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  VFR 1200 - Fat Blade

Getting a bit old for the Blade? Wrists and knees starting to complain? Time for a bit more space and comfort? The VFR1200 could be for you if you're starting to find full on sports bikes a bit too cramped.

Odd looking thing but you get used to it after a while. It's better in black but seems for now Honda are only bringing in the white, silver and red ones into the UK.

Reasonably comfy, although the saddle is a bit unyielding and the wide supportive bit is a long way back - when you're in attack mode up against the tank, comfort is limited. The tank offers good support for the braking though, and you need it with those 6 pot anti-lock fronts.

Riding triangle as they say is good, nice reach to bars, slight cant forward and good footpeg location, so a long ride should offer no great aches and pains. Position is less spreadeagled than the K1300S and there's no annoying clutch housing pressing into your shin.

Suspension is best described as comfy stiff, feels like everything is full of hydraulic oil, very plush but firm so you do feel the humps and potholes, but in a liquid damped sort of way. The upside is great feel and handling for a relatively heavy 265 kg bike. Front end can wooze about a tadge when driven hard on undulating back roads but doesn't get at all out of hand. Back end can create that flat-tyre feel now and then when coming off throttle in certain situations; guess that's the shaft drive reaction. But none of this is at all serious and the bike is very enjoyable on bumpy country lanes as well as fast A roads.

The engine is the usual Honda growly V4. Quite a lot of low frequency vibes under 5000 rpm that get annoying after a while, felt through tank and bars. The motor never feels rushed, always a relaxed loping sensation unless you rev the nuts off it, which is a bit pointless. Torque is good once past 4000 rpm but fuelling is odd. Not sure I'm into fly by wire throttles, seems humans are better at it. The VFR sometimes gives you more than expected, sometimes less, and there is an odd hit of extra power around 7000 rpm, not always when you expect or want it (see below for more).

Dashboard is clear and easy to read, not too many computery bits on there to worry about. Fuel gauge is handy but seems to jump down the scale awfully quickly. Don't expect a big range out of this bike, you're not gonna see more than 120 miles before worrying about refills.

Weather protection is not bad but not in the same league as a proper tourer. Fair bit of buffeting from the screen, and there's no protection for the footsies, so you're gonna need waterproof bootsies.

The looks of the bike are of course subjective - it is a bit different, but a little too much like the current Blade for me. How come Honda do this and create the much more attractive 600RR at the same time? Shame this doesn't look more like an overblown 600 than a fat Blade.

Front end is a bit bland with that goblet shaped headlamp - can't help thinking it would look a lot better with a few projector jobbies in there.

Back end is nice and spacey, and decent size indicators tucked in there. Big handles for your pillion if you take such things, and she'll have plenty of saddle for her bottom plus reasonably spaced footrests.

Big bonus for urban riders are the fold-back mirrors, so if you twat one of those German 4x4s so prevalent in town you should save your wallet the doubtless scary price of a disintegrating mirror.

Of course, being a tourer the VFR1200 has the option of proper luggage, none of that strapping US20s and suchlike to the back of your bike. The purpose made luggage consists of a top box and two panniers, all lockable and presumably waterproof. Not the most generous of sizes, and each will struggle to hold a helmet, but if you're touring they'll be full of clothes anyway so no great loss. But Honda will sting you a grand or so extra for the set, which is a bit rich as this is supposed to be a touring bike ... isn't it?

To go with the touring side of things are 3 position heated grips, a 12 volt power socket for satnavs, tyre pumps and suchlike, plus a very useful addition - the optional centre stand.

Now this is well worth having, even if Honda do sting you for £100 or whatever for fitting it. Makes wheel changing so much easier, and you're going to do plenty of that if you ride this bike to it's full capabilities.

Not so touring friendly, or Sunday ride friendly even, is the underseat storage. Basically there isn't any.

Even though the seat has a handy key operated lock, wriggling off the saddle reveals only a battery, assorted fuses and a tool roll. I guess you could squeeze a puncture repair outfit in there, and possibly a mini pump, but even that's doubtful. Oh how we pine for the old Blade with its capacious boot with handy hinged lid / pillion seat.

Notwithstanding a lack of onboard storage this bike would just about do as a sports tourer, with a bit more sports than tour, but with the benefit of a good shaft drive which, although noticeable when riding hard, is about the best I've tried. Still not convinced by the electronic throttle, I'd prefer the uncomplication of cables. The anti-lock brakes are very good with the anti-lock bit being subtle and not at all invasive. The linked back brake operates 2 of the front pistons but is very feeble on it's own - useful for wet downhill hairpins though.

It's a shame about the vibes, which unfortunately are at their worst around typical cruising speeds. But the biggest problem is going to be the fuel tank. If you're covering hundreds of miles each day a fuel range of just 120 is not good enough, especially if you are staying off motorways and petrol stations are often few and far between. You may easily have to start looking after 80 miles or so, spending too much time diverting to potential filling stations rather than enjoying the ride - an absolute minimum range needed for distance riding is 200 miles or so.

With regard to the sometimes odd fuelling, it seems that this is due to Honda's mapping in the lower gears, particularly below 7000 rpm. Presumably to prevent their target VFR buyers from experiencing unnerving levels of acceleration the fuelling restricts power levels, but in a rather ragged way, so resulting in uneven acceleration and then the odd hit of boost around 7000 as the funny fuelling finishes and the rider is back in charge. Unfortunately ride by wire throttle control makes this sort of interference all too easy, if not very subtle.
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