The VFR 1200F is a great motorcycle a test ride does not do them justice, ive had mine 5 years it is a great bike, heavy yes but perfectly balanced and so stable at speed and the way such a big bike handles in the corners is amazing i put Metzelers road techs on it and boy do they suit the big VFR, my friends VFR has over 100k on the clock with no internal issues
I really enjoyed my VFR1200,it really suited the high speed touring,handled well ,went very well,quality of finish was great and looked classy. Sadly a Wallaby took me and the bike out at 90 kph otherwise I would have kept it for a long time.170 HP and 129 nm of torque it is no slouch.
I bought a 2010 VFR1200F and had it for 5 years. Brilliant bike, but I wanted something different in my life. Traded it in for a brand new VT1300CR in September of 2019. 2 days ago, I bought another VFR1200F, 2012 this time. It's TOO good of a motorcycle. It handles like my old VF500F Interceptor with a 0-60 time of 2.5 seconds. Sure, it's heavy, but I can not feel that weight. The center of gravity is so low, it leans for days and flicks between potholes. The VFR1200 can't wheelie from the factory because they limited the bike in 1st and 2nd (EU also had 3rd limited). $60 to remove the restriction and it doesn't know what a front wheel is until 3rd gear. A little suspension tuning (which the bike is more than capable of) and it's a track monster. It's a tower of power of a bike that I get 160 miles between fill-ups. I still have the Stateline as a nice cruiser, but the VFR is one of the best motorcycles I have ever ridden.
I had an ST1100 for over 20 years and replaced it by a 2012 VFR. To me, the bike feels nimble compared to the ST1100 ;) and I love it. What a super bike, had the ECU flashed and it's a real beast. What surprised me is that I prefer the seat on the VFR compared with the ST1100. I can actually drive longer on the VFR before mo body tells me to pauze, was definitely not expecting this. This bike is way underestimated except by the owners of this bike, I'm completely hooked to this machine...
The VFR1200F is 170hp. unless your versions got a serious restriction put into them. I adore mine and have a hard time finding a newer bike to replace it with.
@@alanwatkiss7993 Then you would say wheel horsepower not brake hp, which is a dyno measure often reserved for measuring on an engine dyno against a dyno brake, usually a hydro brake.
I bought a 2013 manual VFR1200 and what an experience! Quality all the way, no rattles and the fairing is amazing at 10 years old. Fast as hell, found myself cruising at silly speeds and the bike tracks dead straight. Only sold her to get a mate back onto a bike and he loves her too.....
So yeah, I LOVE MY VFR1200F!!! I've had it since July. I picked it up for $6,200 USD. I just finished a 300 mile trip on this past weekend and it was awesome all around. 50+ miles per gallon, easy in the curves. Sporty enough to hang, toury enough to be enjoyable when you just want to ride for the sake of riding!!! I don't have panniers though, just my tank bag and a small backpack. The panniers just aren't worth an extra $1100 in my opinion. All of the sports tourers I like as much are all much older than my VFR and harder to find. I plan on buying another VFR1200 in 2020, probably a blue one! Two VFRs are better than one!!!
The funny thing is, those of us who own one can't stop raving about how great the bike is, but the two crybabies in this video hate it because it disappointed them at launch, and not because of the bike itself.
And I think it eats away at a lot of "brand fans" that, 10 years later, this is STILL one of the best sports tourers. Have ever heard one legitimate complaint? This bike has WAY MORE pros than cons. That's why I want to have two!!
I got a 2013 VFR this past year and it is great. I've had many bikes and this one is totally under rated by the press when it came out. Have to admit I wasn't impressed when it came out and having owned three prior VFR's but it makes the 750 and 800's pale in comparison.
I’ve had my BMW R1200S for 8 years and have taken it on a number of European trips. I have a Ventura rack system but BMW had an option of expandable panniers. The UK’s Bike magazine called it ‘the best real world sports bike’ back in 2007. I have helibars on mine and can ride all day. I previously owned the R1100S (tweaked for 100rwhp) and it was fabulous but a hip problem made me sell it for the 12 as it’s a lower, lighter, and easier to handle bike. I considered selling the 12 for a VFR12 at one point but seeing as I’d sold my fire blade for risk of losing my license and or Liberty there seemed little point in buying something so powerful and fast again. I’ve run a few bikes alongside the R12 and currently have a Griso 12se that I just took on a 2000 mile trip to Italy via the Alps (one can tour on anything) but I don’t see myself selling the Beemer anytime soon as it’s so bloody good. Maybe when I’m too creaky for it I’ll get a Tracer. The R 12 is starting to go up in value too I notice. Not for everyone, but a great bike.
I own a Tracer and I picked it bc it is lighter to drag around the garage but still does everything well. But I just can not understand the bullsh** VTR hate. It is a great machine.
VFR1200f slow? 10.2 Quarter mile..... 180 top speed ungoverned .... slow? It puts down 140hp+ to the rear wheel (170s bhp). After all these years it's still misrepresented. wow, just wow.....
@ : I've been on many bikes, Zx-14s, Busas etc and it is comparable. I guess if your measuring stick is something absurdly faster than those, then I suppose it would "feel slow".
Shaft drive and hard paniers, that's the definition of a sports-tourer. Having to bring chain-lube on the long trips it's a pain in the arse, you have to lube every day or two days when doing long trips, check the chain tension...
@@mark3863 Do you own a chain-driven bike that you've taken on a long trip? If so how do you perform chain maintenance if you're out for a day several thousand miles trip? I've got a Honda VFR800 that I'm thinking about taking across the US, that's why I'm asking.
Honda VFR1200F is in a different class than the others. It’s a real premium bike. The used prices of these bikes are steals. I have one with a tune and it’s something like 190hp
It was fun to see each of you guys stake out your position for promoting each of these bikes, and it is what we guys do...and we love doing it, especially after 2 or 3 beers. One thing, though, it is ridiculous to argue about horsepower, and 1/4 mile numbers, because rider skills will trump all other considerations in the final analysis. I can out ride, and leave just everyone behind, other than a pro rider on a high horsepower machine, on my 2004 BMW R1150RS, the Beemer you guys should have chosen for this test. This R1150RS can be ridden faster, with more confidence, than ANY average rider on a much faster and newer machine. I've raced, and had some extremely fast bikes in my life but none of those bikes brought me as much joy, and smiles per mile, than my 2004 RS, not even close. I just love the feel of these big twins, pretty much any big twin, and I'm not alone with this love affair of twins, whether they be the Duc L-twins, V twins of any flavor, the Moto Guzzi iterations; the big Triumph, and BSA, twins or what have you, there is just something really wonderful that resonates within us when we ride them, and it is for this reason, this "feel", the unique way these bikes sound, and ride, that BMW continues to sell huge number of the R bikes....for a lot more money than the S1000 RRs, to boot. Go figure? Anyway, the review was fun watching, other than my sadness for (all of your) your suicidal tendencies: riding on the wrong side of the road, I mean really, you 3 guys have so much to live for, too! Thanks for sharing! Keep the rubber side down, the shiny side up! Amen.
