2012–2021 · Adventure · Buyer's Guide
The V4 That Never Quits
Honda took the V4 from the VFR1200F, retuned it for broad, effortless torque and wrapped an adventure bike around it. That's the whole idea of the Crosstourer, and it's a good one: 1237 cc, 129 hp, 93 lb-ft, shaft drive and an aluminum twin-spar frame that speaks sport-touring more than dirt. ABS, traction control and ride modes are standard, and so are adjustable suspension at both ends and a slipper clutch. Honda's DCT was available as an option. With a 19-inch front wheel it wears the adventure uniform, but the heart is a road machine. A V4 in this class is rare.
On the road it behaves like a mile-munching sport-tourer with an upright seat and a wide view. It's calm at speed, comfortable for long days and carries luggage well, and reliability is the strongest argument of all: this is a bike you buy to keep. One blemish belongs in the open. Some early models had driveshaft U-joint failures from a manufacturing defect, and Honda issued a recall to inspect and replace the driveshaft. Check that it was done. The honest caveat is mass: at 606 lb (275 kg) wet, this is no bike for rough trails. Pavement is its home!
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 tire | 110/80-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 |
| Wheelbase | 62.8 in (1595 mm) |
| Seat height | 33.5 in (850 mm) |
| Wet weight | 606 lb (275 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.7 gal (21.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Drivetrain
Safety
Driveshaft universal joint potential failure
Some early models reported driveshaft U‑joint failures due to a manufacturing defect, leading to Honda issuing a recall to inspect and replace the driveshaft.
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.
Long days, full load, a passenger: this is what the Crosstourer was built for. Shaft drive, 5.7 gal (21.5 L) of fuel and real stability at speed. You'll miss cruise control on the straight stretches.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you want curves and comfort in the same day, the V4 gives you the sport-touring feel with an upright seat. Just know you're steering 606 lb (275 kg) through every bend, so it flows more than it flicks.
Made for Highway 1 / Big Sur · Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway
Honestly, not your bike. It's too heavy and too tall for city errands and short hops, and it only makes sense once the trip gets long. The adventure look is there, the lightness isn't.
Made for Portland Weekend Escapes · Austin / Texas Hill Country · Malibu Canyons + PCH
The Honda VFR1200X Crosstourer also comes in these variants, models and special editions. Each has its own page covering only what differs from the standard VFR1200X Crosstourer — equipment, electronics, specs and used price.
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 · 2012–2018
The Tireless Long-Haul Companion
Roughly $1,300 cheaper used than this bike at 10 yr
Same Platform · 2009–2017
V4 Muscle, Shaft Dependability
About the same used price as this bike at 10 yr
