BIKER SHOT ON MOTORWAY

[ARCHIVE_Rossco1]

Coughing, spluttering, losing power @ 60mph/100kph

Hi Guys,

Got a problem with my ZL1000 ..

Cruising along at about 55mph/90kph, I wind the throttle on and the motor starts to wind up. Get to around 60mph/100kph and it starts to cough & splutter and lacks power. If at that point I give if a fistful, it seems to lag quite noticeably, then seem to clear itself and then pulls like a freight train from there on up.

After a quick burst to say 75mph/120kph or so I let it slow back down to the 60mph/100kph mark it does the cough/splutter/loss of power thing again.

If I stay around 50-55mph/80-90kph it’s fine … no problems at all.

At first I thought it may have been a fuel blockage or similar. So have had the carbs off and cleaned them right out … no sign of any blockages at all.

Just to fill you in .. this motor came out of my “spare bike” .. it has pod filters on it.
Prior to the changeover it had stock mufflers on it with the pods.

As it is at the moment, it has the pod filters on it but now has Cobra F1R mufflers on it, which still use the standard “collector box” underneath the frame.

Am wondering if it’s a jetting thing?? The previous owner said he did muck around with the jetting etc when he fitted the pods and it was a bugger to get running right.

So … am I looking at needing to lift the needles a fraction?? Or is it an electrical problem?? Everywhere else in the rev range it runs fine .. it’s just at around our State limit of 60mph/100kph up to about 75mph/120kph that it does this .. which is both frustrating and dangerous when pulling out to pass a car on the highway.

Any hints/ideas would be helpful …

Thanks
Ross

 

[ARCHIVE_markzl]

Sounds like fuel starvation to me, have you checked the fuel tap. Its a commen problem with the Zl and GPZ bikes. Get a revision kit after 20 odd years the membrane needs to be replaced.

cheers

Markzl

 

[ARCHIVE_Rossco1]

Sounds like fuel starvation to me, have you checked the fuel tap. Its a commen problem with the Zl and GPZ bikes. Get a revision kit after 20 odd years the membrane needs to be replaced.

cheers

Markzl

Hiya Mark ..

Thanks for your reply. I replaced the standard fuel tap some time ago with a manual Pingel PowerFlo tap. I have an aftermarket automotive inline fuel filter fitted.

Removing the fuel line at the carby connection and turning the fuel on, there appears to be plenty of fuel flow. At one point, I pulled over and removed the fuel cap, then continued riding. Thinking it may have been a vapour lock issue. Doing that made no difference at all.

In some ways it DOES feel like a fuel starvation issue. Except for the fact that once I am over this speed/rev range it pulls like a freight train on up to 200kph?? It's like there is a pronounced "flat spot" between 100-120kph. After that it's fine. Winding back down to 100kph after a burst it coughs/splutters .. THEN it regains itself as long as I stay below 100kph-ish.

Not knowing much at all about the electrics/igniter side of things I'm wondering if it is in the igniter. Feels a bit like a sticking/faulty "advance/retard mechanism" of the old days, if you get my meaning.

Was basically wondering if anyone else had struck this problem before and could go, "Ahaaah, I've had that problem before .. I know exactly what is is" etc etc

Thanks again ...

Cheers

 

[ARCHIVE_rammy1500]

My 900 had a similar problem after I got it back from the dealer after he "cleaned" my carbs. He really cleaned my wallet more than my carbs. My symptoms was that it would flat spot, sputter, whatever at 5k rpm. What gear you were in didn't matter as long as you hit 5k it sounded like it was going to die. What I found was the dealer "pinched" one of the diaphrams so that the needle wouldn't raise up like its suppose to let more fuel in.

 

[ARCHIVE_doode]

could be a jetting issue........

 

[ARCHIVE_Mao]

same here
this week, my 900 started running baaaaad under 3000 rpm. First gear and second gear at 2000 rpm...seem an old ladie coffing.....Very embarassing !!!
Any gear up to 4000 rpm goes as a "punch".
I bet its a fuel blockage

Mao - In the pampas -
Bs As - Argentina -

 

[ARCHIVE_rammy1500]

Sounds like a pilot jet is clogged. They are a pain to clean. Even worse to remove since I seem to boo-boo up the brass with the screwdriver.

 

[Kawasaki-krazy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6943213.stm

KK

 

[lowlife]

Didn't know firearms were an option in the UK? kinda hard to shoot a longgun out of a car with no one seeing ANYTHING, especially if it were from the passenger side, unless you were left handed. Keep me updated on this if you don't mind.Did I understand that it could be gang related?

 

[Kawasaki-krazy]

Didn't know firearms were an option in the UK? kinda hard to shoot a longgun out of a car with no one seeing ANYTHING, especially if it were from the passenger side, unless you were left handed. Keep me updated on this if you don't mind.Did I understand that it could be gang related?

Guns are not supposed to be an option in the UK :nonono:

They seem to be trying to tie it up with the Bulldog Bash but Birmingham is a major centre for drugs and I would guess that its likely to be drug related rather than 'road rage' and not related to bikers as such. It's just that the guy happened to be on a motorbike.

Seems strange that it was reported that the guy wasn't wearing shoes??????

KK

 

[lowlife]

Yes the no shoes thing was odd, and to report it was even more queer. clothing+alcohol= no shoes frequently for me, clothing optional was one of the reasons why i quit drinking.

 

[acp]

Yeah, I thought the no shoes bit was odd as well. Like KK said, I seriously doubt if it's to do with the Bulldog Bash.

 

[RUFF]

AFTERNOON.....

WITH ALL RESPECT TO YOU ALL I THINK THAT THIS SUBJECT SHOULD STOP AS A MARK OF RESPECT TO A FINE GENTLEMAN..........................................
RIP



RUFF & JEWELS

 

[lowlife]

Friend of yours? I have no problem ceasing and desisting if this offends anyone. I would like to know the facts as it is the type of individual I am. I am essentially curious to the circumstances that surround it. Life happens, death happens. I have no disrespect intended, But I am curious as to what is found, We will have to agree to disagree on this one. Jay

 

[CHRIS]

ABSOLUTELY !
my prayers go out to this motorcyclist, & his family ! keep riding bro ! ride in the sky ! CHRIS

 

[acp]

Ruff,

I don't think anyone on here meant any disrespect. We were discussing it as it is something close to our hearts and a bit of a shock.

Adam

 

[lowlife]

Ditto on ACP,
My curiosity is not the Jerry Springer variety, It is a genuine interest in crime, particularity violent or in places where crime seems to be low. I asked stormy something similar about Aust.

I know it may be morbid but there are lessons to be learned, and taught through the facts here.

It would not be disrespectful to me if someone wanted to know the facts of my untimely demise. No diss. Jay

 

[Blagadán]

Theres plenty of handguns in Ireland too. Just cos they're illegal to own, it doesnt matter. The criminal sector can get handguns quite easily. Most of the gun crime in the irish metropolitan areas are handguns. The police show their most recent collection of confiscated handguns on the news regularly. Were not talking about rusty old revolvers... Its more like berettas & glocks etc, dont know where they're coming in from but they are coming in.. As for "long barrel", most of the confiscated shotguns I've seen on the news were "sawn off" barrel and stock, amazing how consealable they could be if needed...

 

[Kawasaki-krazy]

Just an update.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6950802.stm

No disrespect intended Glynn

RIP

KK