VFR1200 engine tear-down

I came across this on another board. It originates from a Dutch moto mag. I think it's from a 40000Km "torture test". The cylinders and piston skirts look to be in pretty tough shape. I'd be interested to read more about the test. DutchGixxer do you know anything about it?

[image: View Post]phobe, on 24 March 2011 - 06:03 PM, said:

I came across this on another board. It originates from a Dutch moto mag. I think it's from a 40000Km "torture test".

The cylinders and piston skirts look to be in pretty tough shape. I'd be interested to read more about the test.

DutchGixxer do you know anything about it?


25000 miles; doesn't look that great looking at the cylinder walls, and a lot of carbon on the heads.

Did they run it wide open until they blew it up?

Nice video...

We would eed specifics, ie fuel rating, oil change freq., tune up freq (air filter, spark plug condition, etc)...before making assumptions or accusations about build quality & qualiity control.

[image: View Post]Alang, on 24 March 2011 - 06:28 PM, said:

[image: View Post]phobe, on 24 March 2011 - 06:03 PM, said:

I came across this on another board. It originates from a Dutch moto mag. I think it's from a 40000Km "torture test".

The cylinders and piston skirts look to be in pretty tough shape. I'd be interested to read more about the test.

DutchGixxer do you know anything about it?


25000 miles; doesn't look that great looking at the cylinder walls, and a lot of carbon on the heads.


Before my buddy sold his practically-new '08 1000RR he noticed that the top of its' valves were covered in carbon. A race engine-builder that we know said that he would have to de-carbon some litrebike motors because owners didn't ride the bikes hard enough, (-my buddy had only done track-days on his 1000RR).

He went on to say that Hondas, (CBR1000RR's specifically), have pistons that score their cylinder walls, and that it was normal--and not something to be concerned about. He said he could throw new pistons into a new cylinder block, run the motor and instantly have the scoring marks again. Ugh.

I wonder if this is normal for all Honda's now? It was hard for me to see the VFR's cylinders in the video...

[image: View Post]Phoenix, on 20 April 2011 - 05:58 PM, said:

It was hard for me to see the VFR's cylinders in the video...


4:47 in the video shows a good picture.

[image: View Post]wera803, on 20 April 2011 - 07:13 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Phoenix, on 20 April 2011 - 05:58 PM, said:

It was hard for me to see the VFR's cylinders in the video...


4:47 in the video shows a good picture.


Geez, I should've watched it to the end. Thanks. :smile: That is the CBR scuffing!

[image: View Post]Phoenix, on 20 April 2011 - 07:33 PM, said:

Geez, I should've watched it to the end. Thanks. :smile: That is the CBR scuffing!

The CBR1000RR was known for using oil a few years back, have there been any reports of the V12 doing the same?

[image: View Post]Phoenix, on 20 April 2011 - 05:58 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Alang, on 24 March 2011 - 06:28 PM, said:

[image: View Post]phobe, on 24 March 2011 - 06:03 PM, said:

I came across this on another board. It originates from a Dutch moto mag. I think it's from a 40000Km "torture test".

The cylinders and piston skirts look to be in pretty tough shape. I'd be interested to read more about the test.

DutchGixxer do you know anything about it?


25000 miles; doesn't look that great looking at the cylinder walls, and a lot of carbon on the heads.


Before my buddy sold his practically-new '08 1000RR he noticed that the top of its' valves were covered in carbon. A race engine-builder that we know said that he would have to de-carbon some litrebike motors because owners didn't ride the bikes hard enough, (-my buddy had only done track-days on his 1000RR).

He went on to say that Hondas, (CBR1000RR's specifically), have pistons that score their cylinder walls, and that it was normal--and not something to be concerned about. He said he could throw new pistons into a new cylinder block, run the motor and instantly have the scoring marks again. Ugh.

I wonder if this is normal for all Honda's now? It was hard for me to see the VFR's cylinders in the video...


I am told this is true for Ducati Liter bikes by a trusted and respected Ducati mechanic. Not a problem or indication of quality I am told.

[image: View Post]The Phantom, on 20 April 2011 - 08:05 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Phoenix, on 20 April 2011 - 07:33 PM, said:

Geez, I should've watched it to the end. Thanks. :smile: That is the CBR scuffing!

The CBR1000RR was known for using oil a few years back, have there been any reports of the V12 doing the same?



The CBR scoring issue is with 2004-2007 1000RR's. I do believe it was an issue with the 929/954 --but I'm not 100%.

The '08 - '10 CBR1000RR's don't have the scoring issue, apparently. But they did/do have an oil consumption problem, (-amongst other issues). I've been told that the new nikasil liners eat up the rings. Many, many production parts have been revised in this motor since '08 including pistons, rings, cranks, (3 or 4 new ones so far), muffler, clutch, silent frame changes, etc... I've ridden the latest 1000RR and it's better than mine in every way except for these ongoing and well-known problems.

As for the 2011 CBR's, no one knows yet because not many people are buying them. Many, many forum members on the CBR boards, (1000rr.net, 1000rr.us), have bought other bikes like Ducatis, Yamahas, and Aprilias. I think the '11 has yet another new crankshaft, too.

[image: View Post]VIFFER93, on 20 April 2011 - 08:18 PM, said:

I am told this is true for Ducati Liter bikes by a trusted and respected Ducati mechanic. Not a problem or indication of quality I am told.




That sounds like what my race-engine-builder said. He said he still liked Hondas and that they were well-made.

I dunno....it seems to me that since the RC51 days things have gone down-hill for the big H. They had the best 600, but they haven't updated it for years, and the 1000RR has had ongoing problems for years, etc...,etc.... When Kawi had their issues with the '11 ZX10, they bought the bikes back from customers and fixed the problem. Honda is only now giving their litre bikes "extended waranties" in case the motor makes "stange noises," (-or something to that effect). Not cool.

[image: View Post]The Phantom, on 20 April 2011 - 08:05 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Phoenix, on 20 April 2011 - 07:33 PM, said:

Geez, I should've watched it to the end. Thanks. :smile: That is the CBR scuffing!

The CBR1000RR was known for using oil a few years back, have there been any reports of the V12 doing the same?



Sorry, I never answered your question. I haven't heard about oil consumption with the V12. Overall, I think it's a really nice machine and I love the luggage / mounting system. I just hope the motor is okay. I did hear about this "swarf" issue released by UK Honda. That would make me change the oil several times during break-in, (even before starting the bike for the first time I'd change the oil!).

A friend of mine watched the video and said that most of the motor looked great, (-top-end). But the bottom end, cyclinder and pistons did not impress him, (-the scoring). He said that the machining of the bottom end and many components looked rough, too. The VFR's crank does not look as nice as the one out of my FZ. Mind you, my FZ threw a rod-bearing so that is not good, either, (--apparently it was a fluke and not something that happens often according to the FZ boards).