What's wrong with my motorcycle?

Ok, so I haven't started it since April. Come to start it just now, and it
will only run on choke. Touch the throttle and it sounds like the big ends
are about to explode. Finally get it to rev, but it won't idle and at low
revs it sounds like there's no oil. I think it's running on 3, so about to
look at plugs etc. Do I have a dead motorcycle?

 

Shit in the carbs

 

Moisture in the plug caps?

 

rick escribió:

I've started removing bits of plastic, and so far no sign of anything
resembling spark plugs. Already drawn blood.

If I can get it running, I'll get it tested (MOT equiv) next week and
offload it to some unsuspecting dago.

Then I'll buy a scooter.

 

Gummed carbs, unless yours is FI which, IIRC, it isn't.

Ultrasound cleaning will sort them. Don't bother faffing with magic
fluids and cleaners and stuff.

 

The Older Gentleman escribió:

Oh dear. I don't even know where the carbs are. In the absence of ultrasound
gadgets (I know a bloke who's got one, but he's a urologist), I presume it's
a case of finding the carbs and ripping them to bits and poking things with
bits of wire?

 

well, you well need to look elsewhere than the cards.

 

don't bother - I already said.

(though even I, a mechanical dunderhead, know where carbs are in
relation to other bits of engines[1])

[1]the complicated wibbly looking bits at the top of the cylinders,
innit.

 

darsy escribió:

I was just sat here scratching my head, looking for the funny in "cards",
assuming I'd been whooshed once again.

I have a Haynes manual. I may be some time.

 

You have a dead mueble de patio.

 

If you have run it for a few minutes this should have filled all of the
carbs with fuel. With any luck this will slowly disolve any gum so it
might be a good idea to just leave it overnight and see if it gets
better in the morning.

If this fails GAMI rather than faffing with things that you dont understand.

 

Xmax 250. Trust me.

Stay away from Korean and Chinese stuff.

 

escribió:

Too late. It's already in bits.

 

No, not if they're badly gunged. I mean, yeah, you can strip them and
soak them and poke at jets with bits of copper wire if you want, but I
doubt it'll run properly ever afterwards.

Trust me(tm): ultrasonic cleaning really is the only sure-fire way to
go.

 

It won't.

It won't

True.

 

Or any big-name superscoot with at least 250cc.
My 250 Majesty is a tad slow on the motorway so maybe a 400 if you do
long trips. A nice big windscreen is nice to have for weather protection
and less neck muscle pain at speed.

Unless you want a cheap disposable shopping trolley that you are happy
to throw away if it goes titzup.

 

Be aware, plugs out is a "radiator off" job with a Blackbird.

 

Mate of mine with a B6 in a similar state had the carbs cleaned by the
local garage (for about the 4th time as he's MOT'd it every year then
not used it), it still ran fairly rough after the last attempt but he
was told that the new petrol would eventually dissolve the remaining
crud. I laughed at the time but without any further work and only a few
hundred miles it has actually improved a hell of a lot, and only very
rarely can he even tell there was a problem.

 

Salad Dodger escribió:

Might be with the FI models, but I have the plugs out now, having removed
the tank and fairing sides. Radiator untouched.

 

According to the guy who breaks in bikes at the Yamaha factory (from
scooters to FJR's) Xmax wins at handling better. Wot a pro says

And beware of Honda SH300 shimmies.

Weather protection in Malaga? Say air conditioning

Did 600 and 800 kms in-a-day trips on the Xmax, no pain in the neck, me
being at 6 feet (and half inch) tall.