Honda CBF125 loses power & stalls

[DonDino]

Hello everyone!

I am new in this forum and in biking. I hope it's ok that I chose to start in the forum with a technical question.

I bought a new CBF125 last month, and today after 300 miles it started playing up. Just started stalling on idle, and losing power on acceleration (followed by stall when I close the throttle and pull the clutch).

Trawling through the net I found a couple of mentions of similar issues, one of them in this forum, saying it's a known issue with a batch of these bikes that the fuel pump fails after a couple of hundred miles.

The AA man agreed. While it's due to be towed to the dealership for repair, I'm wondering if there are alternative possible causes for this. The dealership guy mentioned it could be dirty fuel. I doubt how this could be possible as I only ever filled it twice, both times at my local Shell, where we always fill up our cars as well. However, if it were that, is there a way I could tell and do something to fix it - Redex to flush the dirt out of wherever it's stuck, or drain the whole fuel and see if that does it?

[CaNsA]

Is there fuel in the tank?

[Ariel Badger]

Is the tank breather clear? Run it with the petrol cap lose to test it.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[P.]

Dealer problem, give to dealer to fix under warranty.

[_Iain_]

I was told that injector cleaners were a bad idea on the small bikes.

Not sure how true that is though but i'd not be the one who tried it!
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[DonDino]

Wow, so many replies in such a short time, thank you all!

Tank is 4/5 full.

Didn't think about tank breather! I didn't even bother to look for it when I was fiddling around the fuel lines earlier. I'll check it out tomorrow, thanks for the tip.

And yes, ultimately the bike is under warranty so it is the dealer's problem. If I can't fix it, they will have to, whatever it takes. But it's still going to be a hassle for me taking time off work to go to the dealer, even if it's only once to pick it up when it's fixed - plus I can't wait to be able to get back on it. Especially since I am in 'lesson mode' and the test feels incredibly close now!

[lukamon]

always go with the most likey option first

1. reports on the internet suggest that the fuel pump may be one of a bad batch that fails very early and other people have had this happen

2. you filled the bike with "bad fuel" that has completely blocked the fuel system in 300 miles from a garage that has been fine since the first time you filled up there.

by the way, how is the cbf? was thinking of getting one
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killa wrote: Im an ass man myself

[DonDino]

Hi lukamon, thanks for replying.

I do believe it's the fuel pump, but I'm just the wishful thinking type of person... plus I find it difficult to just stand around and do nothing until I can organise a tow to Honda.

I am not sure about the bad fuel idea. Me and my colleague at work always fill up our cars at the same garage and never had any problems. Or are bikes so much more sensitive to bad fuel than cars?

The CBF has been fine, apart from this issue of course

It's a nifty little bike. Granted I don't have a frame of reference as it is the only bike I've ever ridden, but it does have a 'big bike' feel, so I think it's great for learning - which is the reason I bought it, i.e. to get as much road experience as possible and learn to control the bike without thiking about it, before I go for the test.
Instructors have been telling me that I will soon get tired of it and once I pass my test I will want to have a bigger bike straight away. I can see their point already, there have already been occasions where I thought "it would've been good to have a bigger bike now" (because of winds, needed acceleration etc), but I still think it makes a good learner machine and also a good commuting bike too, for short distances.

[neil.]

If it's the fuel pump, it usually happens after a while of riding in warm/hot weather - more likely in start/stop traffic. What you get is a 'kangaroo hopping' effect as the revs rise and fall - the engine gaining and losing power very quickly. It also stalls if you let the clutch out too far. Here's a video of it happening to me: https://cbf125rider.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/the-dreaded-kangaroo-hopping-problem/

The thing with this is that there is will be no indication of any fault in the bike's fuel injection system/ECU - no blinking light or fault code.

I doubt it's anything to do with the fuel you're using. I've been putting the cheapest supermarket stuff I could find in for thousands of miles and never had a problem. You might want to consider fitting an in-line fuel filter though as the CBF doesn't have one (apart from something in the fuel pump itself which is a sealed unit - meh). https://cbf125rider.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/in-line-fuel-filter/
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[DonDino]

Ah in fact I saw your video yesterday when I was googling the problem

When it was losing power yesterday, the interval between losing/gaining power was much longer than yours - yours seems to me momentary loss/gain, my loss of power lasted a good few seconds every time.

I made a video of my bike cutting out on idle, have a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84wfJqVwiv8

[neil.]

If you turn the ignition on then kick the side-stand down, does the yellow 'engine management' light on the dash flash at all?
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[DonDino]

[neil.]

Valve clearances being out of spec are known to cause poor idling on the CBF as well - wouldn't expect it at only 300 miles but you never know. Not too difficult to check and adjust but wouldn't bother as the dealer is still responsible at the moment.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Beez]

Sounds uncannily similar to my situation at the moment :
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=242165

Was the weather warm where you were too just out of interest?
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'02 ER-5
'09 CBF125

[madjohn72]

Hi Guys

I had the same problem with my two week old '12' plate CBF 125 yesterday.

Thought i'd go for a ride as it was a nice day and it has only been used for 15 miles round trips to work at between 30 -40 mph (keeping it below 6000 revs as told by Honda dealer.

Anyway @ 100 miles passed without trouble when suddenly as i was slowing down to negotiate a roundabout the dreaded kangaroo started and i just managed to get round the roundabout without getting myself killed.

