But what does the VFR1200F sound like? That's a good question, and one that we'd like to answer here. Ultimately, sound for many motor cycle riders, both male and female, is of paramount importance. Because it's not what you say, it's how you say it, Honda undertook extensive sound engineering in the development phase of the new V4 machine. The result more than speaks for itself. Click on the start arrow in the freeze-frame of the sound file and you can convince yourself here and now.

This racecourse sound file comes from Sugo in Japan. Just a few journalists from Europe had the first opportunity to ride the new VFR1200F there. When this sound document was recorded, no less than Honda's former GP rider and winner of the 8 Hours of Suzuka, Tohru Ukawa, was in the saddle. He acted as guide for the testers at the event.

If you listen closely, and can hear between the notes as it were, you'll notice how precisely the Japanese rider twists the drive-by-wire throttle grip – there's no half-hearted pussyfooting around, but decisive accelerating and braking, and the engine is wound out before the shifts.

Just as a matter of interest, the sound recording covered 11 laps all together, of which we took the third and fourth laps. For this reason the acoustic introduction is not in pit lane, rolling slowly away from a start, but at the start of the long straight – wide-open throttle right away. It goes without saying that the V4 engine was carefully brought up to operating temperature beforehand.

It's wonderful to hear how the V4 responds to the throttle, builds up revs and picks up cleanly from low rpm in the winding sections of the Sugo track. We particularly like the throaty, muffled V4 scream at high rpm, especially on the long straight when Ukawa winds it up in the gears. It's not only to the ears of the V4 webmaster that the VFR1200F sounds like a mixture of the RC30 and NR750 – that is to say: pretty electrifying.

Best of all, you be the judge. Enjoy your audiophile test ride over two laps of Sugo with the VFR1200F. Maybe you'd like to turn the volume up a bit louder? If you close your eyes and ride with a little imagination, the sound experience is even more intense. And don't be afraid of twisting the throttle in your mind. But with feeling, please. After all, you're holding 172 hp in your hand...   close