I believe that I have identified one of the culprits that cause my bike (and I imagine some others) to have a rough transition.
High Humidity.
The first time I have noticed it was last year in NC while riding in some damp conditions. It was really bad then. So bad in fact that the rear broke traction once for a split second. No actual harm was done, but I felt 0 confidence and was 100% annoyed with the bikes' behavior. Not the condition you want to be riding in.
Just the other day, we had one of those spring days when lots of warm air is coming in from the south to replace the cold air left over from the winter and that didn't yet make its way back to Canada, where it belongs :cool: . This had resulted in spots of fog all over the area intermixed :dry: with totally sunny, dry and clear patches. What better time to test my theory. And so I did.
Here are my observations.
VTEC transition in the clear area - smooth.
In the fog - really abrupt and the worst imaginable.
This was done during the same ride coming in and out of fog, so I must assume that all other conditions were the same. Except temperature, which is lower in the fog.
Now, the fog was pretty thick and is clearly an exaggeration of normal riding conditions. However, I think that I can draw a conclusion here.
High humidity contributes significantly to bad VTEC transition.
That is really interesting to hear that. I am back on a new 2007 25th anniversary and in Iowa we have been getting some warm, cool conditions here. But not as extreme as you are stating. But it is Iowa stick around an hour and see what changes. Anyways I will have to keep and eye out for that ans test that theory. But thanks for the info.
Foggy air would have increased density, and probably stays cool longer as it's getting flung down the intake tract; I'm going to assume that this is a slightly lean condition going in to VTEC.
Very interesting, Rice. I rode back from western NY in some heavy rain one evening last summer. I didn't venture into VTEC territory for a long time during that ride, but when I did the transition was very harsh - unusual for me bike, esp. after I had installed a PCIII and O2 sensor eliminators a couple months prior.
I attributed it to a glitch, thinking that the longer you go without hitting VTEC the more harsher the transition would be. But your explanation makes at least as much sense as that.
This is one of the reasons I do not want a 6 gen VFR :dry:
I ride year round, in the cold and wet. I don't need VTEC kicking in when I coming out of a cold wet corner.
I wish Honda would make a V4 1100cc Interceptor.
Stephen
[image: View Post]Old School, on Apr 25 2009, 04:07 AM, said:
This is one of the reasons I do not want a 6 gen VFR :dry:
I ride year round, in the cold and wet. I don't need VTEC kicking in when I coming out of a cold wet corner.
I wish Honda would make a V4 1100cc Interceptor.
Stephen
I think it's more based on water temperature than anything else, when my bike has been above 75C in the wet, cold and foggy weather my bike has still been as smooth as silk during all phases of VTEC engagement - but as I have been having issues with my T-Stat my gauge drops dramatically to about 60-63C but VTEC will still engage - albeit very rough,
So check your running temp to see if your bike drops at all
Hi;
I have a 2006 ABS...-1 degee celcius the other morning.....damp....passing slower traffic, R/H lane, going into work...hit 6300 rpm, VTEC cuts in and no loss of traction, no harshness..just a nice push with a little more engine noise....I like it!!!...I guess the fix that Honda instituted for the 06 works...The new VTEC transition seems to be "Just Right"......Take care.
Ride Safe, Be Safe :biggrin:
My 2003 Vtec has a really rough 3rd gear transition. It's downright dangerous when it kicks in on turns. I hear that Honda smoothed this out in later versions. This happens no matter what the weather is like.
I don't know if I can go with humidity as a cause. I have had my bike in Michigan and now live in Florida. Michigan gets pretty damned humid, but obviously a lot colder, and Florida, well, it is Florida, I don't think I need to say much more.
The thing that I have noticed more than anything else is that the transition seems to be harsh the with the first time and then after that it is smooth as silk. I mostly notice that it is when the bike is just getting heated up and to the point where it will actually turn on.
It might also be noted that I am running a pc3 and have aftermarket pipes, which made a huge change from the way the bike ran (and sounded!).
Later,
Jeff
[image: View Post]Cerebus, on Apr 25 2009, 02:00 PM, said:
My 2003 Vtec has a really rough 3rd gear transition. It's downright dangerous when it kicks in on turns. I hear that Honda smoothed this out in later versions. This happens no matter what the weather is like.
I think you need to get your bike looked at as mine has never done that in 20,000 miles :blink:
The only time I ever get a bad transition is in 5th, WOT just below VTEC when the engine is under 70C or so... again a T-stat issue.
