GREEN RIVER HONDA

Revolutionary. That's the word that everyone keeps repeating once they get their head around the new Honda VFR1200F. Just as the first Honda Interceptor shook the motorcycling world to its roots, the new VFR1200F redefines what a motorcycle can be. One ride and you'll see that for yourself.


It's okay if you catch yourself staring. Everybody does the first time they lay eyes on the stunning new VFR1200F. And that's before they've even seen what beauty lies beneath the skin of this state-of-the-art V4. And once you do get past the stunning looks there's revolutionary new technology everywhere, from the all-new, ultra-compact 1237cc V4 engine and Honda's first-ever Throttle By Wire system to the automatic dual-clutch transmission featuring F1-style-push-button shifting.


1237cc V4 Engine - Drawing on 30 years of legendary V4 technology and racing success, Honda designers gave the VFR1200F what is surely the most advanced streetbike engine yet; an all-new, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 1237cc, 76-degree, V4 brimming with low-end torque (90% of peak torque is available at just 4000 rpm!) Overall, it's more compact than the 781cc engine used in the Interceptor. And, or course, it has the inimitable sound and feel that only come from a VFR.


Compact Cylinder Head Design - Looking to our championship-winning CRF motocross machines, we used Honda's revolutionary Unicam technology to minimize cylinder head size, weight, and allow for a flatter combustion chamber for a quicker, more efficient burn while still allowing an impressive redline of 10,200 rpm.


Differential Cylinder Bank - Furthering our pursuit of compact engine size, the VFR powerplant's V4 rear cylinders are placed side by side but close together, while the front cylinders are more widely spaces. This makes the engine narrower near the rider's feet and allows the entire chassis and seating area to feature a distinctly narrowed profile.


28° -Phase Crankshaft - A special high-strength Symmetrically Coupled Phase-shift Crankshaft offsets the crankshaft journals of each pair of front and rear cylinders by 28 degrees to give the new VFR a unique firing order, which works in concert with the 76-degree V-angle to essentially negate primary engine vibration for smooth running. Since the powerplant has perfect primary balance, the need for a balance shaft is eliminated, minimizing weight and space. To ensure that V4 feel, we've engineered a unique ignition sequence of 104 degrees-256 degrees-104 degrees-256 degrees between cylinder firings.


Throttle By Wire - In a first for Honda motorcycles, the VFR1200F features a Throttle By Wire system to ensure outstanding response and seamless acceleration across the engine's rev range. Throttle By Wire system incorporates an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to process information from rider throttle control input and throttle valve position to return a more accurate throttle response. Throttle By Wire improves engine responsiveness and operation by providing fuel delivery that is smoother and more precise.


Slipper Clutch - We told you the VFR's parts manifest reads almost like that of a factory road racer. The VFR1200F's slipper clutch mechanism moderates the effect of deceleration torque on the rear wheel, allowing braking to slow the bike without causing the rear tire to chatter.


Offset Pivot Driveshaft - Another first for Honda is the VFR's new-generation shaft final-drive system. The output shaft is placed below the transmission countershaft to effectively create a longer Swingarm span without extending the total wheelbase to help deliver a chain-drive-like feel from throttle to road. In addition, the Pro-Arm Swingarm is placed with a wide-span frame Swingarm pivot area for increased chassis rigidity, and the Swingarm pivot sits in an offset position above the line of the driveshaft. A sliding constant-velocity universal joint adjusts for changes in driveline length automatically as the driveshaft moves throughout the arc of rear-wheel travel.


Layered Concept Fairing - Speaking of sleek, take a close look at the VFR's unique bodywork, which fuses both the cowl and fairings together to create a single smooth, unified aerodynamic surface.


Exhaust System - Furthering the concept of mass centralization, the VFR's compact exhaust system has been placed more toward the front of the bike, creating a more integrated, part of the bike feel in addition to a more neutral riding position for the pilot. An asymmetrical (front vs. rear) exhaust length also tunes both feel and sound for a combination of V4 torque and inline power delivery.


Combined Braking System with ABS Standard - Another high-tech feature, the VFR's Combined Braking System (CBS) with ABS, melds the benefits of Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) with the measured application of front brakes when the rear brake lever is used. During front brake lever activation, all the right-side caliper pistons are applied, along with four of the pistons on the left side. When the rear brake is applied, the other two left-side pistons are actuated. To maintain equal braking force when using just the front brake, the right-side pistons are slightly smaller than the left-side pistons.