Honda continues its V4 onslaught by confirming the concept Crosstourer we told you about in November of last year will enter production featuring the sweet drivetrain from the VFR1200F we tested back in June of last year. Apparently, Honda’s DCT transmission will be an option, just as it is on the VFR.
These photos are of the concept unveiled last year, but we understand the production model will look almost identical. Details are apparently forthcoming at EICMA next month, but here is a brief quote from Honda Project Leader Yosuke Hasegawa: “The Crosstourer offers a high-level fusion of vibrant off-road styling, upright riding position, V4 engine power and Dual Clutch Transmission that offers more direct power transmission and easy operation. We are convinced that we have successfully brought out new value in what can be termed the true Crossover Concept.”
I love the looks and the concept. Without bikes like this, development and innovation will wain. Honda is huge complex entity. To try to understand their stratgy and future developments from a single product isn’t very effective. Japensese companies are focused on long term growth, not the next quarter. Throw in the difference between the American, European, and Asian markets and you’ve got quite a challenge in developing products effeciently.
I hope I see many of these on the road in America, regardless of why people want to own them. I continue to wait and see who will take the place of the low maintenence, low cost, effecient V-Strom.
600 pounds for an “adventure” bike? Where I ride off-road, a 600# bike would be a nandicap unless I had two or three guys to drag it out of a wash-out!
Simplicity is not the only factor in dependability.
In this age overall design is a more important.
I have seen very simple machines break all the time and also seen
very complex ones have few failures.
Like the GS1200, there will be one of these broken down in every town to the tip of South America. Simplicity reins, that’s why the KLR and Vstrom are so successful, not only in sales but on the road. The owners of this Honda will never leave the road, and that’s ok.
I would buy one if the price was right. Say 16k or under
16K is a lot to pay for any bike. Best to go to the used market and let some other sucker buy new and take the depreciation hit that this machine will surely suffer. Most used bikes are hardly ridden and in excellent shape.
This is as much of an adventure bike as the Ducati Multistrada, which is the point Yosuke-san makes when he references “off-road styling.” The crossover concept I believe Honda’s trying to express is the fusion of adventure bike and sport tourer. Micro-niche or breakthrough category remains to be seen, but I like it and could myself owning one. I’d prefer the VFR800 motor and sub-500 lb curb weight (not to mention accessible pricing) to consider something like it, but I wish them success with this model/category.
I would agree with the VFR800 motor. I’m willing to bet, however, that Honda wants to truly differentiate this bike from the NT700 (Deauxville). I, for one, will seriously consider the 1200 if it makes it here.
Dear Honda,
No one in the whole world cares about this bike. (some will lie, but will they buy?)
Please grow an imagination. By this I don’t mean another Fury or an over engineered and pointless BMW clone.
‘off road’ bikes are supposed to be simple not this overly complex and pointless beast you present.
I can’t really imagine what they could have done to make this bike uglier or dumber.
The opinions of someone who has owned many and nothing but hondas his whole life.
+1000
+179
I guess we don’t get the TransAlp. I’ll keep my F800ST.
My ’82 650 Seca rides everywhere that any GS or this Honda can go. I get 50 MPG and the bike was free (probably worth $1200). The Seca has shaft drive and a center stand and 73 HP (yes, at the crank) so I can keep up with everyone except the insanely fast. My bike is much better looking than this thing too. I put 15+ thousand miles on it every year with no problems. I’ve had (and still have) other, more modern motorcycles but I always come back to this nice, simple, excellent bike. I already ride my Seca much more often than I ride my Ducati (about 4 to 1). Why on God’s green earth would I ever spend what Honda will be asking for this thing? Will it really be ten times better than what I already have?
No bikes are cheap today unless they’re given to you. It sounds like you’re happy with what you have and that’s great. But someone has to buy new or else there won’t be any used! No one is ramming this down your throat and making you pay the cost of admission. But one day, what are today’s new bikes will become tomorrow’s used and one of them just might light a fire under you. Don’t discount it!
And yet you still look at new bikes? Why bother if you have a perfect bike already?
Will it be 10 times better than an ’82 Seca 650?
Yes.
# of times out of 10 I would prefer to see this bike in my garage over an ’82 Seca? : 10
# of times out of 10 I would prefer to be seen riding this bike over an ’82 Seca? : 10
# of times more play you can get riding this bike over an ’82 Seca? : 10
# of times more I would pay for this bike over an ’82 Seca? : 10
There you have it. Mathematical proof that this bike is 10x better than an ’82 Seca. Now, let’s hear no more of this nonsense.