Just ride the thing above 7 grand and there is no transition. :biggrin:
[image: View Post]vfr_steve, on Apr 25 2009, 11:29 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Cerebus, on Apr 25 2009, 02:00 PM, said:
My 2003 Vtec has a really rough 3rd gear transition. It's downright dangerous when it kicks in on turns. I hear that Honda smoothed this out in later versions. This happens no matter what the weather is like.
I think you need to get your bike looked at as mine has never done that in 20,000 miles :blink:
The only time I ever get a bad transition is in 5th, WOT just below VTEC when the engine is under 70C or so... again a T-stat issue.
Agreed, get it checked out. I would say a bad T-stat effects many more bikes than realized! I have hardly every had bad Vtec transitions in the last almost 70,000 miles on my 02, but when I do it is about 99% sure thing it's when the engine/water temp drops below where it should be(bad T-stat which I haven't replaced in 2 yrs). :blush:
I do agree that Air density will effect it to some degree, but don't thinks it's the root cause of the problem. :cool:
[image: View Post]Old School, on Apr 24 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
This is one of the reasons I do not want a 6 gen VFR :dry:
I ride year round, in the cold and wet. I don't need VTEC kicking in when I coming out of a cold wet corner.
I wish Honda would make a V4 1100cc Interceptor.
Stephen
Never been an issue for me in the last 70k on my Vtec and I too ride year round from the 20's to whatever temps! :dry:
I love it when someone judges something based on other opinions and not from actual experience! ;p
[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Apr 25 2009, 06:14 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Old School, on Apr 24 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
This is one of the reasons I do not want a 6 gen VFR :dry:
I ride year round, in the cold and wet. I don't need VTEC kicking in when I coming out of a cold wet corner.
I wish Honda would make a V4 1100cc Interceptor.
Stephen
Never been an issue for me in the last 70k on my Vtec and I too ride year round from the 20's to whatever temps! :dry:
I love it when someone judges something based on other opinions and not from actual experience! ;p
:+1: :+1: :laugh:
(Didn't know where else to post this, and it didn't deserve its own thread)
I was browsing on-line "motorcycles for sale" ads, and among the several Vtec VFR ads, there was one for a wine-red VFR, 2006 or 2007, and the owner proudly proclaimed it "had never been over 6000 rpm".
:blink:
That's insane.
That means that for the entire time he's had the bike, there are 8 valves that have NEVER been used.
And that's supposed to be a GOOD thing?!?
[image: View Post]enzed_viffer, on Apr 25 2009, 11:39 PM, said:
(Didn't know where else to post this, and it didn't deserve its own thread)
I was browsing on-line "motorcycles for sale" ads, and among the several Vtec VFR ads, there was one for a wine-red VFR, 2006 or 2007, and the owner proudly proclaimed it "had never been over 6000 rpm".
:blink:
That's insane.
That means that for the entire time he's had the bike, there are 8 valves that have NEVER been used.
And that's supposed to be a GOOD thing?!?
That poor Viffer - so she has never had a chance to scream :wheel:
I don't recall a ride recently where I didn't go into VTEC :cool: .. Below it is a nice area for cruising and for steady speed, but you can't resist that change of character howl
mine had a bit of stutter engaging when speeding up through the VTEC transition when it was new. as it got older that smoothed out. occasionally i still get a bit of rough transition on the way back down into lower RPMs.
we have bloody cold temps here in alberta. last week i rode in and out of VTEC all day (900 kilometres) at 0-5 celcius. no problems. if it's a thermostat get it done when you have your major service then it's not a big deal since the bike is mostly apart then for the valve check.
[image: View Post]vfr_steve, on Apr 25 2009, 05:58 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Apr 25 2009, 06:14 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Old School, on Apr 24 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
This is one of the reasons I do not want a 6 gen VFR :dry:
I ride year round, in the cold and wet. I don't need VTEC kicking in when I coming out of a cold wet corner.
I wish Honda would make a V4 1100cc Interceptor.
Stephen
Never been an issue for me in the last 70k on my Vtec and I too ride year round from the 20's to whatever temps! :dry:
I love it when someone judges something based on other opinions and not from actual experience! ;p
:+1: :+1: :laugh:
+1!
Only one time going around a corner did I ever even notice it, and that was more of an "oh, there's the Vtec" than "oh crap, I don't know how to control a bike, and one little tiny change will make me crash!"
Seriously, I really like the Vtec. Mildmannered reporter by day-- Er, I mean nice for relaxed cruising below, screaming beast above.
It's a good feeling when all 16 valves open up...
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Apr 25 2009, 07:15 PM, said:
Seriously, I really like the Vtec. Mildmannered reporter by day-- Er, I mean nice for relaxed cruising below, screaming beast above.
