New Honda VFR Spied!
By Gabe Ets-Hokin
There's no doubt in our collective minds that Honda will be releasing an all-new VFR replacement this fall. But what such a bike might look like, or the details of its technical nitty-gritty, is currently unknown. Well, at least until today.
This week's issue of England's weekly moto-tabloid MCN promises an all-new model, the VFR1200, with a "variable-cylinder" feature that will shut down the rear bank of cylinders to improve fuel economy at steady speeds. It will have conventional wheels and beam-type frame, in contrast to the concept V4 shown in Milan last year, which sported hubless wheels and a frameless design. The photo on the MCN web site is a colorized black-and-white image MCN dug up from somewhere on the Web. It shows a bike that definitely shares styling cues with the show bike, but with more believable proportions and details.
MCN's been known to lead us on a wild goose chase or two over the years, but automotive blog LeftLaneNews has erased all doubt. It posted pictures of what is undoubtedly the new VFR undergoing testing, presumably somewhere near the Honda Proving Grounds in the Mojave desert of California. The bike is finished in black, but still gives up a lot of secrets. It has a single-sided swingarm, shaft drive, inverted front end with radial-mount calipers, and the same futuristic styling seen in the MCN artwork. Wind protection looks ample, with a big fairing and windscreen - or maybe it just looks big because of the bike's skinny rider! Other details include a long shift linkage (hinting at stacked transmission shafts), an ample tailsection with passenger grabhandles, and a muffler resembling a spittoon from The Jetsons. Overall, the bike looks very ready for production, with lights, mirrors, license-plate bracket and reflectors.
and a few photos of it as well:
