Honda VFR1200 Crosstourer Review

Honda VFR1200 Crosstourer Review: For some reason the big VFR1200 Crosstourer has passed me by so it was great to get a chance to ride one on a recent trip to Slovenia with my friends from Canary Motorcycle Tours...loads more coming on the tour next year but lets whet your appetite with this first impressions review of the big Honda....just check out that weather!!

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My current motorcycles are:-
Honda CRF250L
Triumph Street Triple R
BMW R1200GS
Ducati 899 Panigale
Triumph Speed Twin
Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor

[plymouthjanner]

Had my Crosstourer DCT for a couple of years now and Love. I've ridden it all over Europe and it ain't missed a beat. Has to be the most underrated bike ever. Thanks for the review TMF.

[kevinmcdonald]

Had a 2018 BMW r1200gs and had nothing but faults and problems with it...got rid of it and bought a vfr just like this and love it 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[j.t.jaeger]

At 6'4" tall, and 17 stone, i love my crosstourer, comfortable, powerful and rare.

[timcollins]

On my 2nd Crosstourer now.Absolutely fantastic bike and awesome power.The only thing I dont like is that the shaft can be clunky at times but it appears to be a trait with them.
Well balanced and only notice the weight when I'm wheeling it into the garage.
I do hope that Honda replaces it with a new V4 model instead of relying on people being persuaded to go for the Africa Twin.
Rode the Africa Twin but it ain't got the performance of the CT.
The CT is underrated and a lot of people only go for the GS because of the snob value.Never mind, while their bikes are in being sorted for warranty work I shall still be out there riding the CT.

[karlg]

I have a 2015 DCT. Just a brilliant touring machine! No big heat issues like with the multistrada and just keeps going ALL day long. If they upgraded the electronics it would be the tourer to end all tourers.

[thebingleywheeler]

Great bought a 2019 in top Highlander bike has the holy trinity of Touring attributes....reliability, comfort and carrying capacity....combined with legendary Honda build quality...who needs bells and whistles to go wrong! On which point....my older GSA has just cost me the thick end of a grand because a sensor linked to the esa packed in....and that cost was for a recon part! Enough said 😉

[fasteddy]

Since I bought a CrossTourer with DCT, my 2016 BMW GS is gathering dust in the garage. I hate the engine sound of these LC BMW's even with an Akrapovic on it (my old 1150GSA sounded so much better). The DCT is brilliant and I love the sound of that V4 and that with the stock exhaust.

[Dave-elqd]

I’m on my second Crosstourer, I’m currently riding the brilliant DCT version. Your correct with regards to its weight, but only really felt when wheeling it around the garage, once on the move it disappears.
And that V4 engine is simply sublime, smooth, effortless and totally reliable, so very Honda.
Your also spot on regards it being very underrated as it does tend to go “under the radar” somewhat.
Thanks for including it in your test vids and if you get the chance try the DCT version, a revelation in motorcycle transmission.

[GYS]

I bought a VFR800X Crossrunner brand new in May, the little version of the 1200. Awesome bike as well, underrated as well...

[DCdc]

Yes it is a heavy bike but I find it very well balanced. Once the bike is moving I don't notice the weight slower corners are fine once you deal with the front end. I've had one for 5 years now and it's been brilliant. Standard screen is pretty poor by the way. Most owners change it.

[markround]

Honda's best kept secret. I've had two, manual and dct. Had an update in 2016, manually adjustable screen that you can do on the fly and improved traction control which you can turn off. Heavy yes, but that motor is a peach.

[-C.T.-]

I've had a 2016 DCT model here in the States since they arrived here in North America that same year. Europe had them since 2012 but they did some nice upgrades to the DCT transmission, adding additional modes, in '16 when introduced to NA. Glad to see a good review coming out (albeit very late in the model run) and by such a respected online voice as TMF. Honda deemed eventually that this model competed too closely with the Africa Twin in the States so the VFRX has been discontinued over here. The good news for anyone still interested though is that the bike can still be found on dealer showrooms and tucked away in warehouses and can be purchased at a supremely discounted price. Some have been found for as low as $7999 USD!! A wonderful bike in general and if you can find one at that price BUY IT!

[andyproctor]

I’ve had the 2012 version of this bike for 3 years now, I’ve also got a Pan European ST1300 A8 for 5 yrs. The Pan is an amazing cruiser, the crosstourer is equally an amazing tourer but is more nippier. This bike feels like you can zip around corners with the big handle bars, not even thinking about counter steering as you do the Pan.Ive ridden both bikes all around Scotland from Yorkshire and regularly ride 900 miles in a weekend.Both bikes need cruise control in my opinion, but hey ho they both do what they’re designed to do effortlessly.
My wife likes to ride 2 up with me on both bikes but prefers the Pan as there’s slightly more room than the Crosstourer.I prefer her riding the crosstourer because the weight distribution feels better.
I’m 5 ft 8 ins tall and had the seat ‘scooped out a bit to enable me to get my feet on the ground more and bought a pair of boots with a bigger heel ‘. The weight is not a problem at all and the engine is one of the best kept secrets going wow!! Who needs sports Bikes!
This bike looks great, handles great, is ultra reliable and is very torquey.
This is my opinion, but I strongly suggest you have a test ride whenever you get the you won’t be disappointed!
Too much fuss is made about the try them both, compare the servicing costs, compare the reliability, compare the performance.
Honda took their time in competing in the ‘Adventure Bike’ design with the but they did have the ‘baby’ of the format in the Africa need I say more!

[ruimatos]

I love mine and won´t trade it for anything! That V4 connects to your soul like bluetooth... I don´t feel the weight while riding it, and I admit it´s very hard to get it out of the garage. But the most important thing about this bike is the reliability...

[thewoodster]

The Crosstourer was one of a few ADV bikes I test rode before I got the GS. I really wanted to like it because I had a VFR800. But not for me. The people that do have them absolutely love them so I wonder if I've missed a trick! Pretty good value and a peach of an engine.

[marcelgoes]

I am driving the Honda for 2 years now and have more than 40.000 km on it. And that only with km in course for cyclist. I am the only motard in the world that driving this great machine the rest have GS. I can tell you on and off road I kill the GS . I ride Paris Roubaix, tour de flandres, AGR, LBL even the national champions chips mountain bike, 110 km thruogh the woods, on this bike and I tell you BUY it.
Follow me and you wil see, I drive them all and I mean all, this is the best motor bike HONDA VFR X many GR from HOLLAND, Marcel Goes.

[ArranD]

Never knew this existed, but glad I now know, seems like a nice alternative to the all to common GS and multistrada's

[roadwarrior]

If they would update it with cruise control, new dash etc like the Africa Twin 1100 it would be a real winner as a touring bike. great review as always,
a new Missendenflyer review is a highlight always on youtube.

[mybikegarage]

Received my breathable TMF Long Tee shirts, Love them for summer riding. They look great, you are now officially present in the Colonies!

[davidhall]

Great looking in those colours and who isn’t fed up seeing GS 12s all the time. 👍