Will I damage a VFR1200 with short commutes?
Discussion
After having my Suzuki GSR750 stolen a few weeks ago, I've been weighing up my options for a new bike. I haven't test ridden one yet, but I do like the thought of a Honda VFR1200.
I'd be using it every day to commute to and from work which is only 3.5 miles each way in central London, and then one or two trips per year where I can actually put some miles on - perhaps to Scotland or South of France - that kind of distance.
Unfortunately having two bikes isn't an option, but I will have secure parking at home and at work, so London bike bays aren't my worry (scooter riders have no respect for other people's pride and joy - but that's well covered rant on PH). My worry is that a 3.5 mile ride through central London won't be enough to fully warm up the engine, so I'm concerned that I could be doing damage to the bike on my short commutes.
Any thoughts from the forum experts would be appreciated.
Phil
I'd be using it every day to commute to and from work which is only 3.5 miles each way in central London, and then one or two trips per year where I can actually put some miles on - perhaps to Scotland or South of France - that kind of distance.
Unfortunately having two bikes isn't an option, but I will have secure parking at home and at work, so London bike bays aren't my worry (scooter riders have no respect for other people's pride and joy - but that's well covered rant on PH). My worry is that a 3.5 mile ride through central London won't be enough to fully warm up the engine, so I'm concerned that I could be doing damage to the bike on my short commutes.
Any thoughts from the forum experts would be appreciated.
Phil
Will be fine - but there will be a bit more of a build-up of moisture and unburned hydrocarbons inside the engine with short journeys, yes.
Corrosion inhibitors in the oil will prevent damage to the metal surfaces inside the engine, but the damaging particles I've described above will be held in the oil in suspension.
So - lots of short journeys = ok, but you must change the oil more frequently as it will become saturated with damaging particles more quickly. Maybe cut the recommended change mileage in half - i.e. if the book says 10k, do it every 5k.
And use an oil which is thinner when cold so it gets round the motor more quickly on a cold engine, so something beginning with an 0W or 5W instead of 10W / 15W / 20W will help a lot.
And if you can, take it on a bit of a run and cane until it's red hot, it when you get time. Once or twice a month would be nice.
HTH
Corrosion inhibitors in the oil will prevent damage to the metal surfaces inside the engine, but the damaging particles I've described above will be held in the oil in suspension.
So - lots of short journeys = ok, but you must change the oil more frequently as it will become saturated with damaging particles more quickly. Maybe cut the recommended change mileage in half - i.e. if the book says 10k, do it every 5k.
And use an oil which is thinner when cold so it gets round the motor more quickly on a cold engine, so something beginning with an 0W or 5W instead of 10W / 15W / 20W will help a lot.
And if you can, take it on a bit of a run and cane until it's red hot, it when you get time. Once or twice a month would be nice.
HTH
welshjohn said:
Keep it properly serviced and it'll be fine.The emergency services don't seem to have any problems with there bikes in citys
True, but Police and Ambo bikes have a 'run-on' lockout button on them. So, they get to the scene, press the run-on button, and then remove the keys from the ignition. The bike can then be left running, but if anyone tries to ride away on it, it just cuts out and cannot be re-started without the keys in the ignition, obviously.This means the bike can sit with it's lights and radio going, with the engine idling away (so the battery doesn't go flat) for however long the incident takes to sort out - so the motor can be running a long time at idle - more than long enough to get the oil up to temperature and start burning off a lot of the condensation etc.
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
welshjohn said:
Keep it properly serviced and it'll be fine.The emergency services don't seem to have any problems with there bikes in citys
True, but Police and Ambo bikes have a 'run-on' lockout button on them. So, they get to the scene, press the run-on button, and then remove the keys from the ignition. The bike can then be left running, but if anyone tries to ride away on it, it just cuts out and cannot be re-started without the keys in the ignition, obviously.This means the bike can sit with it's lights and radio going, with the engine idling away (so the battery doesn't go flat) for however long the incident takes to sort out - so the motor can be running a long time at idle - more than long enough to get the oil up to temperature and start burning off a lot of the condensation etc.
John D. said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
welshjohn said:
Keep it properly serviced and it'll be fine.The emergency services don't seem to have any problems with there bikes in citys
True, but Police and Ambo bikes have a 'run-on' lockout button on them. So, they get to the scene, press the run-on button, and then remove the keys from the ignition. The bike can then be left running, but if anyone tries to ride away on it, it just cuts out and cannot be re-started without the keys in the ignition, obviously.This means the bike can sit with it's lights and radio going, with the engine idling away (so the battery doesn't go flat) for however long the incident takes to sort out - so the motor can be running a long time at idle - more than long enough to get the oil up to temperature and start burning off a lot of the condensation etc.
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Will be fine - but there will be a bit more of a build-up of moisture and unburned hydrocarbons inside the engine with short journeys, yes.
Corrosion inhibitors in the oil will prevent damage to the metal surfaces inside the engine, but the damaging particles I've described above will be held in the oil in suspension.
So - lots of short journeys = ok, but you must change the oil more frequently as it will become saturated with damaging particles more quickly. Maybe cut the recommended change mileage in half - i.e. if the book says 10k, do it every 5k.
And use an oil which is thinner when cold so it gets round the motor more quickly on a cold engine, so something beginning with an 0W or 5W instead of 10W / 15W / 20W will help a lot.
And if you can, take it on a bit of a run and cane until it's red hot, it when you get time. Once or twice a month would be nice.
HTH
At 7 miles a day I think the OP would be getting to the service intervals on time not mileage anyway. I mean the 6month/6k service would get done every 1,500miles or so (if I got the sums right). Not that I know the schedule for these bikes, but that's an example.Corrosion inhibitors in the oil will prevent damage to the metal surfaces inside the engine, but the damaging particles I've described above will be held in the oil in suspension.
So - lots of short journeys = ok, but you must change the oil more frequently as it will become saturated with damaging particles more quickly. Maybe cut the recommended change mileage in half - i.e. if the book says 10k, do it every 5k.
And use an oil which is thinner when cold so it gets round the motor more quickly on a cold engine, so something beginning with an 0W or 5W instead of 10W / 15W / 20W will help a lot.
And if you can, take it on a bit of a run and cane until it's red hot, it when you get time. Once or twice a month would be nice.
HTH
Hooli said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Will be fine - but there will be a bit more of a build-up of moisture and unburned hydrocarbons inside the engine with short journeys, yes.
Corrosion inhibitors in the oil will prevent damage to the metal surfaces inside the engine, but the damaging particles I've described above will be held in the oil in suspension.
So - lots of short journeys = ok, but you must change the oil more frequently as it will become saturated with damaging particles more quickly. Maybe cut the recommended change mileage in half - i.e. if the book says 10k, do it every 5k.
And use an oil which is thinner when cold so it gets round the motor more quickly on a cold engine, so something beginning with an 0W or 5W instead of 10W / 15W / 20W will help a lot.
And if you can, take it on a bit of a run and cane until it's red hot, it when you get time. Once or twice a month would be nice.
HTH
At 7 miles a day I think the OP would be getting to the service intervals on time not mileage anyway. I mean the 6month/6k service would get done every 1,500miles or so (if I got the sums right). Not that I know the schedule for these bikes, but that's an example.Corrosion inhibitors in the oil will prevent damage to the metal surfaces inside the engine, but the damaging particles I've described above will be held in the oil in suspension.
So - lots of short journeys = ok, but you must change the oil more frequently as it will become saturated with damaging particles more quickly. Maybe cut the recommended change mileage in half - i.e. if the book says 10k, do it every 5k.
And use an oil which is thinner when cold so it gets round the motor more quickly on a cold engine, so something beginning with an 0W or 5W instead of 10W / 15W / 20W will help a lot.
And if you can, take it on a bit of a run and cane until it's red hot, it when you get time. Once or twice a month would be nice.
HTH
I'd imagine the normal time interval for a modern like this running low miles is 12 months - so a 6 monthly change should suffice nicely in this case if so.
ec1 eex said:
After having my Suzuki GSR750 stolen a few weeks ago, I've been weighing up my options for a new bike. I haven't test ridden one yet, but I do like the thought of a Honda VFR1200.
I'd be using it every day to commute to and from work which is only 3.5 miles each way in central London, and then one or two trips per year where I can actually put some miles on - perhaps to Scotland or South of France - that kind of distance.
Actually, I disagree with some of the other posters in this thread - and I'm a huge Honda fan (current daily smoker is a CBF1000) that I use to cover approx 30 miles a day into and out of London.I'd be using it every day to commute to and from work which is only 3.5 miles each way in central London, and then one or two trips per year where I can actually put some miles on - perhaps to Scotland or South of France - that kind of distance.
At only 3.5 miles in central London, however, the bike simply will not get upto temperature. The bike is guaranteed to be running almost continually rich as it is unlikely to get out of its cold start cycle. The VFR12 is a 1200cc bike that takes time and/or revs to get up to proper operating temperature. For that distance in central London, I would just get a 125cc scooter.
vonuber said:
I do 5.5miles each way in central London on a 600. It's normally warmed up within a mile or so.
This. My 600 is normally up to temperature within a mile or so. Modern engines are so good, don't think you'll have any problems, but as Mr. Luxury-yacht says - keep on top of the servicing.Change the oil frequently and will be fine. I've been doing short commutes to the station on various bikes for years and the common factor is that the oil doesn't get hot enough to evaporate the moisture that goes into it whilst it's cold.
Over time the oil starts to go opaque as the water builds and it emulsifies. Consequently I change the oil every 6 months even though this equates to under 1000 miles per change. You don't need to bother with the filter, just remove it and empty it.
These oil changes are immediately felt in a nicer clutch engagement and quieter engine.
You might also find that the battery takes a bit of a hammering, if its struggling to charge fully in 3.5 miles after each start up.
But - being a Honda, it'll likely just take this all in its stride even if you do nothing.
Over time the oil starts to go opaque as the water builds and it emulsifies. Consequently I change the oil every 6 months even though this equates to under 1000 miles per change. You don't need to bother with the filter, just remove it and empty it.
These oil changes are immediately felt in a nicer clutch engagement and quieter engine.
You might also find that the battery takes a bit of a hammering, if its struggling to charge fully in 3.5 miles after each start up.
But - being a Honda, it'll likely just take this all in its stride even if you do nothing.
All I can say is that I've got mine since may, 5 months and 12k km (about 7500 miles) later, I can honestly say it's amazing. Looks & sounds amazing. Rides very smooth and the power just keeps coming. As said above, I'd be frustrated having to use it in town all the time, it's a great bike everywhere, but really comes to it's own when you can pull it open at 100km/h.
Here's my blog with my experiences:
http://vfr1200f.blogspot.be/
Here's my blog with my experiences:
http://vfr1200f.blogspot.be/
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