New models - rumors included

[Red01]

I suppose it's getting to be that time of year again when we start hearing of new models and rumors of new models.  There'll be a new V-Max from Yamaha, which has been all over the press.  A few weeks ago, MCN (UK) revived the 1000cc V5 VFR/Blackbird rumor with some artist concecpt illustrations:

Honda VFR gets V5 engine
By MCN Newsdesk
New bikes
07 August 2008 09:50

Honda has pulled out all the stops to showcase the finest technology ever seen on a road bike with the all-new VFR1000F and touring-spec VFR1000GT motorcycles.



Along with the sexiest VFR yet, Honda has finally succumbed and given us a road motorcycle with a V5 engine derived from the successful 990cc RC211V MotoGP machine.



If that's not enough, they've also linked it to a Ferrari-style push-button gearchange for the fastest, smoothest gearchange yet seen, running through shaft drive with a trademark VFR single-sided swingarm.

To see the full story on these and more of Honda's 2009 motorcycles, pick up a copy of this weeks MCN (August 6), out now.

Ippo mentioned something about a Hayabusa based ST machine in another post... maybe something like this?



Anyone else hear of anything new (or rumored) and exciting?

[CWO4GUNNER]

An ST version of the Busa would be great if they don't make the horrendous mistakes like the Z14 to C14 spawned. They just need to tweak the best attributes of the Busa into the best attributes of tried and test ST engineering, which defiantly leaves out the C14. Don't get me wrong, on paper it is a terrific bike but the laundry list of problems to cost ratio is just way to out off the chart to be acceptable unless you are a die-die hard fan.

[pmackie]

Well, if there really is a new VFR for 2009, it has peaked my interest. I'll have to follow up with a copy of MCN, but it looks too much like a photoshop hack to me...

[Red01]

I hear ya Paul!  Plus the V5 VFR rumor has been going on for a few years around this time, too.  So, I'll believe it when I see Honda release some info and pics on their website.  But it would be nice!

Gunner - I haven't been following the Connie that close lately.  What's the laundry list consist of?  I had heard of some heat issues early on, but the press doesn't seem to be mentioning it anymore.  And I know the keyfob thing isn't well loved - is there more?

[pmackie]

I haven't been following the Connie that close lately.  What's the laundry list consist of?

My buddy LOVES his. He did a 16,000 km (10,000 mile) shakedown when it was new. He did change a few things:
1. different windscreen - bigger. He said the stocker was FAR too small
2. lower pegs - he like lots of room
3. taller bars - as above

He traded in his 2002 Connie. He says the power and brakes are unbelievable. Comfort is good, with the above changes. No reliability issues in 25,000 kms in the first year.

[CWO4GUNNER]

In a way I wish I Had kept a running tally but after the 10th chronic problem I lost count. Sad really as forum members seem to now shun anyone with a defect complaint that doesn't remain loyal. So its all smiles and optimism if you have been left stranded in the middle of your trip by the FOB otherwise they don't want to hear it anymore. Just to name a few: dash board melting due to overheated electronics and poor plastic, leg heat problems due to misaligned or missing insulation inside fairing, keyless FOB intermittent failure resulting in either mid ride shutdown and mid ride re-start failure due to EMF interference, weak batteries, or CPU errors, shaft gear and housing explosions due to failed bearings or misalignment, low end power deficiency and ruff running due to EFI mapping requiring remapping or removal of secondary flies just to carry two up in slow traffic, side case locking mechanism failures allowing unexpected jettison of  side cases in the middle of a ride, premature brake and front disk warpage, tire pressure indicator failure and inaccurate readings due to elec component failures, passenger ride comfort a real issue due to hard seating and a passenger head buffeting and wobble related to the bikes aerodynamics, wind screen complaint of poor wind protection at any adjustment however wind screen hight playing a role in heat venting from engine into riders area so wind screen are better kept down for maximum cooling, new concerns over monoque frame cracking possibly inherited from the early ZX14 recalled design, fuel consumption seems to be a complaint with only 35MPG being the best people are quoting. There are more but I have lost track along with interest.

Gunner - I haven't been following the Connie that close lately.  What's the laundry list consist of?  I had heard of some heat issues early on, but the press doesn't seem to be mentioning it anymore.  And I know the keyfob thing isn't well loved - is there more?

[Red01]

I stopped in at the local Honda/Suzuki dealer yesterday to pick up a fresh can of Honda Spray Polish and chatted with the owner for a while.  I asked what he knew of new models coming for '09 from either.  He said he would be finding out about Honda's '09 lineup in a couple of weeks.  I mentioned the VFR1000 rumor from MCN and he says he's been hearing strong rumors that this is very likely to be the year for it, but was afraid it's price might be high enough to scare away customers.  He's hoping Honda will have something to compete with the SV & DL 650's as they are hot sellers for him and Honda doesn't have anything in that sort of niche.  He didn't have anything on any new Suzuki models yet though.

[Slider]

An ST version of the Busa would be great if they don't make the horrendous mistakes like the Z14 to C14 spawned. They just need to tweak the best attributes of the Busa into the best attributes of tried and test ST engineering, which defiantly leaves out the C14. Don't get me wrong, on paper it is a terrific bike but the laundry list of problems to cost ratio is just way to out off the chart to be acceptable unless you are a die-die hard fan.

