Honda Crossrunner 800 Bike

Honda Crossrunner 800 Bike Overview

When Honda unveiled the Crossrunner for the 2011 season, the cynics were quick to shoot it down. It used the elderly VFR800 V-four 782cc engine and aluminium beam frame, with longer-travel suspension, mild adventure tourer styling and minimal electronic aids. It looked like a very unimaginative middleweight sport/adventure tourer option. 

But Honda knows what it’s doing of course – and the Crossrunner is a superb machine. The engine is right at home, with strong midrange and decent top-end, great fuel economy and smooth power. It’s bolted into a stable, comfortable chassis, with supple suspension, strong brakes and natural riding position. It’s capable of 750-mile days, and if you fit hard luggage, taller screen and optional heated grips, it makes an incredibly good middleweight touring tool.

It’s great fun too, and with high-quality touches like the single-sided swingarm and LED lighting on later variants, is a handsome beastie when parked up. A standard centre stand adds practicality, and the LCD dash is clear and packed with info.

The later 2015-on bike has longer travel suspension, revised engine and much prettier bodywork – so it’s worth paying a little extra for one of those. The original is still much better than you’d think mind.

Watch the Honda Crossrunner 800 in action…