Road test: Honda VFR800X Crossrunner

You can’t road test an adventure sports tourer motorcycle without embarking on a sporty touring adventure — and I’ve just clocked up two great rides on Honda’s new Crossrunner, the VFR800X.

The first was a two-day ride to the Atlantic Wall at Ostend, Belgium, a round trip of nearly 300 miles from London. I travelled across the Channel on P&O Ferries, which has two new vessels with offerings for motorcyclists — there is a designated area for bikes, with efficient harnesses to lock them firmly in place, and riders can often jump loading queues.

The Crossrunner, priced at £10,299, is all that a sports tourer should be and more. Strong points are its supple, easily adjustable ride that over a day’s touring nicely absorbs bumps and ridges while holding the bike nicely on line in sweeping bends, and its astonishing power delivery from the “full-fat” VFR V4 782cc liquid-cooled engine producing 105bhp. Grip through bends is excellent. Dislikes? Only one: on the fast motorway sections, a slightly higher screen would have reduced the uncomfortable helmet-buffeting and noise.

My second trip took me deep into north Norfolk, where the Crossrunner made a scintillating travel companion through torrential rain and burning sun. With bags of performance, good brakes and top-notch build quality, there’s probably not a bike I’d have swapped it for; I was sorry to switch it off after 500 miles in the saddle over three days’ riding.

Honda VFR800X Crossrunner
Max power: 105bhp;
Fuel capacity: 20.8 litres;
Price: £10,299

My biking discovery of the year is Oxford’s new LidLock, a simple, strong outward-opening carabiner with a combination lock and self-retracting cord. As the main picture shows, I successfully used the £12.99 device to lock helmet, tank bag and jacket to the bike. More at oxprod.com