I owned a 17 Africa Twin and it is no way the same ride on a long ride as the VFR1200X. With 95% of most riders on the highway why would anyone pick the AT over the VFR
Zack mistakenly states there is no 'shaft-jack' control which is not true. The geometry of the shaft has been specifically designed to prevent this effect. I not only own a VFR1200F, but have ridden many Fs and Xs and never noticed any problem such as Zack mentions. Makes me think he's looking for problems. He says it's not exciting, but really, what does he expect? It's an Adventure style bike not a MotoGP race replica. But for that, it is a far better road bike. Does he find the BMW GS more exciting? Why? I've ridden both and certainly prefer the VFR. Not that the GS is a bad bike. Far from it, but I think the VFR is simply better. That V4 motor is fantastic, even though they de-t.., er, sorry, re-tuned it to lower the torque curve. Not perfect of course and the TC is far from good. What surprises me is that Honda have a very good bike whose flaws could easily be eliminated to make it a fantastic bike (that even Zack might find exciting), but they've done nothing with it apart from minor updates like the windshield adjustment. Maybe they're hoping it'll just die, like the F model. Such a shame as they are both great bikes. You can't beat a good V4.
I love the windscreen feature. It'd be nice to have that on a bike one day. For now I'm just taking the touring screen off for the town and back on for long rides. Curse my vanity!
Owning a vfr1200f I recomend this bike very much. The engine has a lot of caracter in my opinion. But certaonly ot takes somw months to get to know the bike and to adopt to its abilities. It is a fun bike,but not an easy to handle bike, becauae it is quite heavy as well. The main thing is smoothness and comfort!
They are rated at the motor in most countries, but in the US they normally rate them at the wheel. Thats why you hear either 130 range or 110 range for hp #s. It does confuse many readers.
AkaAndyKnuckles, no it's not. It's rated at 127.4 imp hp (129.16 metrical hp) by the manufacturer. But that's a crank power. And 107.5 imp hp - is a rear wheel power on the dyno. Google for the difference between crank power and rear wheel power.
the crosstourer, the vfr1200X are the same, and all have the same power, 127hp / 95kw. its everywhere the same at the rear wheel its measured to have about 108 hp
What a biased review. If you do a review do your research first. As an owner of this bike I love it. I’ll give an honest review. 1. The heated grip level is displayed where the time is. If you watch the video you can see the level flash on the LCD screen when the idiot is counting the flashes on the handlebars . Dumbass. This is a Honda we are talking about not Kymco. 2. The engine is very torquey and anyone who buys one will definitely open up the throttle. The engine is a beast and very tempting. Open it up and you’ll be going 80-100mph before you know it ( top speed 140mph). The funniest RPM range is 3500-9k. Peak power is around mid rev range and goes to ~10, 200RPM. Like any V4 1L bike you’ll never be wide open for long on the street. The bike has Very usable power and its fun, 70mph @ 4k in sixth which makes it very tempting on the highway. The power is very linear, and the engine really gets strong after 4k. 3rd and 4th gear is best for 2way highways, 2nd and 3rd around town. The bike hates 6th gear unless you are going 70mph first. 3. The traction control only sucks on a red-light launch or low speed get up. It does have to be all the way off on a launch. However, I’ve never had it inhibit me while passing or getting on the highway. 4. The weight or height of the bike isn’t an issue for me while moving at any speed or stop.. (5’10” 160lbs). I can have One foot flat or Balls of feet for both. The weight feels low when riding and moves up to the middle at low speeds or at a stop. I do notice the weight while pushing it around the garage or parking space,. However, if you lean the bike on your thigh like any heavy bike you’ll be fine. The weight can also be felt while getting it onto the center stand. I feel the weight the most when having a pillion. The Pillion sits very high, which is good for their visibility. However, it does make the bike feel very top heavy at a stop light and coming to a stop. Any experienced heavy bike rider will be fine (no front brakes, keep wheel straight). Once moving the weight does disappear. 5. This bike is a crossover SUV type motorcycle. Meaning it has some off-road capabilities but 95% of people will be dirt road riding it or pavement. The bike doesn’t know what it wants to be, it has Dirtbike, Touring, and street-bike properties. Hence, why I bought the vfr1200x. 6. Gas mileage isn’t that great especially if you keep the engine rev strong (3,500-4k rpm). 5.7 gallon tank. GS has 8gal or more, no shit it goes further. 7. Somany accessories for this bike. It has a big following in Europe and has been around sense 2012. 8. V-strom 1000 is gut-less compared to the vfr1200x engine and isn’t as comfortable. Only comparison I can give. The GS is very awesome, however I’m a Honda guy and I think this bike looks better. 9. This bike won’t turn many heads in the USA. It’s more practical then flashy.
