Another Newbie VFR Owner - I think I'm a VFR convert

Hi all, sorry this is a long hello. I’m a newbie member and VFR owner. I am not new to riding and the reason for the purchase is that my zx11 (owned for 13 yrs) has very low compression in #1 cyl and is in need of a motor rebuild. I can’t be without a bike during the time it’s going to take me to get it fixed. Well I stumbled into a mint (looks brand new) 97 VFR with 8500 miles on it. Bought it from the neighbor of a good friend, guy was in his mid 50’s and said he has only been riding the bike about 100 miles a year for a while and was just done with riding. He even had the original seat, cowl and wind screen. The bike has a corbin seat with a backrest (wife likes it, but thank god its removable) and a nice touring windscreen. I love riding this bike. Not even close to the power of the 11, but so much easier and more comfortable to ride. That’s the good (not the zx11 issue), now the bad. The guy told me to keep the bike on a battery tender. After reading this forum I am very nervous about that. The other night I took a ride to shore and on my way back (at night of course) on the highway and the bike just started dying. Wife came and got me and I put the bike on a charger, and it ran fine the next day but I don’t trust it. Tomorrow I am going to do the fault finding diagram I found on a thread. However, I am mechanically proficient, but electrically challenged.
BTW – I tried to post a pic of the VFR but something would not let it work. My son said the moderator may need to give me permission since I am a new member.

 

Welcome aboard, 8500 miles is brand new. These bikes really only give regulator/rectifier problems so you will find lots of help and info here regarding that.

 

Very common issue with VFR's and usually a simple fix. Do you have a multimeter/voltmeter to test the charging system? You'll need to charge your battery completely before starting your tests.

Rollin

 

I did the full diagnostic test and believe it to be the RR. So I replaced it and orderer the VFRness to avoid future issues. However, something a bit odd happened that my buddy said was normal. Accidentally disconnected the battery while running and the bike died instantly. Is this really normal?

 

I'm not too sure about the VFR but my dad's 86 Honda Shadow would do the same thing. Even though the battery had enough to light up the instrument console but barely crank the starter, you couldn't even bump start it. As soon as he dropped in a new battery, it ran just fine, pull the the battery cable off...motor would stop.

 

Welcome to the site. Wow. 8500 mls on a 97. I think I had that much on my 06 by the time it was a month and half old. It now has about 83,000+-. And if you ride it, you don't need the battery tender. I am still on my original battery with no signs of failure. But the 06 did not seem to have the problems with the RR that seem to be palguing others.

You shgould be able to post pix soon as you join this sight. It is a finacky program though

This may help: vBulletin FAQ

Welcome again.

 

I replaced the RR and I am waiting on the VFRness. Compared to the stock one, the new RR from wire my bike is much beefier plus comes with cooling fins.
However, the bike does not seem to have much power below 5k rpm. Am I being picky with just to many years on my zx11 and have a bad baseline for acceleration or am I missing something in my diagnostics? Engine seems to stumble around 3-4k rpm, hit 5k+ and it wakes right up. Going to take it out again tomorrow hoping it just needs to be used a bit to get any old stuff out. I think I will try to burn through a full tank and update everyone later.