It's a good feeling when all 16 valves open up...
+1. I've never ridden a 5th gen, and I'm sure I would like it, but I do love my VTEC - regardless of what non-6th gen owners think. ;)
[image: View Post]Cerebus, on Apr 25 2009, 07:00 AM, said:
My 2003 Vtec has a really rough 3rd gear transition. It's downright dangerous when it kicks in on turns. I hear that Honda smoothed this out in later versions. This happens no matter what the weather is like.
When by bike was new, the engagement hit pretty hard for a couple thousand miles in lower gears. One time I was in 20 degree weather and it hit so hard I thought the motor would drop out, Not only that around 4,000 mile the bike wanted to idle at 4000 rpm in the morning until there was a temp reading if you tried to move the bike, then it didnt want to idle on cold starts on warm days. Then around 8 or ten thousand mile all disappeared and I knew at that time the VFR was self healing. Mine still works as it should at 57,000 mile, not had any electrical issues, I may have to check the valves if I keep it past 100,000. But I will get there
The vfr does like heat, mpg and everything prefers 200 degree watertemps
[image: View Post]enzed_viffer, on Apr 25 2009, 02:39 PM, said:
(Didn't know where else to post this, and it didn't deserve its own thread)
I was browsing on-line "motorcycles for sale" ads, and among the several Vtec VFR ads, there was one for a wine-red VFR, 2006 or 2007, and the owner proudly proclaimed it "had never been over 6000 rpm".
:blink:
That's insane.
That means that for the entire time he's had the bike, there are 8 valves that have NEVER been used.
And that's supposed to be a GOOD thing?!?
Poor pre-orgasmic virgin.
The only time my 02 got harsh was at 20k miles when thermostat stuck open riding in 33 degree F rain. 50k miles later the bike still performs flawlessly smooth as mother Honda had intended.
Well, I'm certainly the new boy on the block here, and have put all of about 150 miles on my used '07 RWB viffer, but on this bike so far the transition for the VTEC kick-in is quite mild, sometimes not really noticeable to me. (about 6300 miles on the bike).
Actually after reading some posts about the rough kick-in, I was somewhat apprehensive, but again, very mild/smooth so far. Maybe like a very mild turbo effect...
ace57
With 40,000 miles on my vtec, riding in fog almost every morning all summer long, I have never noticed a more pronounced transition through the Vtec engagement than when I ride home from work when it is 80-90 degrees out. Granted, I do have the Pair valves blocked off and the O2 sensors bypassed so there is very little vtec engagement on my 05'.
I replaced the T-stat (that was stuck) open and did a valve job a couple of weeks ago. The bike definitely runs more smoothly now that the temps are where they should be. I still do notice a pretty harsh VTEC transition though...torque drops for a split second and then the engine starts to scream...but I don't feel a ton of more grunt above 7K in lower gears. This dead spot is considered normal right? Does removing the O2 sensors and adding a power commander really smooth out the VTEC transition? Would gutting my stock pipes make any difference (currently have a K&N filter)? I wish I had another VTEC VFR to check out to see if what I'm experiencing is normal or not. Anyone in the SF Bay Area want to swap for a quick ride to give me some feedback? I've been riding in all sorts of conditions since I got the bike and I do notice it sometimes more than others...but can't put my finger on it. I don't imagine it's as easy of an answer as humidity...but wish it was.
[image: View Post]Ravi, on Apr 29 2009, 04:16 PM, said:
I replaced the T-stat (that was stuck) open and did a valve job a couple of weeks ago. The bike definitely runs more smoothly now that the temps are where they should be. I still do notice a pretty harsh VTEC transition though...torque drops for a split second and then the engine starts to scream...but I don't feel a ton of more grunt above 7K in lower gears. This dead spot is considered normal right? Does removing the O2 sensors and adding a power commander really smooth out the VTEC transition? Would gutting my stock pipes make any difference (currently have a K&N filter)? I wish I had another VTEC VFR to check out to see if what I'm experiencing is normal or not. Anyone in the SF Bay Area want to swap for a quick ride to give me some feedback? I've been riding in all sorts of conditions since I got the bike and I do notice it sometimes more than others...but can't put my finger on it. I don't imagine it's as easy of an answer as humidity...but wish it was.
Hey Ravi, we'll hook-up someday for a ride. I have an'06 with 2Bros pipes, PCIII & O2 elims... And yeah she'll scream when needed :wheel:
George.
PM me with your phone #
I live in Fairfield & ride all the time.
End of thread · 25 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 12 Apr 2010