We had reported on all the speculation surrounding sketches of Honda’s new V-four last week. We now have the real info, as promised.
It seems more an evolution of the VFR800F than an entirely new design.
Honda introduces what it claims is a new concept in motorcycling, the crossover. Called the Crossrunner, the bike is said to combine the flexibility and attitude of a naked bike with styling and roomy riding position of an adventure-touring machine. Isn’t that what the current Triumph Tiger or the Multistrada 1200 are?
Honda also reintroduces VTEC variable valve timing on Crossrunner’s 782 cc, 100 hp, 90-degree V-four, which was last seen in the VFR800F.The liquid-cooled engine drives a six-speed gearbox (yes, we were kidding about the automatic), which delivers power through chain final drive.
Beneath the bodywork is an aluminum twin-spar frame, which looks similar and has steering geometry almost identical to the VFR800F, but with longer suspension travel. Wheels are 17-inch rolling on supersport sized 120/70 and 180/55 radials.
Claimed wet weight is 240 kg (530 lb), but that includes a 21.5-litre load of fuel. Combined ABS is standard.
This bike will not come be coming to Canada next year.
Transalp…Transalp….hello Honda??
“Honda also reintroduces VTEC…” :roll Shame!
At least in the pictures above the fairing looks like a real abortion to me. And that stupid beak on the front…
Why, oh, why do bike makers insist on turning out bikes with no real off-road capability at all (but a desirable comfortable riding position, IMO) and then giving them stupid styling like this? Must be something to do with Europe, where I swear they’re getting something funny in the water. Maybe some of that Kilo of acid that Husky has been partaking in (a kg of LSD would be 10,000,000 standard 100 microgram “hits”, btw).
Bondo is right, the Transalp is the obvious choice for North America. I would have gladly traded my 650 V-strom for a Transalp, a bike with with similar specs, yet real off-road ability. Honda seems to have decided that North America is simply a dumping ground for overfed sporkbikes and cruisers. See my previous rant on the VTR 250 vs the CBR 250. Clearly, there’s something about business I don’t get.
Yay. It does have a seat and a headlight! These CMG journos are on the ball 🙂
Glad to see so many new models coming out from Honda – a couple of them piqued my interest… but not this one.
There’s been a pattern with Honda lately, that from some reason their R&D department dropped weight from their handling formulas and don’t mind go big, as long as they renovate the design (I suppose they cannot do it without bring the weight figure up …). I guess they know something the rest of us don’t. Every single street legal bike coming from them (except for super sports 600-1000cc) is on the porky side when compared to other bikes of similar category.
Doesn’t this model really compete with the CBF for market share?
Again I have to ask – why? Honda already has the Transalp, a simple, economical, comfortable, reliable V-twin that’s a perennial favourite in Europe and it weighs only 218 kg. You don’t think the Transalp would go head to head with the Wee Strom, 800GS and the new Tiger 800?
And now the CBR125 is over 300 pounds wet. I always thought that lighter was better, especially in a beginner’s bike.