Honda’s VFR1200F wins prestigious award
Honda’s acclaimed VFR1200F has won a prestigious industry award as the best sports touring motorcycle of 2010.
This great sports-touring machine, which was also in the top 10 best-selling motorcycles of 2010 overall, saw off strong competition before being announced as the Motor Cycle News 2010 Best Sports Tourer, but it was the inspirational Dual Clutch Transmission technology on the FD version of the VFR1200 which proved the final element to win over the judges.
The VFR1200F has already proved a big hit with riders since its introduction last Spring and headed the sales chart for its category in 2010. However, its versatility enables owners to use it with ease for a range of purposes from commuting to long-distance riding. The iconic V4 engine also rekindled the emotions of previous VFRs while the styling of the bike, with its all-new layered fairing and sleek lines, further hit the mark with customers.
Motor Cycle News holds its awards annually to reward excellence in the UK motorcycle industry, with 20 awards spread across many different categories. Speaking about the prestigious MCN award for ‘Sports Tourer of the Year’, the judges – headed up by the Editor, Marc Potter – had this to say: “The VFR1200F brings Honda’s new styling concept to the masses. The Dual Clutch Transmission push-button gear-change transforms the way we ride, making you think that changing gear with your foot should be firmly left in the past.”
In standard form, the VFR1200F operates with a traditional clutch/gearbox set-up operated by foot and hand, but Dual Clutch Transmission provides the rider with the option of two ‘automatic’ modes (D for relaxed fuel efficient operation and S-mode for sportier riding), as well as a manual transmission mode operated via a trigger-shift on the handlebar. This manual or automatic ‘option’ is the first time such a technology has been offered on a large capacity motorcycle and test rides have hailed the technology as ‘highly innovative’ and ‘seamless’.
Steve Martindale, General Manager of Honda (UK) Motorcycles commented, “It is always rewarding for Honda to be recognised within the industry with awards, and by our customers with top sales figures, and even more so for a bike such as the VFR1200F which pushed new boundaries in motorcycle design and technology.”
For 2011, a new luxurious Darkness Black Metallic with Digital Silver Metallic colour option is added to the 2010 colours of Candy Prominence Red, Seal Silver Metallic and Pearl Sunbeam White, to further emphasise the unique shapes and layers of the machine’s bodywork.
The VFR1200 also boasts a great range of colour matching luggage and accessories as optional extras, with the standard machine priced at £12,325 OTR and the VFR1200FD priced at £13,425 OTR.
For further information about the VFR1200F, VFR1200FD or any other machine in the Honda motorcycle and scooter range, visit your local Honda Motorcycle dealer who can be found using the ‘Dealer Search’ facility within the motorcycles section of honda.co.uk.
