vtec opinions

I have had a few VFRs over the years and currently own the 02. Yes, Honda did a little too much to the bike in meeting the 2008 emissions standards which at 5k the bike seems to be starving for something. I also have the problem where if you dissingage the cluth and blip the throttle to 3k, the bike will up and stop running. The powercommander does help but not eleviate the problem. Someone has suggested replacing the fuel pressure regulator (http://www.turbocity.com/default.php?cPath=64) with after market part for way less than 300 bucs. Will give this a shot over the next month.
The 7k range… sure I will get a lot of feedback from this but I have to somewhat dissagree that this is a problem. I have ridden (both track and hills) my VFR as hard as I ride my 06 1000rr and have not had much of a problem. In a stright line, and giving a hand full of roll-on (from 5k to 8k full roll-on). Yes, the bike will lurch forward. In ridding on track or the hills and going in to a turn corners, I would not recommend this move. Instead, I have kept a steady 6.5k range and slowly rolled up past 7k. This is not such a violent engaging of the second set of valves. On the track, the bike was never below the 7k range. Put an aftermarket full exchaust or 98 headers and see what happens… wholy crap!
I am not a mechinc and do not write books, this is just the experience I have seen on one 2002 VFR.

 

I totally agree it is like having two bikes in one I drive an 05 , i was led to belive that in 06 they smothed out the v-tec or did they? in the 05 it is very abrubt but once you get used to it its fine

 

Negative . If , Like me , you can only point and squirt from traffic stops in town for short bursts , Its almost like Clark Kent Reaching for his tie and starting to unloosen it ..... You know whats going to be in the next frame - SUPERMAN ! ! ! ! ! lol ... Man , we did a breakfast run yesters , I was quite surprised that for a tourer she actually doesnt shunt that bad at all . Weight I would have voted a bigger factor as a negative towards the bike , as well as that annoying cat convertor ( why didnt anyone tell me I was buying a green bike not a black one ?) Which im scared to remove .

Could somebody point me in the direction Re PC ? I'd really like to make the power a bit more sting in the tail without going ballistic with Mods . This seems to be a natural step , to go with a Pc .

Its definitely 2 bikes in one . If you keep her nailed in first second third , the transition is anything but subtle . enjoyable , unique , but not subtle . so the whole Vtec thing was just put there for emissions ? Darn .. woulda been nice to have , instead of a smooth transition - NO transition at all , just outright power . I still enjoy the bike tremendously , and , thankfully , amongst a buncha supies , not one of the riders had anything bad to say about my choice . i let one of give er a go , and he was impressed by the bikes all round abilities , said it suited my ageing style ( His arse ! - Im 34 !) compared to the newer machines , which are a literal pain in the arms after 40 miles .

So the 5th Gen had no Vtec sting in the tail to it then ? Also V4 , but where did the power surge disappear to ?

 

I'm not 100% sure what you are asking but will try to explain.

The Gen 5 has a smooth Power/Torque curve where the Gen 6 has a comparative dip in power starting at 6000rpm with a 6hp deficit at 6800rpm before hitting 7000rpm when the extra Valves chime in normalising the curve thus giving the Gen 6 an artificial feeling of a boost in power.

As can be seen from visiting belows dyno Link the Power & Torque curves are otherwise very similar with the Gen 6 having 0.5 more HP and the Gen 5 1 more ft/lb.

Folks with Dyno tuned Gen 6's with PC3 can verify if one of the PC3's benefit's is to minimise the Dip in power or negating it altogether ?


Gen 5 Vs Gen 6 Dyno Graph Linky:
http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcdaily01/01-02vfrdyno.html

 

Mother .
Thats interesting . So that boost in power we feeling , is actually a dip , and then , a CONTINUATION only , of the power curve ?? those sluts at honda .....lol

It feels more like the thing is being hit by a gas bottle . I'm surprised I never actually thought of it , really , i think I fall under the umbrella Of guys , who are of simple thinkning that doubling the Number of valves actually increases hp . .. . my word . ....

 

I agree; complexity for complexities sake.

 

Doubling Valves does add top end HP to the Gen 6, the Gen 5's just operate all 4 all the time.

Oddly enough the Step in power was initially one of Hondas " Selling" point, they claimed some journalist's in the past had criticised the Gen 4 VFR750 & Gen 5 v4's smooth mid range for having a lack of "character" with no Top end Power rush like the GSXR's / ZX-R's of the time, the VTec's action provided a perception of cam's coming on song.

The other selling points of Honda's move to Hyper VTec is ultra low exhaust emissions and improved fuel economy, in both these areas the Gen 6's v4 does actually deliver if you keep it under 6000rpm.

