I've taken my rose coloured glasses off for a moment. The low speed throttle response is SHITE. Hunting is also a problem too. My first run out from Hornby to Hartside was brilliant. But I noticed when the low fuel light came on the throttle response wasn't very good. I wasn't too fussed as the bike was going in for its Yoshi fitting. I told the dealer that the throttle response was poor and maintaining a steady 30 mph in second or third wasn't possible. They said they check it before the exhaust was fitted. So I picked it up later. I asked about the throttle and was told he'd taken it out and not found a problem. Predictable. When it goes in for it's first service they'd better find out whats wrong because as it is my 2012 had a better throttle response than it has now. I've had it lurch backwards and forwards. It's not possible to rely on opening the throttle for a quick overtake in second or third gear. It boggs down and waits for fuel. To use an old analogy it's like it's going onto reserve. I'm pretty sure it wasn't like that from day one, just from going onto low fuel for the first time.
In all seriousness that does sound frustrating at best and flippin' dangerous at worst. It's not the first I've read about snatchy throttle either, hopefully you'll get it sorted.
Many will know that I have criticised Honda's 'throttle-by-wire' since day one of having my SP. I still maintain it has nowhere near the 'feel' of the dual cable throttle. However, I have become somewhat accustomed (by necessity, of course) to mine. For what it's worth, there is no discernible difference whether in Mode 1, 2, or 3. It seems though, Kevin, that I have nowhere near the problem you've identified. And that prompts the question: I wonder if the ECU became corrupted/confused after the low fuel light came on and it hasn't been able to rectify itself? Perhaps you might raise the question of an ECU reset with your dealer?
I was going to say about that but not sure if the procedure for the older bikes is the same as for the newer ones
I wasn't happy with the low throttle response on my standard 2017 so I had the ECU remapped by these guys, http://bsd.uk.com/. It was money well spent, in my opinion.
I have noticed a difference in throttle response between the modes. I haven’t done too many miles yet but meandering through traffic I put it in 3 and it was ok. Although it did have that feeling like it was starving of fuel if I tried to give it a handful from low revs. Riding in a more aggressive manner I was in 2 and it performed as I would have expected. I’ve tried mode 1 but don’t really feel the need for it at the mo. The only thing I have noticed is that the QS seems slow to engage (the ‘cut’ is too long). I am used to the different response in the different modes from the BM so maybe it’s just a matter of re-calibrating
Very different but older Ducati (916 >1198) did this and dropping a tooth on the front sprocket made a world of difference at 30mph.
EU4 = Crap low rev performance/behaviour. Manufacturers tune them with a hole at 5k for emission reasons.
See P 53 & 54 of the Owner's Handbook which shows how to adjust the 'sensitivity level' of the QS. You might find that when set to '1' (lowest sensitivity) you get a better reaction time - if that's what you mean by 'cut'.
My bike's a generation earlier but your comments and replies all ring a bell. My '07 was ok but I noticed it wasn't possible to hold exactly 30mph, it would drift lower and I had to readjust the throttle, nothing as bad as you describe but I was curious as to why. I had the ECU fuel tables remapped and the O2 turned off in the ECU. They had to add fuel low down but the bike now is spooky, just holds a setting for miles, till the road rises or something forces a throttle change. The remap guy said it's emissions stuff and the O2 is trying to lean the bike out at a steady throttle. It took over a tank of fuel to get the A/F ratio dead flat but they sorted it.
I get the same feeling from my 17 SP, fueling is rubbish, I have gone back to standard exhaust and it has made it slightly better. I am going to sort a ecu flash at some point, low revs it’s a pain and if you give it a big hand full to get past a lorry/car it sorts of pulls back and hesitate but not every time.
Back in 2017 when I took out an SP for a test ride it had a dodgy throttle. After Hondas mismanagement of the ABS issues I predicted that the throttle on the 2017 bikes would become Hondas new Achilles heel So why did I buy one? Well, stupidly I thought they'd have addressed and resolved the issue on the 2018 models. I never learn.
But you still have a good bike. It's just a niggling annoyance. One of those things us guys learn to live with. Sort of like having a wife who has cleaning and cooking deficiencies - we just learn to accept it.
My previous bike I had. The learn to live with possibly not having any brakes. On this bike I have to learn with not having any acceleration. I bet when you mention it to honda they play the same game, ooh not heard that one mate. Leave it with us.