k w Thanks for posting from an owners perspective, for me it's the DCT that's really appealing. However I simply can't buy this bike until Honda offer cruise control.......... far too many average speed cameras here and cruise is the perfect solution.
"when the idiot is counting the flashes on the handlebars " How is he the idiot when Honda is the one who put a flashing light on the grips that flashed a light to indicate the setting? Does it have an off road mode or off road ABS?The GS does not have an 8 gallon tank the GSA, however has a 7.9 gallon tank and I've ridden 500 miles on a single tank. It sounds like you own the European version which is different from the one ridden by Zack in this video. The American version was tuned down.
dissing the CT by comparing it with your critically acclaimed GS is what you're doing? Don't you find it low? Your 2 comments about the heated vrips are even plain wrong...you dont know the CT. I can only imagine you must be wrong about many other things that are not GS related. Dunno what all the CT dissing is all about, but why bother to diss an inferiour bike in your opinion, while you got the so called superiour bike? Why feel the need to show off your GS capacities when CT owners and lovers cant care less about your overrated german adv?
Probably a meaningless post at this point and time, but going to throw it out there anyway just in case anyone is in my boat. Based heavily on this video and the Africa Twin video, I went against my gut and got a 2016 Africa Twin as Zack suggests here. Now a year later, the Africa Twin is up for sale and I've finally bought a 2016 VFR1200X which I'm really enjoying. The "miserable" traction control on mine is more subtle than the traction control on my Africa Twin. The power is considerably better on the VFR1200X and general street rideablility is much higher on it as well. The Africa Twin does shine in technical dirt, but really, who wants to take a 600 lb bike into technical dirt anyway, there are better bikes for that purpose. I really appreciate these old MC Commute videos, but sometimes they are not applicable to everyone.
I read reviews and watched videos about this bike and couldn’t disagree more with most of them. This bike @600 lbs is not heavy and very nimble. I’m 6’8 with long arms and a 38 inch inseam. This bike is very quick and fast and comfortable. The v4 is very smooth. Maintenance is low. I wanted it for street riding and to compliment my cruiser, 2018 Indian Springfield. Purchased a 16 VFR1200X left over at a discounted 10k OTD. I’m very pleased so far.
In my opinion one of the best allaround bikes made, plus the V4 comes with some Temperament.If you want a bike to commute all year, go motorcycle camping, occasionally go on a dirt road, and play with friends in canyons and only have the funds or room to own one bike here is none better. Plus Honda has a great network, btw I own a Beemer and a Harley so not biased here
Honestly mateI have owned 42 bikes and this is probably my all time favourite tourer. I don't think your review captured what a great tourer it is. Also turn the traction control off if you don't like it and stop whining. Also your sister is OK couldn't give her the thumbs up but she is OK.
I have a 2016 VFR1200X and the setting of the heated grips is clear as day on the display. Also, I have put 20K miles on it and loved every mile. I sold my 2015 1200GS and my 2013 Yamaha Tenere which I enjoyed but I am loving the VFR. Other then the weight Honda made it right. It handles great and has good range. The engine is very smooth and delivers good power. If you are in the market for an adventure tourer (heavy for off-roading) I highly recommend it. It's worth looking into it.