From what I have seen and read on some forums this is only the concept bike. The production bike will have inverted forks.
One of the reasons Honda is bulding this bike is because Adventure bikes are one of the fasted growing markets right now.
Aren’t there enough of these giant dirt bikes now???? One ugly bike, come on Honda….
It’s an interesting bike..I keep scratching my head as to why Honda would build this one, rather than bring over some if it’s euro bikes.. The CB1300, XLV1000, etc. I must be have been out that day in marketing class back in college 🙂
The XLV1000 Veradero has been available in Canada for the past 4 years or so. It’s an OUTSTANDING bike, but didn’t sell worth beans. I think I can still find 2008 carry-overs with savings of about $6k over a current model. I don’t think it’s coming back anytime soon. One of the guys I ride with had one … it’s like a V-Strom only with ABS, and typical Honda fit and finish. Really quite nice.
Vibrant 600 pound offroad styling… great, I’m so excited.
Looks like a great bike. I do have one question, why would anyone still make a bike without inverted forks? I had the same complaint about the new V-Strom.
Could it be that Honda (and Suzuki too) feels that any benefit inverted forks would lend to this type of bike might be superfluous and only add to the cost of the bike? I don’t have inverted forks on any of my bikes and I can’t say I truly miss them.
re: “why would anyone still make a bike without inverted forks?”
ya know what…? i’m going to allow this objection to be entered into the court record. counsel for the prosecution (mr. saki esq.) posits a valid question.
at this point, nothing modern in the honda line-up uses standard forks. something USD (or at least adaptable) should already be paid for and sitting on the shelves so to speak for current production. standard forks i think would have to be sourced bespoke from showa or KYB…? wouldn’t it basically cost the same (if not cheaper) to just turn longer fixed tubes or sliders from the kit being sourced for the VFR12…? if for no other than marketing reasons, why on “god’s green” would you saddle your forthcoming mega-buck, mega-adventurer with the same damper rod tech as seen on your decidely bottom barrel, 3rd world targeted CBR250…?
whether it works or not doesn’t matter. the question is, is this really an association you want potential buyers of a vehicle (at this price point) to even be making…? when someone is set to spend in the range of $15k for a flagship enduro, +/-$500-$1000 quid for a pukka set of forks isn’t a dealbreaker.
they’re not there to “bottom feed”. they’re not there to utter the words, “i’m not going to pay alot for this muffler”. they are there to acquire the HONDA OF ADVENTURE BIKES and all the technology therein. they don’t want “money”, they want what money can BUY them. i can usually explain away ALOT of things done by manufacturers, but this one definitely has me scratching my head….???
It’s not like Honda hasn’t been making DS bikes for years now (Africa Twin, Varadero’s).
I’m hoping we get this in the US of A to add some competition to the market. I also hope they don’t price it out of the market, which Honda seems to do with their bikes.
I am waiting for Honda to take this engine / transmission and build a new generation ‘Gold Wing’ around it!!!
It’s not like Honda hasn’t been making DS type bikes for years now… Africa Twin, Varadero’s.
Just hoping that we get this in the US of A, add some competition to the market.
This bike will be absolutely outstanding at doing everything modestly well.
No disdain here. I just wonder two things. What does it weigh and what does it cost?
Looks like a bunch of parts that got stuck to a magnet.
All these comparisons to the BMW R1200GS but one thing is for sure – being a Honda, at least a buyer would never have to worry about the final drive crapping out. This is an interesting bike to me. I’ll be surprised if it makes it into the US but, if it does, I’ll want to compare it to the Triumph 1200 Tiger Explorer and the Super Tenere.
I have to agree, Honda really needs someone with imagination and initiative.
Looks like a nice bike. Maybe a little heavy though. I bet it puts out 130 rwhp. My buddy’s new vfr dyno’s out at 136 hp. No Ducati, other than a 1198, comes lose on hp. The so called 150 hp multistrada dynoed in at 128hp. The big time Diavel came in at 130.
Seems the European bike inflate their hp while the Japanese deflate theirs.
I love the looks of the bike. It’s a little bit of a BMW GS copy but I love the over sized GS.
The Honda motor is superior in all but maintenance, if you do your own work.
I just might buy one.
Diavel also makes 136HP stock.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/70993/Motorcycle-Photo-Gallery-Photo/2011-Ducati-Diavel.aspx
Wish it was the 800 and around $10K. It’s not and it won’t be.
