So, I guess I'm a VFR guy, now...

[DaleFranks]

I stopped off at North County House of Motorcycles on the way home from work. They had a new '10 VFR1200F DCT marked down to $11,999. So, I traded my '07 AE model FJR for it on the spot.

Here I am just before suiting up, and riding it home.



Wasn't expecting to have a new bike today...

[ConPilot1]

what the hell is a DCT? Please don't tell me an automatic.

but congrats on the new bike. I walked by a VFR1200 once and said,"meh".

Honda people said "Dont' touch it."

[veefer800canuck]

Yes, it's an "automatic".

But so was the FJR he traded in for it.  

[ConPilot1]

Yes, it's an "automatic".

But so was the FJR he traded in for it.  

I know that's why I guessed an auto. I'm just surprised, not my thing, I'll carry on elsewhere.
I don't understand an automatic trans on a bike beyond anything besides a nice little Vespa or something similar.

[veefer800canuck]

Congrats on the new bike Dale, maybe get yourself over to VFRd.com

[Akumu]

That DCT is supposedly very intuitive. It has what? 3 different modes? It's the best 'automatic' out there. I don't think I'd ever buy an automatic bike, but everything I've read said that the DCT is a sweet number.

[Cablebandit]

I don't think you're a true VFR guy until you're carrying a rectifier with you.

[viffergyrl]

I don't think you're a true VFR guy until you're carrying a rectifier with you.

  This.

+1 on VFRd. Reg Pridmore had the DCT for awhile and used it for two-up rides in his track school. He liked it pretty well until he was going through some mud and rain two up with his wife. Then he felt it got in his way and he got rid of it.  I don't think the DCT was made for riders like Reg in mind....   Now he rails around on the CBR250 and has a grand old time.

My neighbor got the manual version and has done a few of the mods mentioned by Zen Moto on this site. Loves the bike.

To each his own I guess... enjoy the bike!!

[Silverbird]

I carry a spare r/r AND a stator on long trips with my XX so it's us guys too.

Yea, get over to VFRD where the bike is actually appreciated, here it's just the bike everyone loves to hate, including me.

[Rogue]

Congrats.  Pic is not showing up.

Carry a Rectifier.....right.  I've had three VFR's....don't even know or heard of a rectifier.  I honestly don't know why people are so obsessed with it.  

[DaleFranks]

OK. So, not a lot of love for the VFR here.

I just thought it'd be a good commuter/fun bike with a little more performance and better handling than the FJR. I like it a lot, so far. Bit of a learning curve, and I can't really push it during the break-in, but it seems like a pretty neat bike. Anyway, the price was so good, It was hard to let it just get away from  me.

My cunning plan is to have both a fancy man's sporty bike like a VFR or K1300S, and a fancy man's touring bike, specifically the R1200RT. So, I guess I'm halfway there.

[UFO]

I like the new VFR, don't like the MSRP.  But if you can get one for significantly less than MSRP (like $5000 IMO) it would be an awesome bike.

I'd opt for the manual tranny instead of the dual clutch version tho.

Picture not showing.

[DaleFranks]

I like the new VFR, don't like the MSRP.  But if you can get one for significantly less than MSRP (like $5000 IMO) it would be an awesome bike.

I'd opt for the manual tranny instead of the dual clutch version tho.

Picture not showing.

Huh. Dunno why the pic isn't showing, it's on TwitPic at http://twitpic.com/8oaj91. Just a crappy cell phone pic, though.

As far as the tranny goes, the DCT doesn't bother me. I get that the traditionalists are uncomfortable with it. Whatever. Seems like it works pretty good so far. Big improvement over the YCCS system on the FJR1300AE, at any rate. Personally, I don't miss having a clutch. I don't miss doing chain maintenance or lubrication, for that matter.  I don't miss carburetors, either.

But, the price reduction from $17,499 to $11,999 made it hard to pass up.

[JReazor]

But, the price reduction from $17,499 to $11,999 made it hard to pass up.

That's a heckuva deal. Congrats on the new ride. I'll be curious to hear what you think of it once you've lived with it for a bit.

[leanin]

Congrats on the great deal on a great bike.  Spend a few miles on the VFR1200 and you'll laugh at the foolish remarks the vocal VFR critics make on this site.

[gritsngravy]

Congratulations on a nice ride.     Getting out and riding is what matters not the opinions of others.    Enjoy!!

[DaleFranks]

Congratulations on a nice ride.     Getting out and riding is what matters not the opinions of others.    Enjoy!!

Yeah, everybody has a bike that somebody else hates. Meh. Big deal.

I really like it so far. I just need to get through the break-in period and 1st service so I can get a better idea of what happens with it when you let your hair down.

In a legal and responsible way, of course.

[Justin]

As far as the tranny goes, the DCT doesn't bother me. I get that the traditionalists are uncomfortable with it. Whatever.

+1 - As long as the person riding it (aka YOU) likes it, then it's all good  

Congrats on the new ride  

[Rogue]

OK. So, not a lot of love for the VFR here.

I think you are exactly the type of buyer the VFR1200 was meant for--those who want something sportier than the dedicated ST bikes.

There isn't a whole lot of love for the VFR, especially in this board because either they don't want something this sporty, or they want all the bells and whistles, or want something that doesn't have a Honda badge, or can't justify the price, or they want the latest and greatest Adventure Tourer craze, etc., etc.  This is also why the BMW K1300S isn't exactly flying out of the showrooms either but the more expensive R1200GS is.  Those who can afford them instead go for the Adventure Tourers or full ST Bikes with all the comforts of a car.  It's a bad pricing strategy for a class of motorcycle that is not popular anymore (it used to be).  Even if Honda dropped the price down by 20% the VFR1200 wouldn't sell well either.    

[staedtler]