring, so we won’t have to worry about that for a while.

So what’s the last week brought us? New Metzeler tyres, Your Honour. The standard hoops on the VFR are Dunlop Roadmax, and they were feeling a little worse for wear after a few taxing excursions.

They were certainly not approaching a dilapidated state, but we felt it was a good time to update the hoops with some twisty roads beckoning over coming weeks.

With thanks to Melbourne bike dealership MotoHeaven, two Metzeler M5 Interact front tyres were fitted to the VFR. The operation was relatively painless, although we did have to remove the chrome skin on the muffler to extract the rear wheel, connected to the massive single-sided swingarm.

And then the next challenge was balancing the rear wheel which, in the case of a single-sided swingarm, requires a special wheel adaptor.

But the team at MotoHeaven was all over it, and before too long I was on my way, complete with a yellow “you have new tyres” caution sticker adorning the dashboard. Smart move, as plenty of people – even wise owls of motorcycling – have been caught out with fresh rubber over the years.

The Sportec M5 Interact sits alone in Metzeler’s Hypersport segment, and is billed as the company’s “perfect all-round supersport tyre”.

That claim will be put under the microscope, and we’ll also be intrigued to see how the new lean indicator works, which offers riders visual confirmation of the maximum level of the tyre’s usage.

The five lean indicator markings are placed on the shoulder of the rear tyre where the profile meets the road surface at angles of approximately 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 degrees.

Alas, the only real thing with a lean component I’ve had over the last week is grilled chicken, but I’m sure the Sportec M5s will be willing and able when we flick the sporting switch.

They are priced at $215 (front) and $319 (rear) respectively.

And spring is in the air, so it’s all systems go.