I’ll take mine with VFR wheels and brakes.
Perfect answer for a question no one asked. Keep in mind I have a VFR 800i I love, but this hits no possible Adv tourer button I can think of in my tortured mind. I have owned a GS 1150, and didn’t like it, and a Multistrada 1000 that I loved.
So, I do have a knowledge of the breed.
I admit that I’m not smitten either, but imo the only reason nobody is asking the question is that people generally aren’t honest with themselves. The vast majority of big adventure tourers never see so much as a dirt road. They do, however, make excellent touring bikes, and lots of folks love rugged the look they have. I don’t see how this bike is any less a fit for that market than any of the other giant adv bikes (unless you’re an off-road riding adv person…might be too big for that).
“Perfect answer for a question no one asked.”
Your hired to take over Honda Motorcycle Marketing
Condition: Fire those at Honda responsible so many other models and features no one wants…….start with DN-01 marketing and design team
Ohhhhhhhhhhh to bring back Mr. Honda just one year!
When will they put the DCT on a sport touring bike? That would seem the more obvious market for it.
They did. It’s the VFR1200
I think this bike would make a fine sport tourer, probably better than the VFR.
I think you’re right, however it just doesn’t fit into what peoples “idea” of what a sport tourer should look like. But it will certainly have better ergos (more comfortable to ride long distance), larger fuel tank capacity (longer touring range),and more luggage capacity (you can take more crap with you) than the VFR-GT (if we ever see that).
I’m sure it’ll be typical Honda high quality. I’m also sure it’ll have some stupid price tag attached to it. The VFR goes for $16,000, base price, so…
I thought the new cross-tourer was going to have the old 800cc engine in it, but I guess they’re using the 1200.
The 800 version is the Crossrunner. I believe that one is available now in some non-US markets.
These things are “supposed” to be function first. So style, while not completely unimportant, is really left to a distant placement in the hierarchy of qualities. Either the style is “your” style or not. However, their style should (if the marketing department is awake) evoke some of that “elemental” Swiss Army Knife function.
The function part is much more interesting. These things are like Z71 versions of the GMC Denali Yukon. They will spend most of their lives on the road and likely a tiny amount of on rough roads; and zero time on enduro trails. It’s not really whether the bike could navigate a rough rock strewn trail with a competent rider….. it’s whether the rider can pick it up after it has been dropped. For most of us, the answer to that is NO. I’ve watched a rider (270lb of pure muscle) ride a BMW GS800 with a group of us on purebred enduro rides (KTM EXCs, Honda XRs, etc.) and he TOTALLY kept up with us. But when he did drop it, it was a bitch to pick up. But his strength made the bike a passable enduro machine, but way to heavy for most of us.
But, if you imagine the function of this new Honda to be to navigate today’s backroads, crummy unkept urban side streets…then you have a reasonable mission for it. Plus, these machines (Multistrada, GS, Tenere, Tiger(s), and this Honda) will allow the rider WAY more access to information about the surroundings. After all, you’re sitting bolt upright which is great for moving the head back and forth. They enable the rider to see forward much better, they allow the rider to stand up on the pegs if necessary, also to carry plenty of gear and fuel.
I think this is the moto-incarnation of the Land Rover. But I’ve been saying this was coming for 10 years. I’m not a soothsayer, just followed the logic to its inevitable conclusion (not to mention, automobiles took this same trip about 20 years ago which was a big hint).
Last point, with great visual reference and long travel suspension dialed even remotely correct, and a stong, torquey motor, a competent rider on one of these can outrun sportbikes on certain backroads…..you’re more relaxed on one, can see better, mid-turn adjustments (at least on the BMW GSs) are no big deal, the brakes are phenomenal and speeds are not high enough to require slick fairing. So sportbikes get virtually no advantage.
Viva la moto-SUVs!!!!!!!! More more more more please!!!!
So much disdain for a bike no one has even ridden. I’m not much for the Adventure bike thing except if, as a group, they tend to offer legs that soak up bad pavement and perhaps a little off-roading. In considering this bike I would have to first ride it and get a feel for its ergos. Then, the number one draw would be its engine. I’m more than certain it’s turbine smooth and pulls very strongly through the gears. As with other Adventure type bikes, its looks are there to lend purposefulness to its mission. I’m sure most of these type bikes see little off-road time, maybe a cow trail or fire road but who would expect more? Only those comparing apples to oranges. Looks are always subjective but to me it looks no worse than the others. As for the the DCT, I had major foot surgery over a year ago, my left foot, and it will never be 100% again. I have thought this could be just the ticket to ease things for my foot and still be able to ride, something I’ve done for 47 years.
Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all, but I think it’s actually a great looking bike. But then again, I like the way the BMW GS bikes look as well. It would probably be difficult for me to justify versus a standard R1200GS, however.
I don’t see the US market going for this, but the world is bigger than the US. In my country, the BMW 1200GS (and the 1150 and 1100 GS before it) has OWNED the big-bike market for the last 15 years. Every second bike you see on the road is a BMW GS. Honda wants a slice of that pie, obviously.
Every second bike on the road a GS? Not sure where you’re riding, but every second bike I see on the road is a Harley. But I digress. I don’t think this is any uglier than any of the other overweight crosstour bikes out there – I think they are all ugly. Ugly or not, I think a comparison of all of the bikes in this catagory would be very enlightening. I wonder if Husky will be coming out with a crosstour version of their 900? That might be interesting…
Honda years late to a market segment once again.
Their business incentive has to be how to get the sales for any variant of the VFR1200F up to 100 units a year in America
What next ……a Goldwing with dirt based wire rims for the Cross Under market?
So what does this have, along with the still to come 700? ITS A HONDA. True to what everyone said about all the others, the difference here is this thing will take you out and bring you back and require a minimal amount of maintenance and last forever. As much as the other have their strengths…nobody makes them as bullet proof as Honda.
I can’t climb steep hills, jump over ditches, navigate sandy washouts, and lift it up into my pick-up by myself. It’s not a dirt bike. Wait, you mean it’s not supposed to be a true dirt bike? Oh. Never mind. And it’s not beautiful like a Knucklehead Harley. Not supposed to be? Oh. Sorry. And it doesn’t cost $6,000? Oh.
Do you mean to say that someone makes a $6000 true dirt bike with a lovely Knucklhead engine that you can lift into your truck? What are you smoking??
It also can’t fly, doesn’t have wings. It won’t float, it wasn’t designed to do that either…
It is slightly more off road worthy than a regular bike. But these kinds of bikes are comfortable, capable, and a lot if fun on most roads… if you ride it to sturgis, they will probably flash you a finger, not their boobs.
Has anyone looked at declining state and city budgets lately? With no money to fix roads, on road will be off road soon.
This is not a dirt bike. It is not made for competitive enduros. It is not meant to fly over triple jumps at a supercross event….and no where in the manufacturer’s info is this implied. Sure wish people would quit griping about this.
HONDA is not too original. That thing has BMW written all over it, right down to the tubeless spoked wheels.
I’d ride it, on or off road. Could care less how it looks as long as it functions well. At least it’s a GS copy instead of another antiquated, one dimensional, bling mobile copy.
Don’t forget, Honda will be showing a naked and an adventure bike using the 700cc vertical twin and DCT from the Integra at EICMA in Milan this November.
Maybe the adventure version will compete with the KLR 650.
Crosstourer doesn’t mean off road. It has some GS styling and that it might go down a dry dirt road once or twice but I don’t see anything in the name or design that says Dual Sport, Adventure or off-road.
I have 46 years of riding under my helmet and many of those years are racing off road. I used to laugh at this one bike. Kind of the dork bike that I would never own. What is it?? The wife and I both ride DR 650s. Single cylinder, fairly light weight, for a street and dirt road bike. Too light sometimes on long rides. We have larger tanks on them, skid plates, heated grips, Rick Mayer seats and all sorts of stuff. Her’s is lowered and feels much lighter than mine. We’ve ridden 18,000 miles in 2 1/2 years on them. Simple single cylinder, air/oil cooled bikes with none of the bells and do-dads everyone complains about. I still laugh at them, and now, laugh all the time while riding them. One of the most fun, simple bikes you can own. Not a race bike and not a touring bike but they will go anywhere you point them. And cheap to buy and maintain. Point is, there are bikes like this out there. A lot of good bikes around. Just sayin’ that the DR is a surprisingly good bike to consider if simple and versatile is what you want. And we average 55 mpg.
You own a bike these manufacturers should seriously consider making. A more street oriented DR/XR 650. Lower with a seat that can be ridden on for hours. DL650 and BMW 650GS are the closest things I can think of.
