Newbie advice on retricticting VFR 800

Discussion in 'Europe' started by powerbulbs, Jul 19, 2009.

  1. powerbulbs

    powerbulbs New Member

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    Hi

    Hope someone can help

    Just passed my test last week on a YBR 125 , therefore I have to restrict my 07 VFR 800 VTEC

    Any one have any experince on how this may effects the running of the engine and will it have any negative impliations which will make the runing of the bike ? Will it make the engine "bumpy".The Honda dealer who is carrying out the work was not that helpful .

    Can anyone help !! Thanks

    :confused:
     
  2. eddie cap

    eddie cap New Member

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    What method do they use to restrict the engine? eddie
     
  3. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    Wtf?

    I am very curious about this, did not know of such things.Please let us know how this works out for you.How long are you required to ride the bike this way?:crazy:
     
  4. powerslave

    powerslave New Member

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    My kids quad has a screw that adjusts the throttle stop....
    ...and here's my obligitory wtf: WTF!
     
  5. powerbulbs

    powerbulbs New Member

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    VFR restriction

    Hi

    They use a kit which consists of 4 washer like metal discs. They are placed at the head of the air intake .This is about as much as I know. I have to retake the bike like this for 2 years. The alternative is to retake my test again on the VFR 800.
     
  6. eddie cap

    eddie cap New Member

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    OK , Its like a restrictor plate that our NASCAR race cars use,it simply limits the air that the motor can pull in or breathe. I dont think you will notice much at lower RPM ,but its the high RPM where you will really feel the reduction in power. They ought to do something like that in the US ,when a 17 year old kid buys a new CBR1000RR as a first bike, eddie
     
  7. powerbulbs

    powerbulbs New Member

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    VFR restrictor

    Yes I agree .Its worrying , I am 45 ,Late starter I felt better learning for 12 months on a Yamaha 125 then took my test .I sure I will be happy with the performance .

    The guy I bought the bike from had it advertised as an 800 A6, 2007 model however the Honda dealer here has confirmed it is a VTEC apart from the valve timing as on the Honda cars, is there any other differences

    Thanks
     
  8. eddie cap

    eddie cap New Member

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    PB; I have a 5th gen bike,which is a non vtec,so I dont profess tp know alot about the 6th gen bikes.I believe all VFR's from 2002 on have the VTEC style engine.As far as it being relatively close to the Honda auto vtec,I dont think it is. I believe the bikes use a much different method to open up the second set of valves. Probably any 6th gen owner
    will be able to enlighten you on the differences between the auto and the bike. eddie
     
  9. powerbulbs

    powerbulbs New Member

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    Well, picked the bike up from the Honda dealer tonight .Went for a ride .Its pretty lumpy at low revs and slow ride maneuvers are very demanding. They Honda dealers told to avoid "U-turns”, looks like I should stick to main roads.Managed to eventually get 80 mph on the motorway but it took a long time

    I called Honda earlier today but they told me that they do not recommend any bikes they make to be restricted, seems odd as I sure they used to make a restrictor kit for there own...

    Maybe I need a little more time on it, I will admit I am not an experienced biker but the bike I was told would be so satisfying has yet to appear.

    Mmm .. I have to be honest; maybe I got this one wrong and was led by my buddies to much. If I can’t live with this performance then it looks like I will either have to go and pass my practical test again or sell it.

    Anyone know if I can take the practical on the VFR .I think I should pass as there are no longer any "U Turns or other
     
  10. OTTOMAN

    OTTOMAN New Member

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    Hmmm, this is very interesting (in a VFRW "WTF" kind of way). I don't pretend to know anything about the licensing laws in your area. Here, in Washington state, licenses were, for awhile, issued on a displacement level basis then a 2 wheeled license became a two wheeled license, 3=3, etc. It seems to me that something 'greater" than your buddies attracted you to the VFR. If it's the bike you want to ride, take the test with it. My concern, now that it's been "restricted" is your admittance that it's hard to do slow manuevers on. The VFR is a (relatively) heavy bike; intentional power reduction can't possibly be a good (or safe) thing. Restore that ride to it's intended glory, retake your test, pass it or do it again until you do. You sound like an individual with the good sense to ride within his limits and the VFR is a very forgiving ride as long as you ride with your head on. You will, without doubt, appreciate this bike initially and love it over the long term. Just my opinion...good luck!
     
