Honda has revealed the much anticipated VFR 1200F. The bike was revealed to at the Honda’s California Headquarters to a group journalist who were eagerly waiting for the moment. The bike showcases many cutting edge technologies developed by Honda. The VFR effectively replaces the Interceptor as its flagship sports tourer.
The bike is powered by a V4 engine that has two banks of cylinders, each consisting of two cylinders. The power output from this 1237cc engine is kept a secret for the moment. However, what is not a secret anymore is that Honda has ditched the complicated VTEC system, with variable valve timing, for a straightforward system that they call Unicam. The system features single overhead camshafts as seen in basic, single cylinder dirt bikes. The exhaust gases gets routed through two pairs of unequal length pipes which Honda claims will enhance the power delivery and make the engine smoother.
The bike displayed this time was equipped with a rather conventional six speed manual gearbox. However, Honda has revealed that it will later launch a six speed automatic gearbox with manual mode featuring two clutch plates and hand operated paddle shifters for manual control. When launched, this will be the first time in the world that the twin-clutch system which is now becoming increasingly common in cars is being incorporated in a motorbike. The system uses two sets of clutches, one for even gears and the other for odd ones. The gearbox selects the next gear in anticipation, and when the rider shifts a gear, one clutch disengages and the other engines giving a seamless flow of power to the rear wheel. The power flows from the gearbox to the wheels via a shaft drive. The dual-clutch transmission will be even more brilliant on a bike with extremely high power to weight ration that in a car.
The body of the bike is composed of two layers. The outer layer provides protection to the rider’s legs while feeding cold air to the rider’s feet. The inner body directs air in to the cooling system for the engine. The VFR is the first Honda bike to feature fly by wire throttle system.
The bike has a lot of practical touches. The riding position is spot on, with excellent knee recess provided in the tank. The fuel tank can carry 4.9 gallon of gasoline, making visits to the fuel station a rare occurrence. The bike has Saddlebag mounts as standard keeping in mind long journeys. Another pleasant touch is the remotely adjustable suspension that enables the rider to adjust the pretension level the suspension provides. The bike weights 591 pounds with the manual transmission and 613 pounds when equipped with the dual-clutch automatics gearbox.
No comments:
Post a Comment