Your completely missed it, a part from getting all the numbers wrong you complete missed the real bike. Load it up with gear, a lot of gear, 2people and a lot of gear and you'll find out where this bike excels. Best price point, bang for buck two up touring machine on the market. You didn't even unleash the V4. It's not a commuter. Duh 🙄
Since it's debut in 2012 Honda Crosstourer is often criticized in the Internet... mostly by the guys who never rode it. The truth is: Crosstourer looks like nothing interesting on paper, but it's truly amazing bike in real life. More than that, it's the best shaft adventure motorcycle currently existing. And, yes, it IS better than the BMW R1200GS. Why? Well, first of all, the DCT transmission - it's just brilliant! You wouldn't want to ride manuals again once you got used to DCT - that's how good it actually is. Second, the comfort: Crosstourer is more comfortable than the GS, since BMW vibrates from 5000 rpm and above, and Honda doesn't. Also Honda has a better windshield. Third, the dynamics: GS is not a slow bike at all, but Crosstourer is REALLY FAST! It accelerates like mad, and has a tons of torque at any rpm. Fastest and the most exciting engine in the shaft adventures category. And last but not least, reliability: Crosstourer is almost bulletproof-reliable and problem free, while GS is known to have a lots of breaks and issues. About some of the things Zack said in this video: "VFR1200X is heavy" - yes it is heavy on paper, and in the garage. But all of it's heavyweightness completely disappears as soon as it starts moving. On the go it feels very light, nimble, and easy to ride. So does the GS. So does the Super Tenere. They all are big and heavy bikes when they stands still. But not heavy at all when they moves. "The engine is character-less" - that is totally not true. I already told about the engine character above, so there's no need to repeat myself. "The footpegs pegs are in the way when you put your feet on the ground, and the pegs should be moved back an inch or two" - yes they are in the way when you put your feet on the ground, but no - they should not be moved anywhere: they're perfectly positioned for comfort. That is why Crosstourer has a such a flawless and comfortable sitting position. Crosstourer is not perfect - it has some areas where it could be improved (like adding cruise control, LED headlight, electronically-controlled suspensions, and stronger wheels for example), but it's still the best shaft adventure bike currently on the market. And no - I don't own this bike: I'm just not making enough. But I test rode it many times, and I also test rode hell of a lot of other bikes. Especially the adventure bikes (since I like them most). Including the most expensive and powerful ones. And Honda VFR1200XD Crosstourer DCT is the best motorcycle I've ever rode: it's fast, it's comfortable, it's reliable, it's low-maintenance, it's versatile, it's very fun and easy to ride. That is why I would totally buy it if I had a money.
Oh please Rex, tell us again how amazing you think this motorcycle is. Again the version you get is not the same one we get here in the US. And once again It is not better than the BMW R1200GS. It just isn't. If the GS vibrates above 5k I haven't noticed it and it's super comfortable with it's electronic suspension and seating position. Again I've never had a problem with my GS. It's heavier than a GS. "it's still the best shaft adventure bike currently on the market" That is just Bullshit. How many motorcycle journalist have placed the Cross tour above KTM, BMW or Ducati? I'm fairly sure the answer is none.
Lol, Derek, you're so full of lie! Well, like most of the BMW fanboys anyway. First of all, USA version of VFR1200X is identical to the European versions, except for the color graphics. So, yeah, it IS the same. Second, yes, Crosstourer is much better than the GS. I already explained in details how and why in the comment above, so there's no need to repeat myself. Honda is just better. Deal with it. And third, I really don't care about journalist's paid reviews and their opinion. They're often full of shit. Like in this video, for example. Or in other videos, where they say that Ducati Multistrada is a great bike, when it's just isn't (again, for example).
A stellar review from someone who's never owned one lol. It's overweight despite the non-electric suspension, has an uninspiring appearance, lacks cruise, which most riders expect on a premium touring bike, and Honda even managed to screw up the V4 sound, which is stellar on the 800. It's a mediocre bike and that explains the mediocre sales.
yayoi1 I think the weight may b a big factor in those sales along with mission cruise control,but I still think it’s nice for price and expense to run it .
