Wednesday 18 April 2012

CBR250R Engine Shut Down

For those of you who have bought this motorcycle and  your problems amount to zero - good for you.  I speak on behalf of a minority of us who have been experiencing issues with our CBR250R.  A unique issue that has been plaguing us for a while.  An issue that could mean the difference between life and death.  Yes...it could be that serious.

The issue I am talking about is the engine dying (I am reluctant to say "stall" for reasons you are about to read) when the bike is in gear and we pull the clutch in.  No, it doesn't happen every time we do this.  But it happens, and happens sometimes at the WORST of times.  I'm not a technical person so forgive me for my limited motorcycle vernacular, but it seems that sometimes when you pull in the clutch to drop down a gear or to stop for a red light, revs drop to 1000rpm to zero - engine shuts off, lights are still on.  This is not limited to being stationary.  You could be moving at 20 or 30 kms/h (or even more sometimes).  Not a "stall", because a "stall" implies the clutch was let go too quickly after  you shift it into gear. "Stall" implies that you've done something wrong and to reward  you for your forgetfulness it jumps forward making you look like you're part of the Rodeo.

These bikes are BRAND SPANKING NEW.  "It's under warranty", you might try to reassure.  But for those of us that have taken the bike back to the dealer, we have been met with little or no help. I find it hard to believe that such a potentially dangerous issue is being (supposedly) ignored by Honda.  Honda...the company that "rides" its reputation on the grandeur and legend of its motorcycles.  I for one was convinced to buy this bike because the salesman harped about their reputation.

The purpose of this blog is to provide a means to communicate how often and how widespread this problem could be.  From our conversations within forums, it doesn't happen to every bike, which explains the lack of a recall.  But it does happen.  That it happens to just a minority of us is no excuse for Honda and its representatives to ignore the problem.  See bikes affected so far (we need more data!!!)


Here is the issue in question recorded by a fellow sufferer where the bike is STILL in motion:

Video Evidence of "Unforced Stall"

My main intended means of communicating how widespread and how often the "stall" occurs is by means of a geographical visualization (map above).  I therefore implore those who suffer from this to private message me on the http://www.cbr250.net forum (user name: SithLord) and provide me with:
1. Your City
2. Your State
3. Your Country
4. Your Zip/Post Code
5. ABS or NON-ABS model
6. How many times average per day it happens to you (mine happens 3-8 times a day)

Alternatively you can comment on this page with the above details.

This may go no where, but hopefully with your help we can show Honda all the sufferers on a thought-provoking visualization.

So far, just mine, a fellow Australian and 1 from USA and 1 from Canada are plotted on the map.  Once we get more data, I will show the countries on separate charts to show what I hope will be rich detail.  Please help me populate this map!!!

2 comments:

  1. Hi SithLord,

    Are you sill collecting info on this problem.
    Liverpool
    NSW
    Australia
    2170
    2012 ABS
    Every time I ride.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Julie, I'm no longer collecting because there isn't enough volume to make a meaningful map.

    Where did you get your bike from? 2012 so still must be under warranty. Have you taken it to your dealer yet? My dealer is in Parramatta, and the first time they tried to fix, I took it for a spin around the block and I got it to stall 8 times, so I took it back. They then said a few days later it was really fixed. So I went back having little faith, but they were right. Something about "opening valves that were closed". I know nothing of this stuff, and the riders at cbr250.net said that that doesn't make sense. But I glad that it never stalled like that ever again since it was fixed...about...3-4 months ago. Can't remember now, been that long.

    So I recommend you taking it to your dealer, and if your dealer gives you the run around, take it to my dealer maybe, and ask for Steve. Or get your dealer to call Steve.
    Action Motorcycles
    http://actionmc-px.rtrk.com.au/store-location.php?Parramatta-2

    Tell Steve about my bike (my name is Taze). If you need some assistance, I can meet you at my dealer (if they have "don't recall" my case) on a Saturday morning and we can meet Steve. Drop me a line if you need help. I'm really surprised 2012 models have this issue. I'm at sith.assassin@hotmail.com

    Cheers Julie.

    ReplyDelete