# Oh, we march from here to there...

The Elefant hasn't been used for a while (possibly months, come to think
of it), due to previously-mentioned front mudguard problems.

This morning was the first time it's been out of the garage for ages,
and it's not quite running right at low speeds, as if it's carb-icing a
little bit (not cold enough, I'd have thought), or it's got a bit of a
misfire. Seems okay at A-road and dual-carriageway speeds, it's just
when pottering through villages that it seems a bit lumpy.

I suspect it'll be much after some fresh petrol and giving it a damn
good thrashing.

Any other suggestions?

 

Scrap it.

 

I'd suggest you go back to trainspotting.

 

(Bear? Giving technical advice? What's the world coming to?)

Oh, yes, indeedy. Starts with just the most delicate stroke of the
button. You know, starting an Elefant is very much like making love to a
beautiful woman...

 

Plugs?

My (ex) gixxer ran like a pig following an extended lay off. Tried
fresh fuel but it didn't run right until the plugs were changed.

 

Interesting suggestion.

I wouldn't have thought that it would have started so easily if there
was a problem with the plugs.

Actually, that would also tend to rule out the stale petrol idea, so in
the meantime I'm going for some fresh petrol and the good old "watchful
waiting" cop-out solution.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Eddie

Stop fucking about and take it for an Italian tune-up.

 

Like "some fresh petrol and giving it a damn good thrashing", just as I
said originally.

 

Yeah, well, I was sceptical that plugs could be causing my problems
too. The bike would start fine but cough, fart and splutter at lower
revs. Tried all the obvious stuff (including fresh fuel) but never
managed to clear it. It was due a service so I mentioned it to the
dealer when I dropped the bike in to them. "Bound to be the plugs" was
service blokes response. He went on to say that additives in modern
unleaded petrol fucked spark plugs up good and proper. Not sure
whether that is true or complete bollocks. But right enough, when I
picked the bike up it was running perfectly with new plugs.

I've never had this symptom on any of my previous bikes though. Then
again, this was the only bike I've ever laid up for a whole winter.

 

Follow it up with a decent run across Europe in January.

 

Was this the Morini ?

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Like "some fresh petrol and giving it a damn good thrashing", just as I
said originally.
[/QUOTE]

A "dealer's decoke" often works wonders. Can be a kill rather than cure
scenario though.

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

It coughs, splutters and leaks vital fluids?

 

Reads thread again properly. I see it was a gixxer.

Such behaviour on the part of a Morini would not be unknown, but then
their ignition system is endearingly idiosyncratic.

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Err.., no. The Morini isn't actually road legal at the moment but runs
pretty well, all things considered. Must get round to sorting it a MOT
and UK registration. The problems I refer to happened when I left my
previous gsxr unused for a few months.

 

I would, but I can't afford it.

 

Well, it hasn't had fresh petrol yet, but it's had a bit of a thrashing.
I also switched in the carb heater circuit last night, just in case it
was a touch of carb icing, which seemed to be much more likely to happen
this morning given the conditions.

Seemed to be much happier this morning; I'll treat it to some fresh
petrol once I get the capacious tank somewhere near empty.