Heated grip setting is displayed on the dash.....traction control has 3 settings plus off, so can be tailored to your preference, however, it doesnt make up for the jerky ham fisted riding here......motor has 127hp......there is no "shaft jacking".......very misinformed review.
Don't let the weight spec put you off too much. Bikes carry weight in different ways. I came from a v-strom650 to this bike and it feels like a lighter more agile bike everywhere but the parking lot. After putting some good tires and protection pieces on the bike, I can outride everything I ever did off-pavement on the v-strom, and I got around on that thing
It's nice to see some words of truth and wisdom from the bike owner in this sea of stupid comments from the people who never rode this bike and have no idea what they're talking about.
Best underrated bike out there along with the Yamaha super ten 1200 . Beast of an engine,minimal electronics to go wrong,build quality outstanding and no where near as common as the usual suspects.
Honda wanted it to compete with the BMW GS at a more affordable price range and it does that well. You can now get new old stock for around $8,000 and that’s a great deal considering the GS is over $15,000.
The flashing light helps people who are colorblind. If you have multiple colors its not going to a) help the colorblind and b) help people assign what color = what number.
I am reading through the comments, and I am wondering how many people took the time to consider that he may have been talking in WHEEL horsepower? I own a VFR1200F, if you were wondering. Yes, stock they make 170ish hp at the crank. They also make 145ish horsepower to the rear wheel, so the number he stated is correct if he is talking wheel horsepower from a dyno. What happens when you dyno a 1200X with its 130ish crank hp? You get around 107ish at the rear wheel. Critical thinking is a thing... just saying.
@@PanagiotisFoM1989 No, it's not. The 1200X in the US was rated at 127-129hp. When you dyno them on a rolling road they put down 105-110hp at the rear tire.
@@PanagiotisFoM1989 it's tuned for broader torque, not " crappy US regulations" The US is more relaxed on regulations compared to the rest of the world. A Delkevic full exhaust and a reflashed ECU unleashes a bunch of horsepower.
Actually, he didn’t do his homework on the bike and he got the horsepower wrong. If it been talking about crank horsepower versus real horsepower, he would’ve stated as such. The man’s a little bit whiny. I felt like I was listening to my wife complain.
Your numbers are wrong mate. 129 for the cross tourer, 170 for the 1200 f. Now the vfr 800 cross runner is around 107 hp. Nice review other than that! 😉👍🇬🇷
Imagine the shitstorm if he reviewed a GS, claimed the bike made 20% less power than it actually does, and then rode it around with TC in rain mode because he didn't understand what he'd done to any settings :D Fucking hell what an unprofessional mess this review is.
Bottom right corner of the dash (2016) shows a heated grip icon which cycles numerically as you press the handlebar control... No idea of its on older models
it is may 2021 now, and i just watched your ducati v4s review - looks like ducati finally caught up with honda after 5 years. also, noticed that the duc v4s tops your list now - does it take an msrp of 24K USD to achieve that ranking ? this bike taught ducati what to put in their v4s, and it doesn't feature in your leaderboard !
This bike puts 106hp to the rear wheel vs the multi v4’s 150 or so. The multi is sooooo much faster and better in corners. The Africa Twin 1100 is also better than this bike in almost every way as well.
You should read the instructions manual before commenting wrongly on that bike. You made a lot of mistakes. You don't know how to use the heated grips . You don't know how to use the traction control and so on. You don't know the exact hp. Unbeleivable....
Jacques Lalonde the hp he quotes is the number they get at the wheel from the dyno. Not the BS figure Honda states which is at the crank. This is a shaft driven bike so power train loss is quite a bit higher than usual.
