12-15-2022, 12:01 PM
I bought a new 2017DCT as a leftover in 2018, actually Honda had some in stock and I had my dealer order it for me at a nice leftover discount. I had never ridden one but I wanted somewhat of a touring biased adv bike with tubeless wheels, more wind protection, etc., also I had a 2016 Africa Twin DCT and I liked the transmission.
Initial impression which remained every time I rode it was whoa this thing is top heavy. Just getting it upright off the side stand took a lot of effort, more than any bike I ever tried including Harleys, ST1100, R1200GSA, etc. I will say though that the tall weight really settles down once moving, many tall, heavy bikes claim this but it really is the case on the VFR1200X.
Engine, DCT, manually adjustable windshield, worked very well. It was a pretty nice bike out on the highway other than oddly enough they don't have cruise control. Fit and finish was very good.
What I didn't like; the seat was sloped down toward the tank and generally uncomfortable enough that I sprung for a Corbin. The bar height was fine but the forward reach was uncomfortably far. I bought a cheap set of risers off Amazon that brought the bars back more (about 1") than up and that made it ok for me even if it looked a little odd. Suspension was another problem I had with this bike in that the front was very hard and abrupt on rough roads, potholes, dirt roads, etc., while the rear was weak, soft and bouncy. This was even after adjusting both as best as I could get them. My final gripe was the snatchy, abrupt, low speed throttling. I bought a Throttle Tamer for this bike but ended up trading it before it came so it's around the shop somewhere.
Initial impression which remained every time I rode it was whoa this thing is top heavy. Just getting it upright off the side stand took a lot of effort, more than any bike I ever tried including Harleys, ST1100, R1200GSA, etc. I will say though that the tall weight really settles down once moving, many tall, heavy bikes claim this but it really is the case on the VFR1200X.
Engine, DCT, manually adjustable windshield, worked very well. It was a pretty nice bike out on the highway other than oddly enough they don't have cruise control. Fit and finish was very good.
What I didn't like; the seat was sloped down toward the tank and generally uncomfortable enough that I sprung for a Corbin. The bar height was fine but the forward reach was uncomfortably far. I bought a cheap set of risers off Amazon that brought the bars back more (about 1") than up and that made it ok for me even if it looked a little odd. Suspension was another problem I had with this bike in that the front was very hard and abrupt on rough roads, potholes, dirt roads, etc., while the rear was weak, soft and bouncy. This was even after adjusting both as best as I could get them. My final gripe was the snatchy, abrupt, low speed throttling. I bought a Throttle Tamer for this bike but ended up trading it before it came so it's around the shop somewhere.