Honda VFR 800X CrossRunner

Today, while visiting Mototal to look at a CBR, I came across the VFR 800 X Crossrunner. As I was asking what it was all about, Cem talked me into it, bless him, and I found myself sitting on it without ever having planned to. “Go for a ride,” he said, “take half an hour, an hour.” A free bike to ride and lovely weather: all right, I said, and took the demonstrator.

From Mototal in Kızıltoprak I went straight onto the bridge road. The riding position is comfortable; in fact, sitting incorrectly on this bike would take some skill. The controls fall to hand. Let these tyres warm up and then let's see what it can do, I tell myself. So far the VFR is saying, come on, let's go, ride me.

The tyres ought to be warm now. The rear brake operates a linked system; it did not bother me on the motorway, but I make a mental note to check again in traffic. The mirrors do not vibrate, but I cannot get them adjusted the way I want. I am hopeless at that anyway, so I am not deducting points. :P I do not much like the instrument panel. It is like a scooter's, and the rev counter is hard to follow, especially when it vibrates. That is my first deduction. There is no similarly bothersome vibration throughout the bike, but the dashboard seems connected directly to the road and keeps shaking. Perhaps it is because this is a demonstrator, I tell myself; people may have fiddled with it and damaged something.

I am now in the bend connecting the first bridge road to the E5. I can see the exit and the left side is clear: open the throttle, lad, the bike is already squirming beneath you. Whoa! The rear has moved. Easy, I tell myself; perhaps the tyres are not warm yet. Now I am on the E5 in ordinary traffic with gaps between vehicles. I accelerate without going wild and am not terribly impressed. This is slower than the old VFR (Interceptor)! They said it was more powerful. Did they mean torque? I drop to 60 in top gear and open the throttle. Clack, clack, clack! Well, we are not going anywhere? Aren't V engines supposed to be torquier? My GSR does not do this; all right, it does not teleport either, but it does not sit there chattering without getting anywhere.

I change down and this time open the throttle properly. Whoa! There it goes! Not bad at all! Frrrooouppp! Ah, VTEC has kicked in; what a lovely sound. Easy, lad, slow down, or you will spear yourself into something! Wow, what good brakes?! I keep accelerating and braking for no reason. The brake feel is superb, ABS does not jump in unnecessarily, and better still, the front brake is not linked: it is an ordinary brake. The front end is stable, without squirming about under braking. Initial bite is strong and modulation easy. They have got the brakes right; they inspire confidence. Let's look at that acceleration again. There is a straight ahead; in second gear it seems to lift its head a little. VTEC is on, the sound is wonderful, and I am a very satisfied rider. Top speed is not spectacular, but that is not what this bike is about. It feels fast when revved, though looking at the speedometer, it is honestly slower than the GSR. Without looking, I would say it flies. The screen is adequate and the wind does not bother me, but do not take my word for that; I am a naked-bike rider, after all. I open the throttle again: lovely sound, lovely progress too. Nice, they have got it right. :)

A moment ago I turned onto the road down to the coast. I know the asphalt is good and there are a couple of lovely bends. Let's listen to some VTEC. Incidentally, I must mention that the transitions are different from before. Entering the VTEC rev range mid-corner no longer unsettles the bike. The transition is smooth, satisfying in sound without a dangerous surge. This time they have managed it. I still think it is unnecessary technology on a motorcycle, but they have made it enjoyable. They have given the rider another goal: reach the VTEC revs!

Leaving the first bend, the rear moves again; there is no way the tyres can still be cold. Oh Honda, you have fitted rubbish tyres again; you just have to spoil something... Braking is still superb and the front very stable. Look at the exit, see it opening up and lean: it is like running on rails, if only that rear tyre would grip. Perhaps I am opening the throttle too much because of this VTEC. But everyone will want to; the engine eggs you on, saying rev me. I slide a little, but am almost laughing out loud; I am having a proper good time. They have got this right, they really have. :)

Let's try some traffic too, I decide, and head onto Bağdat Caddesi. Thick, sticky traffic. We weave through easily, as if it were a featherweight; it makes me forget its 240 kg. Whiiiiirr! What's that? Oh, the old VFR fans! Haven't they changed them? Heat washes over my legs, and my heels are on fire too. What is happening? My right heel is burning! Have I put my foot in the wrong place? No, it is on the peg, on the ball of my foot. I pull over. The exhaust! A single silencer on the right, with an elbow just below the right foot and a shiny metal panel supposedly providing protection. Looking closely, there seems to be room to insert an insulating layer between the chrome shield and the silencer. Could we line it with some insulating fleece or something? Perhaps an extra part offering better heat insulation will appear. I am a little annoyed.

Traffic clears after Çiftehavuzlar. I make pleasant progress. Second and third gears are really enjoyable. The linked rear brake does not bother me much in traffic either. All right, the fork dives a little, but it does not completely collapse. With confidence-inspiring brakes too, you ask yourself what more you could want from a motorcycle. As I park and get off, I review the things that could be better:

The clutch lever is heavy; hydraulic, but still heavy.
The exhaust shield does not work; a solution is definitely needed in town.
Ah, those fan motors.
The vibrating dashboard, and a rev counter positioned where it cannot be read during a brisk ride.
The front suspension has no compression adjustment; apparently no adjustment at all. Perhaps it is hidden under those plastic handlebar covers; I need to investigate.
The tyres; what are these, anyway? Pirelli Scorpion Trail. Well, these are road tyres for an enduro. I should be thankful I did not fall off. I would fit something like PR3s or M5s, but perhaps Honda wanted people to venture onto a little dust and dirt. I do not, while there is asphalt available.

Despite all this, I almost bought it on the spot. I did not because the cases, fittings, crash bobbins and so on had not arrived yet. The centre stand is an accessory. There is no solution for the exhaust. Since it is made only in Japan, it comes with just one make and model of tyre, and as you have read, this heart did not particularly like those tyres. Then there is the price, especially with the accessories added. :(

Thanks again to Mototal and dear Cem for letting me enjoy this. It was a very entertaining ride, and the VFR really came close to winning me over. Do not misunderstand me: I think they have made an interesting, enjoyable motorcycle. It is the first version and has a few small issues, but it is fun, with a character that both looks after and entertains its rider. Still, I think I will be happier fitting GSXR forks and calipers to my GSR.