Honda Crosstourer DCT review
Honda VFR1200X Cross Tourer review by Trevor Hedge.
Honda has officially joined the party in the tour seriously adventure with the arrival of the long awaited VFR1200X Cross Tourer.
A wet 275 kg, the latest model of Honda aimed squarely long distance runner tourism remains mostly on asphalt, but given the opportunity to make a detour off the beaten path, but not too much.
It boasts 180mm of ground clearance, sturdy wheels and radiated handguards, but like all such machines, much work is required for it to be turned into a serious off Mount road.
Honda offers modest option crashbars lined hood ornaments to satisfy the lawyers because they are not tested CRASH to different standards required in the world, equipping our test bike; but for serious protection buyers will turn to the spare parts manufacturers for robust bash plate full length to protect the undercarriage, casings and shock links, same for the radiator, I also would replace the mirrors with small objects independently mounted for serious adventures as standard elements affix the hydraulic brake and clutch reservoirs, which is ideal if advanced any other machine on the market also requires a similar change to be fully prepared for serious off-road adventure in order not to see this as a great burn on VFR1200X as such, it is par for the course of rational adventure and radiated with wheels and a motor that is almost impossible to stall the VFR1200X starts from a pretty good base.
Taken from the sports touring machine VFR1200F v-four compact engine was tuned for lower and a couple of mid-range at the expense of the donor machine deaf premium power noise While many people reading this line recede their eyes in their huge power outputs head and pretty paintings dyno are impressive on paper, on the Honda road have this engine quite spot-on to its destination, it is also more powerful than the majority of competitors and sweeter than all low revs.
From the back of the strong response is as clear, easy to control and is virtually impossible to stall This is a huge advantage in motorcycle style like virtually all low-speed collisions off-road is the result of stalling, generally being too shy, and a stall invariably ends with the rider and the bike on the ground after the folds forward and the driver can t keep the bike key technical course, when in doubt, throttle, but which is often easier said than done as we all lose our confidence, from time to time, and a machine that will not stall in such situations can often save your bacon inch upward.
On the road the engine ticks just over 3000rpm at 100 km h and is silky smooth hard road passing envy is only a snap away from Slow wrist to the suburbs, I found myself negotiating comprehensive whole cities with roundabouts points and areas 50 km h without gear downshift and a single acceleration back to the rhythm of the road on the other side.
Of course, the upper end has been severely reduced over the VFR1200F, but I have never failed in our recent 2000 km VFR1200X stay with all eagerness of a set of lights loft the front wheel with ease, such is the lower end Stomp, and explore the mid-range you from corner to corner Scythe is an enjoyable experience as you ride the significant increase in torque changes VFR1200F include longer intake tract and different profiles focus cam for torque and response at low engine speeds as well as the big top -end power VFR1200F is a foregone conclusion, I think it is a price to pay I prefer that the entire VFR1200X donk.
The only problem against the engine is the surprising lack of sound When driving a 1237cc V-grunty four years, I would remind therefore an assault of full-bodied sound concerto on my auditory nerve The funny responsible ADR Police undoubtedly Fortunately grip VFR1200X us for a while yet and hopefully release some of this soulful notes v-four with a visit to Mr. Akrapovic is in defense of VFR1200X a trace of a gruff intake noise when rolling on the throttle but I want more barking against four at the other end.
In the town the box wider speed ratios between 3, 4, 5 and 6 that can be VFR1200F flawless The clutch take a little farm on the first to second shift, but is otherwise smooth Shuffling to up and down speeds above does take a little getting used to the road as there is fair amount of travel, on the flip side of this is welcome in dangerous off-road conditions the tree control system is generally very smooth, but sometimes picked up when a closed throttle position some eyelash driveline is obvious This is the only small burn performance at low speed by faultless elsewhere powertrain and once understood can be widely mounted around.
One of the main concerns for any rider interested in this type of bike is comfort here VFR1200X certainly excels many times I traveled 300 km between stops, including a passage 364 km, only stopping for fuel before taking the road back, I managed even dating back 1,000 mile 1600 km in one day turn Ironbutt style without leaving the other side much worse for wear after the Sunshine Coast Hinterland launch tower in Kenilworth, I leave journo crowd assembled to put on my own in Melbourne Less than 30 hours later, including a stop at Taree, I enjoyed a beer in Melbourne.
Our test bike was equipped with optional 196 screen shot 90 Not in front, side or rear buffeting was obvious to every perfect moment I also spot the seat, the best in this category, it feels a little too soft at first, but the padding holds over the long term and it doesn t grow teeth.
Also installed on our machine were the optional fog lights 328 90, 328 90 heated handles, saddlebags and 1485 top-box 792 platform in photos baskets have pretty basic air but they prove well-designed, sealed in water and light the jewel in its crown however is the integrated mounting system that eliminates the need for unsightly racks and related equipment I love this comprehensive approach to designing another huge benefit that shouldn t be underestimated is the proximity of the center line of the machine, the baskets are kept in this regard, they are much better than all the solutions Pannier disk after sales I tested, including the SW Motech arrangements and incredibly popular Hepco Becker Honda suitcases .sit tight on the machine they work well off-road, I do not plan to fail the test, but will say that in the flesh, they are much more impressed nts that the photos might suggest, of course, for serious off-road, you can t go past stays soft and worthy tight fit luggage crash, b ut as far as the hard luggage is the Honda equipment is excellent.
The heated grips certainly came in handy and I enjoyed the widest circulation of the light emitted by traffic fog lights oncoming was not so grateful, however, as if their goal seemed perfect for me, it must have caused other drivers problems as I was flashed dozens of times drivers assuming that I had high beams on.
