vfr 1200f luggage

[cuoco1200gt]

I am wondering if anyone on this site has a 1200f and if so have they purchased the honda side cases and top case. Just purchased the bike and the bags are back ordered until January not to big of a deal here in Ohio . But I figure I got some time to shop my options if any. Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Orson]

I don't believe there are any VFR1200 owners who are regular posters here on ST.N.

We look forward to hearing your reviews and whatnot  

[Fishhook]

I don't believe there are any VFR1200 owners who are regular posters here on ST.N.

We look forward to hearing your reviews and whatnot  

+1  

[MuddDawg]

I believe David Silver Spares carries them and they are cheaper to buy and ship then from Mother Honda.

[STJoe]

And a few pictures would be in order.  

 

[cuoco1200gt]

Thanks MuddDawg david spares looks like a good deal . I cant seem to post a image it keeps kicking it back saying the file is too big but i cant resize it any smaller. I will be getting out this week on the bike and will try again.

[tharkun]

I have them on my 1200.  Honda is having a color match problem though. Mine are a just shade too orange & I am still complaining to them with no Mother Honda response yet to my dealer. Seems I am not the only one and I think the whole 1st batch is off-color.



Can't tell in this photo, but most people who see it notice it after a few minutes.

[atadaskew]

 Honda is having a color match problem though. Mine are a just shade too orange & I am still complaining to them with no Mother Honda response yet to my dealer. Seems I am not the only one and I think the whole 1st batch is off-color.

?

What happened to Honda's claim in the US that this bike had better paint than Harley?

[chornbe]

?

What happened to Honda's claim in the US that this bike had better paint than Harley?

Hah! That'd be quite an accomplishment.

[sammyseaman]

?

What happened to Honda's claim in the US that their bikes have better (insert random anything here) than (insert any manufacturer here[/u])?

FTFY  

[atadaskew]

Hah! That'd be quite an accomplishment.

http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/showthread.php?t=110603

Compared to any other bike I have had,
I think the VFR1200 paint is as scratch resilient as a Lotto scratch-card.

http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2010-bmw-k1300s-vs-honda-vfr1200f-shootout-89414.html

Honda has a new paint process in which the parts are gently agitated to yield a glass-smooth surface, and the VFR is one of the first bikes to receive this high-end treatment.

Take That, Harley!
A smooth paint finish is desirable on any vehicle, and it’s especially critical on a motorcycle’s fuel tank because its proximity to the rider is, literally, under his nose. Honda’s new process in which painted components are sprayed while being gently shaken yields an amazingly smooth surface. Below are some stats claimed by Honda. For reference, a value of 0 (zero) is as smooth as glass.

Comparing Paint Smoothness
Honda Civic 7.0
Older Honda motorcycle fuel tanks 6.6
Honda Accord 4.7
Lexus 3.0
Harley-Davidson 1.7
New high-end Honda motorcycle tanks 0.8
We were given a first-hand look at this technology when we visited Honda’s Kumamoto factory in Japan last fall. We were presented with three fuel tanks – from an older Honda cruiser, a Harley and a new Honda cruiser – which we inspected under magnification. Indeed, the new Honda’s tank was visibly glassier than the Harley’s. Very impressive.
 

[STJoe]

What happened to Honda's claim in the US that this bike had better paint than Harley?

Just a bit off color, but smooth as glass.  

[STJoe]

I have them on my 1200.

 

How's it ride?

[FiremanBob]

From the pic, they look too small to be really useful. I think MCN did a roundup of sporty tourers including the VFR, BMW 1300, Triumph Sprint, Norge and maybe a Suzuki...They complained that the Honda bags would not take a full-face helmet.

[sammyseaman]

http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/showthread.php?t=110603




http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2010-bmw-k1300s-vs-honda-vfr1200f-shootout-89414.html

Atta boy. Way to step up an defend  

[atadaskew]

From the pic, they look too small to be really useful. I think MCN did a roundup of sporty tourers including the VFR, BMW 1300, Triumph Sprint, Norge and maybe a Suzuki...They complained that the Honda bags would not take a full-face helmet.

I never get that yardstick.
When I'm touring, my bags are full of stuff other than helmets.  I could not care less if a helmet fits in there or not.  It's on me 'ed, it is..

[STJoe]

From the pic, they look too small to be really useful. I think MCN did a roundup of sporty tourers including the VFR, BMW 1300, Triumph Sprint, Norge and maybe a Suzuki...They complained that the Honda bags would not take a full-face helmet.

Maybe a Suzuki?

My panniers won't take a full-face helmet, but are extremely useful.  Rain gear, bike cover, cargo net, and more pairs of gloves than Imelda Marcos had shoes.  I used to carry tools, but what's the use?  I ride a Honda.

 

[STJoe]

So, since we're waiting with bated breath, how does it ride?

[Justin]

?

What happened to Honda's claim in the US that this bike had better paint than Harley?

Actually the first thing I noticed when I looked at one of these dust collectors at the dealer was that the paint was absolutely perfect. Seriously, if you see one in person, the paint quality is top notch. Not sure if it beats Harley, but really nice.

