A short little intro before my question is perhaps proper. After spending 8 years in the USN looking at mostly nothing but open ocean and dreaming of switchback mountain roads swathed in an evergreen scent..... AAHHHH... I'm actually still dreaming of that, I live in Florida.... I finally bought the machine which I feel is most capable of helping me realize that dream. I chose the VFR because of it's solid reputation, damn good looks, and because it was also very economical for me. I budgeted $5k for the bike and ended up paying only $4k. But anyway, great site! I can def. see myself in front of the computer all day reading the wealth of info contained here and gathering ideas for my bike. Oh wait, I've already done that, a couple of times actually.
Here's my question. Is the poor throttle response out of first gear common to all 5th Gens? I have to get the RPMs up pretty substantially to take off smoothly, almost like there is a stumble down low in 1st. Could I be running too lean? The only current mod is a Jardine Slip-On. I'm thinking that adding a PCIII will cure this, but would like some other points of view. If this topic has already been discussed I apologize but the only thing that came up through my search was a topic discussing 6th Gen FPRs. Thanks! Oh yeah, any Florida riders going to Daytona next weekend?
First off welcome to the forum, good choice on bikes. I to am in FL, but there are better roads around than this place is given credit for. No mountains by no means, but enough to satisfy the need! You might be looking at a warn clutch, not sure from your description of the problem. I'll be in Daytona Saturday I would be more than welcome to check it out for you, unless you want to make a trip to Orlando between now and then. Lean condition would effect low end throttle response in every gear at the same RPM, which is what leads me to think clutch slippage or possibly just old fluid?
3rd thing, check this post out for Bikeweek info: http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.p...amp;hl=bikeweek
Welcome. There are a few members in this area. It may be a clutch issue as Jason suggested, but perhaps it is just the nature of the bike? When going from a carbed bike to the VFR, in 1st gear the snatchy throttle was a handfull for sure. Is your only issue starting off smoothly, or is it all the time in 1st gear at lower RPMs?
jeremy556, Feb 28 2007, 12:42 PMIt may be a clutch issue as Jason suggested, but perhaps it is just the nature of the bike?
+1 Yeah, my brother is convinced I don't know how to use a clutch because of the high revs needed to get the Viffer moving. But that's after him riding an SV, which is geared so that you can basically slowly let out the clutch at idle, and it will start to creep forward. How many miles on the bike? I've got 30,000 miles, and I had to replace the clutch plates already.
5th gen bikes typically have a flat spot in the 3-4 k range, its not so bad at low altitude but up here at a mile high its a bit more pronounced. I cured mine with a pc2, mines a 98. On the y2k they went with a closed loop injection system, smaller header tubes and o2 sensors, the flat spot is more likely to happen on a y2k-01 model.
Some things you can do to help with the "stumble" as you call it, sync the starter valves, this puts all the cylinders at equal vacuum for idle, balanced vacuum at idle will help. Then set the idle to 1200-1300 rpm. Use 86 octane gas and don't use high test octane gas, the bike is designed for lower octane and will not start properly or idle lumpy with high test gas. (its in the owners manual)
Slamma - It's not the flat spot. I can notice that too but what I am talking about is actually below that rpm range. My idle is a bit low (1k), but I was thinking that might just be because of the slip-on. What kind of driver do you use to adjust that idle screw? I put a phillips up in there but it felt like I was hitting rubber or something. I do only use lower octane, 87 is the lowest around here. Is synching the starter valves a pretty simple task or does it require something the ordinary Joe like me doesn't have?
BigRoach - I know for a fact my bike would stall if I let the clutch out at idle. It has 13,000 miles on it but taking a look at the clutch might be a good idea, since I don't know how hard the previous owner liked to ride.
Jeremy - It's mostly just starting off smoothly. It has no problems when slowing down and then going out of a slow turn for instance. I just don't think it feels like it is pulling as strong or smooth as it should down that low.
tinyminds - I could definitely make it over to Orlando before bike week. I live in Lakeland so it's nothing to shoot over there. I could have probably figured all of this out myself if I had listened to instinct and put myself into MMI. Anyway, yeah, if you think you could find a little time to help me out that would be great!
