First production year, 2020, for VFR1200 Honda

[fazalabbas]

I am looking for my next bike and plan is to go with VFR1200. I have one available in local market of year 2010. As this was the first year for 1200, wondering what are the issues in this model that got fixed in later years. I have bad experience of buying the very first year of a model.

Second question is about after market exhaust. I heard there is a "science" in stock exhaust, for back flow. How big of a deal if that muffler is not stock? Am I loosing anything not having stock exhaust?


Thanks

[PotatoHead202...]

Some of the 2010's had an issue with swarf in the engine from a lack of cleaning at manufacture. Check if it was listed on the recall and make sure it has been done. The rear shock preload adjuster also has a habit of seizing. Other than that they are restricted in the first two gears due to the amount of torque.

I picked one up earlier in summer and in 9 bikes and 14 years of riding it is by far my favorite. I went down the BMW K1200/K1300 route and had no end of serious problems with them. The VFR lacks the toys of the BMW but makes up for it in build, paint and component quality. It's also more flickable.

Stock suspension is pretty poor however (especially if you're heavy). I've put in K Tech springs in the front at about £90 and a Nitron R1 rear shock at £440 (YSS and Hagon are roughly £120 cheaper but not as good). It's turned a good 1200cc bike into one that feels like an 800.

The fuel mileage isn't brilliant. On a very varied mix of roads and VERY little motorway i'm getting about 40mpg though this would no doubt increase to around 50 if on a motorway.

It's a genuinely fantastic bike on which I've done more miles per month than any of my others as I've enjoyed riding it so much. Mine also has a Remus carbon end can that sounds absolutely fantastic with a nice burble.
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