Honda India launched its VFR1200F

Honda India launched its VFR1200F

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Honda launched its new VFR 1200F in New Delhi today at an ex-showroom price of Rs 17.5 lakhs. The bike is powered by a 1237cc V4 engine and is available with both manual and automatic transmission. A detailed overview of the bike and its outstanding features is given below.

The V4 engine produces 172 bhp and a torque of 129Nm @ 8,750 rpm and weighs a heavy 267 kgs. The engine however does a good job of offsetting any disadvantages posed by the extra weight. In a new engine layout the rear cylinders are positioned closer together compared with the front cylinders, thereby reducing the size and weight of the engine. A highlight of the engine is its fantastic low-end torque availability as 90% of the peak torque is available at as low as 4,000 rpm.

A unique offering of the bike is that it offers many first-time features which have been associated with cars traditionally. A dual-clutch, automatic available as an option offers paddle shifting as seen on many cars these days. It also allows the rider to choose two modes, D-mode and S-mode after which the shifting job is done by the transmission for the rider. The manual transmission sports six cogs.

Another laudable feature of the bike is its combined braking system with ABS as a standard thereby enhancing the safety quotient even more by making panic stops a lot safer. For the detail-loving reader and enthusiast here goes an explanation. The bike has a six piston caliper up front bolted on to dual discs making twelve pistons in total at the front and a two-piston caliper at the rear, thereby making a total of four at the rear. During an only front brake application all the caliper pistons on the right side are activated and four pistons on the left are activated. On the following application of the rear brake the other two left-side pistons are activated. In order to maintain equal braking force when using the front brake only, the right side pistons are a tad smaller than the left-side pistons.

A surprise feature of the bike is the absence of the conventional chain-drive which has been replaced by a newly designed shaft drive system for the rear wheel. Yes, the engine power is transmitted to the rear wheels through a shaft similar to cars and not through the chain drive system we usually see. The output shaft is placed below the transmission countershaft to create a longer swingarm without having to stretch the wheelbase. This design helps in providing the rider with a chain-drive like feeling. The bike also sports a slipper clutch, thereby making the features list sound closer to a factory road racer. If you're wondering what the slipper clutch means then do not haste away to "Google". In simple terms on a non slipper clutch equipped bike if you're riding in 5th gear at a speed of 100 km/hr and suddenly downshift to 3rd at more or less the same speed the bike would undergo massive engine deceleration and might cause the rear wheel to lock and hence jeopardize the rider's safety. In the VFR all of this drama is done away with as the slipper clutch mechanism allows you to use engine braking for decelerating purposes without having to worry about the rear wheel getting locked. This feature is normally found on racing-oriented motorcycles.

The Honda VFR 1200F will start getting delivered to owners from about the 3rd week of August and will be offered in two colours, Candy Prominence Red & Seal Silver Metallic.