Spy Shot! 2010 Honda VFR1200

It's hard to keep anything secret in this increasingly digital world. Months before any official unveiling, England's Motor Cycle News has just published photos and a scoop story on Honda's all-new 2010 VFR1200 (as it is expected to be called). American Honda was not yet prepared to comment on the bike, so we scrounged up all the information we could find, including the MCN story, leaked images, blog comments and spy photos of the bike being tested in the California desert.

Based on the Honda V4 Concept shown at the Intermot Show in Germany last fall, the VFR1200 sportbike will be powered by an all-new 1200cc, transverse-crankshaft V-Four derived from Honda's MotoGP technology. According to reports, the engine can shut down the rear bank of cylinders entirely in low-load situations, such as during open-road cruising, which can dramatically improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Peak output is rumored to be as high as 200 horsepower. Whether or not the bike will continue to employ the current Interceptor's VTEC valvetrain system remains to be seen, but we assume it will use Honda's Dual Stage Fuel Injection system and the latest electronics to optimize performance.

It looked too radical for production a few months ago, but add real wheels and suspension, and you've got the new VFR1200 from Honda. No word on U.S. price or availability.

Spy shots revealed what appears to be a near-production-ready bike in action. The chassis features a massive beam frame, a single-sided swingarm/shaft-drive assembly and an inverted telescopic fork. Expect the bike to be offered with Honda's excellent C-ABS linked brake system.

Styling cues from the V4 Concept's silhouette (without the radical hubless wheels) are apparent, as are elements of the VFR lineage, mixed in with a big dose of CBR1000RR and RC212V, including a midships exhaust. Turn signals are integrated into the mirrors, while twin jowl-like ram-air intakes flank the headlight. The grab-handle-equipped passenger seat will surely allow hard bags to be attached for sport-touring.We expect the VFR1200 will replace the 800cc Interceptor and/or the long-in-the-tooth ST1300. Either way, it's exciting news for 2010.