After looking for some time I found a dealer with mint late 2000 F4, 1500 miles. On delivery day bike was not ready as rear brake not working. Next day, delivery of bike, first ride. 5 miles into first ride rear brake locks at 80mph, SCARY! back to dealer. Two weeks later, returned from dealer, second ride. 20 miles into second ride and all is well, love the handling and front end feel, then! At even higher speeds than the first ride, rear wheel starts to slide violently but manage to bring bike to a stop in a straight-ish line, VERY SCARY. Rear end of bike is completely covered in oil, rear wheel dripping. After pushing bike for 3 miles, back to dealer, without even looking inside fairing.

So far 20 minutes riding and 1 hour pushing, s*@t this bike must be good, I still want it back.

Has anyone else had this amount of trouble? P.S. recall for oil filter had been completed. P.P.S. neutral light didn't work.

-- Dave Thomas (the.thomas@btinternet.com), June 12, 2003

Answers

Sorry to hear aout your bike problems. I have a 00 so far no problems. Where did the oil leak come from? Thanks Joe.

-- joe (CARPETBONIS@AOL.COM), June 12, 2003.

Man, that is some tough luck. Glad you didn't get hurt in either incident. I have an 02 Senna, had a couple of issues,(water pump, fork seal), other than that no problems. Once it is dialed in you will love it. Let us know what caused the failures.

-- greg petersen (gntpete@nvbell.net), June 12, 2003.

that's nothing mate. I've had a 2000 bike for more than 3 years now. first year spent more time in dealers than on road with all of the well discussed 'recalls' that of course were never official recalls. however, worse was the rear wheel bearings going at the Nurburgring!!!! But shit i love the thing.....can't remember the last time i had a bike long enough to need a MOT.

BTW, back brake always been worse than useless....reservoir gets too hot near pipes and boils fluid. luckily, don't need back brake anyway....except for aforementioned MOT!

-- fraser butters (butters@spreckley.co.uk), June 13, 2003.

Hi

Had my second hand 2000 f4 for nearly a year now, bought it with 6500 miles and now up to 9000 miles. Had no problems so far except from a small leak from the coolant pump which was put right by replacing a shim in the pump.

Don't know where your oil leak sprung from and glad you came out unscaved. Once the bike is right you will enjoy it so much you won't want another bike ever.

Let us know how you got on.

You can improve the rear brake operation by wrapping the master cylinder with some heat insulating matrial and thicker aluminium foil, that will help the fluid stay cooler.

By the way fitted new Pirelli Diablo tyres, now that they are run in, they are awsome. Excellent grip and feedback, like riding a different machine. I would recommend them.

Dan.

-- Daniel (pril@voicenet.uk.net), June 16, 2003.

ive also had rear wheel lock up at similar speed i lost confidence in the bike and took out gearbox for peace of mind found no faults mine did this going from 5/6 gear 3times in same day seems fine now we think it was a faulty side stand switch ---paul

-- paul (jpdixon@supanet.com), June 17, 2003.

interesting this last comment from Dave T on the side stand switch. I have an issue with my 2000 mdel where sometimes when the sidestand flicks up and you go to pick away, the engine just dies! the reason is that sometimes it hasnt quite flicked high enough on the switch. Apart from being very embarrassing, I am now wondering whether this could be a potential cause of something a little more dangerous like a high speed engine stall!!!!??? I will be making sure I get it put right, thats for sure!! many thanks for the input!

-- Dave G (vfrbhoy@btopenworld.com), July 20, 2003.

hi ive had the rear wheel lock up due to the mechanic over adjusting the rear brake adjustment bar which sets pad to disc clearance via a piston.this caused the pad to be in constant contact with disc even eventually the pad expanded due to heat soak and locked the wheel. peter groves

-- peter groves (peter.r.groves@bt.com), July 23, 2003.