A short little intro before my question is perhaps proper. After spending 8 years in the USN looking at mostly nothing but open ocean and dreaming of switchback mountain roads swathed in an evergreen scent..... AAHHHH... I'm actually still dreaming of that, I live in Florida.... I finally bought the machine which I feel is most capable of helping me realize that dream. I chose the VFR because of it's solid reputation, damn good looks, and because it was also very economical for me. I budgeted $5k for the bike and ended up paying only $4k. But anyway, great site! I can def. see myself in front of the computer all day reading the wealth of info contained here and gathering ideas for my bike. Oh wait, I've already done that, a couple of times actually.
Here's my question. Is the poor throttle response out of first gear common to all 5th Gens? I have to get the RPMs up pretty substantially to take off smoothly, almost like there is a stumble down low in 1st. Could I be running too lean? The only current mod is a Jardine Slip-On. I'm thinking that adding a PCIII will cure this, but would like some other points of view. If this topic has already been discussed I apologize but the only thing that came up through my search was a topic discussing 6th Gen FPRs. Thanks! Oh yeah, any Florida riders going to Daytona next weekend?
tbayvfr, Feb 28 2007, 03:00 PMtinyminds - I could definitely make it over to Orlando before bike week. I live in Lakeland so it's nothing to shoot over there. I could have probably figured all of this out myself if I had listened to instinct and put myself into MMI. Anyway, yeah, if you think you could find a little time to help me out that would be great!
Haha I go to MMI, love it. PM sent about coming this way.
tbayvfr, Feb 28 2007, 03:00 PMtinyminds - I could definitely make it over to Orlando before bike week. I live in Lakeland so it's nothing to shoot over there. I could have probably figured all of this out myself if I had listened to instinct and put myself into MMI. Anyway, yeah, if you think you could find a little time to help me out that would be great!
Haha I go to MMI, love it. PM sent about coming this way.
No Sh%! I have some questions for you, they can wait until tomorrow.
When was the last time the plugs were changed, and air filter inspected? 1,000 rpm is a tad low 1200 is what manual says i believe. Idle screw can be accessed by removing the little rubber plug on the right side of the bike (on the frame rail below the tank) and inserting a long screwdriver in the hole and adjusting. Thats all i can offer for the moment. Let us know how things work out! Oh yeah I should welcome you to the forum too fing02.gif Gary
dude, Feb 28 2007, 08:32 PMWhen was the last time the plugs were changed, and air filter inspected? 1,000 rpm is a tad low 1200 is what manual says i believe. Idle screw can be accessed by removing the little rubber plug on the right side of the bike (on the frame rail below the tank) and inserting a long screwdriver in the hole and adjusting. Thats all i can offer for the moment. Let us know how things work out! Oh yeah I should welcome you to the forum too fing02.gif Gary
not only is 1000 rpm indicated low, the stock tach reads low. that 1000 may actually only be 8 or 9 hundred rpm
dude, Feb 28 2007, 08:32 PMWhen was the last time the plugs were changed, and air filter inspected? 1,000 rpm is a tad low 1200 is what manual says i believe. Idle screw can be accessed by removing the little rubber plug on the right side of the bike (on the frame rail below the tank) and inserting a long screwdriver in the hole and adjusting. Thats all i can offer for the moment. Let us know how things work out! Oh yeah I should welcome you to the forum too fing02.gif Gary
not only is 1000 rpm indicated low, the stock tach reads low. that 1000 may actually only be 8 or 9 hundred rpm
The stock tack reads low? Wow, yeah I should definitely raise it up then. When I get myself one of those nifty tools from Motion Pro I'm going to balance the starter valves also. I'm heading over to Orlando today so Jason, being an MMI student, should be able to help me out some. Thanks for all of the input guys.
a few things to know about vfrs... they all have a tall first gear.. which is why they are slow in the 1/4 mile compaired to other bikes of equal power... this means you need to slip the clutch more to get going..ergo, faster clutch wear. on the flip side once you get going, its a better bike than the rest, needing less shifting .... so clutch wear overall is about on par with most bikes.
End of thread · 16 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 3 Mar 2007