Honda VFR, VFR-ABS Owners manual

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Honda VFR/VFR-ABS

OWNER’S MANUAL

USO E MANUTENZIONE

MANUAL DEL PROPIETARIO

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 2008

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

OPERATOR AND PASSENGER

This motorcycle is designed to carry the operator and one passenger. Never exceed the maximum weight capacity as shown on the accessories and loading label.

ON-ROAD USE

This motorcycle is designed to be used only on the road.

READ THIS OWNER’S MANUAL CAREFULLY

Pay special attention to the safety messages that appear throughout the manual. T hese messages are fully explained in the ‘‘A Few Words About Saf ety’’ section which appears before the Contents page.

This manual should be considered a permanent part of the motorcycle and should remain with the motorcycle when resold.

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Honda VFR/VFR-ABS OWNER’S MANUAL

All information in this publication is based on the latest production information available at the time of approval f or printing. Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. reserves the right to make changes at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission.

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WELCOME

The motorcycle presents you a challenge to master the machine, a challenge to adventure. You ride through the wind, linked to the road by a vehicle that responds to your commands as no other does. Unlike an automobile, there is no metal cage around you. Like an airplane, a pre-ride inspection and regular maintenance are essential to your safety. Your reward is freedom.

To meet the challenges safely, and to enjoy the adventure fully, you should become thoroughly familiar with this owner’s manual BEFORE YOU RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE.

Asyoureadthismanual,youwillfindinformationthatisprecededbya symbol.This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your motorcycle, other property, or the environment.

When service is required, remember that your Honda dealer knows your motorcycle best. If you have the required mechanical ‘‘know-how’’ and tools, your dealer can supply you with an official Honda Shop Manual to help you perform many maintenance and repair tasks.

Pleasant riding, and thank you for choosing a Honda !

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The f ollowing codes in this manual indicate each country. The illustrations herein are based on the type.

VFR

UK European direct sales European direct sales

Ireland

Australia New Zealand

VFR-ABS

France

European direct sales

Ireland Ireland

The specifications may vary with each locale.

VFR-ABS

III

UKE

Ireland

Australia New Zealand

III

France

European direct sales

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AFEWWORDSABOUTSAFETY

Your safety, and the saf ety of others, is very important. And operating this motorcycle saf ely is an important responsibility.

To help you make informed decisions about saf ety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all hazards associated with operating or maintaining a motorcycle. You must use your own good judgment.

You will f ind important safety information in a variety of forms, including:

Safety Labels

Safety Messages DANGER, WARNING, CAUTION

These signal words mean:

–– on the motorcycle.

–– preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of three signal words:

or .

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You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

Safety Headings

Safety Section

Instruct ions

–– such as Important Safety Reminders or Important Safety Precautions.

–– such as Motorcycle Safety.

–– how to use this motorcycle correctly and safely.

This entire manual is filled with important saf ety information –– please read it caref ully.

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OPERATION

page page

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY

IMPORT ANT SAFETY INFORMATION

PROTECTIVE APPAREL

LOAD LIMITS AND GUIDELINES

PARTS LOCA TION

INSTRUMENTS AND INDICATORS

MAJOR COMPONENTS (Information you need to operate this motorcycle)

SUSPENSION

BRAKES

CLUTCH

COOLANT

FUEL

ENGINE OIL

TUBELESS TYRES

ESSENTIAL INDIVIDUAL

481

COMPONENTS

IGNITION SWITCH

KEYS

IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM (HISS)

RIGHT HANDLEBAR CONTROLS

LEFT HANDLEBAR CONTROLS

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page page

7157

(Not required for operation)