And I can see the color mismatch in the picture. Not huge, but definitely visible.

[atadaskew]

Actually the first thing I noticed when I looked at one of these dust collectors at the dealer was that the paint was absolutely perfect. Seriously, if you see one in person, the paint quality is top notch. Not sure if it beats Harley, but really nice.

And I can see the color mismatch in the picture. Not huge, but definitely visible.

Owners are reporting that the paint is very soft and easily damaged.  My Wing 1800 was the same.
So I'm not sure as to how that counts as quality paint, unless you never use the bike.

[chornbe]

It's a Japanese thing. The paint on my FJR would thin down and rub off if you looked at it too hard

[STJoe]

Owners are reporting that the paint is very soft and easily damaged.

So there may have been a couple of these sold after all?

 

[atadaskew]

So there may have been a couple of these sold after all?

 

Is three a big enough population for a statistical determination?

[Justin]

Owners are reporting that the paint is very soft and easily damaged.  My Wing 1800 was the same.
So I'm not sure as to how that counts as quality paint, unless you never use the bike.

well, since these bikes stay at the dealer and don't get sold, then the paint quality is perfect for that

[Will_Munny]

Just a bit off color, but smooth as glass.  

Honda doesn't build the panniers. They're provided by an undisclosed jobber and supposedly have been discontinued.

OP: I have the factory panniers but I went with a big-ass Givi top case instead of the Honda one.

http://vfr1200fa.blogspot.com/2010/07/givi-e55-maxia-topcase.html

[motormike]

I saw a VFR1200 with bags and trunk at the Minneapolis Motorcycle Show last Friday.  The colors of the bike and luggage seemed noticeably different but not something that would deter me from buying the luggage.

Looks like an interesting bike, but not for me at my experience level.

[Cricket1]

Is three a big enough population for a statistical determination?

Seriously, does anyone know how many Honda has sold so far? It'd be very interesting to find out.

[Justin]

Seriously, does anyone know how many Honda has sold so far? It'd be very interesting to find out.

I was chatting with one of the large local dealers, and they sold a handful. But have not sold any with the automatic transmission.

[Cricket1]

I was chatting with one of the large local dealers, and they sold a handful. But have not sold any with the automatic transmission.

How many Honda dealers are there in the US?  400, 500?. If that is indicative of the average dealer, then maybe Honda has sold 1,500 or so in the US? I wonder how that compares to the first year of the last generation, 2002?

[Justin]

How many Honda dealers are there in the US?  400, 500?. If that is indicative of the average dealer, then maybe Honda has sold 1,500 or so in the US? I wonder how that compares to the first year of the last generation, 2002?

Maybe, but most of them are going to be smaller - so I'd be surprised if they sold more that 1500. But who knows.

[atadaskew]

Maybe, but most of them are going to be smaller - so I'd be surprised if they sold more that 1500. But who knows.

No way.  Living in SoCal, the #1 bike market in the US, I think I've maybe seen one out in the wild that was not part of Honda's test fleet.

[Will_Munny]

No way.  Living in SoCal, the #1 bike market in the US, I think I've maybe seen one out in the wild that was not part of Honda's test fleet.

I'd be surprised if they sold more than 5 or 600 in all of North America. I know for a fact that I have the only one in Calgary... not a huge bike market but a city of over a million.

They've sold thousands in Europe and the UK though.

I expect they'll really tighten up supply for the 2011 model making it a really hard bike to get... special order only type of thing.

[Cricket1]

I'd be surprised if they sold more than 5 or 600 in all of North America. I know for a fact that I have the only one in Calgary... not a huge bike market but a city of over a million.

They've sold thousands in Europe and the UK though.

I expect they'll really tighten up supply for the 2011 model making it a really hard bike to get... special order only type of thing.

OK, so how low do the sales numbers have to be before Honda listens and makes changes? Or since it's Honda, maybe they don't really care much about N. America, since they are selling ok other places?

[Justin]

No way.  Living in SoCal, the #1 bike market in the US, I think I've maybe seen one out in the wild that was not part of Honda's test fleet.

I was just making a guess based on one of the larger dealers here in the Denver area - I believe they said they sold 4 or 5, so if every large dealer sold that many, and 1 by each smaller dealer, it sounds about right. But based on the fact I have yet to see one in the wild, I'd not be surprised if that number was in fact under 1000

[atadaskew]

OK, so how low do the sales numbers have to be before Honda listens and makes changes? Or since it's Honda, maybe they don't really care much about N. America, since they are selling ok other places?

The only change I can think of is lowering the price.  There is nothing wrong with the bike, just a combination of poor timing and not anticipating how the market has really moved on technologically.  The VFR may have high tech bits in the motor, but that stuff is invisible.  Tech that is visible is stuff the rider can access and make changes to directly, like different mappings, elec suspension settings, traction settings etc.
This VFR would have rocked the world if it came out 5 years ago.

[Will_Munny]

Also while the VFR is a popular target for "i told you so" I don't think Honda got anywhere near their North American targets on ANY of their motorcycles last year.

From what I've read the VFR1200 was a top seller in europe and UK for most of last year.