What owners say…
MOST OWNERS SEEM to be in their 50s and 60s, with the odd slightly younger exception. Most also seem to be highly experienced, with unbroken riding careers going back to teenage mopeds and only a few a few born-agains, plus one or two newbies. None of our sample had racked up huge mileages, but several were making a good start.
Alan Hatton-yeo is pretty typical – he’s put over 14,000 miles on his 2016 800X in less than than a year, travelling round for his job as a medical consultant. “I’ve always been a high-mileage rider,” he says. “I got up to 50,000 miles a year at one stage and I’ve always been interested in how people cope with a motorcyclist rather than a man in a suit turning up to meetings. I am a very demanding owner and my bikes have to be fun and practical. I originally wanted the new VFR but didn’t like the riding position, or the first iteration of the Crossrunner. I tried the latest 800X three or four times before I finally decided it was what I wanted. It is very smooth, agile, has great lights, it’s fast, comfortable and engaging to ride. I got full luggage with mine so it’s perfect for touring and carting my work stuff. I also spent time setting the suspension up properly, which makes a noticeable difference. Economy is good and the riding position is spot-on for mountain passes or filtering on the M6. It is also a return to that quality finish I always loved on VFRS. It’s a keeper.”
John Grinham’s at the upper end of our age - and experience - range. Now in his early-70s, he’s had everything from a Vincent 1000 to a Blackbird, but his 2016 Crossrunner is a replacement for a Kawasaki 1400GTR. “That bike was a mistake - I just couldn’t gel with it,” he explains. “The Crossrunner suits me very well, though it’s quite heavy for its capacity – virtually the same as my Blackbird was. But once I’m riding it’s stable and well-balanced; I can easily ride to a standstill in traffic without putting my feet down. The riding position is compact but good for me. It’s great on long runs of around 350 miles a day, though – as with all bikes – the seat can get a little firm after a few hours.”
RAF pilot Gareth Walker only has 4000 miles on his 2016 800X, but that’s going to rise quickly. He commutes 102 miles every day. “My old VFR VTEC was my commuter bike, but the riding position was hurting my hands, so it’s for sale now - with 72,000 miles on the clock,” he says. “The 800X is proving a perfect replacement – with Honda build quality, a comfy riding position, with great view and excellent mirrors. But it’s the V4 engine that makes all VFRS special. You can commute, tour, scratch, go twoup... everything, on a VFR. The LED headlights are better than the old incandescent bulbs so it’s safer, too. There’s plenty of room under the seat as well. It’s a great all-rounder, comfy, has a fantastic engine, is reliable, and I know it will last 100k+ miles if I need it to.”
“It’s great on long runs of 350 miles a day” John Grinham Honda Crossrunner owner