Am the owner of My second Crosstourer DCT & am very happy owner indeed. Am 180cm tall & 105kg weight & i can flatfoot this lady no problem with a seatheight at 85cm. This is an adventure tourer a crossover & a very capeable one. The reason i decided on this over the brilliant Africa Twin was simply the engine & shaftdrive. The police force in My country choose this bike over the Bmw GS and belive Me they know their stuff. If it works in Scandinavia well enough said… If not happy with the traction turn it off. Honda Heated grips: From 2016 one can see the settings on the dash no issue. This is a very harsh review from a rider that appetently does not understand the concept of this machine & crossover. Positives: 1. Comfort & luxury feel 2. Engine: V4 Power 3. Shaftdrive 4. Just enough electronics 5. Intgrated & spacious luggage system 6. One hand adjustable screen on the fly 7. Beautiful finish & paint work in various colour options. 8. Lots of aftermarket gadgets 9. Can be taken off road with correct tyres ex Tkc70 or Anakee Adv & a decent bashplate no problem. 10. Upright sitting position & Good for standing 11. Build quality its a Honda 12. Price 13. The brilliant DCT 14. Self cancelling blinkers 15. Honda dealership network 16. Tubeless Less positives: 1. Weight (But planted & stable) 2. No cruise control as stock (aftermarket is there) 3. No ledlight as stock headlight (aftermarket bulbs are there) 4. A bit dated dash but it works with all info one needs no more no less deal with it.
Once Honda adds electronic cruise control and update the traction control to be like the Africa Twin, I would be very interested. I have an NC700X with the DCT and that’s another plus for this bike. They weren’t going for the high rev, high horsepower market. I prefer the mid range torque and the Honda reliability vs the hyper performance and high maintenance cost of say a Ducati Multistrada or a BMW GS.
Am I alone in thinking from the moment he started talking he had a downer on this machine? And for the record I neither own one, nor intend to own one.
I'm disappointed in how biased you are in this review. I watched a couple other videos of your reviews and it sounded as though you new the bike. You got the hp wrong and lack of understanding about how to use traction control levels and modes of dual clutch operation. I test drove many bikes and once I understood how this bike operates and how to manipulate the dct and traction control to the level of performance I desire I chose this bike. the bike will not only jump out of the gate it will take the front wheel off the ground or burn rubber. You should do another review after you learn to operate it or just remove this one. I now you'll do the honorable thing. Ride it again with the intention of getting all you can out of it once.
Haha a "brisk" 72 degrees. I don't even have any layers going at 72, it's pretty much dream riding temp, 65 even better. Full gear, no overheating, perfection. It's 40 here now and warm for this time of year.
What is that weird neutral cruise all about? First, second, neutral, freewheel for far too long up to the stop line..... Never seen anyone ride like that before.
Torque man, torque! High HP is only good on track, keep it in your Sportbikes. You lose 2 ft lbs of torque, but you make it 2,225 RPMs lower. Much more off-road friendly as well as street friendly. I am hoping this release is probing the interest and touching up the refresh. It is an old bike in a new market and I am hoping the next model will be awesome... Corning/lean traction control, please? On road/off road top level mode options? some day...
From 0 to 7500 rpm VFR1200X makes more hps and ft lbs than any of it's direct competitors (which is other adventure shafties), including the GS. And VFR1200X is second behind the Triumph above 7500 rpm (but still ahead of GS). So Honda has enough power and torque. Best in the category so far.
If you think the F version lacks torque in the middle of the RPM range, you have obviously never ridden one. They make 90% of peak torque from 4000-10,000rpm, and still pull very strong between 3 and 4k. The X just has the advantage from off idle to 3000, which is pointless on a bike like the F, but that doesn;t mean the F is anemic in that lower rev range either, far from it. The F isn't a track bike, it's a sport touring bike, and it has a very WIDE power curve that makes it useable in day to day riding...and a track if you want to do so...
My favorite all-around bike I ever owned was a '94 VFR750. I have a Transalp and long said that the ideal bike would be the VFR750 engine in a dual-sport frame. The VFR1200X comes soooo close to achieving that, but falls short.No gear driven cams (but at least no V-Tec, as far as I can tell!), goofy 1980s LCD tach, weird heated grip interface instead of a simple dial knob, and neutered output along with awful traction control. What a shame. Plus, who decided to put nice tubeless (?) spoked wheels on this, but standard tube-type wheels on the Africa Twin?
