Drives me crazy how so many ppl clown on Honda for making excellent machines. Like...."it's too good, it has no character!" Like WHAT!!!! Just silly! They make amazing bikes, some of the best. Love the look of this bike! Awesome review.
Unreliable doesn't equal character. Revzilla did an episode on which bikes have soul, alot of hondas lack soul because they just focus on ticking the box. Hondas business model is: does this bike go, yes, lets sell it. And that is how a vanilla bike is made. Its not a bad thing, just a little boring.
@@mt09madness this bike is not boring unless you call adventure siting on the side of the road waiting for a tow 😅it does lack sound even with performance pipes we’re the 1200 f sounds awesome, but I can live with that, I’ve taken it on moderate trail and fire roads, long distance it’s truly the Swiss Army knife of motorcycle I was waiting for the pan American but code issues plague the bike useless and dealer not helping and my friends with the 1200 gs the reliability and cost of maintaining the beast😀, I fell into this bike by chance if I needed to sell all my bikes but one I would keep the 1200x in a heartbeat
I have both version F and X, the X ride much more comfortable and very minimal maintenance on it. I enjoy every moment riding it, no gimmick or high tech to go wrong with. I don’t feel the need of cruise control as palm support work well enough for me on long trip. Adding some other stuffs from SW motech, the bike look amazing.
I ended up with VFR x and ecstatic never had a machine fit me and had everything I need it’s a part of me, I was waiting for the Pan American and considered the BMW what a nightmare the Pan is, some people think it’s worth going to the shop every two weeks sometimes being charged, the only complaint I have on the VFR is pipes there are no pipes that make it sound good so stock it is and forever will be, this is the last bike I’ll probably have other than the have the Harley FXR and 650 dr Suzuki i ride
Love mine. I live in the UK and last year I suffered a couple of minor strokes. I was convinced my riding days were over, but this bike is so well balanced even at walking speeds it's fantastically easy to ride.. I have to add that mine is the DCT version, which make it super easy to ride - you choose your style by how much you twist your right wrist. Only time the weight shows is when you're manouvering it into a parking slot. I intend to ride untill the end of days, and this is the bike to do it on!
Had mine for 4 years and 19000 uk miles, it’s the DCT transmission version, would I ever part with it, no chance. Best bike I’ve ever rode and will ride it until either one of us dies first, awesome machine 👌
I'm on my second vfr1200x with DCT gearbox. Fantastic review 👍. I have done a trip from southern France to the NorthCape in Norway. A 12000km round trip with my wife as pillion. Not a problem, steady as a rock in the strong winds that far north. Reliable quality Honda, is mine for sale? Never this is a keeper. Oh but the way I'm 72 years young ✌️ I have a channel on RU-vid called Crosstourertony where you can see my videos to North Cape and also the Iberian Peninsula, another 7000km trip. The Honda is like a Swiss watch perfection. Crosstourertony ✌️
Hi and welcome from Australia. Being a Crosstourer owner I have watched so many reviews of this bike, but this is far and away THE one review that exactly nails this bike! I will definitely subscribe and watch all your reviews. I've just passed 110,000kms,(the bulk of this 2up and fully loaded) and aside from having the shock rebuilt twice it has been rock solid. It doesn't have all the fancy stuff but it doesn't matter, that grunty induction noise makes up for anything. Keep up the great work guys!
As an owner of this same bike, a few key points I totally agree with, very planted and composed on the highway and shockingly agile as soon as you start moving. I'm not sure how Honda does it, I have ridden a few other "big bikes" like the FJR 1300 and C14 and this - to me - has much lighter steering and agility.
Great review. I had a 2017 DCT for 5 months and logged @15,000 miles on it before trading it in for my 2018 Goldenwing DCT, non tour. The CT is a great all around bike and I love its simplicity. And that V4 is really sweet. I’m only 5’6” and had no problem making this bike my daily driver. I recently bought the “F” version of this bike, but I’m missing the CT. Will be in the market for another one very soon. Ride safe…
Please tell me, your height turns out to be 171 cm somewhere like that. But did your feet reach the floor? Or did you have a Japanese bike with less power? Is the saddle height just a little lower there, like? Please answer.