 

It should do all that, but it really doesnt seem to be worth the $$ and the complexity to me..Just a gimmick to be different I figure!!
Would be much better with simple Variable valve timing like all the cars, then could actually benefit from it. This is just a trap door opening up to match the tb intake flow at WO. waste of time. As a gimmick I dont mind it, but then again its mostly the intake noise that I notice anyway...I dont find any problem with smoothness or power dips on mine, but also no great advantages either, certainly none worth the complexity..Take away the intake noise and I dont find it much diff than any smaller engined bike to drive..no big deal with the transition..no diff than gearing down and punching it on any bike for me...... If it did indeed improve mileage I would love to have it, but since the bike doesnt get great mileage I cant see any real benifits from having it..Now if they could make it work for that, i would buy another version. Im happy with the 100 hp, I just want some mileage outa that setup! But to be honest, why would it make any diff anyway, its still totally dependent on throttle opening for that, simply the single valves flow enough for cruising anyway..... . But I still find the bike a pleasure..just wouldnt buy another newer model if they made it with this setup..

.

 

How can anything that generates so much discussion be bad? It comes down to personal taste...I have an 02 with a PC matched to my Two Brothers exhaust ( another hot topic ) and wouldn't trade it for any other bike. Once you get accustomed to the bike's " personality " and if it fits yours ( mine ) you ( I ) experience that integration that makes the riding experience so enjoyable. Personally I love the dual personality of the 02 VFR. I know that at 7,000 rpm the bike becomes really aggressive and if I happen to be in an agressive mood I know exactly what I have to do to get the bike to join me. Who doesn't have a little devil inside tempting you to just go ahead and do it?

 

I have to agree with Webbfire here, its a personal thing. One guy jumps in a muscle car and says "wow great power" the other guy gets in and says "its too loud". To each their own.
I love the kick, and just try and mind the RPMs in corners. I think I will try a power commander this summer, but the bike is great, the Vtech technology is wild, and though no bike is perfect for everyone, this one sure makes a lot of people pretty happy.

 

I got out for a pretty decent ride today, and I explored the Vtec transition in a few different situations. My '02 has a set of Staintunes and a K&N filter, otherwise stock.

I don't notice any of the steady throttle lurching that I've seen written about on this or other forums and the Vtec transition is a BIG GRIN!! I find that I really enjoy the schizophrenic aspect of the engine!

I have a PCIII and a set of O2 eliminators that I bought from a friend who sold his VFR last fall. I'm gonna hold off on installing them for a while and concentrate on getting rid of the linked braking system.

I'm gonna have this bike for a loooooooooooooooooooong time!


Rex

 

I think you hit the nail on the head couldent agree with you more
had zx10 for a while apart from being not very comfortable on long rides it was more high strung bike not as forgiving as the viffer. with the viffer you can putt along under 7000 or kick in the vtec and have a great agressive ride.
with aftermaket exhaust staintune or two brothers you cant beet that v4 sound

 

To my ears a Gen 6's nicely burnt in Staintunes sound a bit like a warm small block Chev with duelies. V

Not sure why it should be an imperative unless you often ride in slippery conditions, as far as I can see its only negative is due to its quiet competence making you a little lazy forcing you to concentrate a little on correct biasing when riding a bike without.

 

mmm. Fascinating , and plenty good feedback .
I am enjoying the duality of this engine More and More . As webbfire so aptly put it - If im in "that mood , I know where to go hunting for a friend when i ride .. I m having the poor cat Gutted (shame -it sounds so cruel ) next week , I want some more of that hectic and addictive V4 sound to eminate from the stock zorsts ! Its all about the engine when it comes to my viffer ,its all about the engine ..... (Grin) .......

 

But why should you have to pay more $$$ if you purchase a vtec model to make it run smoother ? shouldnt Honda have that cured by now..Easy cure is for Honda to put 5th gen motors in 6th gen frame..LOL.

I am biased since i own a 5th gen..Seriously though , when you buy a 6th gen VFR you would expect it to run smooth as previous gen VFRs and then you have to pay out $$$ to make the vtec transition bearable? That dont sound like a quality Honda VFR..

I hope Honda does come out with a all new VFR for 2008 , with gear driven cams and NO VTEC..Then i might consider buying it..

 

I have seen where the 5th gen headers will work on the 6th gen and the larger diameter headers of the 5th gen help the Vtec transition and give the 6th gen better low end punch ..

 

As you are probably aware there was quite a " rumour" of a 1200cc V5 197 HP VFR out there last year that was supposedly due to arrive in 08 but I have heard nothing since. I wonder if such a powerful motorcycle would due justice to the VFR's reputation as a multi purpose " due everything well " superbly balanced motorcycle? I wonder how much discussion THIS topic will inspire lol...