The Bike Show My friend rode a couple of drag races on the 2010 VFR 1200F last weekend, nothing major done to it except a full exhaust system, bigger open air filter and a map, 169hp on the backwheel at the dyno, Honda's specsheet says 170 hp (not 140 hp as you got your specs wrong) at 10 000 rpm and 129 NM torque at 8750 RPM. He did a standing 1/4-mile (400m) drag-race in 10.9 seconds, and you call that bike slow ? It will eat the MT-09 and Tracer 900 for breakfast. I test rode his bike on some curvy roads and while it was heavy going slow, I must say, for fast sweeping curvy roads it handles great for it's weight. I would love to see the old grumpy brit with the 900 tracer in this video take the VFR 1200F for a days tour before trash talking it !
@@kevinroark5815 can be. But I think all manufacturers are showing pure technical numbers, to real ones on the wheel. but 145 is still more than enough
Christ. No one ever said a vfr1200 had great fuel economy. They really don’t. Plus it must be the worst ever 1200 V4 at 145hp. (Actually 170). Unless we’re talking wheel hp, in which case the BM makes about 90! Lazy derivative reporting. So bored of hearing people slate the VFR using the same old tripe. And I’ve had an R1100 and loved it, and also a MT09 and loved it. But the VFR is actually a fun, fast bike and I’d hope this channel could think for themselves a bit more
I know these guys have previously slated the VFR800 for looking bland and not colourful enough but I reckon it's still a superb sports tourer. True, 105bhp doesn't sound like much these days but for fast road riding it's a perfect amount of power imo. It's lighter than the VFR1200; looks and feels far more sporty, has a much better range but still has the sublime V4 configuration. The 2 older bikes in this test however are good, genuine, old school sports tourers. The Tracer is a great bike but why do we now refer to bikes like the Tracer as sports tourers? It's like referring to a Toyota Rav 4 as a sports tourer car.....
Having owned the 800F (new model) i can honestly say it does not hold a candle to the 1200F in anything but looks (subjective) and price. My 1200F smashes my old 800F around the Nürburgring, the 800 was a great handeling machine too however, but it has none of the ooomph of the 1200, you should test one!
I’ve owned 3 VFR’s , but this 1200 is just to bulky and heavy for me. I bought a Tracer, the same colour as in this test, with just 12000 km, so as good as new. It is a very light bike and feels very light as well. The front springs are replaced by progressive ones and with the topcase and heated grips and a scottoiler it is a very nice bike for commuting and holidays in Europe. But it is sporty as well, I used to race bikes on circuits and this bike gives me so much confidence that I can keep up with sportsbikes on twisty roads. The BMW is beautiful and very good, but not so well equipped and not very suitable for commuting like the R1100S was. My dad owns this last one so I have had quite some experience with that bike as well.
An fj-09 tracer without the suspension fixed is an unbeatable platform. Sport, tour, and wheelies. Absolute shame the fz-10 doesn’t get proper fuel range.
I am buying the Honda in the new year. After researching the bike the one inarguable fact is, that the VFR 1200 has had more shit talked about it by Moto journos than any motorcycle ever. As a used buy now there is no better deal and that is a fact.
I bought a 2011 model with 6000kms on it 5 months ago, spent winter getting it shined up and ready Its a fucking wonderful machine, i hope you find a good one for yourself, i have no idea what i can ever replace this machine with... comfort, tons of power, great handling and second to none quality. Good think its built to last, i could not imagine getting rid of it.
I vote for the BMW, I have 1 and still Loving it and should correct them, it has 122bhp, still feel modern by today standards and really a fun bike especially above 5k rpm. Should be the best handling bike
Had one of those last year. Made a tour through northern Europe, VERY good for highway riding, I must say. A fun bike in most of the twisty roads, but not the tightest corners. a little bit to heavy for them. But overall I loved it, miss it a bit and would like to have one in the future again ^^
Been wondering if you'll ever feature the VFR1200F after mauling the 800. Covered 2575 Miles in 3 and a half days on the VFR1200F, wouldn't choose another bike to ride like so. These fellows bleating about the fuel tank completely miss the point, the bikes with the biggest tanks in that class have a 4-5 litre difference. From the noises, one would think the VFR has a deficit of 10lts.
I've ridden the Honda and sat on the Beemer and neither have the comfort I need for an interstate strip whereas the Yamaha has practical sporty posture for my longer than average legs. I like that it is both sporty and practical and Yamaha has, according to American statistics the best reliability. So I'd go Tracer, but why oh why do they have to make the things look like transformers? Surely it's time to move on to some new more integrated styling.
I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but really, why did Yamaha have to make it butt ugly? I'd be embarrassed to be seen on one (especially now that I own a 2007 VFR800, one of the prettiest bikes ever made).
A point missed is two up riding which is likely the most common. My VFR1200, two up will still carry more luggage than both those put together, and still out run both the others. No chain to clean, and a V4. What's not to love. And VFR has DCT option which has best of both worlds. Fully Automatic or tiptronic-like clutch leverless manual. I have a 2013 VFR and the only other next bike would be a 2017 VFR which would last me until I can't ride anymore. The "small" petrol tank is not an issue as two up on a motorway (60 - 80 mph) will comfortably do 12 miles per litre( 20km per litre) - 18 litre tank = 200 miles (360) km. However, start blasting it around twisty's and city traffic and that drops to about 9/10 litre per mile. It's heavy though , not a bike for weedy people !!
5 лет назад+4
The Honda is miles ahead on build quality, refinment, design, comfort, power. Ecu flashed is a 270 km/h confortable freight train.
You are bored on a VFR 1200F ?There is a black rubbery cylinder on the right bar, twist it until it it scares the shit out of you ....How do you come to the conclusion that the VFR1200f is boring ?Because it is so effortlessly and deceivingly fast ?Because it's handling is so smooth and stable ,even on the limits ,that it becomes a problem ???? Well ,if you are riding on the speed limit than yes.Grow some balls and open up the tap.... How a fu.. can a 170 HP bike be boring ???? I've done 750km days on it ,no problem at all ... Recently ,my wife and I ,have done 2000 km in three days ,first day again 750km ,fully loaded with panniers ,top box and tank bag .No complains from the back....No cramps ,no pins and needles.It was cold (16*C) ,than hot(40*C), and last day we got caught in a heavy rain.Still no complains...There is no hot air or heat from the engine on your legs or but. those panniers are not the biggest ones around ,but we still packed everything we need for two of us.And the bike will do 270km/h with panniers and top box , without any weaving or shaking.... just smooth sailing ...(trust me on this one).So ,that is touring part sorted out....I've done a race track day on it as well ,and wasn't ashamed either ....Apart from the Panigale, S1000RR , R1 and similar I was on pair with the rest. Commuting ? It is narrow ,so filtering is easy and it can do stupid lean angles.It's not licence friendly, but it ain't boring .....
Very similar to the dillema I’m in right now. Currently lusting after a vfr800fi, super blackbird, r1100s, and fz09... you really can’t go wrong with any of the bikes they chose which makes things so difficult
I tried the Honda, Z1000SX, and Tracer in 2017 all 2 up and I choose the Z1000SX with honda a close 2nd and the Tracer miles behind rides like a rocking horse.
Correct! Yamaha 0.52 vs VFR 0.63 and don’t forget the 42Nm advantage the VFR has, and let’s not forget the 184km/h(-7% speedo error) top speed after Don Guhl reflashed the ECU BTW The legendary hayabusa has 0.74 weight to power ratio...
@sexiewasd No idea what you mean with underperforming suspension Get it adjusted (as you should with any bike) Its comfy and i can scrape knee day long at the track, what more do you need?
let me add "for the price". I would love to own a KTM, Ducati or BMW (xr), but all of these are rides are very costly to purchase and maintain. So for the laymen I find the Tiger 1050 to be the Best All Round Sport Touring Motorcycle, of course you can no longer purchase them in the US. But I will always feel it was the Motorcycle that started this "Sport Touring/Comfort" trend we see today. ~Ride to Live
@@Texarmageddon The Sprint was nice, but I still think the Tiger 1050 is the best Sport Touring for the money, and No Sir, my Tiger 1050 is not an Adventure Bike, it's a Sport Touring bike, leaning more towards the Sport, with the engine from the Speed Triple at it's heart.
Why do they feel compelled to follow the ClarksonHammondMay fake bickering format? Would have been nice to have heard what 3 experienced reviewers really thought about these bikes.
Yamaha is the most reliable brand according to Consumer Reports. I disagree about the comment about Honda being more reliable. I’ve had both brands. My Yamaha was a little better bolted together.
Sports tourer needs racer replica body style with roomy and comfortable ergos/seats to be called a sports tourer. Out of these three only VFR(V4 Racer) is a pure sports tourer. BMW so and so. And Tracer???? LOL. Did someone say....Adventure tourer...well...'nuff said.
I was just thinking about the ZZR1100 and ZZR1200. Those were my first choices before buying my VFR but, theyre rare in the states...in good condition anyway
Lawrence Collins yes. Smooth and locomotive power. Excellent wind protection. Shame the zzr1200 doesn’t have a larger following and aftermarket. In a corner mine would drift/step out under 70-100% throttle or hook and wheelie. Can’t imagine an H2SX modded to 230hp...
That's unusual and an exception. Most guys with this bike, myself included, have very few issues with the rear shock other than it being too soft honestly. The most common issue is the preload adjuster seizing, but that can be prevented with simple maintenance measures. I had mine rebuilt, revalved, and a heavier spring fitted by DMr and it completely transformed the bike. 14,000 miles later and it is still going strong with no issues.
my thinking was there is to much heat build up from the rear cylinders as they are very close to the rear shock . Honda were good after the three shocks they replaced the bike with a new bike but 900 miles later i had the same issue shock spilled its oil on the tyre ,nearly had me off. Honda then gave me all my money back .and i brought bmw .but still think the vfr1200 was a great bike just not for me.
I have a challenge for you guys: find a SPORTS tourer for two up knee down riding. So, 130kg rider 80kg passenger, with panniers, top case, tank bag, still goes like stink. And for lets say less than 10.000€. I ride like 25.000kms a year and 1000km days are common.
How about the Kawasaki Ninja Z100SX? It handles like a sportbike, it's comfortable for both rider and pillion, it's got panniers from the factory, it's faster than most people can handle and on top of that, you can find a used one for about 10K. Isn't that the ultimate sport tourer? :-)
@@Brgnalf81 Hmmm...I haven't ever ridden it, so I'll take your word for it! In any case, I really like its instrument panel, it looks fantastic, like the cockpit of a plane :-)
I had a fuel injected Blackbird getting on for 20 years ago, fast and reasonably comfortable, but not sporty. I also had a K1200S about 12 years ago, still fast and comfortable but only slightly more sporty. I had a R1200RT about 5 years ago, brilliant tourer with heated armchair comfort, but nowhere near sporty. I bought a new GSXS1000FT about a year ago, which was a bargain, is comfortable, can tour and is quite sporty (as long as you avoid looking at its ugly Maxi Scooter face).
Always makes me laugh when they all slate the Honda in all these reviews. All they keep going back to is the overhyping and then high price at launch. That's literally irrelevant now, they're 8 years old now, very well priced, comfortable, fast, practical with boxes on. Traded my Triumph Tiger 1200 in for a VFR1200F back in June and love it. People complain about the weight as well but to me it feels lighter than the Tiger, even though it's actually heavier because all the weight is low down. That fella with the Tracer clearly can't ride if he thinks the VFR cant go around corners because I'm scraping on mine 😂 he's probably used to riding light bikes, too scared of heavier bikes. Oh and one more point, one of them mocked the VFR saying it was practical and good on fuel.... IT IS NOT GOOD ON FUEL AT ALL. I've got not electronics apart from ABS so it doesnt tell me fuel consumption but my rough maths calculate that I'm doing about 40-43 mpg, which for a bike is terrible. My tiger would do 48 easily, 55 mpg if I was going fairly steady and that was a 2012, newer bikes are a lot more efficient so year fuel consumption is high, but it doesn't bother me that much, I'm never going to be an eco warrior
@@djyoz9057 wow that's good, mine is 2011 with no electronics, sounds like your newer version is a lot more efficient and also 0.5l bigger tank (but that doesn't make that much difference
The VFR can be relatively good on fuel. Having a reflash done to the earlier bikes (2010-11) helps a lot with correcting the fueling of the bike. My flashed bike can get 45mpg (US Gallons) at 70mph with full kit and my big butt on it. Or, it can get 30 or less if I leave it in a lower gear and go have fun with it. Look at the economy of other bikes with this level of power (150+hp) and you fill find the economy is not far off the mark. The price you pay for high performance.
1) Triumph Tiger Explorer is actually heavier than Honda VFR1200F. Check your facts. 2) You should've had a VFR1200X Crosstourer instead - it is great bike, and it's a direct competitor to Tiger Explorer. It's not as fast as VFR1200F, but it's much more versatile, comfier, and better handling. And it also have a bigger fuel tank.
@@BestRex The X handles better than the F? I own the F and have ridden the X on a few occasions. The F handles better thanks to its lower center of gravity. The only thing that really lets the F down is the factory suspension tuning - under sprung and under dampened unless you weigh no more than an average sized Japanese male.
Lots of other bikes missed out on. I'd go for the Honda VFR800F over the VFR1200F for a fuel tank that lasts and a lighter ride. Also what about a used Kawasaki Z1000SX or Triumph Sprint GT? (Although I'd much prefer to take a VFR on a sporty ride with mates... I'd do a tour of Europe on the Sprint with a pillion and the commute to work on the Kwak)
The power is stunning. Ungoverned and on the open road, the 1200F makes zx-14s and Hayabusas sweat; Litre bikes aren't going anywhere; 750 and 600 squids are crushed. You'd give that up for a larger fuel tank? wow. I'm ready to take break after a couple hours of open road anyway, so the tank was not an issue.
All this bickering... Was curious about the wind protection on the Tracer, but seeing that all three bikes are best at everything I guess I might as well stick to my R9T. Would have been as good as the rest in this test, no?