Looks just as good/bad as all of the maxi-moto faux offroad bikes (SUV anyone?) except for the Multistrada in my opinion. Let’s be honest, “off road capable” is a styling aesthetic and marketing hook on any bike over 325lb. If a bike can’t be lifted from the ground it’s on by only it’s rider then it should never tread on that particular ground (try lifting a 500+lb bike off loose gravel..) This and all of it’s ilk are as off road capable as a Chevy Suburban.
That said, I’m sure it’s a great touring bike. Roomy, comfy and loads of power for pulling it fully loaded. Compared to a Goldwing, this bike is lean.
Being a Honda I’m sure it will be a good bike to ride and all but my god that thing is ugly. The GS 1200s are ugly but manage to look purposeful and tough, this mess just looks like it was styled by a blind man. I guess a guy who really cared about lots of top end power and didn’t want a Ducati might find a compelling reason to buy the Honda. With all that body work and 16 valves Vs. the improvements Ducati has made in the last five years I doubt owning the Honda will be any cheaper then owning the Duc.
I’ve owned a few BMW GSs and ride with a couple of 1200 GSs and a V-Strom regularly, I most definitely see the attraction this type of motorcycle. I can’t understand people who complain about poor performance off road. Other than the marketing people at Honda, BMW, Yamaha, Triumph, Etc. who would think an bike that comes in well over 500 pounds was really intended for off pavement travel? These are just comfortable, roomy street bikes with big gas tanks that let the rider commute, travel in comfort on the dull roads and enjoy the curves when they are available. I just wish the stylists would stop making them so fugly.
Goose
Give me this bike in a 500cc single for about 8k. Forget spending 15k in this down market. Honda seems to be oblivious to the fact that we here in the US are broke just like the rest of the world.
Get a KTM and beat it to pieces off-road. That will work.
i’d rather have a super tenere.
Does anyone know when the touring version of the vfr1200f is due out?
Unfortunately, it seems the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 is still the closest thing to what most of us want… But still not quite there. How come it seems only Kawi can make a bike that weighs ~500 pounds, has plenty of power, handles well, costs only $11,199 (with luggage under $12k), has a manual transmission, makes ABS OPTIONAL (2012’s), and it just a nice all-around bike??? Still waiting for that Sprint 800, Triumph! But make it under 500 pounds, keep the price under $12k, and give it more power than the Daytona this time, OK? Yeesh…
If you like the awesome Ninja 1000….your going to love the Versys 1000!
U G L Y
To big, To heavy, to complex, to electronic, but having the only sweet V-4 is wonderful. And why is it that most new bikes look like they were styled by just throughing a bunch of mis-matched parts togather and calling it good. The older VFR’s, Triumphs and faired Duc’s are so smoothe and beautiful (and no punk stripes & graphics.)
A lot of negative assumptions being made here. Mmmmmm.
Also, I don’t think anyone seriously expected this to be a “dirt bike”, so why all the griping that it isn’t?
Yah, I see this beast going off road easily. Getting back on the road, I see a problem. I does have a lot of nice design touches (shaft drive, side crash bars)
I like it, hopefully it will come here, I think we’ve had enough cruisers shoved down our throats, time for some real motorcycles that we can actually use. these bikes are the new “standards”, great do anything bikes.
I own a 2011 Multistrada 1200 S Touring and love it. My Ducati has a 150hp motor, I bet this Honda won’t have more than 125 and it will easily outweigh mine by 100 pounds.
Mine has electronically controlled suspension that is usable on every ride I take while the Honda throws on a heavy DCT that hardly anyone wants.
Mine has Ohlins front and rear and Brembo radial brakes while the Honda has the front end from my old 1985 Interceptor 500.
At least Honda added wire wheels so you can pretend your 600+ pound motorcycle can go in the dirt.
I used to love Honda, and they still hold a place in my heart, but they have honestly and truly lost their way.
They should have rather bring in the Crossrunner…. No ambition to go offroad and has a refined version of VFR800. plenty of power and not porky heavy.
Note to manufacturers: some of us do not want dual clutch transmissions, auto transmissions, electronic hand shift transmissions, traction control, ABS, or any other heavy, overly complex, unnecesary crap on our bikes and we will avoid junk laden bikes like the plague. Just give me a nice bike that I control, a clutch I operate with my left hand, a transmission I shift MYSELF with my left foot and I will rely on my own riding skill (rather than electronic bullcrap) to keep the bike upright and on the road
I think this bike will offer a standard transmission, in addition to the DCT.