A control on a premium adventure touring machine like the VFR1200X is the lack of a standard 12V socket A 50 104 for the optional output, plus 33 for wiring harnesses scores you but it is under the seat so certainly not as handy as the standard power outlet on the dashboard of most machines comparison Riders looking for GPS options will turn to the secondary market for aids to navigation fly by wire accelerator would apparently make fitting the cruise control a simple process, but Honda has chosen not to implement this feature on the VFR1200X.
The side of the suspension of the Honda equation has equipped the VFR1200X with inverted forks and a single shock preload is adjustable by means of the hand wheel on the back while a key is required to adjust the the fork rebound damping adjustment screw is easily accessible on the bottom of the shock, but is easily placed on the forks.
I do not have with the forks at all during our first hour together I believe the culprit was resistance excessive stiction preventing forks moving freely in their race like forks pattered on the road imperfections things later 100 km has significantly improved the suspension began in bed and work well enough to make me really enjoy the race lack of small very fine bump response is still evident but later 2000 km I will try to dial the line for our extended time together.
The steering is sublime You expect nothing less from Honda, still the benchmark in this field changes direction also see VFR1200X exhibit a surprising level of agility in return for very little effort in bars especially given oriented off 19 road edge.
At the rear, the only shock proves better controlled than the machine sports tourer VFR1200F it just I'm still turn a wheel on VFR1200X without charge gunnels with clothes, shoes, computers, cameras and peripherals that I was carrying after coming straight from a concert to launch the ASBK Perth Queensland Crosstourer responsible way, the bike was a bit heavy when lifting the side stand for the first time, but never the weight of the machine, or luggage to be felt fully responsible for cross-country style adventures VFR1200X is a better horse than his stablemate VFR1200F a machine that I am accustomed to having covered 16000 in 15 days km just after the initial launch of the machine there are two years.
The brakes are extremely powerful and supported by the excellent but not switchable ABS brakes are linked, in which the active rear brake a little brake control freaks before too uninformed throw their hands in the air and reject the benefits of this system on the hand, but actually quite control monster loves These systems have come a long way since the early days and all open runner quickly come to appreciate the benefits of hardware consists of 310mm saved discs before upwardly through a generously sized rear 276mm.
The main complaints are the lack of a stop button of the ABS system by daring off-road, and that, unlike some competitors, the rear brake are not separated from the front when used independently These by design flaws are not going to worry about off road racer who loves to hit the track with a little fresh aggression tour off road will not be a serious problem but I still feel that given the real benefits of the linked brakes ABS on the road, the ability to easily disable the ABS and brake related nature off road Regrettably This is a deliberate Honda company policy, obviously due to fear of litigation, I'm sure Soichiro Honda would be turning in his grave to see the decisions in the wonderful company he created increasingly dictated by lawyers and beancounters rather than motorcyclists and engineers.
Somehow, Honda was able to obtain the ability to turn off the traction control beyond their lawyers Hallelujah, and it can actually be turned on or off on the fly There are not yet intermediate sport or setting off-road for a degree of slip before cutting blade or mono this is a mistake, and Honda could have easily taken care of with some simple software settings in the slide parameter tables so maybe it's the lawyers also responsible for maximum response, or you're on your own nature of the system.
Okay, enough to complain about lawyers, let's get back on track.
The instrumentation is excellent The bar-style tachometer is correct compromise to free additional space for a large LCD screen which is put on time use ambient and engine, fuel gauge and clock, tripmeter and two independent fuel countdown timer that fires when the engine management system calculates less than 70 km range remaining is the trip computer also displays either instant or average fuel consumption in liters per kilometer in a perfect world the different levels of functionality can be selected in the bar but the buttons mounted on the dashboard are at least easy to use with a gloved hand on the fly.
Overall, VFR1200X proves an excellent touring machine exceptional levels of comfort combine with a grunty engine v-four perhaps the best donk in this class of motorcycle and the frame tight enough to provide excellent package for competitive 19990 as well as the price it's great list of roads to see Honda Australia once get seriously offering good value the drive shaft and service intervals of 12,000 km should also reduce minimal costs of ongoing operation.
Standard equipment Pirelli Scorpion Trail tires we know from experience on other machines actually perform better off-road than expected and otherwise tortured too bad on the road can last as long as the service intervals course stays serious off road appeal to the mounting Metzeler tires Karoo or similar, but in return for grip off-road compromise is of course very limited life on a large off-road vehicle as Cross Tourer rear of the open tread may be demolished a thousand kilometers without trying too hard.
With the work option and fog light bar I think the VFR1200X looks damn good Notable package highlights for me are the engine tuned, exceptional comfort and excellent baggage system that really holds the slim and agile machines even full load.
We suspended the VFR1200X for a while and you update more after more adventures together, but my recent stay 2000 km on the machine indicates that it is the ultimate cross-country touring machine The Crosstourer is a mount that I would not hesitate on riding around Australia tomorrow.
Telescopic front suspension fork 43mm, preload and adjustable rebound.
Rear Suspension Pro-Link single shock, adjustable preload hydraulically assisted, rebound.
Positives Excellent Excellent comfort supreme engine integrated baggage option more competitive prices agile than you expect.
Negatives Fork small bump response not flexible enough not switchable ABS, combined brake not ideal off-road A sport setting for the traction control would be be a little big for some.
NB VFR1200X will soon be available in another form semi-automatic double clutch with more features than the first system launched on the VFR1200FD.
Honda VFR1200X Cross Tourer Review, Honda, vfr1200x cross.