STEERING LOCK

SEAT

HELMET HOLDERS

DOCUMENT BAG

STORAGE COMPARTMENT FOR U-SHAPED ANTI-THEFT LOCK

REAR SEAT COVER

FRONT COWL

INNER COWL

INNER PANEL

FUEL TANK MAINT ENANCE

71 73 76 77 79 83 84

POSITION

HEADLIGHT AIM VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT

CLIP

OPERATIONFEATURES

PRE-RIDE INSPECTION STARTING THE ENGINE RUNNING-IN RIDING BRAKING PARKING ANTI-THEFT TIPS

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MAINTENANCE

page page

MAINTENANCE

THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE

MAINTENANCE SAFETY

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

TOOL KIT

SERIAL NUMBERS

COLOUR LABEL

AIR CLEANER

ENGINE OIL

100

SPARK PLUGS

105

THROTTLE OPERATION

106

IDLE SPEED

107

COOLANT

108

DRIVE CHAIN

113

DRIVE CHAIN SLIDER

114

FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION INSPECTION

115

SIDE STAND

116

WHEEL REMOVAL

122

BRAKE PAD WEAR

124

BRAKE SYSTEM INSPECTION

125

BATTERY

127

FUSE REPLACEMENT

130

BRAKELIGHT SWITCH ADJUSTMENT

131

BULB REPLACEMENT

CLEANING

138

STORAGE GUIDE

143

STORAGE

145

REMOVAL FROM STORAGE

146

TAKING CARE OF THE UNEXPECTED

147

SPECIFICATIONS

151

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS

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MOTORCYCLE SAFETY

Your motorcycle can provide many years of service and pleasure if you take responsibility for your own saf ety and understand the challenges that you can meet on the road.

Thereismuchthatyoucandotoprotect yourself when you ride. You’ll find many helpful recommendations throughout this manual. Following are a few that we consider to be most important.

Always Wear a Helmet

It’s a proven f act: helmets significantly reduce the number and severity of head injuries. So always wear an approved motorcycle helmet and make sure your passenger does the same. We also recommend that you wear eye protection, sturdy boots, gloves, and other protective gear (page ).

−

Make Yourself Easy to SeeIMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Some drivers do not see motorcycles because they are not looking for them. To make yourself more visible, wear bright reflective clothing, position yourself so other drivers can see you, signal before turning or changing lanes, and use your horn when it will help others notice you.

Ride Within Your Limits

Pushing the limits is another major cause of motorcycle accidents. Never ride beyond your personal abilities or faster than conditions warrant. Remember that alcohol, drugs, fatigue and inattention can significantly reduce your ability to make good judgements and ride safely.

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Don’t Drink and Ride

Alcohol and riding don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don’t drink and ride, and don’t let your friends drink and ride either.

Keep Your Bike in Saf e Condition

For safe riding, it’s important to inspect your motorcycle before every ride and perform all recommended maintenance. Never exceed load limits, and only use accessories that have been approved by Honda f or this motorcycle. See page for

more details.

PROTECTIVE APPAREL

Foryoursafety,westronglyrecommend that you always wear an approved motorcycle helmet, eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket whenever you ride. Although complete protection is not possible, wearing proper gear can reduce the chance of injury when you ride. Following are suggestions to help you choose proper gear.

Not wearing a helmet increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash.

Be sure you and your passenger always wear a helmet, eye protection and other protective apparel when you ride.

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Helmets and Eye Protection Additional Riding Gear

Your helmet is your most important piece of riding gear because it offers the best protection against head injuries. A helmet should fit your head comfortably and securely. A bright-coloured helmet can make you more noticeable in traffic, as can reflective strips.

In addition to a helmet and eye protection, we also recommend:

Sturdy boots with non-slip soles to help protect your feet and ankles. Leather gloves to keep your hands warm and help prevent blisters, cuts, burns and bruises.

A motorcycle riding suit or jacket f or An open-face helmet offers some protection, but a full-f ace helmet offers more. Always wear a face shield or goggles to protect your eyes and help your vision.

comfortaswellasprotection.Bright-

coloured and reflective clothing can help

make you more noticeable in traffic. Be

sure to avoid loose clothes that could get

caught on any part of your motorcycle.

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Your motorcycle has been designed to carry you and one passenger. When you carry a passenger, you may feel some diff erence during acceleration and braking. But so long as you keep your motorcycle wellmaintained, with good tyres and brakes, you can safely carry loads within the given limits and guidelines.

LoadingLOAD LIMITS AND GUIDELINES

How much weight you put on your motorcycle, and how you load it, are important to your safety. Anytime you ride with a passenger or cargo you should be aware of the following information.

However, exceeding the weight limit or carrying an unbalanced load can seriously affect your motorcycle’s handling, braking and stability. Non-Honda accessories, improper modifications, and poor maintenance can also reduce your safety margin.

The following pages give more specific information on loading, accessories and modifications.

Overloading or improper loading can

causeacrashandyoucanbe

seriously hurt or killed.

Follow all load limits and other loading

guidelines in this manual.

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Load Limits

Following are the load limits for your motorcycle:

Maximum weight capacity:

195 kg (430 lbs)

Includes the weight of the rider, passenger, all cargo and all accessories

Maximum cargo weight:

35 kg (77 lbs)

The weight of added accessories will reduce the maximum cargo weight you can carry.

