Can Someone Please Confirm The Gearing Issue On The 2012 Vfr?

Hey guys - first post.

I'm currently riding a Ninja 1000 but can't stop drooling over the VFR 1200F manual version. It seriously checks all the boxes for what I'm looking for in a bike, but I keep hearing about the 1st and 2nd gearing restrictions. Problem is, I only really see this mentioned for the 2010 model and can't seem to confirm that it has been fixed or not for the 2012 VFR. I know the 2012 had some revisions made to the bike and wondered if this has been resolved.

Can anyone confirm this either way?

Thanks.

I have actually been curious about this myself.

I haven't yet found proof, but it's my opinion that my 2012 does not have restrictions in 1st and 2nd gear - and that the TCS was implemented to take it's place.

I had a ZX-14 that was restricted in the lower gears, and it was noticeable. If this iteration of the 1200 is restricted, it's not noticeable - the bike is very strong off the bottom with no dips felt anywhere in the powerband.

I had a '12 Ninja 1000 as well, great bikes.

Hey guys - first post.

I'm currently riding a Ninja 1000 but can't stop drooling over the VFR 1200F manual version. It seriously checks all the boxes for what I'm looking for in a bike, but I keep hearing about the 1st and 2nd gearing restrictions. Problem is, I only really see this mentioned for the 2010 model and can't seem to confirm that it has been fixed or not for the 2012 VFR. I know the 2012 had some revisions made to the bike and wondered if this has been resolved.

Can anyone confirm this either way?

Thanks.

It's a total non-issue. Take a test ride.

Hey guys - first post.

I'm currently riding a Ninja 1000 but can't stop drooling over the VFR 1200F manual version. It seriously checks all the boxes for what I'm looking for in a bike, but I keep hearing about the 1st and 2nd gearing restrictions. Problem is, I only really see this mentioned for the 2010 model and can't seem to confirm that it has been fixed or not for the 2012 VFR. I know the 2012 had some revisions made to the bike and wondered if this has been resolved.

Can anyone confirm this either way?

Thanks.

It's a total non-issue. Take a test ride.

Thanks for the reply Tamworth - this makes me feel better. That being said it doesn't really answer the question - was it resolved or does the new TCS make it less perceivable? I guess I'm looking for confirmation that the issue was actually fixed or not. Thanks again.

I can only give you a seat of the pants analysis as in our household we have both  2010 VFR 1200 DCT and 2012 VFR 1200 DCT versions. The 2012 is much smoother accelerating and is quicker off  the line. Now having said that a head to head comparison is difficult as I am on the 2010 and out weigh my wife by 73 pounds which is a helpful excuse as I am left in her dust.

I haven't yet found proof, but it's my opinion that my 2012 does not have restrictions in 1st and 2nd gear - and that the TCS was implemented to take it's place.

I had a ZX-14 that was restricted in the lower gears, and it was noticeable. If this iteration of the 1200 is restricted, it's not noticeable - the bike is very strong off the bottom with no dips felt anywhere in the powerband.

I had a '12 Ninja 1000 as well, great bikes.

Thanks blakebird. How would you compare the VFR to the Ninja 1000?

I haven't yet found proof, but it's my opinion that my 2012 does not have restrictions in 1st and 2nd gear - and that the TCS was implemented to take it's place.

I had a ZX-14 that was restricted in the lower gears, and it was noticeable. If this iteration of the 1200 is restricted, it's not noticeable - the bike is very strong off the bottom with no dips felt anywhere in the powerband.

I had a '12 Ninja 1000 as well, great bikes.

Thanks blakebird. How would you compare the VFR to the Ninja 1000?

two very different bikes, both excellent at what they do.

The VFR is a little bit more "big GT" along the lines of a K1300S where the Ninja is a compact tourable sportbike.

I liked the Ninja quite a bit - took some great road trips on it, and got my 15 minutes of fame passing a Google Streetview car on it   :beer:

http://tinyurl.com/pc8r4h3

I am very impressed by the VFR 1200 though, it's a really really good bike

I own a manual 2012. The restrictions are in place 1st and 2nd gear. No idea why. I put on a PC V, 2 Bros Slip on, and im now at 157 HP at the rear. No effect on the restrictions. Traction control and the limitations are 2 different things. Not related in this instance.

I installed the BZAAZ plug into the throttle wiring harness to fool the ECU into thinking it's in 3rd gear, until it hits 4-6. Completely different motorcycle. Amazing 1st and 2nd gear power. Now the TC comes on when it should.

