Opinions please: Suzuki Freewind engine "stuttering" (it's also a bit dyslexic)

Background: I got the Freewind off a mate a couple of weeks ago, the bike's
in pretty good nick for a 1997 model, but has been sitting for 6 months in a
garage before I used it. The bike didn't receive any treatment whatsoever
after the 6 months idle time other than a check of vital fluid/gas levels
(and some chain lubrication).

Everything seems to be working fine, with one exception: When I keep the
revs steady between (roughly) 3000 and 4000, the bike sort of misbehaves,
something between a stutter and a hiccup. In slightly more technical words,
it doesn't deliver constant power, but tends to give it in a wave of "more
power-less power-more power-less power-more power....". There's no
hesitation when accelerating or any other issue I could pick up as a novice
rider and the issue seems to become a tad less obvious after I've
accelerated the bike properly a couple of times, but I may be imagining
that. I might also be imagining that it's getting a bit better after I've
ridden the bike for the first 10-odd minutes.

So the questions are: a)What you think could be the reason and b) Whether I
could have a look at it myself first or not bother and take it straight to
a mechanic. I'm not at all experienced when it comes to maintenance, but I
know the theory of how a bike works and what it consists of, so I'm not a
complete idiot.

Any input appreciated.


Geo

 

It's been resting you say?

<all together now>

SHIT IN THE CARB(S)

Plus other related stuff: old petrol, no petrol, sparrows nesting in the
airbox, rodent related vandalism

Oh, and finally, it's a really shit bike that probably just wants to lie
down to do the decent thing, really.

 

Yup. Full throttle = main jet = clear. Part-throttle running brings
in the pilot/idle jet which, being smaller, is more easily blocked.
Common problem. If you think you can dismantle it/them and clear the
blockage without disturbing any vital settings, go for it. Otherwise,
I can't imagine a dealer charging much for what is a simple job.

A quick visual check of the plugs, leads and ignition connections
wouldn't hurt, either, to save any embarrassment.

 

Thanks for the info, both of you. I was sort of expecting it could be the
carburettor, also hoping it wouldn't, as I've never touched one before. I
suppose there's always a first time...


Geo

 

Concise and informative, thanks. I thought it might have to do with the
carb.

Some bloody rats did graffiti the tank, but I don't think it's related to
the stuttering.

Be nice now, it's the first time I have a "real" bike, it's obvious that
I'll find it to be awe-full rather than awful. And it's really good for
local conditions: nimble enough for the congestion in the city centre and
benign enough for the potholes-bomb craters-diesel spills-shit asphalt
quality both inside and outside the city centre (I live in Crete in case
you're wondering). Anything over 120Km/h equals suicide around here anyway.

I would definitely fancy a large beemer or KTM, but even if I could afford
them, I'm not ready for such a big bike yet. Anyhow, I always believed that
bikes should preferably weigh no more than 150Kg....


Geo

 

Pah. Lightweight.

 

Well, so am I ( <11 stone) and I like the philosophy stating that one should
not have pets or bikes that can easily overpower him. I prefer the idea of a
lightweight bike with comparatively less power than a heavier powerhouse
anyway. That doesn't mean that I don't fancy bigger bikes as well.

Unless it's a chrome adorned, two-wheeled combine harvester (see
cruisers/choppers)



Geo

 

Hah!

http://www.kz1300.com/australia/86-zn1300-chris-atkin-australia1s.jpg

 

Well, you win. By a metric tonne.
I can't imagine that thing in anything twisty though. At least not as a
pleasant mental image.


Geo

 

Shifting one's weight really doesn't affect things much.

 

That's not what Nigel said.

Ah. As you were...

 

On Tue, 2 Oct 2007 16:43:21 +0300, "Geo"

snip>

I'd be pissed off if my bike wasn't punting out considerably more than
2bhp per kilo of my weight. I think you underestimate the buzz a high
powered motorcycle can give you.

 

Sucking his keyboard for inspiration, Andy Bonwick typed:

Fuckin' 'ell! That rules out the Bandit, then, by a factor of about 2.

 

I'm sure you'd get a half decent price if you traded it in at this
time of the year, there's always someone looking for a winter hack.

 

I'm not sure if I've been whooshed Andy, but a 10R has what.. 175bhp and
weighs around 175 kilo's?. Or is it that YOU weigh about 90kilo's?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I'm comparing my weight against the bhp. Bike weight against bhp
depends on if you empty anything even slightly damp out of the bike
and then believe Kawasaki but you'd get about 1bhp per kilo if you
followed those rules.

Being skinny and having a high powered bike rocks.

 

I actually got my first hint of said buzz this Sunday, first time I went for
a proper ride with the bike (about 80 miles in total). Every time there was
a turn I wanted to "atttack" it and I thought that I wouldn't mind something
more powerful. Even so, I prefer a light bike, at least at this point. I'm
not experienced enough to handle more horses (the Freewind's already
powerful enough to throw me down if I get stupid) and I could do with
controlling less weight.

By the way, preferring a light bike doesn't mean I want it to be weak. I'm
guessing that the Aprilia RXV/SXV 550 would be pretty close to my ideal.


Geo

 

Sucking his keyboard for inspiration, Andy Bonwick typed:

FRO - it's been APF50'd up last weekend and is now is now in full winter
commute mode. I'm happy with it. When I can afford something better, I'm
pretty sure I will keep it as well, as it ticks a lot of utility boxes that
exotic and/or classic bikes wouldn't.

 

Sucking his keyboard for inspiration, Andy Bonwick typed:

0/2 ain't so bad.

 

The 10R is sitting in the garage waiting for a last thrashing before
the clocks change (1), the K100 is under a cover outside waiting to be
covered in AP50 after which it'll probably be used on the odd warm day
we get in winter and the FZR250 is now running ok but needs an mot
before I decide whether or not it's suitable for the elefantreffen
next January.

I might stick a chair on the K if I find one cheap enough and can
persuade Adie that it's a good idea (2) and I've almost persuaded
myself that I need a motard just to complete the collection. Problems,
problems, problems.

(1) I can't be arsed to change the clock on it so it only comes out to
play in the summer.

(2) This is the difficult bit. Sweller put her off combos with his
performance at Chimay this year.