Loading Guidelines

Your motorcycle is primarily intended for transporting you and a passenger. You may wish to secure a jacket or other small items to the seat when you are not riding with a passenger.

If you wish to carry more cargo, check with your Honda dealer for advice, and be sure to read the information regarding accessories on page .

Improperly loading your motorcycle can aff ect its stability and handling. Even if your motorcycle is properly loaded, you should ride at reduced speeds and never exceed 130 km/h (80 mph) when carrying cargo.

Follow these guidelines whenever you carry a passenger or cargo:

Check that both tyres are properly

inflated (page ).

42 If you change your normal load, you may need to adjust the front suspension (page

26 27

) and the rear suspension (page ). To prevent loose items from creating a hazard,makesurethatallcargois securely tied down before you ride away. Place cargo weight as close to the center of the motorcycle as possible. Balance cargo weight evenly on both sides.

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Accessories and Modifications Accessories

Modifying your motorcycle or using nonHonda accessories can make your motorcycle unsafe. Before you consider making any modifications or adding an accessory,besuretoreadthefollowing information.

We strongly recommend that you use only Honda Genuine Accessories that have been specifically designed and tested for your motorcycle. Because Honda cannot test all other accessories, you must be personally responsible for proper selection, installation and use of non-Honda accessories. Check with your dealer for assistance and always follow these guidelines:

Improper accessories or modifications cancauseacrashinwhichyoucanbe seriously hurt or killed.

Make sure the accessory does not obscure any lights, reduce ground clearance and banking angle, limit suspension travel or steering travel, alter

Follow all instructions in this owner’s manual regarding accessories and

your riding position or interfere with operating any controls.

modifications.

Be sure electrical equipment does not exceed the motorcycle’s electrical system capacity (page ). A blown fuse can cause a loss of lights or engine power.

150

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Donotpullatrailerorsidecarwithyour motorcycle. This motorcycle was not designed for these attachments, and their use can seriously impair your motorcycle’s handling.

Modif ications

We strongly advise you not to remove any original equipment or modify your motorcycle in any way that would change its design or operation. Such changes could seriously impair your motorcycle’s handling, stability and braking, making it unsaf e to ride.

Removing or modifying your lights, mufflers, emission control system or other equipment can also make your motorcycle illegal.

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PARTS LOCATION

Left multi-function display Right multi-function display

Rearview mirror

Clutch fluid reservoir

Ignition switch

Tachometer

Rearview mirror

Passing light control switch

Headlight dimmer switch

Clutch lever

Turn signal switch

Horn button

Fuel fill cap

Front brake fluid reservoir

Engine stop switch

Front brake lever

Throttle grip

Hazard switch

Start button

Front spring preload adjuster

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Tool kit

Helmet holder

Passenger footpeg

Rear suspension spring preload adjuster knob (VFR-ABS)

Oil filler cap

Footpeg

Rear brake pedal

Engine oil inspection window

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Rear suspension spring preload adjuster (VFR)

Engine oil drain bolt

Shift lever

Center stand

Document compartment

Helmet holder

Battery

Side stand

Rear suspension rebound damping adjuster

Footpeg

Storage compartment for U-shaped anti-theft lock

Passenger footpeg

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INSTRUMENTS AND INDICATORS

Theindicatorsarecontainedinthe instrument panel. Their functions are described in the tables on the following pages.

(1) Tachometer (2) Tachometer red zone (3) Anti-lock brake system

(ABS) indicator

(VFR-ABS) (4) High beam indicator (5)

PGM-FI malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) (6) Right turn signal indicator (7) Right multi-function display (8) RESET button (9) HISS button

(10) Immobilizer system (HISS) indicator (11) SELECT button (12) Left multi-function display (13) Left turn signal indicator (14) Low oil pressure indicator (15) High coolant temperature indicator (16) Neutral indicator

(13) (15) (16)

(11)

(12) (8)(10) (9) (7)

(1) (2)

(3)

(5)(4)(14)

(6)

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(Ref .No.) Description Function

(1)

Tachometer

(2)

Tachometer red zone

Shows engine revolutions per minute.

Never allow the tachometer needle to enter the red zone, even after the engine has been broken in.

Running the engine beyond recommended maximum engine speed (the beginning of the tachometer red zone) can damage the engine.

(3)

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) indicator (red) (VFR-ABS)

(4)

High beam indicator (blue)

This light normally comes on when the ignition is turned ON, and goes of f after you ride the motorcycle at speed above 10 km/h (6 mph). If there is a problem with the Anti-lock Brake System, this light flashes and remains on (page ).

