Honda's V4 Crosstourer GS-rival gets sporty edge

Honda’s all-new adventure bike – the V4 Crosstourer – is significantly different to the prototype version first unveiled a year ago and will bring new sophistication, technology and riding pleasure to the class, its design chief has revealed in an exclusive interview with MCN.

Yosuke Hasegawa is Honda’s Large Project Leader – in charge of not only the Crosstourer project but also the preceding VFR1200F, on which the new adventure bike is largely based, AND the convention-defying VFR800X Crossrunner ‘crossover’ machine.

And he exclusively revealed to MCN this week that, although on face value the new Crosstourer is essentially a VFR1200F dressed in adventure bike clothes and looks little different to the prototype wheeled out 12 months ago, significant revisions to both style, chassis and its powertrain should deliver a ride like little else in the class.

“We call it an ‘adventure sport tourer’,” he told MCN. “So you have the features of a sports tourer, like the VFR1200F, but with the adventure bike styling and a comfortable, upright riding position – it’s very unique.”

The Crosstourer’s 1237cc V4 from the VFR1200F has been significantly reworked to deliver more torque and midrange and smoother delivery, and the optional (and pioneering) clutchless semi-automatic ‘DCT’ transmission has also been reworked.

Read more about the Honda Crosstourer in this week’s issue of MCN (November 16), on sale now.

Don’t miss out, subscribe to MCN from just £1 per issue.