bike loses power and shuts off on freeway

realmess · March 15th, 2012, 07:52 PM

hey guys so quick question/rant. today i was riding home from school had just left school and about 2 minutes into my ride my bike starts losing power. when this started i was in sixth gear. i give it all the throttle. the bike still keeps losing power so i down shift to fifth and the rpms shoot to about 6500. i check for cars and pull over to the shoulder since i was on the freeway. as im pulling into the shoulder the bike shuts off. i let it roll to safety and i check the bike a bit. i jump back on and i make sure im in neutral check the shut off switch. check the gas( although i knew i had gas since i had pumped earlier in the day) i then follow with trying to start the bike while thinking of my options.(pushing the bike to the next exit, tow truck, possible friend to pick me up and somehow tow the bike) i then hear the bike kind of want to start. so i pull the choke and try again and it starts. i take off get off on the next exit and to the streets all the way home.

any idea what might have caused this?

Jiggles · March 15th, 2012, 07:55 PM

This exact thing happened to me to. No idea what caused it and it hasn't happened since. At least you are not alone

realmess · March 15th, 2012, 08:00 PM

tell me about it jiggles. thank god i didnt have to push the nearest exit was a mile away... during rush hour... while i was on an on ramp....

csmith12 · March 15th, 2012, 08:02 PM

Was it hot or your bike parked in the sun all day? If so, pop the gas cap to relieve vacuum and all should be well. It happens....

realmess · March 15th, 2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

Was it hot or your bike parked in the sun all day? If so, pop the gas cap to relieve vacuum and all should be well. It happens....

naa chris. bike was on campus in the shade for an hour (thats how long class was) in a parking structure. on my way to campus bike was running as usual. when i initially left it was still riding like any other day. like two minutes into the ride was when it happened.

csmith12 · March 15th, 2012, 08:11 PM

I would still bet on vacuum. Higher temps only makes it happen faster/more often. Had it been a while since you last opened the cap?

realmess · March 15th, 2012, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

I would still bet on vacuum. Higher temps only makes it happen faster/more often. Had it been a while since you last opened the cap?

ill take your word for it then. so on any warm day should i pop open the gas cap before i ride or what would you suggest?

csmith12 · March 15th, 2012, 08:28 PM

I pop the cap at least once a week, normally during fill up but sometimes weather & work schedule pushes me beyond a week before a fill up. So I will pop the cap when I notice "it's been a while" or.... if my bike has not "whined" (gas tank whine) at me.

Vacuums are especially strong on these newgen 250's and it's not just the tank.

realmess · March 15th, 2012, 08:37 PM

ok cool chris will do. i usually fill up every fourth day so ill try and toss in an extra opening or two between fill ups. thanks

CZroe · March 16th, 2012, 05:43 AM

I rode the bike daily for almost four years and would have this happen a few times a year. It was always due to a vacuum forming in the tank. Usually, it was when I was fully warm (arrive at a distant destination) and then left off for about 15-30 minutes (quickly go in and out of destination) before hopping back on and riding hard (head home or to next destination ASAP) and it would stall a couple blocks later. Twice it was due to it being rapidly cooled from other factors:
Warmed up fully then encountered rain.
Rode into a cold front with a drastic temperature drop.

Opening the tank clears it up every time.

I bet if you think about it, your scenario is similar. How long was your bike sitting there after it was last warmed up? Was the parking garage much warmer than the weather outside?

USMCEvan · March 16th, 2012, 11:14 PM

Gas tank vacuum sounds right - same stuff happened to me, except I had a problem with a breather hose that had split, so it twisted and plugged itself off, so it'd happen frequently - once I clipped the hose and fixed it, never happened again.

Good luck dude!

CmichRider · March 16th, 2012, 11:19 PM

The last time my bike died on the freeway, I think I blew parts of a sparkplug out of my exhaust. It nearly left me stranded, but I was able to limp home on one cylinder with the exhaust backfiring the whole way.

tac12345 · March 17th, 2012, 09:57 AM

i had something similar. i had WAY to much oil...

realmess · March 17th, 2012, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CZroe

I bet if you think about it, your scenario is similar. How long was your bike sitting there after it was last warmed up? Was the parking garage much warmer than the weather outside?

yeah i think your right. i ride it every day. and it only sat maybe for 45 minutes to an hour. and the garage was actually cooler since it was in the shade. and when i did leave i did jump on the freeway a little harder than usual so i definitely think this could have been the issue. kind of glad to know that this isnt some sort of isolated issue where i have to troubleshoot the bike.

