VTR general technical questions

[ottatom]

Hey guys,

Just bought the VTR (yesterday..) and I have some issues I would like to clear.

Sound: The pipes are very loud. Which is good! loud is good. No pbs at all. The police however might disagree.. Do you know if it is common for them to check that you have road legal pipes? if so, what is the fine and general procedures that might incur from that?

Clutch: Is it normal for the clutch to be heavy? its a bit heaver than the street triple one, about the same as a 749. Should it be that way?

Grips: The throttle grip is a bit sticky. It's heavy to roll and feels "mushy". Makes the throttle to be user"unfriendly"... Is that something that can be fixed with some WD40 on the grip & cables or do I need to replace it (or part of it)? I was thinking of installing some heated grips.. Same thing for the choke handle, feels heavy as well..

Cam chain tensioners: What's the deal with that? I will browse though the forum to understand that a bit better but sounds like an issue on these bikes. The previous owner fitted some and it also came with manual cam chain adjusters. Do I need to check that asap?

Service: I would like to do a small service on the bike, just to know what's good and what's not good about the bike. Do you guys know about a good/cheap place to service the VTRs? I live on the northern area of london, zone 3.

These are a lot of questions so if you want me to separate this post in several ones I will do so.

Cheers,
Ottoatom
VTR4EVR

[popkat]

Sounds like you need to go to a workshop day, think there's one coming up soon in Essex, someone will be along to confirm.

[Virt]

Sound: The pipes are very loud. Which is good! loud is good. No pbs at all. The police however might disagree.. Do you know if it is common for them to check that you have road legal pipes? if so, what is the fine and general procedures that might incur from that?

Not sure about London, but round here the police don't give a sh1t about exhausts/number plates/coloured sidelights unless they need to pull you over for something else. In which case they're added on, but they aren't worth it on their own. Been the same wherever I've been, really.

Cam chain tensioners: What's the deal with that? I will browse though the forum to understand that a bit better but sounds like an issue on these bikes. The previous owner fitted some and it also came with manual cam chain adjusters. Do I need to check that asap?

Front cylinder seems to suffer from oil starvation at the best of times, rapid acceleration/deceleration or warming it up on sidestand (while the oil is still viscous) can lead the the spring in the front CCt snapping and the cam chain jumping teeth. This can be a minor problem, or your pistons and valves can become best friends. I'd fit the manuals if I were you.

Can't offer anything other than that, I'm a useless, stupid yob!

[Wicky]

Have a shufty through this > http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 23&t=31345 Download the service manual from the workshop knowledgebase and give it a service. As pokat mentions there is a Workshop day down the A12 nr the coast in North Essex in April where we take someone's bike and take it apart and put it back together again, better than it was before, in 5 minutes like this Jeep workshop day.

[youtube][/youtube]

yes the clutch will feel heavy to begin with but with reps you'll not notice after a while. Some folk try and lube the clutch cable but it has never been found to work

Re. CCTs and R/R see first link. Check starter motor connection under rubber hood for corrosion and also check rear shock linkages.

[leevtr]

Hey guys,

Just bought the VTR (yesterday..) and I have some issues I would like to clear.

Sound: The pipes are very loud. Which is good! loud is good. No pbs at all. The police however might disagree.. Do you know if it is common for them to check that you have road legal pipes? if so, what is the fine and general procedures that might incur from that?

Clutch: Is it normal for the clutch to be heavy? its a bit heaver than the street triple one, about the same as a 749. Should it be that way?

Grips: The throttle grip is a bit sticky. It's heavy to roll and feels "mushy". Makes the throttle to be user"unfriendly"... Is that something that can be fixed with some WD40 on the grip & cables or do I need to replace it (or part of it)? I was thinking of installing some heated grips.. Same thing for the choke handle, feels heavy as well..

Cam chain tensioners: What's the deal with that? I will browse though the forum to understand that a bit better but sounds like an issue on these bikes. The previous owner fitted some and it also came with manual cam chain adjusters. Do I need to check that asap?

Service: I would like to do a small service on the bike, just to know what's good and what's not good about the bike. Do you guys know about a good/cheap place to service the VTRs? I live on the northern area of london, zone 3.

These are a lot of questions so if you want me to separate this post in several ones I will do so.

Cheers,
Ottoatom
VTR4EVR

Where are you based pal ?

[Furrybiker]

Met police are not interested. I was concerned until I got stopped for speeding, I had the standard pipes on, the police said "Get some loud pipes on it, its a big v-twin lets hear it!" I queried this as I thought I would get nicked for them, he told me that they would have to take the bike 50 miles away to test it, and anyway Harley riders get away with it....

If you want a service guy, I know one in Edgware, very good, loves V-twins, Ducati trained works weekends.

[ottatom]

Lots of replies!

Workshop sounds sweet, but I don't really want to do heavy DIY. I might go for the trip and lager though .. (there will be lager right?) Replacing grips or levers is fine but a lot more than that would be too much I'm afraid. The main reason is that I don't have a proper place to work on the bike, so stuff like replacing cam chains is not really an option on the sidewalk.. ..The other reason is that I am a lazy b8stard.

Getting very good feedback on the pipes!! that's what I like to hear! would be a damn shame to have to quiet down the VTR's sound. Getting confused about the cam chain tensioners though.. I am going to have a read about that tonight, sounds important.

I am close to finsbury park, N4 area. Edgeware would be a great place to start! How much do you guys think would be for a quick checkup?

