Q: Hello Noddy and I was wondering if you’d be able to give me some advice with my 2002 Honda VFR400? According to the speedo it’s covered 34,000km but I’m not sure if that’s right because I know it’s a grey import and I’ve no idea where the bike came from, but it’s at least kept me entertained and taken me to work and back everyday.
But over the last few days it’s begun to pop and backfire through the air box, I think, when I start the bike. The bike is also not as clean revving as it used to be and sometimes struggles to pull away from the lights.
So do you have any idea on what I should look for because I can’t really afford to spend lots of money at the moment or even buy another later model bike, which I’d like to, perhaps a Repsol 600 CBR?
Scotty
A: These small capacity VFRs do tend to give a lot of problems in latter life and they’re quite complicated and ‘fiddly’ to work on without the correct tools, I’m afraid.
But for now you can remove the tank and have a good look around and you haven’t mentioned the last time it was serviced? Sometimes vacuum pipes (lots of them) and the like can deteriorate or fall off, which will cause the bike to run ‘weak’ and produce these symptoms, so check all of those first. Also check the inlet manifold rubbers to see if they’re also in a bad condition, and replace if they are. Does the idle speed go up and down, which will also point to an air leak somewhere? Or perhaps the bike is long overdue for a carb’ service, but that will cost you money in parts and labour.
To be honest I hate to work on these bikes for many reasons, so I’d find a way to buy Repsol CBR600 instead.