Had mine for almost four years now. Changed low and high beam lights to leds, added a few things like electronic cruise control, tpms, crash bar, and a set of yellow/white switchable external independent led lights. Best of all is the motor and the DCT. Got almost 10K miles (us) and had absolutely nothing going bad or wrong so far. And best of all, this beast will smoke a1200 BMW in a heartbeat (not the 1250 though, a little too heavy, but can keep up!). The only thing that could be done better is the display!
A couple of years ago, they had new, deep-discounted, hold-over stock. Around $9800 out-the-door. I didn't buy it...one of my biggest regrets. I bought the 2014 VFR1200F later, and loved it, but preferred the comfort of the 1200X. Although the X was de-tuned, it still had plenty of usable power (and them some). I never came close to using the full power of the F.
OC: the Multi V4 has all the bells and whistles but c'mon this is a Honda. The reliability on their bikes are top notch. And if they would make a latest iteration of this bike maybe they'd add more electronics on it. So yeah, I will still choose this bike over the Multi if that's the case.
I just love mine. Best sports touring bike for the money. Whenever I lament about the weight I remind myself it’s 200 pounds lighter than a Goldwing and 100 pounds lighter than an ST1300.
Love my DCT Crosstourer. Rode it on the Idaho BDR last year and next month Utah. Had to put a Corbin seat on it for long ride comfort. It definitely can do ADV all day long.
I’ve had this bike for 2 years by far the best bike I’ve ever had and I’ve had over 30, and yes I’ve ridden trails no-problems but no better than intermediate won’t handle anything-more But eats highway like desert. If you want one bike this is the Swiss Army knife of motorcycles and to top it off reliability and low maintenance is a big plus, discloser I’m 6.6 this bike not the vertically impaired it’s big it’s smooth it’s powerful the downside is if think not sitting on the side of the road with code issues or broken down boring this bike is not for you, and it’s quite almost electric motor power and sound
The bike can be a little snatch at lower revs. Go to your local Honda dealer have them reflash it, and mine magically went away. It is a super comfortable bike and can really eat up miles. I’m a similar size to you. 5’11 , 33 inseam and 210 lbs. it is definitely not an off roader but can be taken down fire roads, gravel roads with confidence. I love the upright economics on it.
Just bought a 2017 with 14k on it. The dealer shop said there was no point in the reflash because there hadn’t been any updates. Have you heard differently? Of course, your experience obviously says it helps.
Bought mine new. Love it! It’s top heavy and has enough electronics to get by. I’ve added crash bars, led day lights, koako (Sp?) throttle lock, Sargent seat, factory grip heaters, and Anakee adventure tires. This V4 engine is awesome. You don’t feel any engine heat, the windshield flips up and down easily, and I’ve taken it around Lake Superior a few times. Yes, it’s top heavy so you need to adjust the forks and rear shock accordingly. If you think this bike can’t go off road then check out Big Bike Adventures on you tube.
Bought my CT 2020. I got to say that i have some trouble with buffeting around the windscreen. The seat is a bit stiff and on longer trips i feel like the seat is a little to wide, and im a tall guy and 30 years old. But other than that, this bike is a keeper for me. Sure a GS would be awesome to own, but its too much money.. And i feel like this Honda wont let me down. This bike is like, what you see is what you get. :)
I brought a VFR1200F a few weeks back and my god it goes but much like the X it's lacking in electronics and is heavy. The nice thing about the F is the power is upped to 170bhp, which really is too much for everyday use but it's great when you look down and your doing 130 140 and it's still pulling hard.
This bike is exactly how you tested it because I got one 2017 build in Australia is a bike for long rides perfectly balanced ,once you get going feels like a small bike although is 265kg ,it is a shame Honda stopped making it.
