Bike died while riding on highway

sunspots · July 24th, 2013, 02:58 PM

Hey guys, so I was riding on the highway and all of a sudden my ninja wouldn't accelerate. Then it slowly started decelerating and shut off. I tried to start it back up, it would turn on, but when I press the ignition it would just make the ignition noise of the engine revving up but not start the bike. Tried it with the choke and everything, and tried it every 20 minutes.

I thought my battery died but when I called roadside assistance to jump the battery, that wouldn't get the engine to start either.

I was told it may be either a bad relay or rectifier.

My question is, does the problem I describe seem like a symptom of a bad relay/rectifier. Is it hard to replace them?

Motofool · July 24th, 2013, 03:02 PM

Was there fuel in the tank?

csmith12 · July 24th, 2013, 03:08 PM

Did it start after a bit of sitting? Open the gas cap and check cap vents to ensure venting.

Trailerboy531 · July 24th, 2013, 03:28 PM

Sounds like you're out of gas!

Alex · July 24th, 2013, 03:48 PM

I vote no gas.

sunspots · July 24th, 2013, 04:15 PM

You guys being right is a love/hate relationship for me.

I love you guys because I got the answer and you were all right.

And I hate you guys because it made me feel stupid lol.

Ran the bike outta gas. >_> Did I damage the engine by doing that?

Joshorilla · July 24th, 2013, 04:21 PM

Did you also run out of oil?

sunspots · July 24th, 2013, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

Did you also run out of oil?

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with what you are asking.

Did you mean engine oil? If so, no I changed it out (filled it up) a week or two ago.

Joshorilla · July 24th, 2013, 04:34 PM

Running out of fuel isn't going to harm the engine as the petrol doesn't lubricate anything, the engine oil does.

Modern fuel injected engines actually cut fuel on decelleration.

I was being facetious.

Runeknight95 · July 24th, 2013, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

Running out of fuel isn't going to harm the engine as the petrol doesn't lubricate anything, the engine oil does.

Modern fuel injected engines actually cut fuel on decelleration.

I was being facetious.

Running on fumes can damage catalytic converters so your statement doesn't apply to all vehicles.

Alex · July 24th, 2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunspots

Ran the bike outta gas. >_> Did I damage the engine by doing that?

Nope, you're fine. Put in some gas, and try to remember to fill the bike every once in awhile.

Motofool · July 24th, 2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunspots

..........And I hate you guys because it made me feel stupid lol.

I am comfortable being hated; however, you have not been stupid, ...............we all have done something like that with our bikes

Keep an eye on the miles between fill ups, 200 is about the safe max.

JohnnyBravo · July 24th, 2013, 06:49 PM

No gas blows, life goes on though

csmith12 · July 24th, 2013, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunspots

Ran the bike outta gas. >_> Did I damage the engine by doing that?

Consider it a right of passage.

alex.s · July 24th, 2013, 09:08 PM

user: "COMPUTER NO PRINT"

it: "is the computer turned on?"

Trailerboy531 · July 24th, 2013, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunspots

Did I damage the engine by doing that?

No but your reputation on this site is completely shot.

Here's a question more of us should be asking - I get that you noobed out and didn't realize how noobish you were being... HOW DID ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NOT NOTICE YOU WERE OUT OF GAS?!

JohnnyBravo · July 24th, 2013, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trailerboy531

HOW DID ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NOT NOTICE YOU WERE OUT OF GAS?!

broilmebk · July 25th, 2013, 12:42 PM

^Seriously. I was thinking the same thing

sLick415 · July 25th, 2013, 01:46 PM

ChaoSS · July 25th, 2013, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trailerboy531

No but your reputation on this site is completely shot.

Here's a question more of us should be asking - I get that you noobed out and didn't realize how noobish you were being... HOW DID ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NOT NOTICE YOU WERE OUT OF GAS?!

Because roadside assistance will contract with the absolute cheapest contractor in the area, with no concern for how good they are. Like as not, the guy responding may not have been qualified to flip burgers at McDonalds.

Seriously, guys, get to know a decent towing company in your area and just use them. Having roadside assistance through your insurance or other group is a recipe for disaster.

passive101 · July 25th, 2013, 06:00 PM

On all my years on my '88 Ninja 250, I'm surprised that I never ran out of gas. There were a number of times I cut it very close, but it didn't have a fuel gauge.

It happens

arnoldc6 · July 25th, 2013, 06:27 PM

HA.
When i saw someone replied asking if you were out of gas, I was like LOL stupid question. BUt then i was like, WHOA. Really?