The old dude on here simply hates Honda motorcycles , He hated the mk2 cbf1000 he hates the vfr 1200 f and crosstourer and the crossrunner Honda could get Carsberg to make them a bike and he would slag it off. The vfr was slated for it's low tank range ,but the tracer is listed as having a lower tank range than the vfr ,the old guy talks Bollocks
I have right now almost one year and something a Bmw R1200S With High Bars on it. The R1200S has I think the most uncomfortable seat in the whole Galaxy , and maybe until Tattouin in Star wars. R1200S it's an extremely good sport motorcycle for people who know what they want from a motorcycle with boxer Engine. Love it but it's my second motorcycle after Aprilia RSV Mille Gen 1 , yes it's so uncomfortable that my gen 1 mille it's more comfortable.
Where did you get those figures dude? Vfr 145hp? She has 170hp! If you give vfr1200 on- wheel horse power(which is 148) make sure your colleague does the same with his Yamaha. You just confuse people. They may think vfr is just a little bit stronger than Tracer which is rubbish. Vfr has much more power than those two.
I think the problem with VFR1200 might be just a tank too small. Already a large engine and yet it has a smaller tank than the VFR800. You don't need to be math genius to guess the 800 has way better mileage per tank.
VFR, all day long. Like it's riding ability. 50yo, 6'2, 100kg+. Comfy as. OK, not like my 2018 DCT wing, but for a sports bike. Wow! Gotta get it in DCT but. Luggage is next level! Show me a sports bike, that's comfy as, that holds 90L in hard cases? I'll wait. I say sports cause GTRs or FJRs are not sports bikes. They are fast-ish tourers. The VFR has no competition. And no, the ST1300 is not competition. This beast is in a different league. I live in Australia. Huge country. Can I tour Australia? No. I take my wing. Can I piss off for a week and just shred, cruise, slay and mellow out? Yep. Can do hours in the saddle or drag knee. Again, DCT and fit MC cruise control. Cruises with absolute ease! I will never sell mine. My wing will move on in 5-10yrs. In 10yrs, at 60, I'll still be carving on my 1200F
Big difference in sport tourer and longevity. As far as high mile bikes go, I doubt anyone does it better than bmw. Honda faster? Probably WHEN you can actually use it. Cross country reliability? BMW BMW BMW all the while flogging it. Mine is 20 years old and feels like a new bike. At almost 62k miles it's probably just getting broke in.
@@gillianzag1174 I know 2 owners bikes that went that way, pity as they loved their VFRs but have had to sell as both lost 6th gear, in both cases bikes still drove fine just no 6th, seems to be a selector fork issue on the manual bike, rebuild costs kills the bike . Just google 6th gear issues on VFR and it comes up, not sure if it was only certain years that suffer or if it's the whole range and again unsure if DCT bikes suffer. Not to say don't buy one but the Video seemed to make a big thing of Honda reliability, when there are definite issues with the VFR1200 that can happen.
@@chazonbikes I am one of those owners that lost 6th gear. Doing the repair myself still cost me about $600 U.S. and yes, it was an issue on what seems to be the early bikes with the selector fork. Out of thousands of bikes there are only a handful of cases of 6th gear issues and almost all of them are 2010's. Hardly a major problem, but something to consider and look for.
The VFR 1200F is a great motorcycle a test ride does not do them justice, ive had mine 5 years it is a great bike, heavy yes but perfectly balanced and so stable at speed and the way such a big bike handles in the corners is amazing i put Metzelers road techs on it and boy do they suit the big VFR, my friends VFR has over 100k on the clock with no internal issues
I really enjoyed my VFR1200,it really suited the high speed touring,handled well ,went very well,quality of finish was great and looked classy. Sadly a Wallaby took me and the bike out at 90 kph otherwise I would have kept it for a long time.170 HP and 129 nm of torque it is no slouch.
XD The VFR 1200 is a sleeper for sure. Outstanding power-YES , V4 - Yes, What more do you need for great and fun miles. XD
Xxxxxing wallabies
Getting one soon hopefully
the VFR is one great motorcycle i've been riding for 40 years and this is the best bike i've owned
I bought a 2010 VFR1200F and had it for 5 years. Brilliant bike, but I wanted something different in my life. Traded it in for a brand new VT1300CR in September of 2019. 2 days ago, I bought another VFR1200F, 2012 this time. It's TOO good of a motorcycle. It handles like my old VF500F Interceptor with a 0-60 time of 2.5 seconds. Sure, it's heavy, but I can not feel that weight. The center of gravity is so low, it leans for days and flicks between potholes. The VFR1200 can't wheelie from the factory because they limited the bike in 1st and 2nd (EU also had 3rd limited). $60 to remove the restriction and it doesn't know what a front wheel is until 3rd gear. A little suspension tuning (which the bike is more than capable of) and it's a track monster. It's a tower of power of a bike that I get 160 miles between fill-ups. I still have the Stateline as a nice cruiser, but the VFR is one of the best motorcycles I have ever ridden.
I had an ST1100 for over 20 years and replaced it by a 2012 VFR. To me, the bike feels nimble compared to the ST1100 ;) and I love it. What a super bike, had the ECU flashed and it's a real beast. What surprised me is that I prefer the seat on the VFR compared with the ST1100. I can actually drive longer on the VFR before mo body tells me to pauze, was definitely not expecting this.
This bike is way underestimated except by the owners of this bike, I'm completely hooked to this machine...
Thank you for this one.. Im on rc46 so I'm searching replacement now after few years.. so I will stay for sure in Honda's family ! Cheers !
The VFR1200F is 170hp. unless your versions got a serious restriction put into them. I adore mine and have a hard time finding a newer bike to replace it with.
I think it's a difference of at the back wheel and at the crank two different measurements
@@alanwatkiss7993 Then you would say wheel horsepower not brake hp, which is a dyno measure often reserved for measuring on an engine dyno against a dyno brake, usually a hydro brake.
I bought a 2013 manual VFR1200 and what an experience! Quality all the way, no rattles and the fairing is amazing at 10 years old. Fast as hell, found myself cruising at silly speeds and the bike tracks dead straight. Only sold her to get a mate back onto a bike and he loves her too.....
So yeah, I LOVE MY VFR1200F!!! I've had it since July. I picked it up for $6,200 USD.
I just finished a 300 mile trip on this past weekend and it was awesome all around. 50+ miles per gallon, easy in the curves. Sporty enough to hang, toury enough to be enjoyable when you just want to ride for the sake of riding!!!
I don't have panniers though, just my tank bag and a small backpack. The panniers just aren't worth an extra $1100 in my opinion.
All of the sports tourers I like as much are all much older than my VFR and harder to find. I plan on buying another VFR1200 in 2020, probably a blue one! Two VFRs are better than one!!!
The funny thing is, those of us who own one can't stop raving about how great the bike is, but the two crybabies in this video hate it because it disappointed them at launch, and not because of the bike itself.
And I think it eats away at a lot of "brand fans" that, 10 years later, this is STILL one of the best sports tourers.
Have ever heard one legitimate complaint? This bike has WAY MORE pros than cons. That's why I want to have two!!
I own a honda vfr1200, couldn't think what I'd swap it for bags of power in every gear
@@alanwatkiss7993 let Jamie Daugherty work over the suspension and Guhl reflash the ECU and it gets a million times better.
