2016 HONDA VFR1200X
FULL TEST
P104
In fact, the first time I laid eyes
on the VFR was at Honda's Af-
rica Twin world media launch in
Moab; Honda had one on hand
for us to ride in between stints
on the Africa Twin. Unfortunate-
ly, I didn't get the chance to ride
the VFR, instead opting to spend
every single riding moment in
Moab on the Africa Twin, after
all, that's the bike that I came
to test. There would be oppor-
tunities to ride the VFR later I
rationalized, so I stayed focused
on the AT.
As it turned out, I was more
than right about having my
opportunities to ride the VFR.
Honda not only gave me the
opportunity to ride it but also the
opportunity to actually "live" with
it and spend months on it riding
in the real world. The VFR1200X
I rode was a 2016 model, but
it returns in 2017 as the exact
same motorcycle, except for
color. It now comes in red in-
stead of black.
Honda markets that
VFR1200X as an adventure-
touring motorcycle, because
it's capable of going both on-
and off-road. It's powered by a
1237cc, 76-degree Unicam V4
engine that was previously used
in the VFR1200F, which Honda
recently quit selling here in the
U.S. In the X, the engine has
been retuned for more bottom-
end and midrange performance.
The VFR1200X is available with
a six-speed manual transmission
or, here is the exciting part, with
Honda's Dual Clutch Transmis-
sion (DCT) system, also known
in simpler terms as automatic
transmission. I chose the DCT
model. Why? Well, why not? I
already know what it's like riding a
manual-shift bike, I've been doing
that for 40-plus years; I've ridden
auto bikes before, sure, but never
for any real length of time. So,
part of the curiosity for me in this
test was: what's it like living with
an auto-bike? I found out that it's
actually quite nice!
Honda found good
use for the VFR1200F
engine, which has
been re-tuned for
improved bottom-to-
mid performance
for the X.
