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VFR1200X vs NC700x

GregC

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Last thread I’ve seen on the VFR1200X is 3 years old and was curious what the current thinking is of the current VFR as a “step up” from the NC700x. Shaft drive seems nice, the greater power also nice. Just pondering in the “I wonder what another DCT would be like.” Not really interested in a 900 lb Gold Wing.

Would love to see Honda upgrade the electronics on the VFR.


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I have the VFR1200x and the NC. I will say the VFR gets most of my use these days.

VFR1200
Great power,
Engine smooth as glass,
DCT is near perfect, (I was not interested in the manual trans.)
Shaft drive,
Tubeless spokes,
Small adjustable wind screen that works,
Decent MPG but half the NC. 200 mile range when fuel light lites.
Decent stock adjustable suspension ( but guys still mod and complain, imagine that)
Alittle heavy, ride both back to back the VFR is large bike makes the NC feel small but in good way.

I use the VFR in the same way I use the NC

VFR issue in the market place was expensive and heavy. Not promoted and left in the corner. Suffered from the same lack of interest as the ST1300.

I think your a little late to the VFR party.........as it’s been discontinued.
There are some smokin good deals on the last of the left over 2017 bikes.......but........DCT is in very tight supply.
 
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The VFR1200X would have probably been a better seller if it weighed 100 lbs less, DCT model is 633 lbs. That is ridiculously heavy. And if they at least offered an alternate model with 17 wheels with wider rear tire option. I was really interested in the VFR, almost drove to Missouri to buy a leftover DCT model for about $11k out the door. But 150/70/17 rear tire and 110/80/19 front tire are some dumb sizes, didn't want spoke wheels, and didn't want a 633 lb bike that isn't a full out cruiser, as I already have an 850 lb bagger.

I'm hoping Honda drops something cool in 2020 available with the DCT since discontinuing the VFR1200X. But I doubt it will happen. My dream would be the CB1000R coming with available DCT option. I'd go buy one immediately and sell my NC.

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Rode a VFR once for a day. Nice bike with a powerful motor and very heavy. At this stage of my motorcycling career it would simply be too heavy for me. In any case I was never much attracted to it. Tbh the 700/750X is a much nicer motorcycle imho. Much lighter and carries its weight much lower. Much more economical also by a large margin.
 
The VFR1200X would have probably been a better seller if it weighed 100 lbs less, DCT model is 633 lbs. That is ridiculously heavy. And if they at least offered an alternate model with 17 wheels with wider rear tire option. I was really interested in the VFR, almost drove to Missouri to buy a leftover DCT model for about $11k out the door. But 150/70/17 rear tire and 110/80/19 front tire are some dumb sizes, didn't want spoke wheels, and didn't want a 633 lb bike that isn't a full out cruiser, as I already have an 850 lb bagger.

An alternate model offered with 17 inch no-spoke wheels is the discontinued VFR1200F. It was available with the first generation Honda DCT. Reported in the link below as being 589 pounds wet, although that may be with the manual transmission.

I test rode one of these about 10 years ago at the Honda demo truck as a first taste of the Honda DCT, but I had no interest in or use for the motorcycle itself at the time.

Honda VFR1200F - Wikipedia
 
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Yeah I am familiar with the F model, also pretty sure I seen one in the wild Friday when I rode my Nomad over to the University to buy my books for the upcoming semester.

I was meaning a variation of the X model, similarly to how Ducati does their Multistrada. It is available in several different models: Multistrada S, Enduro, Pike's Peak, etc. All set up a little bit differently (wheels, tank size, ride height, exhaust, windshield, etc.)

I dig the VFR1200X if it weren't for the previously mentioned negatives. I would need the X model over the F too for the extra height and ability to mount a forward peg on the left side for my leg. That would be difficult to do on a full faired model like the F without ruining the fairing.

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I don’t find the VFR 1200x tire sizes a problem or concern........19” front is the proper size for ADV bike used on the rode and off rode. 21” front on the 1300x would not be a good choice. The NC should come witha 19” if was true ADV bike vs ADV styling. The 19” on the 1200x makes for a better off road experience. T

I do agree the 1200x is BIG and heavy bike........but 100 pounds would not have made a significant change in the sales numbers. The exact same weight concerns are often said about the the NC, ST1300, Goldwing, CB1000 and almost every Honda on the rode.

Coming from the St1300 the 1200x feels light.
 
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I don’t find the VFR 1200x tire sizes a problem or concern........19” front is the proper size for ADV bike used on the rode and off rode. 21” front on the 1300x would not be a good choice. The NC should come witha 19” if was true AVD bike vs AVD styling.
Yes, I thought most of the big ADV bikes run on those sizes.
 
I don’t find the VFR 1200x tire sizes a problem or concern........19” front is the proper size for ADV bike used on the rode and off rode. 21” front on the 1300x would not be a good choice. The NC should come witha 19” if was true AVD bike vs AVD styling.
All depends on your intended use for it. For me, it would be a problem because of the lack of sticky road rubbers made in the oem sizes. I had dug in and Avon makes the Spirit ST tire in the sizes for the Vfr1200x, that would be about the stickiest tire available for that bike. Also several of the larger ADV bikes were available with 170 rear and 120 front tires on the 17/19 rim combo, of which there are more tire options for those sizes as compared to the 150 rear 110 front thats stock on the VFR. But really. Who wants to throw around a 633 lb bike offroad? And that's BEFORE adding luggage weight. It just seems to me the VFR1200X mixed the wrong componentry together in an attempt at being a good all-rounder. Compared to the competition, the only thing the VFR1200X can offer that the others can't is the DCT option, and one might also mention the shaft drive. All the other bikes in its class outperform it significantly in most all areas, ie more power, better suspension, lighter weight, better tire sizes for options.

Would I like to have one for free? Hell yes. But it's just not able to meet my criteria for me to purchase one, which is considerably different than most others who would be looking at the VFR1200X. My situation is a little different. I went as far as calling and getting out the door quote at the Missouri Honda dealer 7 hours away, but just couldn't get past the tire size options and the weight.

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Rumor has it that they're bringing back the Deauville. I might consider moving off my NC for it, depending on how they do it

Rumour: Honda is bringing back the Deauville - Adventure Rider

The talk is that the new Deauville will be based off the Africa Twin engine? It will be interesting to see how shaft drive is added to that engine. If Honda thinks this new bike will have chain drive, forget it. I’d never buy a chain drive touring bike.
 
Back to those compromises we talk about so often when comes to those features we need, want or like:

Lighter weight. (Just alittle)
More power
Shaft drive
Better suspension
Tubeless tire (just a little better)
Better finishes, with better details,

The end result

$$,$$$

Almost everyone likes ice cream, .......they sell chocolate and vanilla.........but they also offer soft serve and premium custard.
 
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TG
Back to those compromises we talk about so often when comes to those features we need, want or like:

Lighter weight. (Just alittle)
More power
Shaft drive
Better suspension
Tubeless tire (just a little better)
Better finishes, with better details,

The end result

$$,$$$

The final result: Model discontinued due to poor sales.

People have a wish list for their ultimate machine, but they’re too tight when it comes to opening the wallets to actually buy it.
 
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Regarding previously mentioned tire sizing on big ADV bikes: went by Southern Honda in Chattanooga today to see if I might could make a CB1000R work for my leg, but it's not gonna happen. While in there, I noticed an Aprilia ADV bike (used trade in). Caponord 1200. Had 170 rear and 120 front (17/19 rim sizes).

Never even heard of this bike, but looked pretty cool.

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And the CB1000R just isn't going to work with highway peg setup. I mocked my leg up to see where it would land. The engine is too wide and the rider triangle is lesser than that of the NC. Rolled an NC up beside it for comparison. Back to the drawing board on that ideal.

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Keep looking and noodling over bikes. I'm sure you will find a resolution that works for you.

It's just me but I wouldn't touch an Italian bike with a 10 foot pole, especially an orphaned low volume selling one like the Capo. I worked as a parts manager in a busy Honda/Triumph/Piaggio dealership. Piaggio owns Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, and Vespa. The Italians still have a ways to go in the arenas of reliability and durability and if that wasn't of enough concern, in supply chain support. We had owners waiting for weeks, sometimes months, for parts. It takes a really good parts guy to know the bikes well because they often change part suppliers in mid-production year and the different part numbers did not usually reference a supplier but the part interchangeability matters. A fork seal set for Marzocchi forks will not fit KYB or Kaifa forks and of them are used on the V-7s. I was not a really good parts guy, coming in with no experience in the brands, and usually I needed the experienced tech we had to tell me which parts to order. If he did not know we often got the wrong ones. Lots of character in the Italian bikes however and there were some devoted owners.
 
Keep looking and noodling over bikes. I'm sure you will find a resolution that works for you.

It's just me but I wouldn't touch an Italian bike with a 10 foot pole, especially an orphaned low volume selling one like the Capo. I worked as a parts manager in a busy Honda/Triumph/Piaggio dealership. Piaggio owns Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, and Vespa. The Italians still have a ways to go in the arenas of reliability and durability and if that wasn't of enough concern, in supply chain support. We had owners waiting for weeks, sometimes months, for parts. It takes a really good parts guy to know the bikes well because they often change part suppliers in mid-production year and the different part numbers did not usually reference a supplier but the part interchangeability matters. A fork seal set for Marzocchi forks will not fit KYB or Kaifa forks and of them are used on the V-7s. I was not a really good parts guy, coming in with no experience in the brands, and usually I needed the experienced tech we had to tell me which parts to order. If he did not know we often got the wrong ones. Lots of character in the Italian bikes however and there were some devoted owners.

I know what you mean, #1 priority for me is reliability. I want to ride, not wrench on, or fork out money for someone else to wrench on, my bike. That's the main thing keeping me from pursuing a Ducati Multistrada, don't feel like getting nickel and dimed to death over the course of ownership and dealing with expensive headaches. I'd much rather opt for a little less performance in exchange for superb reliability.

Not to hijack the thread, but right now there are only 3 bikes on my short list of possible choices. Obviously the VFR1200X simply because of the DCT option and power. The Kawasaki Versys 1000, as there are a couple 2017 models somewhat local to me for around $8k. And the FJ-09. The FJ-09 really fits the bill on paper but the headshake issue worries me, as I crashed and lost my leg due to a violent tank slap (wasn't the bike's fault though). Some of the FJ-09's can be had for around the $6k mark, and if I had to install a GPR damper and rework the suspension, that would still be cheaper than the other options. Not to mention much lighter, the FJ-09 is lighter than the NC at like 462 lbs if I'm not mistaken....and has 115 hp. Solid numbers, on paper.

The problem is that I have seen neither of the 3 bikes in person, I need to sit on, measure, mock up where a highway peg would go, etc to see if they would work for sure. Then of course there the issue of how do I shift the Versys or the FJ-09. That's a big deal in itself, and as much as I dislike the weight of the VFR1200X, spoke wheels, and the tire sizes, I wouldn't mind having one and keeping the NC too, then selling my Nomad. IDK, no perfect option exists for me right now. If the NC had the Africa Twin engine in it, it would be darn near perfect!
 
I know what you mean, #1 priority for me is reliability. I want to ride, not wrench on, or fork out money for someone else to wrench on, my bike. That's the main thing keeping me from pursuing a Ducati Multistrada, don't feel like getting nickel and dimed to death over the course of ownership and dealing with expensive headaches. I'd much rather opt for a little less performance in exchange for superb reliability.

Not to hijack the thread, but right now there are only 3 bikes on my short list of possible choices. Obviously the VFR1200X simply because of the DCT option and power. The Kawasaki Versys 1000, as there are a couple 2017 models somewhat local to me for around $8k. And the FJ-09. The FJ-09 really fits the bill on paper but the headshake issue worries me, as I crashed and lost my leg due to a violent tank slap (wasn't the bike's fault though). Some of the FJ-09's can be had for around the $6k mark, and if I had to install a GPR damper and rework the suspension, that would still be cheaper than the other options. Not to mention much lighter, the FJ-09 is lighter than the NC at like 462 lbs if I'm not mistaken....and has 115 hp. Solid numbers, on paper.

The problem is that I have seen neither of the 3 bikes in person, I need to sit on, measure, mock up where a highway peg would go, etc to see if they would work for sure. Then of course there the issue of how do I shift the Versys or the FJ-09. That's a big deal in itself, and as much as I dislike the weight of the VFR1200X, spoke wheels, and the tire sizes, I wouldn't mind having one and keeping the NC too, then selling my Nomad. IDK, no perfect option exists for me right now. If the NC had the Africa Twin engine in it, it would be darn near perfect!
I think a lot of us would like a NC1000X or a 19/17" wheeled Africa Twin!
 
I think a lot of us would like a NC1000X or a 19/17" wheeled Africa Twin!

You'd think that niche would be easily seen by Honda and they'd give us what we want! LOL.

The NC's chassis is built plenty good enough to handle more power, upgraded with some 43mm inverted forks, and better rear shock, what a fun unit that would be!
 
Hey Tacoma: have you thought about upgrading to the africa twin...it comes in dct, and you can get crash bars and add a highway peg....
Yes, but the wheel sizes for it are even worse at 18/21. And the front tire is only 90 mm wide! Yuck! Like running a bicycle tire lol. Cant really mess with the wheel and tire sizes either due to the dct.

With that said, there is a video on facebook of some guy local to Nurburgring doing a lap on an open track day and he was hauling some major *** on an Africa Twin. But that track is different than ones I would ride here. Nurburgring is full of long fast sweepers.

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