But it happened to me once, decided to go to the beach instead of class which is an extra 6 miles away. Didn'e make it, ended up pushing it to a gas station almost 10 blocks away.

sunspots · July 26th, 2013, 06:23 PM

You guys are awesome. So I filled up my bike with gas yesterday and ever since this problem happened, my idling RPMs have lowered. From 1.3K to 500 RPM. Installed a new air filter and changed the oil like 2 weeks ago.

I've ridden 20 miles since, does it take time for the bike's RPMs to get back to normal or did I fudge up something here?

One thing that did bug me is, that before I ran out of my gas my fuel light didn't light up. Which is why it took me completely by surprise.

Trailerboy531 · July 26th, 2013, 11:14 PM

Find your idle adjustment screw and...adjust it. Use the search tool here if you need a little help. Should be on the clutch side by the sprocket cover.

Also.... fuel....light? Uh......

ChaoSS · July 27th, 2013, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunspots

You guys are awesome. So I filled up my bike with gas yesterday and ever since this problem happened, my idling RPMs have lowered. From 1.3K to 500 RPM. Installed a new air filter and changed the oil like 2 weeks ago.

I've ridden 20 miles since, does it take time for the bike's RPMs to get back to normal or did I fudge up something here?

One thing that did bug me is, that before I ran out of my gas my fuel light didn't light up. Which is why it took me completely by surprise.

I don't think our bikes have a fuel light. They have a fuel gauge, but no light.

NevadaWolf · July 27th, 2013, 06:55 AM

I think that's the water temp light to the left of the fuel gauge. We just have the needle.

broilmebk · July 29th, 2013, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

I think that's the water temp light to the left of the fuel gauge. We just have the needle.

yes

ally99 · July 29th, 2013, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaoSS

I don't think our bikes have a fuel light. They have a fuel gauge, but no light.

I've owned two Ninja 250s and the fuel gauge has been hit or miss. It didn't even work at all on my '08, so I got in the habit of resetting my odometer each time I fill up. It's a good habit so I still do it, even though my 09 has a working gauge.

Trubin · July 29th, 2013, 01:38 PM

This happened to me couple of times, As my fuel gauge is broken and I often overestimate how much gas I have left, I now fill up every 100 miles just to be safe I once ran out on 120th mile right after a full fill up, must have been really gassing it on the highway.

ChaoSS · July 29th, 2013, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ally99

I've owned two Ninja 250s and the fuel gauge has been hit or miss. It didn't even work at all on my '08, so I got in the habit of resetting my odometer each time I fill up. It's a good habit so I still do it, even though my 09 has a working gauge.

I'm not sure how to qualify a working fuel gauge on one of these bikes, I hear none of them work particularly well. Mine hits empty right around 4 gallons down, so I figure it works, but it is pretty inconsistent about how it gets there. If 4 gallons gets me 220 miles (my weekly commute) by 65 miles it is showing less than half a tank.

I always reset the gauge, and fill up once a week. If I'm really hauling on the gas all week, I might fill it up a little early, just because I don't really trust the fuel gauge.

ally99 · July 29th, 2013, 06:31 PM

Good point. My current one reads a helluva lot more accurately than the gauge on my 08 where the needle always pointed at empty. That damn thing wouldn't move.

July 24th, 2013, 02:58 PM	#1
sunspots ninjette.org member Name: Sunspots Location: Austin, TX Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 08 Plasma Blue 250 Posts: 56	[Solved] Bike died while riding on highway Hey guys, so I was riding on the highway and all of a sudden my ninja wouldn't accelerate. Then it slowly started decelerating and shut off. I tried to start it back up, it would turn on, but when I press the ignition it would just make the ignition noise of the engine revving up but not start the bike. Tried it with the choke and everything, and tried it every 20 minutes. I thought my battery died but when I called roadside assistance to jump the battery, that wouldn't get the engine to start either. I was told it may be either a bad relay or rectifier. My question is, does the problem I describe seem like a symptom of a bad relay/rectifier. Is it hard to replace them? Last futzed with by sunspots; July 24th, 2013 at 04:17 PM.

July 24th, 2013, 03:02 PM	#2
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	Was there fuel in the tank? __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

July 24th, 2013, 03:08 PM	#3
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	Did it start after a bit of sitting? Open the gas cap and check cap vents to ensure venting. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

July 24th, 2013, 03:28 PM	#4
Trailerboy531 Gear crash test dummy Name: Max Location: South Bay (So. Cal) Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 race bike, 2014 ZX-636r Posts: A lot.	Sounds like you're out of gas! __________________________________________________ CVMA #531

July 24th, 2013, 03:48 PM	#5
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	I vote no gas. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

July 24th, 2013, 04:15 PM	#6
sunspots ninjette.org member Name: Sunspots Location: Austin, TX Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 08 Plasma Blue 250 Posts: 56	You guys being right is a love/hate relationship for me. I love you guys because I got the answer and you were all right. And I hate you guys because it made me feel stupid lol. Ran the bike outta gas. >_> Did I damage the engine by doing that?

July 24th, 2013, 04:21 PM	#7
Joshorilla Bass Master General Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 24	Did you also run out of oil?

July 24th, 2013, 04:34 PM	#9
Joshorilla Bass Master General Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 24	Running out of fuel isn't going to harm the engine as the petrol doesn't lubricate anything, the engine oil does. Modern fuel injected engines actually cut fuel on decelleration. I was being facetious.

July 24th, 2013, 06:49 PM	#13
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	No gas blows, life goes on though __________________________________________________

July 24th, 2013, 09:08 PM	#15
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	user: "COMPUTER NO PRINT" it: "is the computer turned on?" __________________________________________________
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

July 25th, 2013, 12:42 PM	#18
broilmebk ninjette.org sage Name: Brian Location: Orange County, CA Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): '12 ninja 250r Posts: 762	^Seriously. I was thinking the same thing

July 25th, 2013, 01:46 PM	#19
sLick415 ninjette.org guru Name: Danny Location: San Francisco, CA Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: 263

July 25th, 2013, 06:00 PM	#21
passive101 ninjette.org member Name: Ryan Location: Wisconsin Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 Posts: 55	On all my years on my '88 Ninja 250, I'm surprised that I never ran out of gas. There were a number of times I cut it very close, but it didn't have a fuel gauge. It happens

July 25th, 2013, 06:27 PM	#22
arnoldc6 ninjette.org member Name: Arnold Location: Honolulu Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 09 ninja 250r Posts: 191	HA. When i saw someone replied asking if you were out of gas, I was like LOL stupid question. BUt then i was like, WHOA. Really? But it happened to me once, decided to go to the beach instead of class which is an extra 6 miles away. Didn'e make it, ended up pushing it to a gas station almost 10 blocks away. __________________________________________________ "trust me, I am not a lawyer."

July 26th, 2013, 06:23 PM	#23
sunspots ninjette.org member Name: Sunspots Location: Austin, TX Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 08 Plasma Blue 250 Posts: 56	You guys are awesome. So I filled up my bike with gas yesterday and ever since this problem happened, my idling RPMs have lowered. From 1.3K to 500 RPM. Installed a new air filter and changed the oil like 2 weeks ago. I've ridden 20 miles since, does it take time for the bike's RPMs to get back to normal or did I fudge up something here? One thing that did bug me is, that before I ran out of my gas my fuel light didn't light up. Which is why it took me completely by surprise.

July 26th, 2013, 11:14 PM	#24
Trailerboy531 Gear crash test dummy Name: Max Location: South Bay (So. Cal) Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 race bike, 2014 ZX-636r Posts: A lot.	Find your idle adjustment screw and...adjust it. Use the search tool here if you need a little help. Should be on the clutch side by the sprocket cover. Also.... fuel....light? Uh...... __________________________________________________ CVMA #531

July 27th, 2013, 06:55 AM	#26
NevadaWolf Certified looney toon Name: Teri Location: 39°52'40.7"N 118°23'53.8"W (Northern NV) Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250, 102k+ miles -- 2014 CB500X, 42k+ miles Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 16 MOTM Jul '13, Jul '14	I think that's the water temp light to the left of the fuel gauge. We just have the needle. __________________________________________________ <-- Linky Hey Unregistered! The code [you] shows the username currently logged in. IBA # 56020 AMA # 521481 Fun Rides! ][ My Videos ][ My Gear Hold yourself to the same rules you expect others to follow.

July 29th, 2013, 01:38 PM	#29
Trubin Easy Rider Name: Alex Location: Brooklyn Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): 250R Posts: 126	This happened to me couple of times, As my fuel gauge is broken and I often overestimate how much gas I have left, I now fill up every 100 miles just to be safe I once ran out on 120th mile right after a full fill up, must have been really gassing it on the highway. __________________________________________________ www.atrubindesign.com

July 29th, 2013, 06:31 PM	#31
ally99 Ninja chick Name: Allyson Location: Athens, GA Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 4 MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15	Good point. My current one reads a helluva lot more accurately than the gauge on my 08 where the needle always pointed at empty. That damn thing wouldn't move. __________________________________________________ Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson

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