American Honda not too long ago threw a coming-out social gathering for the all-new VTR1000F Tremendous Hawk, inviting the U.S. moto-press to the bash. The occasion’s backdrop was the picturesque wine nation of Temecula, California, and its maze of gnarly, tight, and twisting again roads proved the proper venue to indicate off, as one Honda engineer put it, the Tremendous Hawk’s “full of life persona.” And full of life it’s, too. With the VTR, Honda feels they’ve “grabbed the essence of what People need in a giant, sporting V-twin. The distinctive sound and really feel that makes a V-twin appear alive.” A spokesman for Honda’s R&D division stated their goal for the Tremendous Hawk was light-weight, mild steering, and robust low- to mid-range energy and torque. Sound like a sure lusty Italian bike we all know?

The Tremendous Hawk’s mission chief, Naoyuki Saito, acknowledged Honda wished to create a brand new sort of twin-cylinder sports activities package deal that might rival the Ducati’s stage of efficiency whereas sustaining Japanese high quality and practicality.

Our first impression was that the VTR appeared simpler to journey quick than a 916 however quickly realized this was not a race duplicate. Certainly, Honda claims the Tremendous Hawk was by no means supposed as a racing platform. Slightly, they deemed it extra of a real-world, all-around sporting motorbike like Honda’s personal VFR750, however with the sturdy energy supply solely a big displacement V-twin can present.

Honda admitted to being caught off guard by Suzuki’s introduction of their TL1000 90-degree V-twin and was much more shocked by their speedy launch of the bike to sellers. Honda shortly moved the Tremendous Hawk’s press launch up by a number of weeks, and manufacturing is about to hit sellers by April.

Honda introduced alongside two members of the VTR’s household tree – the Hawk 650 and VR980 prototype. The prototype used the smaller Hawk’s beam-frame chassis and bored and stroked model of the 650’s narrow-angle V-twin.

Anticipated retail worth of the bike must be round $8900, and Honda plans to maintain manufacturing numbers low, with every vendor anticipated to obtain solely two VTR’s over the subsequent 12 months.

Based on Honda engineers, the Tremendous Hawk’s body went by means of six main redesigns. The Tremendous Hawk’s uncommon body design contributes enormously to serving to meet Honda’s authentic design objectives of light-weight and responsive steering.

Honda engineers described the VTR’s chassis as being “full of life” and fine-tuned, with six strategically-placed mounting factors for an engine that additionally acts as a pressured member for elevated rigidity and lighter weight. Centralized engine placement combines with a barely tall caster angle to assist preserve front-end dealing with mild.

The VR980 prototype was designed and constructed by American Honda as an idea bike for the manufacturing facility – a response to the general public’s name for a bigger Hawk V-twin. Most of the design options seen within the VR prototype had been carried over to the manufacturing VTR, most notably the half fairing, gasoline tank, and seat part. However many facets of Tremendous Hawk weren’t on the prototype. Facet-mounted radiators, truss-type body, engine-mounted swingarm, and even the small chin fairing are all distinctive to the manufacturing bike.

The “pivotless” twin-spar body was designed across the VTR’s OEM radial tires, which use a softer building than that discovered on different sporting machines. Mounting totally different treads, in keeping with Honda, will upset the “tuned” steadiness of the Tremendous Hawk’s chassis.

The Tremendous Hawk engine displaces 996cc and options nearly equivalent, 180-degree reversed cylinders and heads. 98 x 66mm bore/stroke is equivalent to that of Suzuki’s new TL1000S. The six-speed gearbox is positioned straight beneath the rear cylinder.

DOHC, four-valve heads function 38mm consumption valves – the most important ever used on a Honda manufacturing motor. To assist obtain its high-rev functionality, a single-pin crankshaft, and light-weight, skirtless “slipper” pistons are used.

Nutless connecting rods have bolts threaded straight into tapped holes within the rods that contribute to a decrease reciprocating weight. “Rods are carburized to permit them to be slimmer and lighter whereas sustaining energy.” This mixture ends in a rod that’s almost 40 grams lighter than a standard set-up. 48mm slanted flat-slide CV carbs are the most important ever used on a manufacturing motorbike.

We discovered throttle response to be sharp and linear, with no flat spots. Large carbs precise a gasoline consumption penalty, although, and the small 4-gallon tank hits reserve after simply 100 or so miles of spirited driving. We netted a better of 32.4 mpg.

The side-mounted twin radiators of the Tremendous Hawk produce the identical cooling space as a single front-mounted radiator, however in keeping with Honda engineers, the VTR doesn’t have the “useless spots” you discover in a radiator mounted within the conventional location behind the entrance forks, which may end up in as a lot as a 20 p.c lack of cooling effectivity.

The VTR’s design makes use of the low strain created by wind passing over the outer floor of the fairing to attract air by means of from the high-pressure zone inside. At low speeds, a big right-side fan blows air over that radiator for cooling.

Distinctive side-mounted radiators permit the VTR to strike a really compact and slim profile. Be aware the small oil cooler mounted between the radiators above the entrance cylinder head.

The instrumentation is clear and easy. The white-faced tach and temp gauge are very legible and simple to learn even at evening. Be aware the low gasoline warning lamp in tach face – you’ll see this mild up typically. The cockpit can also be easy and purposeful. Honda wished to maintain the Tremendous Hawk mild – very mild – so that you gained’t discover any heavy inside fairing panels or dress-up objects right here.

Even the clutch grasp cylinder reservoir receives the lighter-is-better remedy, being produced from plastic somewhat than a heavier aluminum casting. Be aware spring preload and ten-position rebound damping adjusters on prime of fork. Twin floating 296mm entrance discs are clamped by four-piston Nissin calipers much like these used on the RC45 street bike. Coupled with engine braking from the hearty V-twin motor, stopping energy is most spectacular.

“VTR actually shines within the broad unfold of energy accessible from its torquey motor.”

We didn’t get to spend a lot time with the VTR1000, however a day of circling Willow Springs Raceway’s 2.5-mile street course lead us to the conclusion that Honda is appropriate — this isn’t a track-oriented design. “Honda personnel might have described this bike as having a full of life persona,” stated Affiliate Editor Gord Mounce after a brief observe session on the VTR. “However like a blind date with a ‘nice persona,’ you don’t wish to take her dancing.” Suspension charges that carried out so effectively on the backroads had been too delicate for racetrack obligation.

Within the VTR’s protection, we didn’t have time to alter springs or oil, which might have helped. A much bigger hurdle for these considering of racing VTRs is the shortage of floor clearance. Rearset pegs and a tighter exhaust pipe shall be obligatory purchases.

The place the VTR actually shines is within the broad unfold of energy accessible from its torquey motor. Velocity is deceiving on Honda’s V-twin as a result of energy builds steadily with no main peaks or valleys. Such a large powerband permits robust nook exits, with much less sliding of the rear tire than on an inline 4 with its peaky energy. Though the VTR felt gradual on the straights on account of this flat energy curve, we discovered ourselves smoking by 600s on Willow’s entrance straight.

We actually plan on getting the Tremendous Hawk again for an extended, extra concerned check quickly. Solely subsequent time we hope to even have Suzuki’s TL1000S, and perhaps even a Ducati 916 thrown in for good measure (and what a yardstick to measure by…). Look ahead to the last word sporting twin-cylinder efficiency battle subsequent month in Bike On-line. Stand again and let the competitors start!