As it turn out, in 2010, Honda release this awesome VFR1200.
All the lines on the concept bike are being kept alive on this one. Even the rims are being closely replicated.
As what you can get from the net, the new V4 engines are to be shared on three VFR coded platforms, the VFR-S, which is the current VFR1200F and VFR1200D now, VFR-T, the rumored upcoming ST1300 replacement for sport touring machine, and the VFR-X, the one I would so much excited about, the reborn of the African Twin. There's a lot of VFR-T artist impression pictures on the net, but I myself would hate to see it if it's not the true one.
The current VFR1200 is a not a sports touring machine, if it is, it wouldn't come out like it is (it has a small tank and Honda would make it more ergonomic upright seating position to be in). The VFR should be in the hypersports section, where it is to compete with ZX14 and Hayabusa. I say you can put it as a Blackbird replacement - but the VFR have some advantages. One that I most like is, if you have the opportunity to take a seat on one, get your feet on the footpeg and move you crotch as near as possible to the tank, your sitting position is naturally relaxed as a sport tourer, if you move your crotch as far away as possible from the tank, you're then in the war mode, it's automatically position like a sportbike. Awesome design I must say.
Back to the VFR-X concept, here's what Honda giving us a clue for now :
I could only guess from the pictures... such as the headlamp wouldn't be a projection lamp like the Super Ténéré. Final drive would be shaft-driven, 6-speed, powered with V4 engine, they have to make less power out of this engine, yet tourqey and responsive. More Varadero oriented design. Will came out as a gold color. Blue signal lamp, not amber. (Just kidding). What ever it is, we can only imagine... but I can tell you the new V4 engine is one hell of an engineering marvels! Stay tuned!
