I guess I'M lucky I bought a 2001 with. 15,000 now have 45,000. I do my own maintenance . Have changed steering head bearings to tapered, 520 conversion chain up 2 rear sprocket , givi screen with x-screen on top. ABM straight bar, Yoshimura exhaust. More I ride it the more it grows on me. People are surprised when I tell them it's 21 years old. I think you'll get this baby running .
As someone who will be buying I have seen all 5 videos. Love your teaching style. Appreciate your honesty during your challenges and enjoyed your enthusiasm when you succeeded!
I have a 2000 VFR800 (CA version 😒). I do my own maintenance. I've been nervous about pulling the throttle body and all that entails. Haven't really needed to yet, the bike runs great, but eventually, I will have to. I appreciate the info in your videos.
Your enthusiasm keeps me keep going on my 2022 kawasaki klx 230s. I'm taking my time and making sure I have everything hooked up correctly. I was a decent mechanic on cars, but this dirt bike is a learning experience for me.
@@joeyriddle1214 take your time, imagine sorting it yourself and running it for the first time? Little joys in life. I’m glad my attitude is rubbing off!
As an owner of a 5th gen for a long time. If you ever take off the throttle bodies. Go ahead and change out the boots, those two little coolant lines and if needed the thermostat. Those boots get really hard after so many years of heat cycles or drying out if the bike has been sitting fir a long time.
I guess I guess I'm so fortunate as I bought a 2001 with 15,000 now have 45,000. I do my own maintenance . changed steering head bearing to tapered. new chain and up 2 on rear sprocket . ABM straight bars. of course plugs, oil, k+n air filter. bike runs perfect. haven't attempted valves. riding this bike it really grows on me, with bars and give screen x-screen on top, all day cruising comfort and people can't believe when I tell them it's 21 years old as looks like new. I think you'll get this baby running.
Outstanding presentation throughout the whole series, Rob. I'm sure much of your tips will come in handy in maintaining my 2002 VFR800A ABS version. On the drop, OMG ! The heartache ! Over 50-something years with motorcycles, I've learned to always check the bike's "footing" before letting go.
Good job. Pitty for camshafts, it is not so comicated, must read service manual precise and no problem. I own 6gen vfr, as well, complicated maschine. Brqvo gor good work and for😊 shearing
Great informative videos! I own a 99 VFR, it has recently started leaking somewhere at the thermostat housing. I’ve replaced the upper radiator hose (the only one accessible), an I still have a leak. Looks like I’ll be removing the throttle bodies to fix the leak. As I said earlier, great info with this video series!! Cheers!
Perfect. I love to help! It’s a mare that throttle body. Pay attention to the rubber hose off the very front of the airbox. It’s designed for little people hands. I’ll say no more!
I didn't have time yet to do the valve clearance/ adjustments but i my issue is that the vaccum for #2 cylinder cannot increase more than 1.6 cmhg to be as the same valvue of the #1 of 2.1. I can decrease it but not increase it, so i'm assuming could be a valve clearance/shim/burnt valve issue. Before going on and doing like the video, i want to confirm that this could one of the solutions. Also, how diffcult is for a guy that's didn't do this procedure before? I'm aware i have to extra-mega-careful with everything but none of the mechanics from my area are willing to do it as it's not rentable for them. Any advice if it's worth doing this for a 50k bike and most probably the previous owner didn't did it ?
First time watching your channel, so i do not know where you are. The video shows good information and reflects your perseverance and work ethic. But, here in America, these VFR's are plentiful in pretty good condition, so i am assuming this project of yours is some sort of labor of love, because it seems like a lot of work for a knackered looking unit.
Manual apparently says to deliberately run cylinders 3 and 4 out of balance compared to 1 and 2, It is unclear though whether the butterfly valves should be synchronised (there are adjusters on the linkage), it is possible to block off the starter valves and adjust the idle with either the throttle grip or by shimming /adjusting the throttle stop on cylinder 1. I found when setting the starter valve sync that if I blocked the air intake pipes and held the throttle open to a steady idle that the vacuum gauges were not even, under light or partial throttle I would expect vacuum to be even.
Hi ... Don't mess with the throttle butterflies, they're factory set ... you clearly don't understand the principle of the V4 starter valve assembly ... it's not just a fast idle, it's alters the air flow on the engine side of the butterflies up to around 3,500rpm, set them all in synch to match the non adjustable valve, then drop the vacuum reading of the 2 stated in the manual, 1 needs to be -20mmHG & 1 needs to be -10mmHG as per the shop manual.
