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Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 2366 Location: Moving to Granada Hills 818
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:46 am Post subject: I work on old Honda's no problem but,
My one year old VFR1200F has me stumped because it is computer controlled and I don't have access to the Honda computer, so I had to drop the bike off at the dealer to let kids 20-30 years younger than me work on my motorcycle.
9188 miles on the clock that have been pretty much trouble free except for the new ECU that was installed back in August under warranty but, she started idling poorly yesterday after an oil change which really has me stumped.
I did nothing else but, drain the oil & change the filter but, she started idling like a spark plug is fouling out. These bikes use iridium plugs and Honda gets $25.00 a piece for them if you go to buy one yourself which I refuse to pay. So if it needs plugs, I will get them myself at the reduced rate ebay charges for them buying all 4 plugs at $52.95 shipped.
Anyway, do any of you "vintage" rider/mechanics have this issue with a newer bike having to be treated by younger "Kids" at the dealer or am I alone in this? _________________ Ray #1
71 CL350K3 Scrambler
79 CBX
10 VFR1200F
bakmanrayman [at] yahoo [dot] com fasterspider [at] gmail [dot] com
Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 1045 Location: Orlando, FL
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:06 pm Post subject:
Dropping your bike off at the dealer to have new spark plugs installed? Really, Ray, you must be moving up in the world... You lightin' cigars with 100-dollar bills, now?
I guess I can't relate at all, never having owned a bike that new. But, it gets my blood pressure up just reading about it. I can only imagine the frustration of having to take a bike to the dealer over an "idle stumble". Hope it works out OK.
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 2366 Location: Moving to Granada Hills 818
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:08 pm Post subject:
I had to drop off my Lojack key fob so I would get no more phone call or email alerts that my bike may have been moved without my consent or knowledge when they take the bike for a test ride and they said that "Accordiong to the hand held Honda computer, the timing is 11.7º out of range", that not a good thing on a computer controlled machine, especially my machine.
It is not the spark plugs and they are not be allowed to change my bike's plugs unless they are paying for them, that is my job when I adjust the valves in 7000 more miles and only if they need changing which they will not because iridium plugs last well over 50,000 miles. _________________ Ray #1
71 CL350K3 Scrambler
79 CBX
10 VFR1200F
bakmanrayman [at] yahoo [dot] com fasterspider [at] gmail [dot] com
Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 1045 Location: Orlando, FL
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:16 pm Post subject:
So, you're saying they've already replaced the ECU once, and now the timing has slipped again? Ouch, that don't sound good. I suppose the timing is controlled by the ECU? I suppose things like pulse generator coils, etc. are not on slotted mounts and probably don't have any adjustability that could just be 'out'?
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 2366 Location: Moving to Granada Hills 818
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject:
KirkN wrote:
So, you're saying they've already replaced the ECU once, and now the timing has slipped again? Ouch, that don't sound good. I suppose the timing is controlled by the ECU? I suppose things like pulse generator coils, etc. are not on slotted mounts and probably don't have any adjustability that could just be 'out'?
Sigh.
Everything is controlled by the ECU and the American Honda VFR1200F/DCT ECUs are shit out of the box.
The rest of the world's VFR1200Fs have all gotten are or in the process of getting new maps for the ECUs but, American Honda did not sell enough of them to warrant any kind of updates or upgrades other than replacement with a new ECU with the same restrictions and problems the old ECU has. 1st & 2nd gear retardation in the low RPMs to prevent wheelies or tire spin up coming out of turns and a jerky throttle response in 1st & 2nd gears also. Fly by wire technology that should have been 100% worked out before being released to the public.
I think my VFR is not going to be staying with me for the rest of my life as was the original plan being it was the 1st brand new vehicle I ever bought & paid for riding it out of the showroom myself. _________________ Ray #1
71 CL350K3 Scrambler
79 CBX
10 VFR1200F
bakmanrayman [at] yahoo [dot] com fasterspider [at] gmail [dot] com
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 11:22 am Post subject: VFR1200 ECU
Hi,
I read your posts;I had an 86'VFR750 & did LOTS of work to it & I really liked that bike.I want to ask if you can find a VERY friendly Honda dealer or 2...and maybe,at least try to get to speak w/ a rep.from Amer.Honda,or could they speak w/ one ? I was thinking another possibility(I'm not sure if it's do-able)might be if you could have a way to get the factory schematics on the ECU from a source? and possibly try to find an electronics genius to take in all the necessary tech to build you a new & more
durable(and possibly programable?) ECU. I'm just trying to put myself in your place & see what would be Best for the long haul.I hope that you change your mind about not keeping the VFR1200;I like the idea of you keeping it for life.
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But, it gets my blood pressure up just reading about it. I can only imagine the frustration of having to take a bike to the dealer over an "idle stumble". Hope it works out OK.