Buffalony · March 18th, 2012, 03:37 PM

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=98625

maybe?

March 15th, 2012, 07:52 PM	#1
realmess ninjette.org member Name: MIKE Location: los angeles Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): '09 ninja 250r Posts: 36	bike loses power and shuts off on freeway hey guys so quick question/rant. today i was riding home from school had just left school and about 2 minutes into my ride my bike starts losing power. when this started i was in sixth gear. i give it all the throttle. the bike still keeps losing power so i down shift to fifth and the rpms shoot to about 6500. i check for cars and pull over to the shoulder since i was on the freeway. as im pulling into the shoulder the bike shuts off. i let it roll to safety and i check the bike a bit. i jump back on and i make sure im in neutral check the shut off switch. check the gas( although i knew i had gas since i had pumped earlier in the day) i then follow with trying to start the bike while thinking of my options.(pushing the bike to the next exit, tow truck, possible friend to pick me up and somehow tow the bike) i then hear the bike kind of want to start. so i pull the choke and try again and it starts. i take off get off on the next exit and to the streets all the way home. any idea what might have caused this?

March 15th, 2012, 07:55 PM	#2
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	This exact thing happened to me to. No idea what caused it and it hasn't happened since. At least you are not alone __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

March 15th, 2012, 08:02 PM	#4
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Was it hot or your bike parked in the sun all day? If so, pop the gas cap to relieve vacuum and all should be well. It happens.... __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

March 15th, 2012, 08:11 PM	#6
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	I would still bet on vacuum. Higher temps only makes it happen faster/more often. Had it been a while since you last opened the cap? __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

March 15th, 2012, 08:28 PM	#8
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	I pop the cap at least once a week, normally during fill up but sometimes weather & work schedule pushes me beyond a week before a fill up. So I will pop the cap when I notice "it's been a while" or.... if my bike has not "whined" (gas tank whine) at me. Vacuums are especially strong on these newgen 250's and it's not just the tank. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

March 15th, 2012, 08:00 PM	#3
realmess ninjette.org member Name: MIKE Location: los angeles Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): '09 ninja 250r Posts: 36	tell me about it jiggles. thank god i didnt have to push the nearest exit was a mile away... during rush hour... while i was on an on ramp....

March 15th, 2012, 08:37 PM	#9
realmess ninjette.org member Name: MIKE Location: los angeles Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): '09 ninja 250r Posts: 36	ok cool chris will do. i usually fill up every fourth day so ill try and toss in an extra opening or two between fill ups. thanks

March 16th, 2012, 05:43 AM	#10
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	I rode the bike daily for almost four years and would have this happen a few times a year. It was always due to a vacuum forming in the tank. Usually, it was when I was fully warm (arrive at a distant destination) and then left off for about 15-30 minutes (quickly go in and out of destination) before hopping back on and riding hard (head home or to next destination ASAP) and it would stall a couple blocks later. Twice it was due to it being rapidly cooled from other factors: Warmed up fully then encountered rain. Rode into a cold front with a drastic temperature drop. Opening the tank clears it up every time. I bet if you think about it, your scenario is similar. How long was your bike sitting there after it was last warmed up? Was the parking garage much warmer than the weather outside?

March 16th, 2012, 11:14 PM	#11
USMCEvan Crashing is just practice Name: Evan Location: Long Beach, CA Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja ex250 (Tinkerbell); 2008 Ninja ex250 (Frankenstein) Posts: 101	Gas tank vacuum sounds right - same stuff happened to me, except I had a problem with a breather hose that had split, so it twisted and plugged itself off, so it'd happen frequently - once I clipped the hose and fixed it, never happened again. Good luck dude! __________________________________________________ SEMPER FI ~UNSTOPPABLE~ Kawasaki - Green means GO!

March 16th, 2012, 11:19 PM	#12
CmichRider ninjette.org member Name: Jacob Location: Michigan Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2000 Ninja 250 Posts: 227	The last time my bike died on the freeway, I think I blew parts of a sparkplug out of my exhaust. It nearly left me stranded, but I was able to limp home on one cylinder with the exhaust backfiring the whole way.

March 17th, 2012, 09:57 AM	#13
tac12345 ninjette.org member Name: Alexandre Location: Montreal Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r 09 SE Posts: 172	i had something similar. i had WAY to much oil...

March 18th, 2012, 03:37 PM	#15
Buffalony ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Joe Location: Buffalo NY Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250 "Wasabi", 82 Yamaha xj650j Posts: A lot.	http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=98625 maybe? __________________________________________________

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