Class VFRoom; EASY RIDER THAT'S BIG IN JAPAN.

Byline: MARK FORSYTH; Richard Hammond

I'VE just had my first ride on the new Honda VFR1200F at Sugo race track - if ever a circuit was tailor made for a flexible, torquey V4, this is surely it.

The Japanese circuit nestles among spectacular, tree-covered mountains with massive gradient changes and a flowing, challenging sequence of corners.

My first lap was a bit of an eye opener. Following ex-GP god Tohru Ukawa for our sighting laps, I was immediately taken by surprise by how quickly the VFR steers and found myself having to correct my line midcorner to avoid hitting the inside kerb. Despite a fully fluid-filled and oil-brimmed kerb weight of 267kgs, it doesn't feel it when you're moving. Flicking it left/right through chicanes isn't a major drama either.

The biggest compliment I can pay the new VFR is that it feels every inch a Honda. Nothing takes getting used to. And V4 fans will be pleased to know that despite the unusual firing order of the phase-shift crankshaft it still feels like every other V4 Honda in terms of its low-down and mid-range pull - but it doesn't sound like one.

The engine, exhaust and intake noise is unique to this new VFR. It's a deep, bassy drone that sounds more like a big-capacity parallel twin. Listening to them go round the track it sounds more like a low-level Second World War bomber squadron.

FLATTERING

But that 1,200cc V4 engine is peachy smooth. This is best demonstrated by the truly hideous chicane right at the end of the Sugo circuit. It's a really horrible, stop-start, right-left-right flick but the exit is a second gear uphill right-hander that opens out on to the start-finish straight.

Hit second gear through the chicane, kiss the final right hand apex and absolutely nail the throttle to the stop in second.

It's a super-easy bike to ride but what is it up against? The BMW K1300 is the nearest obvious bedfellow. The VFR1200F is very, very fast but it's not going to win any races.

Like the big Beemer it is clearly designed to give us road riders the kind of performance that, if we're all honest, 99% of us need on the road 99% of the time.

The BMW does have noticeably more bottom and mid-range power but the Honda has a huge raft of plus points. Finish being one of them (that candy paint is just amazingly deep and shiny), ease-of-use the other and the way the engineers have made it feel at least 50kgs lighter than it really is.

As proof of where Honda feels the VFR1200F's future lies there's also a massive range of after-market touring accessories on.

Can't think of a better bike to conduct my year-round 200-mile daily commute on.