Just realised mine is what is considered a gen 5.5. It has the same equal length inlet stubs and narrower catalysed exhaust that the 6th gen has. The 6th gen has the throttle idle valves balanced level, but the 5th gen Haynes manual doesn't seem to differentiate early Vs late 5th gen idle balancing requirements.
I like your videos. Is it OK to call you a passionate amateur (when it comes to fixing bikes). I look forward to the restoration element - which I think is more in line with your profession. Oh, and I have a VFR800FI - that's been very informative as well.
Thanks mate! I did it before, but it's a video 5th gen users needed! Very detailed and helpfull. Just gonna mention that a lot of CFR users advice to use tube Vacuometer like Carbtune. Idk about that, but i guess it's worth mentioning.
Thanks for the positive comment and advice. I’m new to idle setting so I am sure there are better ways and tools to do this but I seemed to get it to idle perfectly with what I had available on a budget. Note there was an incorrect process which I rectified for the 5th gen settings but I’m sure you saw that! Cheers 👍
In the previous gear cam generations one could turn back cams 180' to make a more aggressive sound and riding bike, some models where good, some not depending on cams and ignition specs, the previous generations had Dead spark to alow this. Dont know if injection onwards has dead/false spark.
nice one. love the gear wine on them cams. so on the restoration side. what will you do. Will you replace oil lines. exhaust things like that. be nice to see what you paint. but it's always better to keep it as standard as you can. if you keep it can do slight changes but if wish to sell in future maybe more bog standard. that's my view lol. but no keep up the work. Great videos. 👍 🙂
Cheers Guy. This project is not going to be a ‘proper’ restoration where every part is taken down and cleaned replaced etc, I have to paint the panels and wheels of the 2000 model and the bike will look great as I intend to have fun on them. One day I’ve got the perfect projects to restore with the benefit of knowing how the thing works. Colour wise I simply have to ‘lift’ that red a bit. It’s so dull a colour I can’t stand it. Don’t worry this one will be stock as I like them.
Question, you mentioned to bring up cyl 3 and 4, by 2 and 1 cmhg respectively, however, the manual states the opposite, to bring them down. HOWEVER, I then found a write on this, and apparently, the manual was wrong, and what you're saying is right. Just curious if we both got our info from the same source, thanks! Also question, do you think I should do this even a PC5 attached?
Best engine was the '86/'88 mix ups, my old one had so much more go then the newer ones, also used alot pess fuel then my '98 which is average of 14kms/L
In my experience out of the 2 the 2001 is a better ride. The power is smoother than the 2000 manual idle with bigger pipes even if it says on paper that it’s 5hp down. In the end who cares. These bike are all simply amazing build quality and plenty quick enough on our roads. Thanks for chiming in. I didn’t know about the cam gears.
Hello and good morning from Norway! I have a 1998 Honda VFR 800 FI, RC46, red. I wonder were to buy spareparts on the net, is there any british shops to buy from or ebay. I need plastic +++.
@@MyRestoration1 the dash works ok but for some reason doesn't show the indicators in the dash when the lights are off, and when the lights are on both green indicators light in the dash are on and when I put the indicator either left or right it will show on and off to the direction you are pressing I have took the for the mot but the mechanic said is working but doesn't show in the DASH when the lights are off so I need to get this problem fix and if possible a good check all round
@@AlexisHernandez-cl4en hi Alexis, it’s one of those jobs which could turn out to be easy or complicated. I don’t have the capacity with my current work load to help in this case. I got told the same on my VFR by a bike shop. It’s frustrating but it’s not a business for me at this point. Post the issue on the VFR forum. There are some clever people about!
Is this the same with vtec? Im taking the front head off my 03 and i have the gear set to 3 for tdc and i think thats wrong what should i have it on? And can i move it with one side having the cams off and timing chain
Hi there. The boring answer is it’s hard to say. The engine is controlled to idle by the ecm so I can hazard a guess and say it could be an air leak somewhere. Certainly check the throttle body rubber collars linking to the inlet ports. Check all rubber pipes. Make sure they terminate on the air box. Once you have checked that, see if the idle levers x 4 all move in and out. You might have the idle set too low. Needs to be around 1200/1500 rpm depending on the model. Balancing is the last step. Good luck 🤞
You'll never make a mechanic matey, breaking a camshaft doing a simple valve clearance job OMG! these gear driven V4's are the easiest motor to do a valve check & adjust on, no fannying around with a chain. You really ought to know better being around bikes & doing resto jobs, albeit as an amateur. Simple mod to make life easier is replace the JiSS head bolts in throttle body rubber mounts for stainless allen head bolts ... don't forget 5th Gen starter valves adjustments is a little different from the usual synchronisation ... 5th Gen needs uneven starter valve adjustment (Stated in manual) different header pipe lengths are the reason, or it'll idle really lumpy & generally run rougher up to 3,500rpm ... 7mm spanner & synch gauges are all that's required, ensure engine is run up to temp 1st, test all 4 vac gauges on 1 cylinder to determine if any gauges are out of synch with the others, or you'll get no accuracy with the end results, clock style gauges can be calibrated with each other.