After switching off the engine for a few minutes and then re-starting i managed a couple of more miles before the problem returned.......lack of revs.....cutting out.......not ticking over. Not only was it dangerous, also bloody embarrassing, riding a motorised rocking horse.

I phoned my dealer where the bike was purchased this morning and they told me to phone Honda Assist who would collect the bike. Told them the symptoms and he said that it could be the oil pressure sensor and they had problems last year during a hot spell.

I mentioned the possibility of the fuel pump (after looking up on the net for info last night) and he said whatever the problem is, would be sorted out under warranty and will not cost me a penny.

That's fine but as other owners have found, these problems have blighted the bikes reliability as well as being a safety issue. I will update once i call Honda tomorrow !!!!!!!

[neil.]

100% the fuel pump. Get them to change it. Seen quite a few comments on my blog over these last few days from people encountering this issue on new low mileage CBF's, with the weather being as hot as it is... Aside from that I can say the CBF has been reliable for me - I've reached nearly 15'000 miles in a year on mine and the hot weather hasn't affected it at all (my fuel pump was changed at around 1000 miles).
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[madjohn72]

Thanks Neil

Will give Honda an opportunity to fix it.....they have been very apologetic so far.

As this seems to be a common fault, which Honda is aware of, surely they should have sent a recall notice to owners to get the pump replaced...............i'm sure i'm not the only one of this opinion.

Anyway, apart from the above i'm happy with the bike so far...had an 55 reg CG125 before it was written off when an arsehole in a Merc jumped a red light and knocked me off, and didn't even bother stopping. Hey ho.

It's also nice not to have to piss about with the choke in the dark just to get the thing going lol.

The bike is now in Honda's 'capable hands' so like many other owners we will wait and see !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[madjohn72]

Hi All

Got a call from my dealer (Dobles) this morning to say that my bike has been fixed and the fuel pump was indeed faulty.

Fair play to Dobles & Honda. The guy on the phone was very apologetic for the inconvenience caused.

Can't fault them for communication and the speed of the repair.

The proof in the pudding will be when i collect it on Monday and give it a blast in the hot weather.

Fingers crossed !!!

[cheshire83]

Hi all, I'm new here! My 2012 CBF125 has under 600 miles on the clock, I took it for a ride today, about 6 miles from home and I lost all power. Restarted it, embarasingly and dangerously kangerooed my way towards home......cut out again, and again.Thankfully got to a quiet road so pulled over re-started, left running idle and again it cut out after 30 secs. The engine seemed to be very hot for such a short ride even if it was 26 degrees today. I waited for bike to cool down......2hrs later and I started it up and rode back home without a problem. I hope the dealer sorts this quickly....I have my mod 2 on Friday.....second attempt as during my first test my bike cut out in a dangerous position on a fast road, put it down to me stalling but now I'm not so sure! Very dangerous fault and I'm shocked Honda have still not resolved this issue!

[cb1rocket]

helps if u started your own thread, but yes sounds like what the OP has problem wise as well and that the pump is playing up.

What year CBF you have?

[cheshire83]

Mine is a 12 plate. My bike went into the dealer yesterday morning and I was told.it is definatley the fuel pump a new one would be ordered in. I calledthem to.check when it would be ready.......6th JULY due to a shortage of replacement fuel pumps, they have them on back order! This is totally unacceptable and will be back there today until I am given a courtesy bike for my mod 2 on Friday!

[cheshire83]

Mine is a 12 plate. My bike went into the dealer yesterday morning and I was told.it is definatley the fuel pump a new one would be ordered in. I calledthem to.check when it would be ready.......6th JULY due to a shortage of replacement fuel pumps, they have them on back order! This is totally unacceptable and will be back there today until I am given a courtesy bike for my mod 2 on Friday!

[Rogerborg]

Buy an Indian bike, get Indian quality and parts availability.

No smiley.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[cheshire83]

Mine is a 12 plate. My bike went into the dealer yesterday morning and I was told.it is definatley the fuel pump a new one would be ordered in. I calledthem to.check when it would be ready.......6th JULY due to a shortage of replacement fuel pumps, they have them on back order! This is totally unacceptable and will be back there today until I am given a courtesy bike for my mod 2 on Friday!

[worley1dog]

So sitting by road side waiting for aa to arrive, brought bike Saturday this is my 3rd commute home from work (50mile) round trip, so only 180bmiles so far, sitting at lights revs drop and cuts out... Ok, start back up revs drop then conks out again (grrr mofo) ok start back up and rev the throttle, ah good and lights change, of I go....30 secs down the rd complete system shutdown roll onto the verge ahead prop it up and call AA. So the man who can arrives, explain etc, he attempts to fix seems ok, he goes to follow, oh look it's died again, pull over has another look, holds throttle steady, (prob 4000/5000 revs) and goes to 7000 8000 back down and up let's go it falls then at 2000 it slowly falls (you can hear the bike sigh just before it cuts out again. ) so here I am waiting for a recovery to take me (and my 2 wheeled friend) to my dealer. I be best not pleased as its nearly 7pm and they won't be there till the morning.
Judging by your posts ; if it had stayed alive I would of probably got the kangaroo effect and that wouldn't of been good,
I shall let ye guys know thee outcome when I do. But fair to say sounds like a dodgy fuel pump.......
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Oh my is it because I'm a noob. (almost forgot an o)