RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

so what SHOULDNT be vibrating on a f4i..?

RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

I notice my bike vibrates more when I've been riding for a few hours. But it seems to run smoothe after I've not ridden it for about a week, the same feel as if you just changed your oil. Sounds like maybe you might have carbon buildup in the cylinders or maybe your spark plugs might not be gapped properly, or even your fuel injectors are notoperating properly. Try some injector cleaner with your fuel on your next fill up. Do you know if the bike was broken in properly, or was the previous owner racing it at high speeds before the first 1000 miles? The engine might be ruined if it hasn't been broken in properly. Try different gas, also, and see if the vibrations disappear. I have nearly 7000 miles on my bike, and it runs smooth as the day I bought it. I change the oil and filtermyself and didn't take it in for a tuneup yet, but it performs beautifully. I do notice that it runs (idles)a little more louder at stops, though. I'll probably have it tuned up at about 15k.

RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

just as an FYI, I have no problem comparing the last few on the VIN - I'll take a look when I get her back... Also, I personally did break my bike in very carefully, only revving past 6 or 7k rpm a few times before the first big tuneup (at 600 miles) I've read various debates on the "proper" way to break in an engine and I felt that I definitely was leaning towards the conservitive side.

The dealership said they wanted 1/2 a day to look into it fully, and that it is going to be the first bike they look at tomorrow, I'll shoot this thread an update once I know more.

RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

I am not to concerned with how the bike was broke-in. It was owned by a 50-year-old man that traded it in for an Interceptor because he riding position was a little too agressive. In addition, the primary concern over proper break-in is the correct seating of the rings. The bike does not seam to be burning any oil. Although, the spark gap question is a good one. Does anyone know an easy way to access the plugs?

RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

So I called the dealership and here was my mechanical answer: "There's a ghost in it" ... the senior tech said that last week he heard a "crunching" noise upon start-up so he wanted to take a half day to diagnose it. This morning he said the noise had disappeared.

As far as the vibration, he said that it vibrates the same as the other f4i that they have in the shop.

looks like I'm going to get my bike back today with no improvement, and now I have something in the back of my head that there is something else worse with my bike going on. Wonderful.

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance to this thread - I guess these bikes are just a bit buzzy and you have to get used to the vibration, maybe buy heavier bar-ends and some bigger/padded gloves :-/

RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

Thanks for the update. I don't know which is worse, knowing they couldn't find a major problem...or them finding a major problem!

I am going to keep trying new things until I find something. If/when I do I will share what I find. If I have not found anything by the time it gets cold or it continues to get worse, mine is going in the shop as well. I will continue to post what I try and find.

Next week my F4i, vibration, and I will be riding the Dragon!

RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

<vent>

I'm not giving up yet - I took my bike back and on the ride home (10 miles) it was still vibrating and even knocking a bit at times (very very rarely). Once I got home, i kept it in neutral and revved it very slowly. At about 3000rpm, the clutch handle was vibrating violently, and at 4,000rpm it smoothed out. Then again in the upper RPM's it would vibrate violently.

I plan on taking it to ANOTHER dealership next week - although I have a good relationship with the dealership it was at, I think when they are swamped they do not do a very good job at really looking into the issues and managing time properly.

</vent>

RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

Yea welcome to the world of dealerships!!!! They don't care about people, the only people that even PRETEND to are the sales guys. If your bike isn't on fire infront of their eyes they don't care and will say nothing is wrong with it, especially under warranty. They make a lot more money after the bike is out of warranty and you pay for the service they do rather than when Honda pays them when it is in warranty. The best story I had was my first winter with the bike I had brought it in before the season ended and asked them to look at something. A week later they called me and told me the bike was fixed and ready. The problem still occurred and when I went to pick it up I had a bill over $100! They winterized my bike!!!! I tell them I'm NOT paying for it as I didn't ask for it to be done and after arguing with the jerk off he finally just said fine and dropped the charge. I went to start the bike and guess what? No battery in it. lol I had to argue with him that I'm missing the battery and he said that I must have taken it when I dropped it off before I had it winterized. wtf?! I NEVER HAD IT WINTERIZED! I thought we already went over this? hah So he goes in and finds either my battery with my last name written on it and 06' F4i or just any battery and writes that stuff on there, appologizes and I leave.

I love dealerships! =D

Mike

RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

Well i have a 06 i purchased new(zero miles on it)..It has a slight buzz to it,also depends on the rpms..Nothing that worries me because most of it is common to the bike.As you get use to the bike the vibrations actually get less (because u adjust your riding style etc)..My f4i buzzes no more than my interceptors did 15 years ago.

As far as lack of power,your butt dyno it is usually wrong..99% of the time..Been thru that arguement in the world of cages for YEARS..Guys use to tell me they could "feel" a 5~10 hp gain ...NOT.Want to see if its REALLY down on power get it dynoed.Thats the only real way to tell.
If the bike wasnt timed right it would bend something esp since its chain driven.

This isnt a luxury car its a bike,some vibrations are NORMAL.Like peaple at work the complain that their truck rides rougher than their car..DUH its a TRUCK not a car..

Im a auto tech by trade so i look at things in a different way than others do.So please take no offense but sometimes these things are normal and you can chase your tail forever to fix something even the engineers didnt fix.

Best way to see if its normal is to ride or sit on another f4i EXACTLY like yours (same year and close to the same mileage).If it does the same thing ,its normal.

RE: Solutions to a Vibration Issue?
 

Hey white99gt, I agree completely with what you are saying. What bothers me about the current situation is that the dealership agreed that there was ::something:: wrong - they also had another 06 f4i in the shop and when they compared, they agreed that min vibrated more than the other, and that it sounded different.

I do not expect a motorcycle to have no vibrations - but also do not think that the level of vibration that I am experiencing is "normal" I also did not like the "clunking" sound I heard.

I personally have not noticed any lack of power - on my ride home, although it was very buzzy - I had no problem getting right up to ~85-90 mph.

I have contacted a second dealership, if they can take a look at it within the next two weeks I will take it there, otherwise I'm going to wait until November or December when the dealership is less busy to see if they can give it a second crack.