  11. eddie cap

    eddie cap New Member

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    Yes, I can tell that you are a bit upset at the way your machine runs, two modifications that the NASCAR stock cars have done; are to increase or advance the ignition timing and before it was illegal they also found increasing the compression ratio of their engines offset the negative performance that the restrictor plate gave them. Something that I believe would help you would be a Power Commander,I believe its the generation V. With that unit you can change the ign. timing and also adj. the fuel mixture . Possibly you can inquirer if anyone has used the power commander to off set the negative performance that the restrictor plate gives you. Good luck edddie
     
  12. powerbulbs

    powerbulbs New Member

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    VFR retriction

    Thanks for the advice.

    You read minds pretty well, I am thinking seriously about taking the practical test again. Too be honest I found it not to difficult the hardest thing was the nerves thing. I felt pretty confident in my road sense, observations but speed, well that’s not something I feel comfortable with just yet but I still need to overtake things safely occasionally

    I think I will ride the bike for a couple of weeks and then make a decision.

    I really appreciate the help from you guys .If you ever want any advice on improving lights on your VFR particularly if you ride at night or just want to be seen by other road users more let me know this is one area I know about having 25 years experience in this field. We have some fantastic Xenon upgrades here and ship free to anywhere in the world .I’m sure I could squeeze a discount out for you guys
     
  13. najory

    najory New Member

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    Hi Powerbulbs,

    Where about in the UK are you based?

    I am from Bath.

    Presumably you have been on the back of a VFR. I know its not the same as driving but it could give you a taste of what a little perseverance would reward you with.

    If I can be of any help let me know.

    Kind regards,


    Nicholas
    PS. The new test with its 'Euro' influences has certainly become unnecessarily complicated!
     
  14. powerbulbs

    powerbulbs New Member

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    Hi

    Thanks for the reply.

    One of my pals took me out on the back of the VFR and showed me that with a little less on the throttle and improved timing with the gear changes the bike performs much better.He was right is much better

    I tried it out for top speed on the motorway is 90mph ,on normal national speed limit roads its cruises well but lacks that killer punch an acceleration I expect you get when all valves come into play .

    I am pretty happy with it.Ironically I did end up doing my test again but still on my old 12cc YBR. This was due to an error from the DSA .

    Check this out
    John Conboy

    by email: john@networkbrands.co.uk



    our ref: IA/02422/09



    21 August 2009



    Dear Mr Conboy



    Further to Rebecca Watson’s email of 12 August, I can now reply to your email of the same date about your motorcycle test at Wakefield test centre on 13 July. I am replying in line with the second stage of our complaints procedure.



    I am sorry that you were unhappy with Jonathan Hall’s email of 7 August. I understand how important taking a driving test is and appreciate how disappointed you must have been when we told you that your motorcycle test pass was not valid. I am sorry for the distress and inconvenience this has caused you.



    As you know, you must wait three days after an unsuccessful attempt at the module one test before trying again. You took, but did not pass a module one test on 12 July. You then took another module one test on 13 July, which you did pass, and then went on to pass a module two test on the 13 July. Because you did not wait three working days after your first unsuccessful attempt at the module one test, the second test that you passed the following day is void, which means that you were not eligible to take the module two test that you took and passed, also on 13 July.

    I should like to take this opportunity to explain briefly how this error occurred. As Jonathan Hall mentioned in his email of 7 August, this incident has highlighted that our booking system allows candidates to rebook a second module one test without the candidate waiting the required three-day waiting period between tests. This would appear to be because you booked your two module one tests with different categories of motorcycle. We are looking at this to try to avoid it happening in the future.

    When you arrived for your test on Monday 13 July, your examiner, Richard Bacon was surprised to see you had passed the module one earlier that day as he was aware of your previous module one test booking. He allowed your module two test to go ahead after taking advice which unfortunately turned out to be incorrect, for which I am sorry.

    I understand that you have now passed both your module one and module two motorcycle tests. I understand that we have also made a goodwill payment to you of £80. I should like to take this opportunity to wish you many years of safe riding.



    Yours sincerely

    Rosemary Thew

    Chief executive


    As you can appreciate I was not impressed .The examiner kept my licence on is desk for 26 days,I only found out after reporting to the DVLA that my license had not come back.If I had not called them I could still be riding round without the correct licenses ,,,Muppets ...

    :mad:
     
  15. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    Wtf?

    I had no idea Obama was also running your DMV as well .Sorry.:crazy:
     
  16. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Hi John.