I got a 2013 VFR this past year and it is great. I've had many bikes and this one is totally under rated by the press when it came out. Have to admit I wasn't impressed when it came out and having owned three prior VFR's but it makes the 750 and 800's pale in comparison.
I’ve had my BMW R1200S for 8 years and have taken it on a number of European trips. I have a Ventura rack system but BMW had an option of expandable panniers. The UK’s Bike magazine called it ‘the best real world sports bike’ back in 2007. I have helibars on mine and can ride all day. I previously owned the R1100S (tweaked for 100rwhp) and it was fabulous but a hip problem made me sell it for the 12 as it’s a lower, lighter, and easier to handle bike. I considered selling the 12 for a VFR12 at one point but seeing as I’d sold my fire blade for risk of losing my license and or Liberty there seemed little point in buying something so powerful and fast again. I’ve run a few bikes alongside the R12 and currently have a Griso 12se that I just took on a 2000 mile trip to Italy via the Alps (one can tour on anything) but I don’t see myself selling the Beemer anytime soon as it’s so bloody good. Maybe when I’m too creaky for it I’ll get a Tracer. The R 12 is starting to go up in value too I notice. Not for everyone, but a great bike.
I own a Tracer and I picked it bc it is lighter to drag around the garage but still does everything well. But I just can not understand the bullsh** VTR hate. It is a great machine.
Vfr, even though the hype said it was 'super' fantastic, it's still 'simply' fantastic.
VFR1200f slow? 10.2 Quarter mile..... 180 top speed ungoverned .... slow? It puts down 140hp+ to the rear wheel (170s bhp). After all these years it's still misrepresented. wow, just wow.....
It feels slow
@ : I've been on many bikes, Zx-14s, Busas etc and it is comparable. I guess if your measuring stick is something absurdly faster than those, then I suppose it would "feel slow".
@@Aberamentho2010 Fireblade.
@ idiot
Cat delete and tune, mines looking at 190hp and 110 tq. Bout 160 to the wheel. I’ve raced stock 1200s and mine pulls hard on them
Shaft drive and hard paniers, that's the definition of a sports-tourer. Having to bring chain-lube on the long trips it's a pain in the arse, you have to lube every day or two days when doing long trips, check the chain tension...
Amen brother.
Really ? I have done alps trip on mt09 and buddies with other chain driven bikes, around 5k kms and chains survived it all 😂😅
ALIENdrifter66, have you any real knowledge about chain drive , as your statement is a total exaggeration.
Mark Kirk yes. On the other side its really not that big problem to put the bike on central stand and spray the chain a bit.
@@mark3863 Do you own a chain-driven bike that you've taken on a long trip? If so how do you perform chain maintenance if you're out for a day several thousand miles trip? I've got a Honda VFR800 that I'm thinking about taking across the US, that's why I'm asking.
Yep the VFR is definitely the best sports tourer!
Had my VFR1200 for 5 yrs and love it to bits these guy know nothing about owning one
If you get bored on a 170bhp 1200cc bike you’re getting senile 😅
ahahahhahaha great!
Just posted exactly this! It’s just lazy tabloid journalism
Honda VFR1200F is in a different class than the others. It’s a real premium bike. The used prices of these bikes are steals. I have one with a tune and it’s something like 190hp
That Honda... On my list to own.. One day..
As someone who currently owns one, I can say you wont be disappointed.
I own one,have had it since new and it is sensational. 60 thousand ks
the Honda out of the three the Honda .
Of the three, you want power & especially torque? The VFR, enough said..
Number 1 Honda has bags shaft drive great review we need more like this
Once you go V4 you never go back. I can't even remember what the other 2 bikes are...
VFR all day!! Beautiful looking machine!
It was fun to see each of you guys stake out your position for promoting each of these bikes, and it is what we guys do...and we love doing it, especially after 2 or 3 beers. One thing, though, it is ridiculous to argue about horsepower, and 1/4 mile numbers, because rider skills will trump all other considerations in the final analysis. I can out ride, and leave just everyone behind, other than a pro rider on a high horsepower machine, on my 2004 BMW R1150RS, the Beemer you guys should have chosen for this test. This R1150RS can be ridden faster, with more confidence, than ANY average rider on a much faster and newer machine. I've raced, and had some extremely fast bikes in my life but none of those bikes brought me as much joy, and smiles per mile, than my 2004 RS, not even close. I just love the feel of these big twins, pretty much any big twin, and I'm not alone with this love affair of twins, whether they be the Duc L-twins, V twins of any flavor, the Moto Guzzi iterations; the big Triumph, and BSA, twins or what have you, there is just something really wonderful that resonates within us when we ride them, and it is for this reason, this "feel", the unique way these bikes sound, and ride, that BMW continues to sell huge number of the R bikes....for a lot more money than the S1000 RRs, to boot. Go figure? Anyway, the review was fun watching, other than my sadness for (all of your) your suicidal tendencies: riding on the wrong side of the road, I mean really, you 3 guys have so much to live for, too! Thanks for sharing! Keep the rubber side down, the shiny side up! Amen.
The Bike Show My friend rode a couple of drag races on the 2010 VFR 1200F last weekend, nothing major done to it except a full exhaust system, bigger open air filter and a map, 169hp on the backwheel at the dyno, Honda's specsheet says 170 hp (not 140 hp as you got your specs wrong) at 10 000 rpm and 129 NM torque at 8750 RPM. He did a standing 1/4-mile (400m) drag-race in 10.9 seconds, and you call that bike slow ? It will eat the MT-09 and Tracer 900 for breakfast.
I test rode his bike on some curvy roads and while it was heavy going slow, I must say, for fast sweeping curvy roads it handles great for it's weight. I would love to see the old grumpy brit with the 900 tracer in this video take the VFR 1200F for a days tour before trash talking it !
Found this video 3 years after selling my bike, the black bmw R1200s in the middle was mine from 2010 - 2019. Flip I miss this bike!
VFR1200 is 170bhp, not 145
prolly only in america. We love our freedom. They love their ESG scores.
In some countries power is limited
In Japan got 110bhp and limited to 112mph.
It is actually 145 hp at the rear wheel
@@kevinroark5815 can be. But I think all manufacturers are showing pure technical numbers, to real ones on the wheel. but 145 is still more than enough
Christ. No one ever said a vfr1200 had great fuel economy. They really don’t. Plus it must be the worst ever 1200 V4 at 145hp. (Actually 170). Unless we’re talking wheel hp, in which case the BM makes about 90! Lazy derivative reporting. So bored of hearing people slate the VFR using the same old tripe. And I’ve had an R1100 and loved it, and also a MT09 and loved it. But the VFR is actually a fun, fast bike and I’d hope this channel could think for themselves a bit more
I know these guys have previously slated the VFR800 for looking bland and not colourful enough but I reckon it's still a superb sports tourer. True, 105bhp doesn't sound like much these days but for fast road riding it's a perfect amount of power imo. It's lighter than the VFR1200; looks and feels far more sporty, has a much better range but still has the sublime V4 configuration. The 2 older bikes in this test however are good, genuine, old school sports tourers. The Tracer is a great bike but why do we now refer to bikes like the Tracer as sports tourers? It's like referring to a Toyota Rav 4 as a sports tourer car.....