Check my other posts, I have also posted Dyno sheets of the changes last year.

Why worry if there are restrictions. Take it for a test ride and see what you think. I have a 2012 model and nothing has yet left me on the line so unless you want it as a drag strip bike why worry about 1st and 2nd?

I think this a non-issue. The only time you can maybe notice this is when you open up the throttle totally on very low rpm. I don't see any reason why to do that. Take a test and you can see.

Thanks everyone. I'm mostly concerned about the major hesitation people talk about when quickly wanting to accelerate in 1st or 2nd gear - such as when passing a car or coming out of a corner.  So the question is - is the 2012 just as bad as the 2010, or was this addressed in the 2012 updates?

I hate to keep asking - but many people are beyond angry at Honda for implementing these restrictions and I just can't see going through all these crazy fixes just to get a 16k motorcycle to run properly.

Your input is appreciated.

I haven't yet found proof, but it's my opinion that my 2012 does not have restrictions in 1st and 2nd gear - and that the TCS was implemented to take it's place.

I had a ZX-14 that was restricted in the lower gears, and it was noticeable. If this iteration of the 1200 is restricted, it's not noticeable - the bike is very strong off the bottom with no dips felt anywhere in the powerband.

I had a '12 Ninja 1000 as well, great bikes.

Thanks blakebird. How would you compare the VFR to the Ninja 1000?

two very different bikes, both excellent at what they do.

The VFR is a little bit more "big GT" along the lines of a K1300S where the Ninja is a compact tourable sportbike.

I liked the Ninja quite a bit - took some great road trips on it, and got my 15 minutes of fame passing a Google Streetview car on it   :beer:

http://tinyurl.com/pc8r4h3

I am very impressed by the VFR 1200 though, it's a really really good bike

Very cool. Gotta love Street View.

I can't really complain about the Ninja - and as you said... I like it quite a bit myself.

How about riding position compared to the Ninja? Seems like the VFR is a bit more leaned over for the rider. Is it as comfortable on longer rides?

Thanks everyone. I'm mostly concerned about the major hesitation people talk about when quickly wanting to accelerate in 1st or 2nd gear - such as when passing a car or coming out of a corner.  So the question is - is the 2012 just as bad as the 2010, or was this addressed in the 2012 updates?

I hate to keep asking - but many people are beyond angry at Honda for implementing these restrictions and I just can't see going through all these crazy fixes just to get a 16k motorcycle to run properly.

Your input is appreciated.

This "hesatation" you speak of simply does not exist. I don't know where you're getting your information but you have somehow been misled.

Hi Tamworth. Its pretty well documented and can easily be found with a quick Google search.

Here is an example mentioned right on this board. http://www.vfrdiscus...g-vfr1200-2010/

It's not fixed. Only the transition from restricted to unrestricted (~6000rpm) is smoothed out. Still no power down there and no it has nothing to do with the TC.

Wow - conflicting info once again. Some say its a non issue others say its an issue. 

Now if I could only find a demo to try out for myself.

Thanks everyone.

First off, Only some owners are experiencing the stumbling and surging issue, which has nothing to do with 1st-2nd gear timing retard.  Mine hasn't shown any symptoms of it - knock on wood - but I don't doubt others that have.

Secondly, Honda combined the 1st-2nd timing retard with the exhaust flapper.  My '10 came with 2Bro Tit-can installed, so I've never ridden the bike bone stock.  Personally, I've yet to find the 1st-2nd gear timing retard anywhere as troubling as some other owners felt.  Everybody's riding style and habits are different, so the only way to know if it will bother you is a good long test ride.

One thing to keep in mind when looking at the dyno charts - showing the 1st-2nd-gear timing retard - is that they are done at WOT.  It would be interesting to see the same HP/Torque charts done at all 6 gears at PART THROTTLE, but of course nobody pays for a dyno run to see anything other than MAXIMUM HP/TORQUE of their bike.

I rarely run my street bikes WOT and just about never in 1st and 2nd.  That's pretty much doing a jack rabbit start.  Passing on fwy is typically done at higher gears and at above 5k RPM.  Again, your riding may vary.

As for 2012 still having the timing retard, it doesn't seem plausible to me, but I have no personal experience to call it either way.

The stumbling and surging is fixed on the 2012 as far as I can judge it. From what I know about other than stock exhausts the 1st/2nd timing retard should be a bit better but not nearly solved with them.

