autoevolution
 

Honda Teases VFR Adventure Bike Concept

We already knew the Japanese manufacturer plans to launch eight new models at the upcoming EICMA show in Milan this November, and that a touring version of the VFR1200F is set to be among them. However, we were clueless on how the respective model will look like, until these teaser sketches emerged.

The company's new V4 adventure touring bike seems to boast a tall suspension, with more ground clearance, and shortened front mudguard.

We were first tempted to believe the new VFR will come to challenge Ducati’s Multistrada, the KTM 990 SMT or Yamaha’s Super Tenere. But then, taking a second look at the teaser sketch, we saw a hideously overgrown bike that appears to be challenged by obesity.

Though other details such as performance and features are extremely well hidden at the moment, we could expect Honda to compensate the looks with some technological advancements, as it did with the VFR1200F model it has launched last year. It may look big, but will be light and easy to handle.

If last year’s sports-tourer debuted the world’s first fully automatic motorcycle dual-clutch transmission, rumors have it the adventure model will feature the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system that Honda announced five years ago. The system is meant to improve fuel efficiency by deactivating engine cylinders under specific riding conditions.

The system uses a mass production in-line four-cylinder engine which has a displacement of 1137cc as the base engine. The VCM system is capable of increasing and decreasing the number of working cylinders between 2-cylinder, 3-cylinder and 4-cylinder operations by modifying some parts of the base engine.

It is very important for the posture control of the moving motorcycle to prevent abrupt changes of engine power output when the number of working cylinders is changed. In order to prevent such abrupt changes, the newly developed VCM system controls engine power output using the control of the three-system-independent Throttle-by-Wire (TBW) and the intake and exhaust valve deactivating system.

The adventure VFR will come to EICMA in a concept form before showing up as a 2012 production model.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories