04-14-2014, 03:13 PM
Gentlemen, I hope all you owners of 49 state models are not experiencing the problem I am with my 2014 Deluxe, California model that I just picked up Saturday. This is the worse-running new bike I have ever purchased, and I took it to the dealer today to show them. Between 2000 and 3000 RPM the bike sputters (it runs so quiet, but I'm sure it's misfiring). This was evident when the dealer held it between 2000 and 3000 RPM while in neutral, and you could definitely hear it. Riding this bike below 3000 RPM is just not pleasant. Riding around town you will be below 3000 RPM, and at light (small) throttle openings with very little load it quietly sputters along feeling like it's making the power of an average 500cc bike (or less). When the wife and I took it for our first ride yesterday (I have 340 miles on it now and just did my first oil change tonight), I had to ride it in 5th gear at 60 mph because in 6th gear the engine just wasn't making enough torque to overcome the strong head wind we were riding against (60 mph in 6th gear is about 2800 RPM). At 60 mph I can't even think about making a pass without down shifting twice. Yes, I know it still has to be broken in, but this is an 1100cc motor. Once above 3000 RPM it runs just perfect, pulling like a strong, electric motor, but below 3000 RPM forget it. The dealer informed me this is because of the emissions, and the chance of Honda doing anything to remedy this is not good at all. I wasn't able to leave my bike at the dealer today but I informed them that I would bring it back on Wednesday so that they could take a closer look at it. I'm not happy that I may need to invest in a Power Commander and spend a lot of time trying to remap my fuel injection system just to get my bike to run correctly, but unless Honda does something I may have no other choice. Other than this fuel injection problem I absolutely love this bike. Everywhere we stopped people asked about it, and two people at two different points where we stopped took pictures. One woman told me "My husband just told me that bike was a classic" ( I thanked her because that was a compliment to me). Is there anyone else out there who is experiencing a similar problem, particularly with a California model? Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated.