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Tinytim
Registered User
I wanted a fookin Hesketh....a while ago h1d1ng2
Dark Angel
Still kickin' it!
...Errr... No disrespect intended here, but...
...You do have a Blackbird (or some other motorcycle).. don't you? :dunno:
... Apparently, we went to the same "rant" school, Timmy !! :-0)
bmwdumptruck
Come on you Hatters
Like I said before, its a bloody good job they aint calling it a blackbird cos some of you guys would really have something to moan about!!
I can't quite understand some of the thinking behind the huge downers on the looks. The Bird, as wonderfull as it is, is really starting to show its age with its bulbous, almost jelly mould styling.
Now if Honda had just come up with another midly altered lookalike, wouldn't you all be moaning that they haven't really changed anything so why bother?
Personally i like the look. Its taken a while to grow on me, but its fresh, modern, and still manages to be stylish without being bland. As a comparison, (only for the looks) compare it to the S1000RR. What a mishmash of aweful lines that thing is, looks like one of those photoshopped pics of 4 or 5 bikes cobbled together to advertise some bike show.
I get the feeling that for some the fact that it isn't faster than everything else, more powerfull than everything else means that you'll be percieved to be less of a man for owning one. Admittedly it'll be hard to bragg about it down the pub, cos there ain't much that it will be better than on paper. But it isn't always about having the biggest numbers. The Blade outsold just about all other sportsbikes in the 90's, yet was rarely the fastest, or most powerful. But it was the best all round machine, and offered the best ride in the real world. But for a couple of pretty major flaws this one has the hallmarks of a similar story.
I have seen it in the flesh, both a red and a grey one. Being a Redbird owner i love the red finish, personally I think it speaks volumes that they decided to return to the best colour. But i will say the Grey bike looks more balanced as the lack of any red on the back half of the red one, kind of makes it look front heavy. I've sat on it as well. It would suit me, having gilles bars on my bird the riding position is very similar, pegs are a bit higher maybe. The seat is firm, but with my weight again it suits me well. But if you bear in mind how many posts there are on here about bars, seats, pegs and screens etc, the Bird doesn't suit everybody anyway.
Oh, and the screen, that works fine for me as well........but I'm not allowed to say anymore till after the launch.:-0)
Will I be buying one, NO. Two major flaws for me. Price and that stupid peanut fuel tank. Now if they sort the fuel tank, then in a few years maybe a nice second hand one would be a possibility, but until then I'll be sticking with my Bird.
I can't quite understand some of the thinking behind the huge downers on the looks. The Bird, as wonderfull as it is, is really starting to show its age with its bulbous, almost jelly mould styling.
Now if Honda had just come up with another midly altered lookalike, wouldn't you all be moaning that they haven't really changed anything so why bother?
Personally i like the look. Its taken a while to grow on me, but its fresh, modern, and still manages to be stylish without being bland. As a comparison, (only for the looks) compare it to the S1000RR. What a mishmash of aweful lines that thing is, looks like one of those photoshopped pics of 4 or 5 bikes cobbled together to advertise some bike show.
I get the feeling that for some the fact that it isn't faster than everything else, more powerfull than everything else means that you'll be percieved to be less of a man for owning one. Admittedly it'll be hard to bragg about it down the pub, cos there ain't much that it will be better than on paper. But it isn't always about having the biggest numbers. The Blade outsold just about all other sportsbikes in the 90's, yet was rarely the fastest, or most powerful. But it was the best all round machine, and offered the best ride in the real world. But for a couple of pretty major flaws this one has the hallmarks of a similar story.
I have seen it in the flesh, both a red and a grey one. Being a Redbird owner i love the red finish, personally I think it speaks volumes that they decided to return to the best colour. But i will say the Grey bike looks more balanced as the lack of any red on the back half of the red one, kind of makes it look front heavy. I've sat on it as well. It would suit me, having gilles bars on my bird the riding position is very similar, pegs are a bit higher maybe. The seat is firm, but with my weight again it suits me well. But if you bear in mind how many posts there are on here about bars, seats, pegs and screens etc, the Bird doesn't suit everybody anyway.
Oh, and the screen, that works fine for me as well........but I'm not allowed to say anymore till after the launch.:-0)
Will I be buying one, NO. Two major flaws for me. Price and that stupid peanut fuel tank. Now if they sort the fuel tank, then in a few years maybe a nice second hand one would be a possibility, but until then I'll be sticking with my Bird.
Dark Angel
Still kickin' it!
This is actually a fair description of how the VFR looks, as far as I’m concerned.
No. After ten years of non-development, a huge data bank of information is available on one of the best touring bikes ever made. Honda would have done well to use that information in conjunction with the enormous amount of customer feedback offered through forums such as this to produce a customer-orientated machine. What they have produced, in fact, is a dismal attempt to create a new genre of touring machinery.
Utter nonsense; the BMW is an out-and-out, performance machine that fulfils its design brief in a way that makes its current rivals virtually redundant. Could you say that about the VFR1200?
If we were nineteen year-old, testosterone-filled boy-racers out to prove a point, there might be an iota of truth in this. But we're not. And there isn't.
"...an out-and-out, performance machine that fulfilled its design brief in a way that made its rivals virtually redundant." The 'Blade revolutionised motorcycles and motorcycling and was universally acclaimed. The VFR1200 seems to have achieved the exact opposite - and your own comments seem to confirm my beliefs.
No, it doesn't. But what I’ve always maintained – consistently – is that the ‘Bird suits me in terms of performance, reliability, fuel economy, comfort, owner-appeal and appearance. For me, the VFR1200 does not meet any of those criteria. Admittedly, my opinion is based only upon the reported capabilities of the VFR1200, but, balanced against ten years of Blackbird ownership and miles covered in the hundreds of thousands; I encounter as great a difficulty in appreciating your preference for the VFR1200 as you seem to find in accepting mine for the Blackbird.
Just one more time
Just one more time - cos it's getting really boring now
a] It aint a replacement Blackbird - it's a new bike
b] Regardless of the engine design it's a newly designed bike full of trick bits
c] It's service programme is laptop controlled so without the software, servicing will HAVE to be done by Authorised Honda Service Centres
d] For those that can afford the new Viffer - they'll be tempted cos it's a Honda - cos it's new - cos it's shiny - cos it's got trick bits on it - for those that can't afford it, they'll probably look on and criticise
Just one more time - cos it's getting really boring now
a] It aint a replacement Blackbird - it's a new bike
b] Regardless of the engine design it's a newly designed bike full of trick bits
c] It's service programme is laptop controlled so without the software, servicing will HAVE to be done by Authorised Honda Service Centres
d] For those that can afford the new Viffer - they'll be tempted cos it's a Honda - cos it's new - cos it's shiny - cos it's got trick bits on it - for those that can't afford it, they'll probably look on and criticise
I think that's outlawed under EU law isn't it?
I'm sure the software will be available to others but it does mean the smaller repair shop won't be able to I guess.
This is the future though. Most bikes will be throttle by wire, ECU diags etc etc
B
bishbosh
Guest
Went into dealer to pick up a brake light switch and saw it in the workshop so asked for look, only had a couple of minutes.
- Single sided swingarm looks great, in fact back lines are good
except for the exhaust which looks like fat guys knob.
- Air ducts aren't as ugly in the flesh but do still upset the look
- Tall screen means you don't have to buy a replacement straight away
and it is split to pass some airflow to the rider, chap said it was to
help buffering - bit Pan'ish.
- Grips are too thin, said that they would be uncomfortable
on a long run and chap said bike was mainly aimed at sports rider
which proves the point with the small tank.
- Said I didn't like that the fairing didn't come back far enough to give
weather protection for engine bits and the reply was that this was
as style consideration as people wanted to see engine bits - yeah like
they are going to be shiny after a winter, oh I forgot it's for
weekenders only.
- Exhaust, stubby ugly muffler and what is the point of showing the
downpipes towards the front, they'll be rusty in no short order
commuting - bit of an expensive commuter was one reply.
- I said it was quite heavy for a 'sports' bike and was told that they've
sharpend up the handling, but replied that I put a spacer in the back
of the bird and dropped the yoke a few mill down the forks to the same
effect but reply was that all bikes can be modified.
- Front brakes now have four pads, so that's going to be pricey.
Hasn't won me over, now if they had put that swing arm and shaft onto a bird with maybe twin hid lamps and kept the engine simple for home servicing then the missus would be getting a few more flowers next week.
It will still sell, there will be plenty of VFR riders who will like the step up.
- Single sided swingarm looks great, in fact back lines are good
except for the exhaust which looks like fat guys knob.
- Air ducts aren't as ugly in the flesh but do still upset the look
- Tall screen means you don't have to buy a replacement straight away
and it is split to pass some airflow to the rider, chap said it was to
help buffering - bit Pan'ish.
- Grips are too thin, said that they would be uncomfortable
on a long run and chap said bike was mainly aimed at sports rider
which proves the point with the small tank.
- Said I didn't like that the fairing didn't come back far enough to give
weather protection for engine bits and the reply was that this was
as style consideration as people wanted to see engine bits - yeah like
they are going to be shiny after a winter, oh I forgot it's for
weekenders only.
- Exhaust, stubby ugly muffler and what is the point of showing the
downpipes towards the front, they'll be rusty in no short order
commuting - bit of an expensive commuter was one reply.
- I said it was quite heavy for a 'sports' bike and was told that they've
sharpend up the handling, but replied that I put a spacer in the back
of the bird and dropped the yoke a few mill down the forks to the same
effect but reply was that all bikes can be modified.
- Front brakes now have four pads, so that's going to be pricey.
Hasn't won me over, now if they had put that swing arm and shaft onto a bird with maybe twin hid lamps and kept the engine simple for home servicing then the missus would be getting a few more flowers next week.
It will still sell, there will be plenty of VFR riders who will like the step up.
Tinytim
Registered User
Yea double the cost of a Standard double padded front braked Bird.
As you say all bikes can be modified..so mebbe ya can saw Bird pads in half.
Was there a Scottoiler fitted?
p0pc0rn41
P
porkster
Guest
...Errr... No disrespect intended here, but...
...You do have a Blackbird (or some other motorcycle).. don't you? :dunno:
Yes i do have a blackbird and a great bike it is but looks wise it does nothing for me
uke:
Tinytim
Registered User
Yes i do have a blackbird and a great bike it is but looks wise it does nothing for me
Each to their own eh mate. Good on ya for admitting that you have no fookin taste whatsoever. I salute. :yo:
Dark Angel
Still kickin' it!
+1 :yo: :bow: :bow:
:yo: :bow: :bow:
B
bishbosh
Guest
I guess if the shaft drive leaked then you could do with a reservoir to keep it topped up
Tinytim
Registered User
I guess if the shaft drive leaked then you could do with a reservoir to keep it topped up
I think Norfolk R&D Department are working on it as "we speak"
h1d1ng2
LOL !! Currently sitting firmly on hands I am afraid !
If it takes off I will have to eat my words and have to bite off the bile that rises when I see the orrible thing..
if it does not take off I shall ignore it as one of lifes little jollies that I can grin at and not a lot else
If it takes off I will have to eat my words and have to bite off the bile that rises when I see the orrible thing..
if it does not take off I shall ignore it as one of lifes little jollies that I can grin at and not a lot else