I guess I'M lucky I bought a 2001 with. 15,000 now have 45,000. I do my own maintenance . Have changed steering head bearings to tapered, 520 conversion chain up 2 rear sprocket , givi screen with x-screen on top. ABM straight bar, Yoshimura exhaust. More I ride it the more it grows on me. People are surprised when I tell them it's 21 years old. I think you'll get this baby running .
As someone who will be buying I have seen all 5 videos. Love your teaching style. Appreciate your honesty during your challenges and enjoyed your enthusiasm when you succeeded!
I am at the point of adopting one of these Honda machines, your help will be invaluable.
I have a 2000 VFR800 (CA version 😒). I do my own maintenance. I've been nervous about pulling the throttle body and all that entails. Haven't really needed to yet, the bike runs great, but eventually, I will have to. I appreciate the info in your videos.
Your enthusiasm keeps me keep going on my 2022 kawasaki klx 230s. I'm taking my time and making sure I have everything hooked up correctly. I was a decent mechanic on cars, but this dirt bike is a learning experience for me.
@@joeyriddle1214 take your time, imagine sorting it yourself and running it for the first time? Little joys in life. I’m glad my attitude is rubbing off!
As an owner of a 5th gen for a long time. If you ever take off the throttle bodies. Go ahead and change out the boots, those two little coolant lines and if needed the thermostat.
Those boots get really hard after so many years of heat cycles or drying out if the bike has been sitting fir a long time.
Yup done. Don’t fancy going back down there. The boots are fine. Happy to reuse
I guess
I guess I'm so fortunate as I bought a 2001 with 15,000 now have 45,000. I do my own maintenance . changed steering head bearing to tapered. new chain and up 2 on rear sprocket . ABM straight bars. of course plugs, oil, k+n air filter. bike runs perfect. haven't attempted valves. riding this bike it really grows on me, with bars and give screen x-screen on top, all day cruising comfort and people can't believe when I tell them it's 21 years old as looks like new. I think you'll get this baby running.
I can’t wait…but I just bought a Ducati 916 to restore next so it’s going to share the limelight. Keep watching!
Outstanding presentation throughout the whole series, Rob. I'm sure much of your tips will come in handy in maintaining my 2002 VFR800A ABS version.
On the drop, OMG ! The heartache !
Over 50-something years with motorcycles, I've learned to always check the bike's "footing" before letting go.
Yup thanks Jeff. I could have done with your advice that day! All good now. Good luck with your project.
These really are excellent vids. 5the gen owner myself so its great to see a 5th gen worked on
Your videos really are Amazing! very detailed, informative, fun and well put together. Thank you!
Thank you so much Rothmans 🙏
Good man. Thanks for your efforts to educate.
Can’t wait to see the bike finished though
Neither can I! Thanks MrC
Nice one. Very useful. I need to balance the starter valves on my Gen 5 '98 so your video is very timely. Many thanks.
Just found your channel, picking up a 2001 fi next weekend! Also from South Africa bru.. living in the UK
Keep up the videos
Excellent 👌! It’s a beast and a legend of a bike. Enjoy 😉
You have a nice setup/workshop
Thank you Minisla 🙏
Good job. Pitty for camshafts, it is not so comicated, must read service manual precise and no problem. I own 6gen vfr, as well, complicated maschine. Brqvo gor good work and for😊 shearing
Great informative videos! I own a 99 VFR, it has recently started leaking somewhere at the thermostat housing. I’ve replaced the upper radiator hose (the only one accessible), an I still have a leak. Looks like I’ll be removing the throttle bodies to fix the leak. As I said earlier, great info with this video series!! Cheers!
Perfect. I love to help!
It’s a mare that throttle body. Pay attention to the rubber hose off the very front of the airbox. It’s designed for little people hands. I’ll say no more!