Of course it depends on your riding style. If you don't give her more than maybe half throttle in 1st/2nd gear below 5000...6000 rpm you won't notice that problem at all. For me, I want to overtake someone on a regular basis who goes maybe 60...80km/h. That's just below the 6k rpm mark in 2nd gear. 1st gear is ok for me, but 2nd gear I just give her full throttle even at over 6k rpm and under that it feels like nothing happens at all. The 2012 just doesn't kick you in the back at that point.

Thanks Ocard - is the issue a livable or acceptable one? Or are you constantly aggravated by it?

One of the lessons I picked up on my first track day is to be smooth with the throttle, both rolling OFF and rolling back ON.  With traction control on a lot of superbikes these days, it's easy to be sloppy with the throttle and get away with it - just whack open the throttle on corner exit and let the electronics modulate the power to keep you out of the weeds.  In the "old days", smooth is fast.  And that applied to both 2- and 4-wheel world.

Well since the easy workaround is shifting down and mine is a DCT, it's not that much of a problem. Only on streets where you have to constantly switch between 1st and 2nd it's a bit enervating.

Hey guys - first post.

I'm currently riding a Ninja 1000 but can't stop drooling over the VFR 1200F manual version. It seriously checks all the boxes for what I'm looking for in a bike, but I keep hearing about the 1st and 2nd gearing restrictions. Problem is, I only really see this mentioned for the 2010 model and can't seem to confirm that it has been fixed or not for the 2012 VFR. I know the 2012 had some revisions made to the bike and wondered if this has been resolved.

Can anyone confirm this either way?

Thanks.

Welcome to the board, Smeyers.

I've got the 2010F (manual).  Personally, for me, the restriction in 1st and 2nd was a PITA.  The power seemed to come on hard mid-corner, but this is all stuff that's known world-wide about this model year.  I just hot-wired it and haven't looked back since.

My understanding in talking to a few folks about it is that it's still there in the '12, but it's nowhere near as apparent.

I can tell you this much, and hopefully it will help you make a decision either way:  It's not necessarily the additional power that makes the biggest difference, just the more linear feel to how it comes on that made the bike absolutely perfect for me.  It's a quick fix if it bothers you.  Given, your gear selector will be quite confused 1/2 the time.  The fix is literally a cakewalk if you find it does bother you.  I wouldn't think twice about buying another one.

Thanks Yokel. I think I'll have to ride one to tell for sure.

I'm in Orlando and not many dealers have them - not to mention dealers aren't that eager to give demos on them.

Hey guys - first post.

I'm currently riding a Ninja 1000 but can't stop drooling over the VFR 1200F manual version. It seriously checks all the boxes for what I'm looking for in a bike, but I keep hearing about the 1st and 2nd gearing restrictions. Problem is, I only really see this mentioned for the 2010 model and can't seem to confirm that it has been fixed or not for the 2012 VFR. I know the 2012 had some revisions made to the bike and wondered if this has been resolved.

Can anyone confirm this either way?

Thanks.

Welcome to the board, Smeyers.

I've got the 2010F (manual).  Personally, for me, the restriction in 1st and 2nd was a PITA.  The power seemed to come on hard mid-corner, but this is all stuff that's known world-wide about this model year.  I just hot-wired it and haven't looked back since.

My understanding in talking to a few folks about it is that it's still there in the '12, but it's nowhere near as apparent.

I can tell you this much, and hopefully it will help you make a decision either way:  It's not necessarily the additional power that makes the biggest difference, just the more linear feel to how it comes on that made the bike absolutely perfect for me.  It's a quick fix if it bothers you.  Given, your gear selector will be quite confused 1/2 the time.  The fix is literally a cakewalk if you find it does bother you.  I wouldn't think twice about buying another one.

  I've got a 2010 and this post is spot-on.  For guys who just leasurly ride I assume that it is not an issue but the transition for me was a deal breaking PITA.  The bazzaz eliminator transforms the bike and is worth the few $ that they charge for it.

Here is my two cents worth....I live in South Korea where the traffic is a nightmare......especially is Seoul......I kinda enjoyed the lazy side of 1/2 in the heavy traffic......but now I plugged in the z-bomb......different bike as mentioned before......I little more edgy in traffic, but not in a bad way.....however I am noticing more rear wheel slip under morning dew conditions or wet....ESP on painted lines.......so if your bike is commuting in heavy traffic.....may not be a bad thing.......I now want a switch to go from restricted to unrestricted once outside the ,city........any hints or thoughts.....?...