New VFR800 Owner!

Hi guys, I am excited to join the ranks of you VFR800 owners! I just picked up today a 2003 VFR800 with 7500 miles, red. So far I have rode it home only but I LOVE it! I also own a 2013 Vstrom DL650, but I worry I may ride it less and less now that I own this VFR800 LOL.

One quick question also, I noticed on my ride home (25 min ride on the highway) that the temp was reading 220F and the fan was on. is this normal? It's about 85F out, but I wasnt riding it hard or stop and go. I did some googling and it sounds like it might be high but within the "ok" zone?

Thanks, I have more questions but wanted to ask this quick before I go out riding again

 

Sounds normal, how fast were you averaging? If it was all highway, then you need to check coolant level in overflow tank on left side (requires pulling off left fairing side panel.). If you ride around town 30-40 mph, doesn't get enough air flow for 85+ degrees.

 

Where do people find bikes with such low miles??! My '02 has 45k kms (~28k miles) and my '08 has 34k kms (~22k miles).... Congrats on the purchase.. if you made one..perhaps you're a troll..only way to be sure is for you to post pix of your ride :thumb:

Temp seems within the normal range.. I believe it's once the temp gets up to around 240f that you should be concerned...

 

Thanks guys, I was doing some highway riding but moving quickly at times. Watching later in the day, I noticed it doesnt usually get that hot when on the highway, its when I slow down and get off an exit it starts. I notice it goes up to 225F max, then fan kicks on at 220F, drops it quickly to 210F and the fan kicks off.

It runs DAMN hot though between the legs on a hot summer day LOL.

I am thinking even with low mileage, the fact the coolant is probably 11 years old I should drain it and replace it. Good idea?

I was considering trying this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H01NFY...lid=2MBMCHGZENDRY&coliid=I393GTE0H26577&psc=1

Some guys were highly recommending it after using it in their GSXR's. Is this stuff ok in our engines? It says propleyne glycol (safer version of ethylene) but the manual calls for ethylene with specific corrosion inhibitors. I want to make sure this ice stuff is 100% ok before trying it.

I will post pics asap

 

Also, I think I need to adjust my clutch. Is it normal that the catch point is near the end of the clutch travel (as in I have to release the clutch 95% of the way) before it catches? This leaves me with near zero friction zone. I am used to my vstrom where it catches in the middle, and a wide friction zone. I have never used a hydraulic clutch before, so I am not sure what is normal and what to expect. (also if its easy to adjust that kind of thing or not, I am still learning the manual from a PDF version I found)

 

:welcome: to the nuts house :wave:
What is the outside temp?
Complete flush highly recommended.
Where are you located at?
You said you got a low mileages 03....? Where I cannot see it

 

Damn, I have to re-type all this LOL (stupid thing got stuck adding pictures and it lost all my text!)

I am in Northern NJ.

The outside temp was around 85F, max temp i saw was 224F. The fan kicks on at 220F, it usually climbs for another few seconds and then quickly drops to 210F when the fan kicks off. This seems to only happen when stopped however, like at traffic lights. When riding it usually stays below 200F except when I get on it.

Tonight it was around 65F-70F and the bike was around 185F when riding. It did reach 220F a few times but only after sitting at a traffic light for a bit.

I plan on flushing the entire system with distilled water and then refilling with Engine ICE coolant. Its been recommended to me by many people IRL, I assume its safe to use in our engine? (it basically says its safe for all engine and materials)

Sorry it took a while to get pictures up, these pics are before I detailed the bike though:







Here it is with my Gf's vespa GTS250ie.



I will get more pics up after i finish detailing and installing exhaust, etc.

 

I wanted to add that this was traded in to the motorcycle mall in belleville NJ by someone who lived in CT. I wanted to mention that as it would be awesome if the old owner frequented these forums and saw this post, i sure would like to ask him a bunch of questions LOL!

 

Nice find. The red ones are a little slower than the RWB ones, but it's still nice.:wink: The temps you are seeing I would say are normal, although it couldn't hurt to service it. I have no idea about the coolant, although I know a lot of people who use it and haven't had any problems. As far as the clutch, mine lets out near the top also. I find that I never squeeze the clutch more than halfway because it seems that the clutch is fully disengaged by then and the rest is just a wasted effort. No idea if they are all like this, but I would guess so.