Had a 17 great bike! There were a abs fault that was sorted out ,other than that it was great,lot of bang for the buck! Now on a 2020 GSA! For me the bmw is superior in all ways,but way more expensive! For me i got what i paid for! I loved the v4 but it was thirsty! Was sceptical to the boxer at first but it is so vell planted for touring and 136 hk camshift is a beast of torque! Seat on bmw way more comfy,cruise control,the suspension is were bmw sticks out,like riding on clouds if you choose road mode! Bmw carries the weight low,feels much lighter! For me ct is top heavy in comparison! Bmw also has much better wind protection! Bmw is very stable in high speeds as well! Police uses bmw for a reason! Ct is a very solid build bike and a lot for the money! Bmw is much better on gravel as well! Drive safely M
Great video , I am also getting that vibe as well, a budget friendly multi strada with no add ons , I’m surprised the gears are so long , on my CBR300R the gears are ridiculously short but I do understand why they are short. Nice video! 🎃 Happy Halloween 👻
I ride a 2011 multistrada 1200s and I love it, I'd love to get the new multistrada v4 but the price tag is criminal...this honda might be a great choice too...just wish they still made them...honda has a 1200 v4 motor so they have the potential to compete with Aprilia and ducati, maybe if they got the HP up they can compete with the super naked bikes. They have the cb1000r naked bike but it would be way cooler of they had the v4 in it
I love my crosstourer, I use it for commuting in heavy traffic in London, long tours in Europe, day rides etc and it does it all well, the honda luggage boxes hold huge amounts of luggage. A big heavy bike for sure but then I'm 6'4" and need a big tall bike. The V4 is sublime but it definitely needs cruise control, maybe I'll retro fit one sometime? Any recommendations welcome.
Always wanted them to stuff this in a cruiser and make a modern Magna, similar to what they did back in the day. At least with the VFR800 engine I mean c'mon. Edit: the VFR1200F has 175hp, so that engine can make stupid power + the 90+ ft lbs. I'm surprised the X is detuned so much.
The F is completely another type of bike and that is why i got so much horsepower. The X is a ADV and need the torque, not horsepower. The torque in the X is great, feels like a rocket when you go for it.
As I understand the 1200 motor is more compact and lighter than the 800. A modern 1200 Magna w/ HRC influence would've ran with the Diavel, Rocket 3 and V-Max. Such a missed opportunity.
Look... Money, I don't have an abundance of. But, I can easily fabricate time. Where is brian? I will gladly watch yours and his content. I've been a viewer since long before Brian came alon but want to continue support him.
I would’ve loved for Honda to have made a lighter vfr800x. Who knows, maybe it could’ve been closer to 500lbs. Something like that might have a bit more character than a v-strom 650 or versys 650.
Didn't they actually make a VFR800X? I think it was called the Crossrunner and it utilized the VFR800F engine. It was also just over 500lbs if I remember correctly.
@@filoIII Very similar bikes overall Main differences are: 1. the more character full V4 engine with 170bhp. The power alone on the VFR is more than competitive, even today. 2. Optional DCT on the Honda, for those who don't like/ cant shift on their own. 3. Shaft drive on the VFR as opposed to chain on the Versys
Less modes less electronic intervention...Brilliant..learn to ride within your limits and the bikes limits..clutch, brake , throttle & gear control is proper riding..If you can't manage without rider aids you ain't really riding..you are just holding the bars and may as well be playing a bike sim on your playstation !! Cruise control ...really? 🤣🤣🤣
Honda started to make them in 2011 or 2012 through 2020 (i think) without upgrading it at all. So the throttle is still mechanical, not ride-by-wire and cruise control is not possible.
They all have throttle by wire but use a cable to the servo for throttle feel, an Australian company called McCruise sell a fully electronic cruise control for the vfr1200x that will even maintain its speed up and down hills and can be set at any speed in any gear.
Good note, the verseys 1000 has significantly less torque and a tough case of split personality. If the verseys 1000 was more sporty (bmwxr1000) it would appeal to that crowd. It’s tall and handles like an adventure bike but doesn’t have the same versatility to go off road. The chain drive puts it further away from the touring end. It is very much like a more poorly executed vfr1200.