2015 HONDA VFR800X CROSSRUNNER
FIRST RIDE
P68
weight counter to the electronic
sophistication of a bike like the
Ducati Multistrada, which has
some rider aid programs many of
its potential customers say they
wouldn't use and don't need.
Interestingly, Ducati has yet
to produce the 899 Multistrada
that's been rumored for so long.
But if they ever do, Honda's
got its retaliation in first with the
new Crossrunner, whose main
competitor right now will be the
Triumph Tiger Sport. It's a real-
world multi-purpose traditionalist
tool for customers who prefer to
ride products embodying the axi-
om–simple is best.
Its more upright riding position
and sharper styling (combined
with its extra stock features like
ABS, TC and heated grips) and
the greater performance from the
soulful-sounding V4 motor, see
both form and function improved to
create a practical all-round motor-
cycle. It's an everyday bike for all
seasons and reasons that is also
exciting to ride when you want it
to be. The only slight remaining
disappointment is that Honda's
second-generation semi-automat-
ic DCT/Dual Clutch Transmission
isn't available even as an option, as
it is for example on the VFR1200X
Crosstourer that this model is very
much the sibling of.
"In order to include this for
Crossrunner customers, we
would have to design a new en-
gine with different crankcases
to give space for DCT transmis-
sion," said Inayama-san with ob-
vious signs of disappointment.
"Perhaps in the future we can
consider this, but for the time be-
ing it's not in our plans." Pity.
Still, Honda plans to make
5,000 examples of its new
Crossrunner model available
worldwide for 2015, and this time
around it should sell them all.
MSRP is expected to be approxi-
mately $16,100. CN
The new
Crossrunner
model is set
to be available
worldwide for
2015.