I find these commute reviews quite biased. Love the On Two Wheels stuff, but when it comes to reviewing practical hardware, maybe the mag should find someone more suited to the job. Everything seems to come down to a comparison of things that make good repli-racers. People who would buy this bike may like to know the weight, but don't really care if it's heavier than a ZX-6 or what have you. In fact, some riders may prefer a little road hugging weight, particularly if they're apt to ride in wind. Also may prefer a bike with a frame sufficient to carry another person and luggage. More important, does it carry the weight high or low? They also aren't likely to care that it doesn't make as much top end power as an Aprillia RR. Is the power it produces smooth and linear? Much more important to me than it's top speed. The TC thing is a little overdone too. It's a street bike. Why on earth would it have a TC setup to work on a Moto GP bike. Not exactly apples to apples. If it's not raining, just turn it off. The shaft jacking comment was useful. As was the unusual heated grips, though my guess is that that's something one would get used to pretty quickly. I'm sure Honda has Human Factor engineers who study that kinda thing. Comparing it to the AT is also confounding. Just sitting on the AT, the front brake felt like mush, the suspension bounced around like it was made of Slinkies, and the seat was thin enough to use as a replacement for a banana seat on a 1970s bicycle. In all those aspects, the VFR felt way more suited to street riding to me. I love the concept, but what I found is that the bike was way too tall and top heavy for me. I could barely get it off the kickstand in the showroom. It also doesn't come with luggage and what Honda makes for it is hideous. Price doesn't bother me much, but it should come with cruise control and a proper shaft for that style and price of bike.
No doubt about it. He's a fast guy and likes bikes that fit that profile. If one wants the skinny on the best hyper track bike, Zack's opinion would be a gold standard. But this bit is called "commute." 160 hp and tires that are capable of running 180 mph and how much easier it is to steer a bike that's 40 lbs lighter at 100 mph aren't really applicable. Why some of these bikes are even chosen is a head scratcher. Is someone really thinking the best way to drag their laptop to and from work is balled up in a racer's tuck on a 959? If you've ever commuted any distance, you'll understand that things like clutch lightness, how well the bike handles at low speeds, the smoothness of on/off throttle response, the ability to carry things, the seat height, the ergonomics, cruise control, self canceling signals, plushness of suspension over crappy city roads and so on are FAR more important to a commuting rider than top speeds and M50 calipers.
No, simply someone who actually uses bikes to actually commute would be sufficient. And not just in Sunny So Cal, but in rainy Portland or freezing Toledo or over beat up roads in New Jersey.
He's a fast guy? Zack has liked several motorcycles on his commute series that weren't high performance motorcycles. He's ridden the Scout 60, Grom, R-nine-T scrambler, Versys 650, and A CB500F.
Not a matter of like, but a matter of reviewing the bikes on the basis of their supposed use. In fairness, I just watched again and he did make some decent points about the general features of the bike, though not as they pertain to commuting per se. I used to commute on an 800lb+ Victory and it was fabulous for that job and in general. I now have a little sub 500lb bike which is great fun, but wouldn't make near as nice a platform for commuting as the Vic. IOW, just citing a weight number (or other) from a spec sheet tells me nothing about how it would affect my ability to commute on it. If the idea is, the Africa Twin will be lighter to pick up if you dump it on a dirt road, okay. Most of us aren't commuting on dirt roads though.
Read the owners manual before commenting on the system or controls of a bike. Thats what owners do and there is no good excuse for providing false information through ignorance when the info is available. And the AT has the same TC as the VFR so keep that in mind.
Gary Van Derveer he mentioned that we in the states just got it & Europe had it first . I think it may have to do with taking the measurement from the crank the shaft or the wheel . In different countries they seem to do that . Only explanation I can think of . Hope it helps.
@@garyv3588 They actually put the bikes on a dyno, they dont just read the press release and take it for fact. And this is shaft driven traverse engine, so it loses heaps of power to change the axis of rotation twice before it gets to the wheel.