I didn't have time yet to do the valve clearance/ adjustments but i my issue is that the vaccum for #2 cylinder cannot increase more than 1.6 cmhg to be as the same valvue of the #1 of 2.1. I can decrease it but not increase it, so i'm assuming could be a valve clearance/shim/burnt valve issue.
Before going on and doing like the video, i want to confirm that this could one of the solutions. Also, how diffcult is for a guy that's didn't do this procedure before? I'm aware i have to extra-mega-careful with everything but none of the mechanics from my area are willing to do it as it's not rentable for them. Any advice if it's worth doing this for a 50k bike and most probably the previous owner didn't did it ?
First time watching your channel, so i do not know where you are. The video shows good information and reflects your perseverance and work ethic. But, here in America, these VFR's are plentiful in pretty good condition, so i am assuming this project of yours is some sort of labor of love, because it seems like a lot of work for a knackered looking unit.
Thanks. They cost very little for the quality of bike you get. They are superb value scarcity effort aside. I get pleasure out it. Go figure!
I honestly need to get back into riding. These last 3 years have been crazy busy and Ive got two of these just sitting being sad.
Well done. Once you've done this a few times it becomes second nature. Four hundred and fifty degrees.
Thank you and yes I’m more confident now
I owned a VFR for 17 years os feel your pain, mine was a 93 FP model.
Very interesting . I have a 99 26000miles runs sweet. Looks like you had your work cut out on this one. Oil change next for mine.
Great videos, thank you for sharing! Im guessing they sold almost instantly!
Thank you. Nope. I never sold them..yet
Good Work.. I love your determination to do things right. Highly motivational!
Thanks Zaphod 🙏
Very intresting and well explained . Cant wait till the next one.
Manual apparently says to deliberately run cylinders 3 and 4 out of balance compared to 1 and 2,
It is unclear though whether the butterfly valves should be synchronised (there are adjusters on the linkage), it is possible to block off the starter valves and adjust the idle with either the throttle grip or by shimming /adjusting the throttle stop on cylinder 1.
I found when setting the starter valve sync that if I blocked the air intake pipes and held the throttle open to a steady idle that the vacuum gauges were not even, under light or partial throttle I would expect vacuum to be even.
Hi ... Don't mess with the throttle butterflies, they're factory set ... you clearly don't understand the principle of the V4 starter valve assembly ... it's not just a fast idle, it's alters the air flow on the engine side of the butterflies up to around 3,500rpm, set them all in synch to match the non adjustable valve, then drop the vacuum reading of the 2 stated in the manual, 1 needs to be -20mmHG & 1 needs to be -10mmHG as per the shop manual.
Just realised mine is what is considered a gen 5.5.
It has the same equal length inlet stubs and narrower catalysed exhaust that the 6th gen has.
The 6th gen has the throttle idle valves balanced level, but the 5th gen Haynes manual doesn't seem to differentiate early Vs late 5th gen idle balancing requirements.
I like your videos. Is it OK to call you a passionate amateur (when it comes to fixing bikes). I look forward to the restoration element - which I think is more in line with your profession. Oh, and I have a VFR800FI - that's been very informative as well.
Absolutely! 👍
Thanks mate! I did it before, but it's a video 5th gen users needed! Very detailed and helpfull. Just gonna mention that a lot of CFR users advice to use tube Vacuometer like Carbtune. Idk about that, but i guess it's worth mentioning.
Thanks for the positive comment and advice. I’m new to idle setting so I am sure there are better ways and tools to do this but I seemed to get it to idle perfectly with what I had available on a budget. Note there was an incorrect process which I rectified for the 5th gen settings but I’m sure you saw that!
Cheers 👍
@@MyRestoration1 здравствуйте. в чём была ошибка?
@@dwk2618 🤷
In the previous gear cam generations one could turn back cams 180' to make a more aggressive sound and riding bike, some models where good, some not depending on cams and ignition specs, the previous generations had Dead spark to alow this. Dont know if injection onwards has dead/false spark.
I just brought a 98 vfr and might try some things on my old '91 vfr
nice one. love the gear wine on them cams. so on the restoration side. what will you do. Will you replace oil lines. exhaust things like that. be nice to see what you paint. but it's always better to keep it as standard as you can. if you keep it can do slight changes but if wish to sell in future maybe more bog standard. that's my view lol. but no keep up the work. Great videos. 👍 🙂
Cheers Guy. This project is not going to be a ‘proper’ restoration where every part is taken down and cleaned replaced etc, I have to paint the panels and wheels of the 2000 model and the bike will look great as I intend to have fun on them. One day I’ve got the perfect projects to restore with the benefit of knowing how the thing works. Colour wise I simply have to ‘lift’ that red a bit. It’s so dull a colour I can’t stand it. Don’t worry this one will be stock as I like them.