    I hope you enjoy the forum. If you keep the VFR you will find lots of useful stuff on here which will help you get the best from this truly awesome mile munching machine.

    I see that the UK Driving Standards Agency have been giving you a few problems. If I am following your posts correctly, at least from the perspective of DSA you seem to have applied for a full UK motorbike licence twice - once through the restricted licence route (limiting you to bikes producing less than 25KW for 2 years) and a second time through the Direct Access Scheme (which allows you to ride anything immediately you pass).

    Despite the confusion it seems that following your appeal to DSA you have been pretty lucky as they have at least granted you a "restricted licence" pass. Generally they are sticklers for the rules and if there is any irregularity in an application, normally the whole thing is considered void and you have to start all over again.

    So on the assumption you now have a restricted licence allowing you to ride unaccompanied on any bike producing less than 25KW, I am pretty sure that buying a 2007 VTEC is not going to be the ideal choice as the stock bike typically produces around 85KW. Whilst I guess it is possible to strangle its power output so it only produces 25KW this will surely leave you with a relatively large and heavy bike which is hopelessly underpowered.

    I have sort of been there myself, as I had to restrict my own UK bike down to 80KW in order to get it registered out in France. OK losing 5KW did not make much of an impact, as the impact is only right at the very top of the rev range, so the bike still pulls like a train and once the VTEC roar cuts in overtakes in a blink of the eye - you just need to work the gears a bit harder. But I am pretty sure that if my bike was to lose more than half of its power it would make it a real pig to ride.

    So you now seem to have two choices. Either live with the restricted licence for the required two years period or, if you really cant wait to get out on a really powerful motorbike, then apply again immediately under the DAS (If you have passed once you should be able to do it again). However I think you will find it a lot easier to take your DAS exam on a school bike (rather than a VFR) as schools generally choose bikes which have very easy handling particularly when it comes to U Turns and low speed manouvers.) Yes you can do U turns on a VFR but you will find it requires a lot more effort, control and concentration, remember it is a true sports tourer which is designed to chew miles at speed, hence its not ideal for taking your test on.

    Either way I would advise against trying to strangle the power output of your VFR as you will almost certainly be disappointed. Which means either trading in the VFR unmodified for its full value and buying something more suitable to ride at least for the next two years or, getting that full DAS pass ASAP and keeping the VFR.

    Finally one thing I would say in favour of the 6th gen VFR is that it has some of the best headlights ever fitted to a motorbike. I ride routinely on unlit alpine roads and find the dipped beams cover is awesome and once the main beams are switched on it seems to light the entire mountain side. So much so I am just glad I am not coming the other way! So I doubt I will be looking to upgrade just yet.

    Anyway hope you sort things out, and finally get to experience a VFR as it should be - full on with loads of revs.

    Skimad4x4
    6th Gen Militia # 218
     
  17. tris1948

    tris1948 New Member

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    Hi John

    Like you I did my DAS a few years ago on one of those 4 day intensive course thingies.

    I rode a SV650 for about 4 years before I moved to the VFR

    I suggest the best thing would be to do the DAS, get the restrictor kit removed and then keep a very gentle hand on the throttle.

    You'll be fine I'm sure - if nothing else age brings a clear view of how fragile we are and the knowledge that you're not Valentino Rossis' clone :)

    Good Luck

    Tris
     
  18. Comicus

    Comicus New Member

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    WOW...I never stopped to think how difficult it could be to get a motorcycle license. When I took my test in Tennessee the lady said "ride 50 yards down the road and come back." I was nervous and even stalled the bike...when I got back she said "ok you pass."
     
  19. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    In the UK that would probably be a fail. The rules are getting hideously complicated, officially driven by a desire to improve riding standards. Others suggest its just a cynical attempt to kill off biking in the UK/EU by making biking so much more expensive and effectively stop younger riders from ever taking up biking. Its a shame as the statistics suggest British riders are among the safest on the planet, more often than not the problem is lack of concentration by car drivers. But as always our politicians know best! Doubtless they will be getting a well deserved kicking at the forthcoming elections.
     
  20. tris1948

    tris1948 New Member

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    In the UK we've recently started an " obstacle avoidance excercise" Basicly, (on a empty car park) you ride along and then "swerve" off the straight and narrow through 2 cones. Unsurprisingly, a number of new riders have fallen off.

    But hey, that's progress for you?
     
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