2012–2021 · Adventure · A variant of the VFR1200X Crosstourer
Differences between the standard VFR1200X Crosstourer and the DCT
V4 Muscle, Set-and-Forget
The Crosstourer takes Honda's 1237 cc V4 and builds a long-legged adventure tourer around it. 129 hp and 93 lb-ft arrive as one broad, unhurried push, and the shaft final drive means there is no chain to clean after a wet week on the road. An aluminum twin spar frame, a 19-inch front wheel, adjustable suspension at both ends and an adjustable windscreen place it in the premium long-distance camp rather than the dirt-road camp. ABS, traction control and Honda CBS (Combined Brake System) are standard, and this trim builds on that with Honda's DCT (2nd generation).
On the road it feels like exactly what it is: 633 lb (287 kg) of motorcycle that keeps most of its mass low and settles into a rock-steady line once you are up to highway pace. Reliability is the real strong suit, the build quality holds up over years, and the V4 has genuine character behind the numbers. It fits riders who cover states rather than counties, two-up and loaded. The honest caveat: the 33.5 in seat is tall, and U-turns, parking lots and tight switchbacks ask for muscle and a bit of planning. Nothing here shrinks when the road narrows.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 129 hp (95 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 93 lb-ft (126 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1237 cc |
| Engine | V4 |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Front brake | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 110/80-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 |
| Wheelbase | 62.8 in (1595 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 7.1 in (180 mm) |
| Seat height | 33.5 in (850 mm) |
| Wet weight | 633 lb (287 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.7 gal (21.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Drivetrain
Safety
The named systems that set this bike apart — and what each one does for you.
Braking
The VFR1200X Crosstourer DCT (DCT) builds on the standard VFR1200X Crosstourer: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
Equipment the DCT adds vs the standard VFR1200X Crosstourer
| Spec | Standard VFR1200X Crosstourer | DCT | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 606 lb | 633 lb | +26 lb |
This is not my own test ride. It is what has piled up over years of listening: paddock conversations, owners talking shop at club nights, and the steady stream of messages and emails riders send in about the bike they actually live with. On the Crosstourer the chatter lines up neatly. The praise gathers around the engine and the drivetrain, and the complaints keep landing in the same two places.
More than anything else, riders talk about the V4. The point comes back again and again: it pulls cleanly from just off idle, so there is never a question about whether you have enough for the move you want to make. Overtaking gets described as something you do without planning it. Riders who wind it out report a real rush at the top of the range, and the same engine gets called relaxed and easy when they are only cruising.
The automatic is the next thing owners bring up, and the tone is consistent. Shifts arrive fast and without a break in drive, in full auto and when riders shift for themselves. Commuters mention it most, since stop-and-go traffic stops being work, and the point returns on long days in the saddle. The three S-Mode settings get used, with riders picking a sharper shift pattern to suit the road. Brakes draw less comment but no dissent: strong stopping power, good feel, trusted in poor conditions.
The gripe that comes up most is the fork. Riders describe damping that feels crude and underdone, harsh over bad surfaces yet loose enough to feel boingey, and a front end that turns vague once they start pushing on a twisty road. Some say it costs them confidence right where they want it. Preload and rebound adjustment helps, and the common refrain is that it still does not match the standard of the rest of the bike. The other constant is bulk: tall and top-heavy at walking pace, and enough of it that most riders keep to light gravel rather than anything rougher.
Drive shaft universal joint bearing failure
The drive shaft universal joint bearing may not have been manufactured to specification, potentially causing loss of drive. A recall was issued to inspect and replace the bearing.
Where this Honda VFR1200X Crosstourer pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the VFR1200X Crosstourer is actually built for.
This is your brief: big days, changing weather, full load, two-up. Trail Ridge to Beartooth is where the V4 and the shaft drive earn their keep, provided you're fine handling 633 lb (287 kg) at walking pace.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
For 200 to 400 mile days on Highway 1 or the Blue Ridge it works well: comfortable, stable, strong between corners. Know that it wants deliberate inputs in tight switchbacks, not quick flicks.
Made for Highway 1 / Big Sur · Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway
Straight answer: this isn't it. A 633 lb tourer with a 33.5 in seat is too much bike for short city hops and casual weekend loops, and the light, stylish feel you want isn't part of the package.
Made for Portland Weekend Escapes · Austin / Texas Hill Country · Malibu Canyons + PCH
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Honda VFR1200X Crosstourer. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2013–2018
The Boxer That Rewired Everything
~$2,800 pricier used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2010–2021
The Long-Haul Survivor
Competitor · 2010–2014
Superbike Genes, Long-Haul Composure
Roughly $1,000 pricier used than this bike at 12 yr
Same Platform · 2009–2017
V4 Muscle, Shaft Dependability
About the same used price as this bike at 9 yr