What’s up with Honda continually using the suspiciously familiar RSU front fork yet again? Call me a detail whore, but I’ve seen that same outdated design on a silly amount of their bikes… that includes plenty of models from the early 90’s. Step it up Honda, I’d take a Tenere over this any day purely because it at least has front end components from top end models of less than 3-generations old (early R1 calipers, long-travel inverted fork).
Direct fuel injection hopefully will increase power and mileage and allow smaller engines and lighter motorcycles in the near future, just like it is doing for automobiles. When cars are getting better mileage than motorcycles, something is not right.
I would probably like everything about this bike but the weight. Looks like a 500+ pounder to me, think KTM SMT not BMW R1200GS.
Sort of like a 2 wheel version of their CR-V. Let’s see, we’ve got the Yamaha Super Tenere, the various Triumph Tigers, etcetera. This is definitely a growing segment. They aren’t exactly my cup of tea but I can see the appeal.
I agree that they are becoming today’s standards and I bet this example will be over $14K.
Looks like a direct competitor to the BMW 1200 GS, Triumph Tiger 1050, Ducati Multistrada, Yamaha Super Tenere, Suzuli V-Strom and the KTM 990 Supermoto T. I’m willing to bet this will be one of the best in class. None of these bikes are considered outstanding off-road. Anything built for serious off-road will have higher fenders to pass rocks/mud/etc… They make for outstanding commuter bikes, touring bikes and they surprisingly handle extremely well. This is a class where each bike has its own unique personality and becomes a matter of personal choice and budget. The motor differences alone is amazing. Love my Tiger 1050.
Doesn’t the world have enough giant overweight motorcycles? When are we going to see a return of the CB350? Something small and cheap for the rest of us?
Have to agree with you, but I also think that as a mature company, Honda wants to make X on the average transaction, and they know they can do that by selling premium products that nobody else makes (like the GoldWing) – and perhaps not so much selling simple ‘entry-level’ products. That said I sure do wish they’d embrace a more modest size platform – say, 300 to 550cc for those that dont aspire to long-distance work.
While the size and capabilities are no doubt scaled for the World’s highways, I bet these see as much soil as the Multistradas – or less, so those laced wheels are a bit of a ??
What is so “premium” about introducing bike after bike that never wins comparison tests and has specs/weight for example that are not competitivfe along with technical over kill no one wants.
Honda has lost their way and are depending on buyers like you that will purchase a Honda nomatter what.
Guess what……people that want the best in any motorcycle segment have caught on…….or have they…..I heard Honda sold 100,000 DN-01s in America last year …right….or was it 100.
Mature indeed…….excuse for AFITP……always finishing in third place in thrid place
This is exactly what I have on my mind and try to pursue my own way. I have concept of lightweight, single cylinder 450cc machine in 3 versions (naked, half-faired and dualsport). Good on gas, simple as shovel and presumably easy on insurance. Offered it to some companies, but did not score sale as yet.
I think it’s time for Triumph to offer a single cylinder 500 in the various guises you mention. I believe they would sell.
I would be extremely happy to see that; if not me then someone else with same kind of thinking. Let it be anyone, even japanese company – rider’s of world would benefit. They would sell like hotcake.
Another GS wannabee? Only much uglier? The only way I would consider this bike is if it is priced less than a used 1200GS, and one can find a good used GS for 12K or so.
The beak is hideous and apparently without function, the radiator is very exposed and vulnerable to damage, and I wonder how well the whole thing would stand up to an off road beating.
It looks uglier than a GS, less stout, very much more complicated drivetrain, and at least as expensive to fix. I can’t see any reason to abandon the BMW marque for this thing.
Just turned 50. Riding with my wife on back more to go on mini-tours with the neighbors. I haven’t ridden my sportbike hard or taken it to the track in a couple of years. My leathers hang in a closet. So perhaps it’s time… It’s motor will have the power to put a grin on my face, I’m sure it will handle well, perhaps even on a dirt road with the right tires. The top case can probably double as a passenger back rest without much trouble. But, why must motorcycles with great function be so ugly? I’ll definitley consider buying one though.
I know guys are going to scream how ugly this is, and how Honda again has missed the mark, but this could be a nice motorcycle. 1200CC liquid cooled V4, upright seating, luggage capacity, shaft drive and dct trans an option. I would definitly test ride one of these.
They call it a cross tour but I don’t see this thing going off road. I’m resigned to thinking these type bikes are today’s “standards”. I do think the “beak” looks goofy on the fairing but willing to overlook it.
I want to see and ride one in person though before going completely ga ga.However for me, if it’s over $14,000 that’s a deal breaker.