Hello, I hope by the the start of the next week I will be the proud owner of a 2002 VFR800A. Excellent condition bike and pretty much the original owner. Just a few questions about the VFR.
-When the bike was running the ABS red light stayed on. Is this normal? Most of the time the bike was on the center stand. I was told that once you move the light goes off. Watched some videos on youtube and some had the light on in Neutral and another did not. Snow on the ground here so I cant really move the bike.
-The bike was in neutral for some time idling for about 15-20 minutes. At 105 degrees C/ 221 F the cooling fan turned on and the temperature started coming down. Shortly after the bike leaked about a quarter cup of coolant thru the drain tubes below. The owner seemed very suprised and had told me that this had never happened before. Also it was very cold -20C/ -5F outside and he preheated the bike before starting in it in his garage with a portable heater. Was this just a cold related problem or too much coolant? a thermostat problem? The bike never did get any warmer than 221 F.
Thanks for your help, just want to make sure I am not getting problems with the bike right away.
[image: View Post]MrVFR02, on Mar 11 2009, 09:07 PM, said:
Hello, I hope by the the start of the next week I will be the proud owner of a 2002 VFR800A. Excellent condition bike and pretty much the original owner. Just a few questions about the VFR.
-When the bike was running the ABS red light stayed on. Is this normal? Most of the time the bike was on the center stand. I was told that once you move the light goes off. Watched some videos on youtube and some had the light on in Neutral and another did not. Snow on the ground here so I cant really move the bike.
Thanks for your help, just want to make sure I am not getting problems with the bike right away.
Brad
Hello MrVFR02,
Welcome. I have limited experience with VFRs, but here's what I know--and other will either confirm or not what I said. Yes, the light is on until you get the bike up to 5km/h or something like that. You sure you can't get it up to that speed in the driveway? Get the owner to do it, so you don't drop it. Personally, I would be careful with the abs. It can get pricey if it is a recurrent problem--probably isn't as the system looks fairly reliable, but you never know.
I know nothing about the temperature-related problem you mention. Other will know.
Good luck!
PPM
The coolant overflowing isn't normal, but may have something to do with the outside temp. Check the level in the over flow bottle behind the LH fairing. The ABS light goes off as soon as you start moving forward if it's working correctly...
[image: View Post]PolarBear, on Mar 11 2009, 09:37 PM, said:
[image: View Post]MrVFR02, on Mar 11 2009, 09:07 PM, said:
Hello, I hope by the the start of the next week I will be the proud owner of a 2002 VFR800A. Excellent condition bike and pretty much the original owner. Just a few questions about the VFR.
-When the bike was running the ABS red light stayed on. Is this normal? Most of the time the bike was on the center stand. I was told that once you move the light goes off. Watched some videos on youtube and some had the light on in Neutral and another did not. Snow on the ground here so I cant really move the bike.
Thanks for your help, just want to make sure I am not getting problems with the bike right away.
Brad
Hello MrVFR02,
Welcome. I have limited experience with VFRs, but here's what I know--and other will either confirm or not what I said. Yes, the light is on until you get the bike up to 5km/h or something like that. You sure you can't get it up to that speed in the driveway? Get the owner to do it, so you don't drop it. Personally, I would be careful with the abs. It can get pricey if it is a recurrent problem--probably isn't as the system looks fairly reliable, but you never know.
I know nothing about the temperature-related problem you mention. Other will know.
Good luck!
PPM
I should be able to get him to ride the bike around when the snow melts next week. I am sure before we transport the bike he can ride it down the street, stop, and then I can see if the ABS light stays on. Thanks for the help, I agree that if there is ABS problems it will $$$.
Put the bke on the center stand and one of you sit on the rear seat, the front will come up...spin the front wheel. It will give you an idea of how freely or not the front wheel spins...maybe this will work! Plus you can see if you need to doing some cleaning up front...a dragging front wheel will hurt you gas mileage.
GOOD LUCK and CONGRATS
I think the Speed Sensor is tied to the Sprockets, not the front wheel. If you put it in gear, on the center stand, and let the clutch out so the wheel begins to move the ABS light will go out.
For the cooling as others suggested check the level in the overflow bottle, it may have been too full.
[image: View Post]Tightwad, on Mar 12 2009, 07:32 AM, said:
I think the Speed Sensor is tied to the Sprockets, not the front wheel. If you put it in gear, on the center stand, and let the clutch out so the wheel begins to move the ABS light will go out.
For the cooling as others suggested check the level in the overflow bottle, it may have been too full.
Thanks for all of the help, I had another talk with the owner and with the coolant he thinks it just got too hot and the overflow bottle was a little on the high side. When I go to see it i will peek into the bottle thru the flaring and see what the level is. Also will check that the light goes out for the ABS upon delivery. Cant wait!
As others have said the ABS light does stay on until you spin the back wheel. Speed is irrelevant. You just need to turn it a few rotations. FWIW...mine is an 02 with over 42000 miles and the ABS is without issues to date.
Never had coolant spill from my bike but I keep the level between the lines on the bottle.
Enjoy the new ride (when the snow melts that is :goofy:)
[image: View Post]motorhead1977, on Mar 18 2009, 07:02 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Tightwad, on Mar 12 2009, 10:32 AM, said:
If you put it in gear, on the center stand, and let the clutch out so the wheel begins to move the ABS light will go out.
Can this be done? Won't the safety switch kill the ignition once you go into gear with the stand down or is that just the side stand?
Safety switch works with side stand only, bike will go as fast a you want on the centerstand...<<<not liable for injuries sustained by squidly behavior while executing top speed runs while on (or off) center stand....... :warranty:
End of thread · 11 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 12 Apr 2010