Stumbling and surging

I have a great relationship with the dealer having bought five bikes from him in the last two years. I am frustrated with Honda corp and their blaize attitude. Having looked on European websites (where the VFR is a good seller), this problem was commonplace; enough so that Honda released a service bulletin to start replacing ECU's or reflashing them. I am a manufacturing manager for a company that builds automated machinery, and when customers are having an issue with machines we have built we throw all resources at it, techs, parts, whatever it takes to resolve the issue and make the customer happy. We are not even close to the size of Honda of America and the fact that they can't supply items such as a harness or ECU to the dealership is sad. I think the problem in the U.S. is that the VFR1200 was not a huge hit for Honda and statistically not enough of them in the U.S. have had this issue to warrant a fix.

 

Hope it works, I truly love the bike, power handling, and yes despite what others say looks. BTW love the yellow VFR

 

ytvfr ; from Canada not sure if you received my response to your pm. Here is the link you requested. VFR1200 Poor fuelling / low revs running issues [Archive] - Honda VFR Club
If you didn't receive my reply then respond directly on this forum that way Honda and other people will see this problem is bigger than people think. I've now heard of multiple cases exhibiting the exact same symptoms in Europe, United States, and now Canada. Guess Honda's response that it is isolated to European models is incorrect.

 

Hi All,

I am also experiencing the same stumbling/surging problems intermittently with my Canadian 2010 VFR1200. When the problem occurs it is quite unsettling.

The bike looses power momentarily, then out of nowhere regains power. I've also experienced a "bucking" sensation as the bike rapidly looses and regains power. The problem is intermittent, occurs at various speeds, and from the best I can tell there isn't a pattern to it.

I'm going to make an appointment with my local Honda dealer. I'm hoping they can rectify the issue!

Jim.

 

Low Speed Stalling - Seventh Generation VFR's - VFR Discussion

Here is another link with people experiencing driveability issues on the VFR1200. This problem can put people in precarious situations, definately an issue Honda needs to address before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.

 

Funny you say that, we own a 07' Camry, and yes the gas pedal recall has been done. She burns a quart of oil every week since it was new; Toyota says that is within reasonable limits.

 

I must just have this black cloud that looms over me :rain:

 

Hi all

I experienced the problem yesterday on my way home from work.

While in 2nd going about 50kph the bike started to sputter and lost power. Throttle input did nothing. I clutched it and downshifted to first. Same problems, bike was sputtering. I had no choice but to coast into a parking lot with the clutch in.

While coasting I revved the engine and it was having a difficult time getting the revs up.

After about a minute of this continuing it magically cleared up.

I then cautiously pulled back onto the road and continued home. About 10 minutes later while stopped at a light in neutral the bike suddenly stalled.

The bike restarted without issue and once again I was on my way.

This is my 3rd or so significant loss of power issue.

Called the dealer when I got home and the bike will be going in for them to try and diagnose/reproduce the problem.

My fingers are crossed that it happens while they are riding the bike so they can experience the problem first hand.

I should mention that my bike is bone stock.

Jim

 

Bike is still in the shop with no solution yet, dealer contacted Honda and did recomendations, check plugs, various connections and what not. Dealer said a rep will be stopping to review my case yet again. In total my bike has now been in the shop approximately five weeks. Think my next step will have to be contacting the NYS Attorney General's office. I am tired of making a monthly payment on a bike that I can't ride either because it is in the shop or because I am concerned about safety considering the unpredictable nature of this problem.

 

Has your local honda dealer been able to reproduce the issue?

 

Not once, however I did catch it stumbling on the GoPro camera attached to my helmet, as well as the high idle (1500 rpms) and the 3rd gear indicator going from a 3 to a slash and back to a 3 while riding. Problem is you can ride a couple hundred miles sometimes and experience nothing. Other times it will do it 3 or 4 times in a fifteen mile stretch,

 

Add me to the list of those with this problem. dealer has had the bike about 4 different time, but it never seemed to do it for them. Have seen the local Honda rep; said all ran as it should! didn't happen to him and he took it for a 40 mile ride. Happened just after that again so dealer contacted Honda and they told them to go through all electrical connections and use dielectric grease on all. Have had the bike back for a week and taken it out three times for over an hour and it didn't do it.........I'm crossing my fingers and will keep you informed. I had already started the process with the CT lemon law....but I really like the bike, so I'm holding off

 

I don't dissagree with the fact that the grease does not promote contact but it does prevent any further issues with water contamination. checking all contacts really seems to be the issue. I'm not holding a lot of faith in the fix but it's worth a shot

 

Just do for VFR owners in the U.S. as they have done in Europe, an updated flash to the ECU or replacement with a 2012 ECU has fixed these cases over the pond. I encourage all people experiencing this problem in the U.S. to report it to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), for those in Canada there is probably an Equivalent. The more of these cases that are reported the hand of Honda will be forced to fix this problem. I too will be looking into the lemon law in NY if this problem is not fixed as they pacify me through the warranty period.

 

Strada, what city/town are you from in CT not to be nosy, but the Honda rep is coming back in this week to look at my bike. Maybe if I give your city to him the two may be able to talk and see that these are the same symptoms. You never know it may even be the same rep that covers the North East. In turn the two of them may be able to go back to Honda with this info. I'm located in Rochester,NY.

 

Ok. I had this exact problem from day one. I now have over 9000 kms on the bike and I am so happy to announce the problem is resolved!!! I was reading and posting on line and hearing about ecu updates and fixes. After talking to the service manager at length I got spark plugs changed. I'm telling you the problem bugged me so much I was going to sell the bike. The issue happened while leaned over and that issue went from a pain to down right dangerous. The first service department warned me about bad gas. The forums laughed at that advise.
The plugs are new and I've done over 600 kms with the problem completely gone. Good luck. Happy vfr 1200 rider.... Finally.