Just got back from a pretty hard-core 120 mile ride on the new Honda Crossrunner and these are my findings. Are you sitting comfortably?
Last night at the unveiling and press conference there was a bit of a murmur going round the assembled hacks. It was a bit like the Emperor's New Robe except the throngs weren't quite so wiling to play the sycophants.
Most people in the room weren't looking at the Crossrunner as a brave new concept or a new twist on an everyday machine as Honda were touting it. They saw it as a slightly tweaked VFR with a spot of lippy and some new knickers. Me too, to a certain extent, I mean, there's no denying that beneath the new skin lies a VFR800 that's been around for over a decade.
Now, as the throngs of VFR800 die-hards that inhabit this very site will testify, the VFR is one mighty fine machine that is probably (still) one of the best all rounders, er, around. It's downsides? That horrible stuttery transition of the VTEC system and a big lack of mid-range power compared to its bigger capacity opposition. You could also argue, that for everyday riding, the current VFR's low handlebars don't really suit its, ahem, more mature customer base. Honda's phrase for this age group? How about Nostalgia Sleepers? That 30-50 age group is me and I'm not sure I like that or 'Variety Seeker' - one of two euphemisms to describe grey haired old bastids like myself.
The blast this morning from the hotel starting point to the first photo shoot stop didn't really sway many of the gathered journos. Comment along the lines of 'it feels light, even though it isn't' and 'it's comfy' were about as positive as it got.
The next stretch of road, though, changed all of our opinions. A succession of second and (mainly) third gear switchbacks along the cliff-strewn coastal route really played into the Crossrunner's hands. The mid range is massively better than the VFR800's thanks largely to reworked header pipes and inlet trumpets that are longer (20mm) and narrower (by 6.5mm) at their throats. The remapped VTEC is much, much better, too. Transformational. That feeling of fuel starvation at the transition point has gone completely. And the noise from the airbox? Beautiful - a sort of throaty rasp that gets better the more you open the throttle bodies and the more you cane it.
In all, it seems to be the sort of bike that's perfect for attacking an unseen (hazardous) road. You're sat upright for a great view and the new-found elastic properties of this rejuvenated engine allow you to hang onto one gear for a long time whilst you concentrate on the corners and hazards ahead.
The ABS kicked in a few times, too. The tarmac over here (Majorca) is iffy, to say the least. The combination if a tightening downhill hairpin, loose sand on the road and, er, exuberant riding meant the ABS had its work cut out at times.
Continue the Honda Crossrunner Review - 2/2