Lights when the headlight is on high beam.

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(Ref .No.) Description Function

PGM-FI malfunction

(5)

indicator lamp (MIL) (red)

Lights when there is any abnormality in the PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection) system. Should also light for a few seconds and then go off when the ignition switch is turned ON and engine stop switch is at (RUN). If it comes on at any other time, reduce speed and take the motorcycle to your Honda dealer as soon as possible.

Right turn signal indicator (green)

(7)

Right multi-function display

Tripmeter A and B

Odometer

Fuel gauge

Digital clock

Flashes when the right turn signal operates.(6)

The display includes the following functions; This display shows the initial display (page ).

Shows mileage per trip (page ).

Shows accumulated mileage (page ).

Shows approximate fuel supply available (page ).

Shows hour and minute (page ).

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(Ref .No.) Description Function

(8)

RESET button This button is used to reset the tripmeter or to select

(9)

HISS button This button is used to cancel flashing the immobilizer

(10)

Immobilizer system (HISS) indicator (red)

the tripmeter or odometer or to adjust the time.

system (HISS) indicator when the ignition switch is OFF (page ).

This indicator lights f or a few seconds when the ignition switch is turned ON and the engine stop switch is at (RUN). It will then go off if the properly-coded key has been inserted. If an improperly-coded key has been inserted, the indicator will remain on and the engine will not start (page ).

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(Ref .No.) Description Function

(11)

SELECT button

Except E, E type:

III

Thisbuttonisusedtoselectthecoolantorair temperature meter or to adjust the time.

For E, E type:

III

Thisbuttonisusedtoselectthecoolantorair temperature meter or to adjust the time or to change the speed and mileage units for the speedometer/ odometer/tripmeter.

(12)

Left multi-function display

Speedometer

Coolant

The display includes the following functions; This display shows the initial display (page ).

Shows riding speed (page ).

Shows coolant temperature (page ).

temperature meter

Shows air temperature (page ).Air temperature meter

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(Ref .No.) Description Function

(13)

Left turn signal indicator (green)

(14)

Low oil pressure indicator (red)

Flashes when the left turn signal operates.

Lights when the engine oil pressure is below normal operating range. Should light when ignition switch is ON and engine is not running. Should go out when the engine starts, except f or occasional flickering at or near idling speed when engine is warm.

Running the engine with insufficient oil pressure may cause serious engine damage.

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(Ref .No.) Description Function

(15)

High coolant temperature indicator (red)

Neutral indicator (green) Lights when the transmission is in neutral.

(16)

Lights when the coolant is over the specified temperature. If the indicator goes on while riding, stop the engine and check the reserve tank coolant

36 37

level. Read pages and do not ride the

−

motorcycle until the problem has been corrected.

Exceeding maximum running temperature may cause serious engine damage.

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Initial Display

When the ignition switch is turned ON, the display will temporarily show all the modes and digital segments so you can make sure the liquid crystal display is functioning properly. (Except digital clock )

(4)

(2)

The unit ‘‘mph’’ ( ) and ‘‘mile’’ ( ) will be displayed only for E and E types.

III And only the selected unit of either ‘‘km/h’’, ‘‘km’’ or ‘‘mph’’, ‘‘mile’’ will be indicated.

Digital clock ( ) and tripmeter ( ) will

reset if the battery is disconnected.

(1)

(3)

(1) ‘‘mph’’ (2) ‘‘mile’’ (3) Digital clock (4) Tripmeter

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Multi-function Displays

The right multi-function display ( )

includes the following functions:

Odometer/Tripmeter Fuel gauge Digital clock

The left multi-function display ( ) includes

the following functions:

Coolant/Air temperature meter Speedometer

(5) (6) (7)

(1) Right multi-function display (2) Odometer/Tripmeter (3) Fuel gauge (4) Digital clock (5) Left multi-function display (6) Coolant/Air temperature meter (7) Speedometer

(1) (2)

(3)

(4)

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Fuel Gauge

The fuel gauge liquid crystal display ( ) shows the approximate fuel supply available in a graduated display. When the segment F ( ) goes on, the fuel tank capacity including

reserve is:

22.0

When segment E ( ) flashes, fuel will be

(5.81 US gal , 4.84 Imp gal)

3 lowandyoushouldrefillthetankassoonas possible. The amount of fuel left in the tank with the vehicle set upright is approximately:

3.6

(0.95 US gal , 0.79 Imp gal)

(1) Fuel gauge display (2) Segment F (3) Segment E

(3)

(1)

(2)

+ 131 hidden pages