 

The temp you see is normal :thumb:
Flush and replace all the fluids is a great idea so you know what you have and did on the bike. Ride safe and ATGATT.

 

Welcome aboard. I'm a NJ guy too, although sans bike for the time being (but the wheels are turning...). Where in NJ are you? I'm no ace mechanic, but I've learned a few things about these bikes along the way.

Should also point out: The 2002 to 2005 had a recall done on some wiring harness up front. Make sure you find out if this was completed. Motorcycle Mall should be able to run your VIN and tell you - if not, any Honda dealer can. Its a recall, so its free.

And you need to familiarize yourself with the VFRs electrical shortcomings. Click this link below, read it, and understand it. Very simple: if your R/R has not been upgraded, it will fail in time. Could be a week, could be a year. But it will fail.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/39277-How-to-fix-common-regulator-Stator-failures

 

Hello & welcome. I run Engine Ice in my VFR & have been for some time now, if that's what you're looking at. No problems with propylene vs ethylene that I've run into. It is a 'must' to flush your system if the bike previously had another brand of coolant, IOW, don't mix EI with something else (from their website). I have not found that EI helps keep my engine any cooler for everyday riding than other coolants. My bike also runs 'hot' & if I'm not in 'clean air', IOW, behind other vehicles at lower speeds, the temps will climb rapidly & come back down slowly, on warm days. I have installed an over-ride switch for the cooling fan that lets me kick on the fan when I see temps climbing over 210. You can check coolant level w/o removing fairing by shining a bright light in alongside the radiator at the coolant container, & looking in from back to front thru the gap between the fairing & the frame/clutch cover ... if you can picture this :nod: ...

My clutch also engages with the lever near end of travel. I think it always has, I now have over 26K miles on my ride ...

ACE

 

I think motorcycle mall is actually supposed to run a recall check before selling you the bike, i know they usually do. either they did it and mine was ok, or they forgot lol. I will double check for sure. I am like 15 min from motorcycle mall. near meadowlands.

I will check out the info on the regulator.

This actually reminds me, I found a fuse coming off my battery and cant figure out where the hell it goes to, I need to try to figure it out. it def looks after market to me but i will take a picture and post it to be sure. its a white fuse holder coming off the positive on the battery, it just doesnt look stock but i cant find any added accessories except a battery tender lead, which has a different connection to the battery.

 

THanks, I have a feeling the coolant is very old, so I want to flush it out anyways, i figured might as well try the Ice stuff. I hear it also is track legal which is cool as i might want to bring this baby to a track one day.

 

Make sure you check the regs carefully. Some track orgs do allow EI (STT down here for example) in some levels, but not all do. I personally would not run it at the track, b/c I don't want to be 'that guy' that ruins everyone else's day. Track workers can get oil dried up fairly well, but there is no product for quickly pulling up any glycols. If you blow a rad. hose, or lose a coolant drain plug, & leave glycol on parts of the track, you will not be feeling the love ... I would not want to be you in such a case :smile:. Also, even while some track day organizations may allow such coolants, the track owners may not want it run on their track (little Tally appears to be such). You're safe going with what the track day organizers allow, but do give it some thought before deciding to run glycol at a track ... just saying :biggrin: ...

ACE

 

good to know, so basically at these tracks you need to run straight water?

the chances of me doing a track day this season is very low since there really isnt one in the area, it would more likely be next season in which case I would need the glycol for the winter, so I am just going to put the engine ice in for now

 

Redline Water Wetter, Amsoil Coolant Boost, straight H2O, anything that ain't slippery when spilled :biggrin1: ...

ACE

 

I got A LOT of work to do LOL.


1) Flush and replace coolant

2) Replace oil

3) Check hydraulic fluid for clutch, flush and replace if needed.

4) Install two brothers exhaust

5) Install power commander V

6) Install PCV Auto Tune module (requires replacing o2 sensor)

7) Replace air filter with k&n

Going to try to knock this all out in one go, I may do the exhaust in a 2nd sitting as i believe it doesnt rely on the lower fairings being removed, all the other things require it so it makes sense to do them together if possible.

 

Before you start that, read this thread entirely: http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/37595-melted-stator-wires?highlight=the+drill

It's a good example of what CAN happen if you ignore your electrical system on these bikes. Good info to have while the bike is apart......