@@Sekouguru I would consider some other options to be honest. I bought it and enjoyed it for about 6 months, then the weight and a few other mechanical issues began to bother me. If you’re looking in this class of bikes, I would strongly recommend the super tenere, vstrom 1000, or versys 1000 before buying this bike. I’ve tried several bikes since buying it. I found that I’m actually happiest on my DR650
I was going to say it's heavy as fuck and it does need at least 200 HP 100foot pounds of torque!!at least 150hp like the sport bikes 4cylender motor's and at least 110 or a higher torque converter!!!
I'm here for same reason. VStrom has the same comfort, bulletproof engine, LED lights, Cruise control & is 30-40Kg lighter (Japanese VFR is 'only' 275 Kg). Makes my choice easier.
Not really.... the Africa Twin is more of a killer V-Strom than an R1200GS rival. Way less power, way less in the way of creature comforts, but WAY more capable on dirt.
This review is not honest at all. Actually this bike IS a competitor to R1200GS. More than that, Crosstourer is actually better than GS. I don't own any of these bikes, but I test rode them both multiple times, and Crosstourer is obviously better.
Nothing is obvious buddy, explain why it's better, give points for and against, don't go claiming something as "obvious" as it means absolutely nothing. The Africa Twin is a wierd one, it's punching above it's weight so it made people compare it to the 1200s and 1300s however that's wrong as it comes up short, when you compare it to the lower 650-800s it comes up strong, its stuck in between like the Versys 1000 and the V-Strom 1000 and both are at best sketchy off road and okay on road so it pretty much got that corner beat... Honda needs to redesigned it a bit, allow upper crash bar installation points and different seating options, jam a bigger engine in there and give more hp and torque and better electronics and give it a better on road mode to compete with the fact that both the GS and the KTMs give quite a good ride on road. This will of course make the price go up which is a problem as the Honda is picked usually for being cheaper. The Crosstourer is more of a competitor to the KTM 1299 Super Adventure which is not designed for off road only touring, much like the crosstourer, and it lost this battle.
I already explained in details why Crosstourer is better than the GS in other comments over here. No need to repeat myself - just read that comments. Everything you said about Africa Twin is totally pointless. You obviously have no idea about adventure bikes, and what are they designed for. Versys 1000 is a 100% road bike (just like Ducati Multistrada, BMW S1000XR, Triumph Tiger 1050) - it's really stupid to compare it with Africa Twin and other true touring enduros. V-Strom is a 95% road 5% slightly offroad crossover bike. Just like the R1200GS/GSA, VFR1200X/XD Crosstourer, Triumph Tiger Explorer, and others. Again, no competitors for the true big touring enduros. The only actual Africa Twin direct competitors are other big touring enduros: BMW F800GS/GSA, KTM 1090 Adventure R and 1290 Super Adventure R, Triumph Tiger 800 XC. That's all. Africa is clearly way much better in almost every aspect than the BMW and Triumph, so Honda's only real competitors is KTMs. They have more top power, more bells and whistles (1290 only), but they are more expensive, and probably not even remotely as reliable as Honda. With it's seat height of just 850 mm in low position (870 mm in high position) Africa Twin suits everyone. Together with low center of gravity Honda is surely the most user friendly bike in the category, while all the other bikes with their 880-890 mm seats are suitable for tall people only (especially offroad). Honda also have the clearly most robust engine in the class with the lowest compression ratio of only 10:1 (comparing to the high 12:1 on the BMW and ridiculously high 13.1:1 on the KTM) That means Africa Twin may easily ride on the low quality low octane fuel from the third world countries, and BMWs and KTMs can't: they'll blow their engines very soon if you put a bad fuel in them. This happens pretty often with the BMWs. So Africa Twin is the only modern touring enduro which is capable of easily doing around the world adventure trips without any problems and hesitations. That's why Honda Africa Twin is currently the king of the true adventure bike segment by far. And Crosstourer is currently the best shaft adventure bike. I haven't test rode the KTM 1290 Super Adventure yet, so I don't know what it's like to drive. But we know for sure that it's not even closely as reliable as Crosstourer is. And it's probably not as comfortable as Honda (because of the KTM's V-twin's vibrations). Besides, high-end touring bike with a chain? Lol, that's just pathetic.
