New Honda VFR adventure bike breaks cover

This is an official sketch of a new Honda VFR adventure style bike that will be seen in full production form in just two weeks – but it’s not a 1200cc as many think it is.

The sketch has been released by Honda two weeks ahead of the Milan motorcycle show in an effort to publicise the show and let people know Honda has a glut of new models – up to eight by our count.

The bike is definitely a V4 but insiders have told MCN it’s considerably smaller in capacity than the 1200cc V4 seen in the current VFR1200 and is aimed at being an on-road adventure bike with no pretence of off-road ability.

According to Honda insiders there will be a 1200cc bike shown at Milan too but that won’t be a production bike but a design concept Honda will use to announce a new on/off road adventure bike aimed squarely at the BMW R1200GS.

This bike will be far from production ready but will feature a 1200cc V4 and have the DCT twin-clutch gearbox but this bike is not expected until 2012 at the earliest.

You can read a full explanation of ALL the new Honda’s in a complete MCN investigation in the October 20 issue of the paper.

Honda rpress release

This machine is an exciting new approach – a crossover machine that represents the best aspects of two separate biking genres.

It will have the flexibility and exciting attitude of a Naked performance machine, with the upright riding position and rugged appearance of an adventure bike.

This crossover is a midrange capacity motorcycle – and although it looks like a regular adventure bike, it has a much lower seat height so it can be used comfortably by riders of varying proportions.

With the low centre of gravity of a performance bike it is great fun to ride, and because of its wide handlebars and upright riding position it is both easy to manoeuvre and comfortable .

Honda research had revealed that customers want a machine that has both a unique style and is also fun to ride in all conditions throughout the year and so sought to deliver on this desire, with this new machine being the result.

This sketch is an early impression of the motorcycle developed by Honda designers at the Honda Design Centre in Rome.

The final production motorcycle will be shown for the first time at the EICMA show in Milan from 2 November 2010, when pictures, production details and availability in dealer dates will be revealed.

Honda will also reveal at EICMA a new concept motorcycle using the 1200cc V4 engine first seen in the VFR1200F, to further prove its leadership in this evocative and powerful engine configuration.