VTEC question

I have read that people complained about the abruptness of the VTEC kick in on the earlier models, well how abrupt should I expect it to be? Today I was riding a moderate pace on a curvy road, accelerating through the turn leaned over and I hit the VTEC rpm and the bike actually jerked and got squirrley for a second as it kicked in. Is this normal?

on a positive note some other riders commented on how awesome it sounded when it kicked in, one guy was trying to follow me to listen to the V4 but couldn't keep up

 

It is quite abrupt if you are full throttle below 6700RPM and something you most certianly need to be aware of. 2002-2005 models it is worse and is literally a 15HP gain instantly. In 2006, they remapped the ECU a bit and smoothed out the transition but it is still present. If you're riding at a moderate pace or more, try to keep the revs above 6700 and you'll never have a problem as you'll always be in VTEC.

 

Note that a lot of this can be tuned out of the bike with a Power Commander and a custom map too.

 

Harshness of vtec depends on the conditions. Seems 3rd gear and hard on the throttle is the hardest. At it's most abrubt it felt like you kicked it down a gear with out letting of the gas or using the clutch. I blocked the PAIR valve and played with mapping on my power commander to smooth out the throttle the best I could.

 

Come to think of it I was probably in 3rd gear. Going pretty quick, set my lean and started getting on the throttle. It was so hard I thought I had actually accidently kicked the shifter or something. Scared the shit outta me.

 

You'll get used to it. It really isn't as bad as they say but it is something that can catch you off guard when not aware that it is there. Don't be afraid to tach it up there as the engine is a monster and loves to scream like a banshee. When I'm in the twisties, you'll not find my revs below 7000 but when I'm in town and such you'll rarely find me over 5000.

 

+1 to what Meatloaf said.

Since mine is an 07, the transition is not as abrupt, but when I am expecting corners, I also usually try keep it between 7 & redline - both the bike and I are really happy up there. I usually try to make the transition in something resembling a straight line to avoid the rear tire and I having an argument about grip.

 

I've got an '07 as well with a PCV, but even before I added the PCV, the transition never caught me off guard - even mid-corner. It seems to bother some people more than others. Maybe the transition is more abrupt prior to the change in '06, but for the '07, it is a non-issue. As others have commented, knowing that it is there also helps.

 

Keeping the RPM above VTEC is the right Idea just be careful when downshifting mid corner. With no slipper clutch the rear end "Stepping Out" will scare you more than the VTEC.

 

I have a '03 and noticed it was more pronounced with a worn chain. I recently put on a new chain, and it was butter smooth. I have no PC or the like either. There was a surge in power, to be sure, but it was a nice smooth transition.

 

@maggot: ESPECIALLY when you drive on curvy mountain roads

 

The answer to your question is >>> Yes the VTEC sucks and was completely pointless for Honda to add.


Rollin

 

Somehow I think the same.
WHY they vtec-modded an otherwise SUPERB erogation of the V4 engine ???

 

Because the VFR has and always will be a bike that is on the forefront of technology. The 6th and 7th gens are a true testament to this, especially with the DCT on the 7th gen and a bunch of other stuff.

As to why the 6th gen has VTEC, it is for emissions and fuel economy plus low end performance. With the two valves disabled per cylinder, it allows the velocity of the intake and exhaust to remain higher at lower RPMs.


The ECU changes in 2006 made a large difference in the VTEC transition. Pre-2006 there is an instant ~15hp gain at 6700RPM and that's quite a big jump. On the 2006+ models, there is only a 3HP-5HP gain at the mark as the pre-VTEC tuning around the transition point was a bit more aggressive giving a bit more HP before the engagement. The same thing is done to the pre-2006 models that have been tuned with a PC III which is what smoothes out the tranisition.

 

I'm guessing it was more of a marketing gimmick than performance driven design. They took a perfectly good, smooth, linear engine with reliable and sexy sounding gear driven cams and added that annoying VTEC engine with those clunky chain driven cams. In the process of doing this they also made it more expensive and complicated to service the bike with minimal increase in performance and/or efficiency. Honda has dissapointed lots of people over the years to the point where it seems like a different company than it was 15 years ago. Keep in mind it only took them about 20 years to get all the electrical problems sorted out with the release of the VFR1200. Soichiro Honda would be rolling over in his grave if he knew what has become of his company. He definitely would have been sick to his stomach if he ever got to see the DN-01. My 2007 VFR with VTEC inside is kinda like my wife, I don't like her much but would never get rid of her LOL !!

Rollin

 

I think the VTEC is purely a carryover from the car division and Honda figured that it works in the cars, so why not in the bikes? I've owned a 2nd Gen and 5th Gen previously. Yes, they had gear driven cams and yes the gear whine was cool, but at the end of the day, the VTEC engine is no worse. As Meatloaf has stated, on the '06 and newer bikes, you don't even notice it other than the exhaust note which I like as much as the gear whine. The VTEC has its own character which you either love or hate.

 

I beg to differ sir. I have a 2007 just like yours and the transition on mine is very abrupt and very annoying. I've owned and ridden many bikes over the past 25 years and the only good thing about the VTEC is that is helps with wheelies.

Rollin

 

It's one more thing to consider when accelerating through a corner. It is butter-smooth with my Power Commander when I am opening the throttle slowly, but even with the PC and a custom map the VTEC transition can upset things if I apply the throttle like I'm strangling snakes (if you know what I mean). I think the relatively moderate HP of the VFR encourages bad habits in the throttle department - it's not like the VFR engine is a powerhouse that will bust the rear tire loose. I certainly would be more careful with that on a bike with more HP. Still, even at 100 HP, the VTEC transition can unsettle the bike in a corner, so a guy has to pay attention to it.



.

 

Will the VFR even do power wheelies? (I promise I am not a squid) My 919 would power wheelie in first pretty easily, but I cannot get the viffer front tire off any more than like an inch.

 

A little bird once told me that if you open the throttle and accelerate to just below the VTEC engagement point and then chop the gas and quickly bring the throttle back on and the front wheel will come up rather easily without having to touch the clutch. This is all "allegedly" of course.


Rollin