Having owned the 800F (new model) i can honestly say it does not hold a candle to the 1200F in anything but looks (subjective) and price.
My 1200F smashes my old 800F around the Nürburgring, the 800 was a great handeling machine too however, but it has none of the ooomph of the 1200, you should test one!
For touring, you need the saddle bags and more upright seating positing that the Honda has.
Those black fairing on the vfr is beautiful with the red.
Next bike: VFR1200 😍😍😍😍😍
I picked Honda and even though it had the biggest luggage here I opted for even bigger panniers from Krauser and now it is ready for travel.
I’ve owned 3 VFR’s , but this 1200 is just to bulky and heavy for me. I bought a Tracer, the same colour as in this test, with just 12000 km, so as good as new. It is a very light bike and feels very light as well. The front springs are replaced by progressive ones and with the topcase and heated grips and a scottoiler it is a very nice bike for commuting and holidays in Europe. But it is sporty as well, I used to race bikes on circuits and this bike gives me so much confidence that I can keep up with sportsbikes on twisty roads. The BMW is beautiful and very good, but not so well equipped and not very suitable for commuting like the R1100S was. My dad owns this last one so I have had quite some experience with that bike as well.
An fj-09 tracer without the suspension fixed is an unbeatable platform. Sport, tour, and wheelies. Absolute shame the fz-10 doesn’t get proper fuel range.
Yamaha Tracer by a mile and a half - the best value for money, most fun and easy ride. Most reliable too!
its suspension sucks and the brakes are crap. the bike sucks.
@@stoggy4839 and its tiny...why tf are they reviewing this?
@@PopCulturzTV well reviewing is good. then we find things out.
Most reliable? How are you deciding that?
@@horse5407 Fortnine review of Yamaha T700 , CP2 Engine, same design at 3mins in the review, according to the German standards
I am buying the Honda in the new year. After researching the bike the one inarguable fact is, that the VFR 1200 has had more shit talked about it by Moto journos than any motorcycle ever. As a used buy now there is no better deal and that is a fact.
I bought a 2011 model with 6000kms on it 5 months ago, spent winter getting it shined up and ready
Its a fucking wonderful machine, i hope you find a good one for yourself, i have no idea what i can ever replace this machine with...
comfort, tons of power, great handling and second to none quality.
Good think its built to last, i could not imagine getting rid of it.
I vote for the BMW, I have 1 and still Loving it and should correct them, it has 122bhp, still feel modern by today standards and really a fun bike especially above 5k rpm. Should be the best handling bike
Should be the best handling bike, but isn't?
i reckon your show is the best on the web
Instead of the BMW R1200S he should have chosen the BMW K1300S.
Had one of those last year. Made a tour through northern Europe, VERY good for highway riding, I must say. A fun bike in most of the twisty roads, but not the tightest corners. a little bit to heavy for them. But overall I loved it, miss it a bit and would like to have one in the future again ^^
Guess they wanted to make it a competition, if the K1300 was involved it wins hands down.
@@TheFatSnorlax It wins the garage time competition for sure. Great for a short ownership period,long term you need deep pockets.
I have both, the K is good for straights and sweepers, the R is better at windy bits. BTW, they have identical panniers.
Been wondering if you'll ever feature the VFR1200F after mauling the 800.
Covered 2575 Miles in 3 and a half days on the VFR1200F, wouldn't choose another bike to ride like so. These fellows bleating about the fuel tank completely miss the point, the bikes with the biggest tanks in that class have a 4-5 litre difference. From the noises, one would think the VFR has a deficit of 10lts.
The tracers tank range is less than the vfr 1200 on the MCN site ,The old dude must be on drugs
Yer I don’t get the fuel capacity comments in the media. It’s very rare where you’ll find a 200 mile tank a nuisance.
That was entertaining.
Thank you guys
I've ridden the Honda and sat on the Beemer and neither have the comfort I need for an interstate strip whereas the Yamaha has practical sporty posture for my longer than average legs. I like that it is both sporty and practical and Yamaha has, according to American statistics the best reliability. So I'd go Tracer, but why oh why do they have to make the things look like transformers? Surely it's time to move on to some new more integrated styling.
I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but really, why did Yamaha have to make it butt ugly? I'd be embarrassed to be seen on one (especially now that I own a 2007 VFR800, one of the prettiest bikes ever made).
@@kidlatazul nice
I added bar risers and lowered the pegs, now it's really nice.
The very best is the Honda VFR1200F.
A point missed is two up riding which is likely the most common. My VFR1200, two up will still carry more luggage than both those put together, and still out run both the others. No chain to clean, and a V4. What's not to love. And VFR has DCT option which has best of both worlds. Fully Automatic or tiptronic-like clutch leverless manual. I have a 2013 VFR and the only other next bike would be a 2017 VFR which would last me until I can't ride anymore. The "small" petrol tank is not an issue as two up on a motorway (60 - 80 mph) will comfortably do 12 miles per litre( 20km per litre) - 18 litre tank = 200 miles (360) km. However, start blasting it around twisty's and city traffic and that drops to about 9/10 litre per mile. It's heavy though , not a bike for weedy people !!
The Honda is miles ahead on build quality, refinment, design, comfort, power. Ecu flashed is a 270 km/h confortable freight train.
You are bored on a VFR 1200F ?There is a black rubbery cylinder on the right bar, twist it until it it scares the shit out of you ....How do you come to the conclusion that the VFR1200f is boring ?Because it is so effortlessly and deceivingly fast ?Because it's handling is so smooth and stable ,even on the limits ,that it becomes a problem ???? Well ,if you are riding on the speed limit than yes.Grow some balls and open up the tap.... How a fu.. can a 170 HP bike be boring ???? I've done 750km days on it ,no problem at all ... Recently ,my wife and I ,have done 2000 km in three days ,first day again 750km ,fully loaded with panniers ,top box and tank bag .No complains from the back....No cramps ,no pins and needles.It was cold (16*C) ,than hot(40*C), and last day we got caught in a heavy rain.Still no complains...There is no hot air or heat from the engine on your legs or but. those panniers are not the biggest ones around ,but we still packed everything we need for two of us.And the bike will do 270km/h with panniers and top box , without any weaving or shaking.... just smooth sailing ...(trust me on this one).So ,that is touring part sorted out....I've done a race track day on it as well ,and wasn't ashamed either ....Apart from the Panigale, S1000RR , R1 and similar I was on pair with the rest. Commuting ? It is narrow ,so filtering is easy and it can do stupid lean angles.It's not licence friendly, but it ain't boring .....
Very similar to the dillema I’m in right now. Currently lusting after a vfr800fi, super blackbird, r1100s, and fz09... you really can’t go wrong with any of the bikes they chose which makes things so difficult
WHAT A LOVELY SIDE PANNIERS FOR YAMAHA -- YOU MAKE ME LAUGH TODAY -- YOU HAVE MY BLESSING --
This came out the day before I bought my tracer 900. I love it and agree with everything he says.
Honda VFR is beautiful especially with the V4
That BMW is just gorgeous !
VFR no doubt
I tried the Honda, Z1000SX, and Tracer in 2017 all 2 up and I choose the Z1000SX with honda a close 2nd and the Tracer miles behind rides like a rocking horse.
