Need some input

alright guys,

Ive been riding my vfr for about 3 months now and all ive done is change the oil. (bought the oil and filter from a dealer) window reads the right amount when sitting on centerstand. Latley it seems that the bike is a bit sluggish if thats the way to describe it.
It has 4400 miles on it (1800) when I got it.

when I start it in the morning and after work it has almost a rough start. my supervisor at work has a 5th gen and it seems to fire right up.

I might need to change or clean the air filter after the fires down here but would that affect it that much?

when I put my hand over the exhaust ports 3 seem really strong the 2 on the left are strong and the bottom one on the right seems a bit weak compared to the others.

from my understanding, the bike did sit for a long time in someones garage until they traded it in to the dealership.

any tips?

 

I'm confused here, Help me out please. you did what? if I read that right you have separate exhaust? to be able to tell how they are doing? What version VFR do you have? theres a few things that come to mind, but it would really help if you gave a better explanation.

 

a 6th ten with stock exhaust sorry for the confusion

 

Huh?
I'm also confused.

How exactly do you place your hand "over the exhaust ports", and actually feel anything?

I'm not really going to try to figure that out, but here's my thoughts:

The oil is fine - plenty fresh enough, and wouldn't have any bearing on the starting/running quality unless REALLY bad, like O.E. fill...

I would agree it's time to change the air filter (cleanable if it's a K&N or other oiled-cotton type).
That will help, probably a lot.

I think the biggest thing will be changing the spark plugs.
The rears are easy to get to; they'll be looking at you as soon as you remove the fuel tank to access the air filter.
The front plugs will require removing the fairing lowers and moving the radiator aside.
Even easier if you drain and remove the radiator, which would be a good excuse to flush and refill the coolant - it's probably due anyway, and just good PM as long as you're doing everything else.

Lastly, a weak battery could cause hard/rough starting.
Insufficient amperage will cause slow starter cranking and low voltage to the coils will cause weak spark.

So - Change the air filter & spark plugs, and charge the battery (a Battery Tender is cheap & idiot-proof insurance), and give it an "Italian Tune-Up" (ride it hard and rev the heck out of it to clean the carbon build-up from the combustion chambers and the backs of the valves.
A couple long hard runs over about 8,000 rpm should do it (like up a long grade).

I'll practically guarantee your bike will run as good as new, unless something very serious is wrong (but it doesn't sound too serious).

Let us know how it goes.

Rat

 

Ya know, as a matter of fact...

Before you spend any more money (although it could probably use a good tune-up as described above), just go the "Italian Tune-Up" route for now.

Dump a small bottle of fuel system cleaner in the tank (for cheap & easy insurance), fill it with Premium fuel, and ride the knickers off it for a day.

Keep the revs up and accelerate hard as much as possible - Don't crash or get in trouble tho'!
You want the combustion chambers HOT, and flowing as much fuel as possible to clean everything out.

High rpm's will also give the alternator a chance to give the battery a good long charge.
Low-rpm trundling around town never really gets the alternator to full output; they need sustained 2500-3500+ rpm.
Short rides with frequent re-starting will drain the battery.

I'll betcha it'll feel a LOT better the next morning. :wink:

Let me know.

Rat

 

I agree with Mr. Rat, on the "Italian Tune-Up". Your plugs should be good for 16K miles, or more. Air filter is most likely good, wouldn'tt hurt to check it if the magic bottle doesn't help. Don't worry about how your tail pipe pressure feels. The system is a 4 into 1 into 2, won't tell you nothing about individual cylinders.
My advice is the same basically as Rat's, ride the fool out of it. Motocycles hate to sit.
Mac

 

I agree with the comments above, good chance it will work. If the bike sat for a long time it is possible that some varnish from the fuel is gumming up an injector. High alcohol (10%) fuels are very good at cleaning out engines as are the engine cleaning additives.

 

thanks for everyones input,

I didnt mean to confuse everyone, but i will start with the italian tuning and see how that goes. Ill do it when I get off of work today because I do need gas then I will ride the hell out it at high rpms. I do have an idot proof charger so I will plug it in. I havent had any of the recall work done yet (the dealer was out of the parts) they are still going to honor the recall sometime in the middle of november.

 

Ooo the life of a 6th gen yep there's no way to tell anything by putting your hands over the exhaust on that model as noted they are a 4-1-2 since it's FI hard telling why it might have a ruff start. Does it run rough thru the upper RPMs? or just down low like at idle. I like the idea on using some FI cleaner, but you might want to make a call to a Honda dealer and check for any service bulletins too, which will no doubt take a serial number for references, but yea bikes don't like to sit and they like to be used, not abused.
On a side note I use a laser temp gun when I have doubt that a cylinder is not running right, pretty cool gadget.

 

so on that note, change or at least check all spark plugs for proper gapping?

 

My 04 had a simular situation when I purchesed it. It had been sitting for a few months. The "Italian Tune-up" and some fuel system cleaner in a tank of 91 octane. Since then it has ran like a champ in the 6,000 miles I've put on it since I got it. Have done an oil/filter change, and recharged the air filter. But running strong. So I wouldn't worry too much yet, and as the others have said do the simple things first.

 

you guys were definatly right the Italian tune-up did the trick and just have to remember to unplug the charger when going for a ride thank you experts

 

you guys were definatly right the Italian tune-up did the trick and just have to remember to unplug the charger when going for a ride thank you experts

 

Glad to hear it!

Just curious - Did you use fuel system cleaner?

 

yes I did use the fuel system cleaner, the guy at the gas station was trying to tell me it didnt work with carbs in bikes.

 

Fuel System Cleaner is just that.
Works fine in carburetors or F.I.
Won't harm various fuel system components.

Gasoline varnish doesn't know or care what device it's gumming up...:wink:

I've used it in many bikes; not a fuelie among 'em, only carbs.
I usually use 'Gunk' brand (about $2-), but any decent one will do.

My '94 VFR (carbs) was bought used and had sat for about a year.
Gunk "Fuel Injection Cleaner" worked just fine. Carburets beautifully.