I cannot remember a time when the launch of a new Honda has attracted so much negative publicity in some quarters in the motorcycling press.

From certain reports you’ll think that the VFR1200F was a second rate machine. Definitely not.

The fact is that the shaft driven v-four is a very good bike and Honda has accomplished all it set to with the sports tourer. The engine is a gem and the shaft drive and is exceptionally smooth. It’s no Fireblade, but then it was never intended to be.

It’s a superior tourer to the company’s own 1300 Pan European and while it’s stated not be a replacement for the out of production in-line four Super Blackbird, it falls closest to that particular slot in my estimation.

Honda insiders were partly to blame for the pre launch hype, talking the bike up to be an absolutely ground breaking machine and we were all led to expect some colossus; it’s good but certainly not that good.

I covered 200 miles one dry day last week and first impressions on collecting the test bike from Belfast Honda’s showroom, just of the Castlereagh Road, is that the VFR1200F looks better in the flesh than it does in photographs.

The controls are all in the usual place with the exception of the horn which now sits above the indicators on the left hand bar. This is a better place for the indicators as they are on the same level as the rider’s thumb. And no, not once did I hit the horn by mistake when making a turn.

The riding position is good, not too sporty with all the weight thrown on one’s wrists; perhaps an inch higher would have suited me better but at the end of a day’s biking I had no sore arms or back.

Going through Belfast the bike’s fully laden weight, 267 kg, was not apparent and even manoeuvring on foot when backing it into a parking spot was no trouble, so well balanced is the complete package.

One other factor immediately strikes the rider: the overall smoothness of the shaft drive and the six speed gear box. Honda has always been good in producing slick shaft driven machines and the VFR1200F reaches a new height in this regard.

Good, too, to see a gear indicator in a display panel; every bike should have one. Also included is an ambient temperature readout, most useful in the very cold weather we’ve been experiencing recently.

When I left boring straight roads and on to one of my favourite test routes, it was down a couple of gears and forward with some spirited riding. The bike changes direction easily, not as rapidly, obviously, as on a Blade, but then you’re pushing the bars of a machine weighting almost 270 kg through one tight bend and then lining it up for the next. There’s a good, solid, stable feel to the overall handling, all very re-assuring and predictable.

While the roads were basically dry, in some shaded areas where the sun had not reached, even by lunchtime, there were patches of ice at the side of the tarmac, a warning not to over stretch and run wide in corners.

Fast flowing bends were taken in the VFR1200F’s stride and under hard acceleration there’s a lovely throaty roar from the distinctively shaped exhaust. The front discs have six pot calipers and as the 1237cc, single overhead came engine produces a claimed 172bhp, the stopping power is needed in certain situations. There’s no shortage of torque.

I didn’t adjust the suspension settings, just rode the bike as it left the showroom, and later in the day when I collected Faithful Pillion for her view of the comfort of the rear seat, the settings were still okay. The front has 43mm inverted forks with adjustable preload and the Prolink single shock on the rear is adjustable for preload and rebound.

My experienced pillion pronounced her position suitable for all day riding. The seat itself she found comfortable and the drop to the pegs suited her also.

For me the only minus factor about the bike was the fuel capacity, 18.5 litres. I left Belfast Honda with a tank filled to the brim and at 118 miles the fuel warning sign started to flash. I tanked up at 140 miles, with 10 litres bringing the fuel reading to three quarters full. When I returned the bike at just under 200 miles only two bars were still showing.

I would put average consumption at around 40 mpg and a steady hand on the throttle should return about 150 miles. If Honda goes on to produce a more touring orientated version, a larger tank is definitely needed.

Apart from that the bike is an accomplished machine, one which deserves a better launch that it has received by some of the bike press to date. It’s not the greatest machine Honda has ever produced in its history, it’s certainly good without being brilliant but then brilliant bikes aren’t really commonplace.

The price on the road is £11,596 and the colours available are: candy grey and red, silver metallic and pearl white.