VFR1200 has 170hp, rear wheel hp is 149
And still is slower than Yamaha?
Of course not😂😂...170hp/129Nm vs 115hp/87Nm
If you’re not convinced, check this video out ;)
ruclips.net/video/BFwiOqlDD5Q/видео.html
@@W15Garage lol. You should calculate power/weight.
Vfr1200 feels slow because it is so stable and heavy.
Correct! Yamaha 0.52 vs VFR 0.63
and don’t forget the 42Nm advantage the VFR has, and let’s not forget the 184km/h(-7% speedo error) top speed after Don Guhl reflashed the ECU
BTW The legendary hayabusa has 0.74 weight to power ratio...
As a Dutch guy seeing “lekker” on a shirt is hilarious😂
The biggest harbinger of doom for the VFR was that it was launched in 2008...the year of the big motorcycle sales crash.
Bought a 2010 with 4k miles for __£5000 last year. Full touring kit and screen....brilliant
@sexiewasd No idea what you mean with underperforming suspension
Get it adjusted (as you should with any bike)
Its comfy and i can scrape knee day long at the track, what more do you need?
R1200S all the way!! Plus you can get panniers for it and a tank bag :)
wonder if you guys ever heard of the Triumph tiger 1050? If you want the best Sport Touring motorcycle
You must not have heard of KTM?
let me add "for the price". I would love to own a KTM, Ducati or BMW (xr), but all of these are rides are very costly to purchase and maintain. So for the laymen I find the Tiger 1050 to be the Best All Round Sport Touring Motorcycle, of course you can no longer purchase them in the US. But I will always feel it was the Motorcycle that started this "Sport Touring/Comfort" trend we see today. ~Ride to Live
KTM 990 smt 2009 isn't that expensive
Triumph tiger is an ADV bike... guess you never heard of the triumph sprint at
@@Texarmageddon The Sprint was nice, but I still think the Tiger 1050 is the best Sport Touring for the money, and No Sir, my Tiger 1050 is not an Adventure Bike, it's a Sport Touring bike, leaning more towards the Sport, with the engine from the Speed Triple at it's heart.
The Tracer wins hands down. That engine is truly magic.
I'd have the BMW all day. Give it 10 more years and it will be a cult(classic) bike. I love the design!
I don’t know how you don’t have a lot more subscribers. Always good content. Keep it up 👍🏻
Why do they feel compelled to follow the ClarksonHammondMay fake bickering format? Would have been nice to have heard what 3 experienced reviewers really thought about these bikes.
Yamaha is the most reliable brand according to Consumer Reports. I disagree about the comment about Honda being more reliable. I’ve had both brands. My Yamaha was a little better bolted together.
steelknight1 I drive Yamaha bikes and Honda cars haha
Sports tourer needs racer replica body style with roomy and comfortable ergos/seats to be called a sports tourer.
Out of these three only VFR(V4 Racer) is a pure sports tourer. BMW so and so. And Tracer???? LOL.
Did someone say....Adventure tourer...well...'nuff said.
I love my 2004 ZZR 1200
I was just thinking about the ZZR1100 and ZZR1200. Those were my first choices before buying my VFR but, theyre rare in the states...in good condition anyway
@@supastarvfr9534 mine has 17k on it rides like new., Been thinking of getting a GoldWing tho. It may be for sell, I live in Greensboro, NC
Lawrence Collins yes. Smooth and locomotive power. Excellent wind protection. Shame the zzr1200 doesn’t have a larger following and aftermarket. In a corner mine would drift/step out under 70-100% throttle or hook and wheelie. Can’t imagine an H2SX modded to 230hp...
@@1compaqedr8 And it has an aire of class that the ZX-14 doesnt.
Loved my Honda vfr1200 but had two many problems with rear shock it kept leaking over back wheel after three new shock s gave up on it
Any chance for some more details pls as I'm considering buying one. May it be related to the ceasing remote rear preload adjuster/bolt?
That's unusual and an exception. Most guys with this bike, myself included, have very few issues with the rear shock other than it being too soft honestly. The most common issue is the preload adjuster seizing, but that can be prevented with simple maintenance measures. I had mine rebuilt, revalved, and a heavier spring fitted by DMr and it completely transformed the bike. 14,000 miles later and it is still going strong with no issues.
my thinking was there is to much heat build up from the rear cylinders as they are very close to the rear shock . Honda were good after the three shocks they replaced the bike with a new bike but 900 miles later i had the same issue shock spilled its oil on the tyre ,nearly had me off. Honda then gave me all my money back .and i brought bmw .but still think the vfr1200 was a great bike just not for me.
@@OddBallPerformance he could have just went aftermarket honestly lol
and z1000sx (ninja 1000) tourer??? A classic, best value for money!
And next EICMA a new release with euro5 engine will be released!
Lets hope they do more like this
I have a challenge for you guys: find a SPORTS tourer for two up knee down riding. So, 130kg rider 80kg passenger, with panniers, top case, tank bag, still goes like stink. And for lets say less than 10.000€. I ride like 25.000kms a year and 1000km days are common.
How about the Kawasaki Ninja Z100SX? It handles like a sportbike, it's comfortable for both rider and pillion, it's got panniers from the factory, it's faster than most people can handle and on top of that, you can find a used one for about 10K. Isn't that the ultimate sport tourer? :-)
@@syn8etikos I went for Aprilia RST Futura, rode it for 100.000kms and loved it.
@@Brgnalf81 Hmmm...I haven't ever ridden it, so I'll take your word for it! In any case, I really like its instrument panel, it looks fantastic, like the cockpit of a plane :-)
@@syn8etikos Think RSV 1000 R with great seat, superb wind protection and panniers.
I had a fuel injected Blackbird getting on for 20 years ago, fast and reasonably comfortable, but not sporty. I also had a K1200S about 12 years ago, still fast and comfortable but only slightly more sporty. I had a R1200RT about 5 years ago, brilliant tourer with heated armchair comfort, but nowhere near sporty. I bought a new GSXS1000FT about a year ago, which was a bargain, is comfortable, can tour and is quite sporty (as long as you avoid looking at its ugly Maxi Scooter face).
Always makes me laugh when they all slate the Honda in all these reviews. All they keep going back to is the overhyping and then high price at launch.
That's literally irrelevant now, they're 8 years old now, very well priced, comfortable, fast, practical with boxes on. Traded my Triumph Tiger 1200 in for a VFR1200F back in June and love it.
People complain about the weight as well but to me it feels lighter than the Tiger, even though it's actually heavier because all the weight is low down.
That fella with the Tracer clearly can't ride if he thinks the VFR cant go around corners because I'm scraping on mine 😂 he's probably used to riding light bikes, too scared of heavier bikes.