Purchised a red VFR 1200X Crosstourer two months ago MY 2017 with 15000km, a bike l didn't noticed before. Unique concept with V4, Kardan, DCT, upside down front fork, single rear swing. I guess no other bike have this combination. Grip and seatheater are not necessary for me. I love it after 3000 km riding. My other bike is a US, an lndian Chieftain Dark Horse. Regards from Hungary!
Compared to its direct competitors this bike looks overweight and early 2000s dated. 600 plus pounds, a tc that kills all fun, no cruise control, lacking in Hp, smaller fuel capacity than its competitors. Time for a redesign.
This makes a great case for the Suzuki V-strom 1000, especially the 2018 version coming soon. same overall package less 2 cylinders, shaft drive, and close to 100 lbs. Even has the same goofy footpeg placement. Oh yeah, $4000 cheaper!
Honda VFR 1200F from 2010 made 173 HP :) 107 HP (or 129HP version) is castrated version of that engine to probably meet the emition standards. Disaster. I would unleash all the horses first if I'd buy this bike.
The default traction control on the Africa Twin is equally intrusive and annoying. Mine would cut in all the time on my DCT, felling like I suddenly was running out of gas. The only saving grace is that it's easy to turn off on the fly.
Your review is a bit whiney. The TC is excellent when engaged. Simply turn it off and it will wheelstand. Its missing power can be unlocked with tuning. You really can use this bike offroad and its very easy to grab too much power as it is.
+Zack Courts You echoed exactly what a lot of motorcyclists are thinking about Honda these days. They do good one moment and then immediately do something mediocre. And then I am also annoyed with the fact that Honda is completely ignoring it's Indian consumer base.
I know you would have to take a longer route to work, but you gotta review the 2017 grom for commuting! I commute on my 2015 every day but I have the luxury of being able to use the freeway in my country :p
U aren't engine breaking when ur slowing down either with that heavy of a bike it looks great BUT I would change the full exhaust system!!!! the handle bars!!! drop weight where ever possible!
Why would a person use engine breaking specifically when slowing down at a stop sign or light when brakes work much better? I'm certain he's ridden a lot more than most people and a greater number of different motorcycles than all, but dealers and journalists.
its has as much torque as a LC GS and even a Multistrada at the rear wheel...how is that dissapointing? It even has all that torque at 5400rpm, much lower than the GS (wich is supposed to be class leading?) and much much lower than the Multistrada wich is the rocket of the bunch. add the aftermarket electronic cruise control from VeeFour and you got a cheaper but evenly power bike, minus the fancy electronic suspension.
I think your commute videos are GREAT. I think you should honestly let him ride most new and noteworthy bikes for the commute videos. They are great and BETTER than ANY OTHER reviews out there. It's honest and from a bikers point of view. So many RU-vidRS attempt bike reviews but have no clue what they are talking about. I like ChaseOnTwoWheels but seriously go watch one of his reviews it's horrendous and gives null for real information. Thank you for these videos.
Dude, you don't know what you talking about. This review is extremely biased and one-sided. It is as far from being honest as it gets. Reviews should not be like that. They should be objective and unbiased - which is exact opposite of this review.
It's an expert opinion from a person who's ridden a lot more than you and a lot more than most riders. Anyone can look at the specs and make their opinion. A riding review is a review of the stuff that's subjective. If you don't like his reviews than please stop watching them.
127.4 imperial hp on the crank (according to official data) it is. And 107.5 imp hp on the real wheel on the dyno (acording to Rider Magazine). Google for the difference between crank power and rear wheel power.
the traction control system is dangerous. I killed a brand new cross tourer when I worked at Honda. the traction control only works on warm tyres. not cold.
