Honda VFR

Estimated Price: Rs. 17.5 Lakh

The Honda VFR 1200F was launched by Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India (HMSI) in the country on July 30, 2010. The Sports Touring Motorcycle was priced at Rs. 17.5 Lakh. Mr. Shinji Aoyama, the President and CEO of HMSI, said at the launch that Honda VFR 1200F is a mix of both sports and touring features, designed especially for the high-end Indian bikers who are always looking out for high ‘FUN’ proportion brands. The concept behind the Honda VFR is focused towards adopting state-of-the art technologies and meeting customer needs.

The bike will be imported into India from the company’s mother plant, the Kumamoto factory in Japan. This is HMSI’s third launching in the category of sports bikes in the country, after the CBR 1000R and CBR1000RR high-end bikes.

Design

The Honda VFR 1200 F has one of the most unique headlights that have been witnessed in recent times – the X-shaped headlight is simply a new innovation from Honda. The VFR 1200 F has been launched in India in two stunning colors – Seal Silver Metallic and Candy Prominence Red. The bike snatches the edge away from the competition with its styles LCD readouts for Honda Ignition Security System (HISS) indicator, coolant temperature level, fuel level, ABS indicator and ambient temperature display.

Power Train

The Honda VFR has a 1237 cc, 4-stroke, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled engine that delivers a peak torque of 131 Nm at 8,750 RPM, and a stunning power of 172 BHP. The 6-speed manual transmission bike has a fuel tank that holds 18.5 liters of petrol.

Honda has introduced the first double-clutch transmission in the world of motorcycle in the VFR 1200 F. While the first clutch is used to operate the first, third and fifth gears, the second one runs the other gears. Other unique features include a slipper clutch that enables instant downshifts at larger speeds and the throttle-by-wire.

The Honda VFR , at a weight of 267 Kg is quite heavy in its segment, and in order to compensate its size and weight, the rear cylinders are set closer together in comparison to the front cylinders. However, Honda has stunned the critics with the mileage offering that this bike is capable of. Despite having one of the heaviest engines in its segment, the Honda VFR 1200 F is capable of delivering 15.9 Km per liter when driven in the fuel-efficient mode.

Outlook

The Honda VFR 1200 F is the most elaborate interpretation of the eventual road sport machine, and it is backed by the concept that is driven towards understanding and meeting customer needs. The bike has been designed to create a milestone in the ‘Fun Biking’ history in the country, given the fact that it has established completely new standards when it comes to motorcycle performance. Honda VFR 1200F is a clear representation of radical styling and state-of-the-art technology from Honda.

Safety

The Honda VFR 1200 F is equipped with a Combined Braking System integrated with ABS, ensuring the best possible safety. With 12 pistons in the front, and 4 at the rear, the bike has calipers bolted with the dual discs, a braking system that ensures that the heavy bike is always safe and stable. The extremely narrow cylinder heads and the spacing between the cylinders ensure centralization of the mass and rider comfort. The layered fairing technology is ergonomically designed to provide additional stability. And, Honda VFR delivers excellent response along with seamless acceleration along the rev range of the engine.

Competition

When it comes to premium sports biking, Honda VFR has been phenomenal in creating a niche for itself in the Indian bike market. The VFR1200F has a number of technological firsts to its name. Honda VFR is the first bike to come with the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) technology, found earlier only in cars. And, the stunning 15.9 Km per liter mileage offered by the bike sets it completely apart from the competition in the same segment.

Conclusion

The Honda VFR 1200 F is especially launched in order to lure the premium young Indians, with its state-of-the-art technology offered at a substantial price range. The bike is a result of a unique inspiration at the Honda designing team. The inspiration was to create a sports bike that would have long-distance touring ability. As a rider, one could wake up and decide to go for a 300 Km ride, moving flawlessly through highways and canyon roads, to spend time enjoying lunch at a beautiful destination and then head towards home.