Some of us Acronym deprived guys in the swamp are intrerested in what you've posted, but would wish that you would kindly elaborate.
Also:
Others have also posted on this. How?... do you lower pegs on Any of these. I've already bought "Gen Mar risers", for my Bandit for better ergometrics... same deal for front pegs on Suzi engine guards. It now works for large distances in road armour. I've seen ads for Hayabusas with "Heli Bars"... never for dropped pegs.

I dam near bought a Busa... twice. In both cases, the plan was that I'll sleep on it and tomorrow Im goint to do it.
In each case, I couldn't justify the riding position for more than short distances... and didn't buy.

Great thread, though. 

[smooth operator]

 He's hoping Honda will have something to compete with the SV & DL 650's as they are hot sellers for him and Honda doesn't have anything in that sort of niche. 
  Suzuki has dropped the SV1K from their line up. Do to poor sales.Maybe they'll keep the 650 around and I hope the DL.
  Also read about the new R1 yesterday on the SV forum. Trickel down technology from the motogp. Crossplane crankshaft,each conecting rod 90* from the next wich gives a firing order-270*-180*-90*-180*. Fly-by-wire technology chip controlled intake thaht broadens the spread of power. D-MODE rider selectable throttle control maps (A&B) Lighter redesigned frame.

[christopher1013]

Is it just me or why am I not seeing more manufactures offering ABS for '09? Just Suzuki, Honda and BMW? Vmax being the exception.

[Red01]

An ST version of the Busa would be great if they don't make the horrendous mistakes like the Z14 to C14 spawned. They just need to tweak the best attributes of the Busa into the best attributes of tried and test ST engineering, which defiantly leaves out the C14. Don't get me wrong, on paper it is a terrific bike but the laundry list of problems to cost ratio is just way to out off the chart to be acceptable unless you are a die-die hard fan.

Some of us Acronym deprived guys in the swamp are intrerested in what you've posted, but would wish that you would kindly elaborate.
Also:
Others have also posted on this. How?... do you lower pegs on Any of these. I've already bought "Gen Mar risers", for my Bandit for better ergometrics... same deal for front pegs on Suzi engine guards. It now works for large distances in road armour. I've seen ads for Hayabusas with "Heli Bars"... never for dropped pegs.

I dam near bought a Busa... twice. In both cases, the plan was that I'll sleep on it and tomorrow Im goint to do it.
In each case, I couldn't justify the riding position for more than short distances... and didn't buy.

Great thread, though. 

For the acronym deprived: 
ST = Sport-Touring
Z14 = Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-14
C14 = Kawasaki's Concours 14

As for how to lower footpegs, the most common, and probably easiest way is to use footpegs from a XB9/12 Buell. 
See this thread from a VFR board to show the difference between standard OEM Japanese bike pegs and the OEM Buell ones.
There's also this thread on a Busa board that tells how to do it on a Happy Bus.  I'm pretty sure this has even been done by a member or two here on their Bandit... and I've heard of these pegs being used on other bikes, too.

[Slider]

Thanks for the info on lowering pegs, Red 01.

One other problem, as I see it, are the rediculously high exhausts on all of these bikes -Bandit included. In order to clear it, the bags have to be mounted very high. This makes a very high centre of gravity and my 36 Litre Givis should be much lower. I try to limit weight in the top bag, but with full touring crud, the bike is a somewhat of a chore to handle at slow speeds on uneven ground -gotta have the legs spread and be ready... no day dreaming. Add a duffle bag with a tent and camping gear -well you get the picture.

I think these high pipes are just style. My old Yamaha XS11 had low pipes and I never grounded 'em at all -just the pegs when heeled over hard.

[Red01]

With more and more bikes having mufflers under the chassis, a ST model with such a system could have larger bags and still maintain a low CG.  Even the VFR-ST version shown above could have been equipped with bigger bags.  While the same thing can be accomplished with an undertail system, it seems every one of the bikes with this sort of system has heat issues for the rider and/or passenger.

The other thing that bugs me is very few bikes seem to be designed with passenger comfort in mind.  Either the pillion seats and/or pegs are a token gesture to bring along a passenger.  Seems the only ones that do think about the pillion are full-dress machines like the Gold Wing and HD touring models.  What's up with that?  Do the mfr's really think we never want to bring someone else along.

[Red01]

Looks like the naked SV650 is being replaced by the SFV650 "Gladius"



Yamaha is adding a FZ6R with a full fairing alongside the FZ6... probably to compete against the GSX650.



The R1 is all new for '09.  The biggest news is it's crossplane crankshaft.  What's that?  In Yamaha's words:

In the supersport liter class, there’s always lots of talk about power. You expect that. What you wouldn’t have expected – until now – is a radically superior way to deliver that power. Introducing the 2009 YZF-R1, the first ever production motorcycle with a crossplane crankshaft. Crossplane technology, first pioneered in MotoGP racing with the M1, puts each connecting rod 90° from the next, with an uneven firing interval of 270°- 180°- 90°- 180°. This all but eliminates undesirable inertial crankshaft torque, which allows the engine’s compression torque to build smoothly and provide a very linear power delivery out of the corners. It’s a feeling that’s simply unmatched, like having two engines in one: the low-rpm torquey feel of a twin with the raw, high-rpm power of an inline 4. In fact, the new YZF-R1 is not a continuation of existing supersport development; it is breakthrough technology that represents a paradigm shift in both technology and performance.

[mademiriam]

Looks like the naked SV650 is being replaced by the SFV650 "Gladius"

actually i sort of like this...other than the exhaust....