[Wicky]

If you want to take a bimble out of the city check with TonyM down in Kent nr Brands if he's got the time to squeeze you in for a service.

[leevtr]

Lots of replies!

Workshop sounds sweet, but I don't really want to do heavy DIY. I might go for the trip and lager though .. (there will be lager right?) Replacing grips or levers is fine but a lot more than that would be too much I'm afraid. The main reason is that I don't have a proper place to work on the bike, so stuff like replacing cam chains is not really an option on the sidewalk.. ..The other reason is that I am a lazy b8stard.

Getting very good feedback on the pipes!! that's what I like to hear! would be a damn shame to have to quiet down the VTR's sound. Getting confused about the cam chain tensioners though.. I am going to have a read about that tonight, sounds important.

I am close to finsbury park, N4 area. Edgeware would be a great place to start! How much do you guys think would be for a quick checkup?

Most of the owners here could tell you if something obvious is not right. If you want to ride it to Romford you can compare your questionable bits to mine, even if it only serves to ease your mind.

[darkember]

Lots of replies!

Workshop sounds sweet, but I don't really want to do heavy DIY. I might go for the trip and lager though .. (there will be lager right?) Replacing grips or levers is fine but a lot more than that would be too much I'm afraid. The main reason is that I don't have a proper place to work on the bike, so stuff like replacing cam chains is not really an option on the sidewalk.. ..The other reason is that I am a lazy b8stard.

Getting very good feedback on the pipes!! that's what I like to hear! would be a damn shame to have to quiet down the VTR's sound. Getting confused about the cam chain tensioners though.. I am going to have a read about that tonight, sounds important.

I am close to finsbury park, N4 area. Edgeware would be a great place to start! How much do you guys think would be for a quick checkup?

Most on here are able to strip the bikes down to the rocker covers in probably 1/2 an hour. At this point you will be ready to fit the manual CCT's. Its not rocket science & the workshop day will inspire you to do jobs you thought were impossible but are actually really easy. Plus it will save you loads on garage repair bills.

[tony.mon]

Front cylinder seems to suffer from oil starvation at the best of times, rapid acceleration/deceleration or warming it up on sidestand (while the oil is still viscous) can lead the the spring in the front CCt snapping and the cam chain jumping teeth. This can be a minor problem, or your pistons and valves can become best friends. I'd fit the manuals if I were you.
:

Virt, what are you on about?
What oil starvation? And how can it snap a spring?

[leevtr]

Front cylinder seems to suffer from oil starvation at the best of times, rapid acceleration/deceleration or warming it up on sidestand (while the oil is still viscous) can lead the the spring in the front CCt snapping and the cam chain jumping teeth. This can be a minor problem, or your pistons and valves can become best friends. I'd fit the manuals if I were you.
:

Virt, what are you on about?
What oil starvation? And how can it snap a spring?

Classic case of someone repeating what they've read, but butt about face

[Virt]

That's what I seem to see everywhere so I regurgitated it. I do normally put a disclaimer on these things but I thought I'd seen it often enough to not bother



Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[gl_s_r]

Front cylinder seems to suffer from oil starvation at the best of times, rapid acceleration/deceleration or warming it up on sidestand (while the oil is still viscous) can lead the the spring in the front CCt snapping and the cam chain jumping teeth. This can be a minor problem, or your pistons and valves can become best friends. I'd fit the manuals if I were you.
:

Virt, what are you on about?
What oil starvation? And how can it snap a spring?

I was under the impression or rather told it was long bouts of throttle roll off that does them in. For example coasting up a slip road off the motorway and then accelerating. Think most that have gone have always been at low speeds... although I should imagine there will always be exceptions but mainly low speeds.

That is why I think Roger does not have a problem with OEM tensioners on the race bikes and has never had one go on them as they are constantly being rapidly accelerated/decelerated?

[VTRDark]

Now look what you have started Virt.

It's how it's worded ie "Front cylinder seems to suffer from oil starvation at the best of times" .....Wrong!!!!! front cylinder does not suffer oil starvation. The CCT where it's positioned in the front cylinder lacks lubrication compared to the rear which can aid to the spring drying out, especially if the bike has been sitting for a while.

I was under the impression or rather told it was long bouts of throttle roll off that does them in. For example coasting up a slip road off the motorway and then accelerating. Think most that have gone have always been at low speeds...

+1

ottatom either way CCT's are an issue on V twins and preventative measures should be put in place. Either a stopper mod or fit manuals.

As for loud cans, 9 times out of 10 Plod are not too bothered, but if you was to get a jobsworth copper then I believe they give you so many days (28 I think ) to get it sorted and you have to proof this by getting the paperwork they give you stamped by and MOT station and take it to your local nic if it's still open. A bit like getting a producer if you remember them! So basically it costs you the price of an MOT and the hassle of having to temporarily fit quiet cans or stick the baffles in.

Careful with the WD on the throttle. If you get to much under or around the grip area, the grip may start slipping on the throttle tube. You don't want that happening while riding down the road. If it's stiff then it's best to slide it off the bar a bit and spray between the tube and bar, not the grip. Also lube and re-grease the throttle cables. This can be done at the bar end by removing the two screws from the throttle housing. Lube it up with WD then pack it out with some grease and this will work it's way down inside the cables. You may also want to check that the bar end weight is not butt tight up against the grip which can make it stiff to turn.

(:-})