Good work and clear information. We'll done👍
Thanks Alan 🙏
Question, you mentioned to bring up cyl 3 and 4, by 2 and 1 cmhg respectively, however, the manual states the opposite, to bring them down. HOWEVER, I then found a write on this, and apparently, the manual was wrong, and what you're saying is right. Just curious if we both got our info from the same source, thanks! Also question, do you think I should do this even a PC5 attached?
Yes that’s right. I must be because the motor runs beautifully now! Thanks for chipping in 🙏
@@MyRestoration1 так поднять или опустить? Что правильно?
Superb... Thank you
Pleasure 👍
Best engine was the '86/'88 mix ups, my old one had so much more go then the newer ones, also used alot pess fuel then my '98 which is average of 14kms/L
In my experience out of the 2 the 2001 is a better ride. The power is smoother than the 2000 manual idle with bigger pipes even if it says on paper that it’s 5hp down. In the end who cares. These bike are all simply amazing build quality and plenty quick enough on our roads. Thanks for chiming in. I didn’t know about the cam gears.
Hello and good morning from Norway! I have a 1998 Honda VFR 800 FI, RC46, red. I wonder were to buy spareparts on the net, is there any british shops to buy from or ebay. I need plastic +++.
Hi Tor. I buy most my stuff on eBay. If you want uk just type in eBay.co.uk to open up that market. You’ll find bits for sure 👍
@@MyRestoration1 Thanks!
Amazing videos I wondering if you can take my VFR800 FI 2001
What’s wrong with it?
@@MyRestoration1 the dash works ok but for some reason doesn't show the indicators in the dash when the lights are off, and when the lights are on both green indicators light in the dash are on and when I put the indicator either left or right it will show on and off to the direction you are pressing I have took the for the mot but the mechanic said is working but doesn't show in the DASH when the lights are off so I need to get this problem fix and if possible a good check all round
@@AlexisHernandez-cl4en hi Alexis, it’s one of those jobs which could turn out to be easy or complicated. I don’t have the capacity with my current work load to help in this case. I got told the same on my VFR by a bike shop. It’s frustrating but it’s not a business for me at this point. Post the issue on the VFR forum. There are some clever people about!
@@MyRestoration1 I will do thank you for getting back to me 👍
Is this the same with vtec? Im taking the front head off my 03 and i have the gear set to 3 for tdc and i think thats wrong what should i have it on? And can i move it with one side having the cams off and timing chain
Jordan I do not know if they are the same. You can contact Kevs Shed on UA-cam. Nice guy. Good luck
Are those regular carburetor sync gauges you're using, or...?
@@TheZaxx nothing fancy. Regular
I have a 5th gen that won’t idle, I just replaced the fuel pump. Should I start with balancing the throttle bodies and setting idle RPM?
Hi there. The boring answer is it’s hard to say. The engine is controlled to idle by the ecm so I can hazard a guess and say it could be an air leak somewhere. Certainly check the throttle body rubber collars linking to the inlet ports. Check all rubber pipes. Make sure they terminate on the air box. Once you have checked that, see if the idle levers x 4 all move in and out. You might have the idle set too low. Needs to be around 1200/1500 rpm depending on the model. Balancing is the last step. Good luck 🤞
@@MyRestoration1 thanks
for a long time I thought the fan was a drum roll
😂👍
You'll never make a mechanic matey, breaking a camshaft doing a simple valve clearance job OMG! these gear driven V4's are the easiest motor to do a valve check & adjust on, no fannying around with a chain.
You really ought to know better being around bikes & doing resto jobs, albeit as an amateur.
Simple mod to make life easier is replace the JiSS head bolts in throttle body rubber mounts for stainless allen head bolts ... don't forget 5th Gen starter valves adjustments is a little different from the usual synchronisation ... 5th Gen needs uneven starter valve adjustment (Stated in manual) different header pipe lengths are the reason, or it'll idle really lumpy & generally run rougher up to 3,500rpm ... 7mm spanner & synch gauges are all that's required, ensure engine is run up to temp 1st, test all 4 vac gauges on 1 cylinder to determine if any gauges are out of synch with the others, or you'll get no accuracy with the end results, clock style gauges can be calibrated with each other.