Oh and one more point, one of them mocked the VFR saying it was practical and good on fuel.... IT IS NOT GOOD ON FUEL AT ALL. I've got not electronics apart from ABS so it doesnt tell me fuel consumption but my rough maths calculate that I'm doing about 40-43 mpg, which for a bike is terrible. My tiger would do 48 easily, 55 mpg if I was going fairly steady and that was a 2012, newer bikes are a lot more efficient so year fuel consumption is high, but it doesn't bother me that much, I'm never going to be an eco warrior
I'm getting 280km to a tank before it starts the count down to mt
@@djyoz9057 wow that's good, mine is 2011 with no electronics, sounds like your newer version is a lot more efficient and also 0.5l bigger tank (but that doesn't make that much difference
The VFR can be relatively good on fuel. Having a reflash done to the earlier bikes (2010-11) helps a lot with correcting the fueling of the bike. My flashed bike can get 45mpg (US Gallons) at 70mph with full kit and my big butt on it. Or, it can get 30 or less if I leave it in a lower gear and go have fun with it. Look at the economy of other bikes with this level of power (150+hp) and you fill find the economy is not far off the mark. The price you pay for high performance.
1) Triumph Tiger Explorer is actually heavier than Honda VFR1200F. Check your facts.
2) You should've had a VFR1200X Crosstourer instead - it is great bike, and it's a direct competitor to Tiger Explorer. It's not as fast as VFR1200F, but it's much more versatile, comfier, and better handling. And it also have a bigger fuel tank.
@@BestRex The X handles better than the F? I own the F and have ridden the X on a few occasions. The F handles better thanks to its lower center of gravity. The only thing that really lets the F down is the factory suspension tuning - under sprung and under dampened unless you weigh no more than an average sized Japanese male.
What makes him think the Honda will outlast the Yamaha? Both reliable well made brands..
My thoughts exactly. Yamaha know how to put bikes together.
Lots of other bikes missed out on. I'd go for the Honda VFR800F over the VFR1200F for a fuel tank that lasts and a lighter ride. Also what about a used Kawasaki Z1000SX or Triumph Sprint GT? (Although I'd much prefer to take a VFR on a sporty ride with mates... I'd do a tour of Europe on the Sprint with a pillion and the commute to work on the Kwak)
The power is stunning. Ungoverned and on the open road, the 1200F makes zx-14s and Hayabusas sweat; Litre bikes aren't going anywhere; 750 and 600 squids are crushed. You'd give that up for a larger fuel tank? wow. I'm ready to take break after a couple hours of open road anyway, so the tank was not an issue.
@@Aberamentho2010 For touring a good fuel economy and a big tank is always good. For sport... VFR1200F for the win 🙌
Yamaha proposition for sport tourism is called FJR 1300
tracer is adv with road tires
kawasaki concours 14, FJR , BMW R1150RS/1200RS , VFR 1200, are sport tourers.
They are fat sport tourers. Not the most sporty and fun tourers
it is the honda boys.... slow? 170hp?
All this bickering... Was curious about the wind protection on the Tracer, but seeing that all three bikes are best at everything I guess I might as well stick to my R9T. Would have been as good as the rest in this test, no?
Might be missing the kawasaki z 1000 sx / ninja 1000?
Nice video I'm toying with vfr and 1200rt
145hp ?? are you sure, is it 170hp ?
think 170hp at crank 145hp at rear wheel
145hp V4 vfr shafty enough said...
Odd. None of those look like a ninja 1000 🤔
What county's top gear for motorcycles is this? 68 thousand red ones
The old dude on here simply hates Honda motorcycles , He hated the mk2 cbf1000 he hates the vfr 1200 f and crosstourer and the crossrunner Honda could get Carsberg to make them a bike and he would slag it off. The vfr was slated for it's low tank range ,but the tracer is listed as having a lower tank range than the vfr ,the old guy talks Bollocks
Comparing apples to oranges to bananas
I have right now almost one year and something a Bmw R1200S With High Bars on it.
The R1200S has I think the most uncomfortable seat in the whole Galaxy , and maybe until Tattouin in Star wars.
R1200S it's an extremely good sport motorcycle for people who know what they want from a motorcycle with boxer Engine.
Love it but it's my second motorcycle after Aprilia RSV Mille Gen 1 , yes it's so uncomfortable that my gen 1 mille it's more comfortable.
Beautiful
Where did you get those figures dude?
Vfr 145hp? She has 170hp!
If you give vfr1200 on- wheel horse power(which is 148) make sure your colleague does the same with his Yamaha. You just confuse people. They may think vfr is just a little bit stronger than Tracer which is rubbish.
Vfr has much more power than those two.
It is The VFR all the way.
I want to try vfr. Can I enjoy it after zzr?
I think the problem with VFR1200 might be just a tank too small. Already a large engine and yet it has a smaller tank than the VFR800. You don't need to be math genius to guess the 800 has way better mileage per tank.
Which of these bikes has shaft drive?
Tracer looks awesome from the front but kinda dorky from the side. The BMW is the opposite.
VFR, all day long. Like it's riding ability. 50yo, 6'2, 100kg+. Comfy as. OK, not like my 2018 DCT wing, but for a sports bike. Wow! Gotta get it in DCT but. Luggage is next level! Show me a sports bike, that's comfy as, that holds 90L in hard cases? I'll wait. I say sports cause GTRs or FJRs are not sports bikes. They are fast-ish tourers. The VFR has no competition. And no, the ST1300 is not competition. This beast is in a different league. I live in Australia. Huge country. Can I tour Australia? No. I take my wing. Can I piss off for a week and just shred, cruise, slay and mellow out? Yep. Can do hours in the saddle or drag knee.
Again, DCT and fit MC cruise control. Cruises with absolute ease! I will never sell mine. My wing will move on in 5-10yrs. In 10yrs, at 60, I'll still be carving on my 1200F
They need a 2012 VFR800X Crossrunner.
I seriously considered a slightly older VFR. The front end of the VFR in this video does not appeal to me at all.
did he drove without his helmet????
The BMW is a proper cult machine...!!! But, I'd take the Tracer any day....
Big difference in sport tourer and longevity. As far as high mile bikes go, I doubt anyone does it better than bmw. Honda faster? Probably WHEN you can actually use it. Cross country reliability? BMW BMW BMW all the while flogging it. Mine is 20 years old and feels like a new bike. At almost 62k miles it's probably just getting broke in.
Z1000sx?
Re the comments about Honda reliability, the VFR1200 is infamous for loosing 6th gear, fair enough doesn't stop the bike but not exactly ideal.
Any chance for some more details pls as I'm considering buying one. Does this issue pertain to the dct trans?
@@gillianzag1174 I know 2 owners bikes that went that way, pity as they loved their VFRs but have had to sell as both lost 6th gear, in both cases bikes still drove fine just no 6th, seems to be a selector fork issue on the manual bike, rebuild costs kills the bike . Just google 6th gear issues on VFR and it comes up, not sure if it was only certain years that suffer or if it's the whole range and again unsure if DCT bikes suffer. Not to say don't buy one but the Video seemed to make a big thing of Honda reliability, when there are definite issues with the VFR1200 that can happen.
@@chazonbikes I am one of those owners that lost 6th gear. Doing the repair myself still cost me about $600 U.S. and yes, it was an issue on what seems to be the early bikes with the selector fork. Out of thousands of bikes there are only a handful of cases of 6th gear issues and almost all of them are 2010's. Hardly a major problem, but something to consider and look for.
Man you’re acting as if Yamaha doesn’t have first gen woes guy
It’s certainly not the Tracer! 😂
Lol, if the vfr1200 rides boring to you you're not riding it hard enough.