Ninja bogging down?

[Zedster]

Hi All, Noob here. I'm having a problem with my Kawi and would greatly appreciate some help!

I recently bought a used 250r, and it rode fine at first. Then after about 3 weeks, I was riding one day, and while slowing down at an intersection, the engine suddenly cut out. I figured that it was because I was new at riding and didn't use the right gear, but after I got the bike re-started, it started to feel really bogged. I would go shift the gears up like usual, but even after getting to 6th gear and throttled all the way, the max speed would be like 55~65 on the speedometer. It would suddenly feel like it caught on for 1~2 seconds and I would speed up, then immediately lose power, and slow down again. I was really close to home, so I just went home and parked. The next day when I rode it, it bogged for a couple of minutes, then was fine. I rode to my friend's place, he tried it, it was ok, we took out the air-filter and sprayed carb cleaner through there and the problem didn't happen again, he was unable to duplicate it either.

Then today, I started the bike after work, and it immediately died when I released the throttle. I figured it might have been because I was low on gas, so I went to the gas station and filled it up immediately, but with no change. It was bogged up the whole trip home (about an hour) with only 1 or 2 bursts of speed that lasted the longest at 10 seconds and the bogging would begin the minute I loosened the throttle. There was also popping sounds when I released the throttle. I searched for some solutions on my phone, and some problems showed were impurities in the gas tank (which I used seafoam on with no avail), vacuum in the gas tank (which I tried to relieve by opening my gas tank, but no wooshing sound and engine still slowing to a stall with it open), and checking the emissions system to see if it was flooded (no it wasn't, it sounded dry when I shook it). The hoses that I could see were not twisted either.

I'm overdue for an oil change, so I don't know if that's the matter, but I'm really hoping to hear some solutions before I have to bring the bike to a mechanic and have them disassemble everything. I've searched everything that I could find, and tried out some of the solutions, but couldn't really solve the answer short of bringing it to a mechanic. Please help!

BTW, some background info, I bought the bike used, and the previous owner had dropped it, it also has an after market Yoshimura exhaust, and I don't know if he made any other changes. However the bike was fine when I first got it, so I don't know if it is anything he did or I just happen to be unlucky.

[streetsquid]

It sounds like you might need to clean the carbs out. But you rode it and it starting doing this. How long did the bike sit for? I found on the smaller bikes if you let them sit sometimes more then a week the gas can evaporate inside the carbs an clog the small jets

This is where myself would start but maybe someone will post up something else. I am somewhat new to the 250s but been riding street for lots of years

[dubojr1]

I'm thinking a carb or spark plug issue. Will you be doing the work? A carb tear-down can overwhelm some.

[Zedster]

Hi all, thanks for the quick reply. The cycle hasn't been sitting long, I've been riding it almost everyday for a couple of weeks before the issue started, and even in the morning both times it occurred, I had been riding and it was fine. The first time it happened was at night, and the second time was late evening around 6:30, both times it wasn't too hot or cold, about 60~70 degrees out, so it probably wasn't the temperature either.

If I need a carb tear down, I won't be doing the work, I'll have to bring it to a mechanic. I have basic mechanical and electrical knowledge and am willing to learn more, but I think that it'll be too hard and dangerous for a noob like me to to a complete tear down.

[Scattcatt]

Perhaps its a mixture issue like I had? I'm no expert by any means, but it does sound kind of similar to my bogging problems, once I started fiddling with those carburetors to change up my fuel/air mixture I haven't had any bogging issues (besides the obvious signs of me going too extreme with my testing ie: a main jet that was wayyy too big or needles moved too far etc) here was my thread http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=85978

[rockNroll]

While you're having the bogging issues, look to see if the exhaust pipes under the bike turns/glows orange.

[Zedster]

Originally Posted by rockNroll

While you're having the bogging issues, look to see if the exhaust pipes under the bike turns/glows orange.

I haven't checked it yet, but what does it mean if the exhaust does glow? The previous owner modified the exhaust, so I'm not sure if it'll still glow. As of last night, however much I rested the bike, it was bogging down from start. I could rev up the engine really high, but the minute I changed it to first gear it'll slow down to the point of almost stalling, but I'd be able to move forward, and gain speed very slowly.

[Zedster]

I dropped it off at a mechanics today, they're going to do a carb tear-down and hopefully that will solve the problem...

[dragonboy]

Any luck fixing the problem?

[wayanlam]

this has happened to me a couple times, but it was quickly fixed when i realized a friend of mine that occasionally passes by the office put on the choke! lol...

make sure the choke is totally off once the bike is warmed up (if you use it at all )

[indr]

Same symptoms experienced here during a trip a week back. First I figured it was because of the high elevation and cold and humid weather ****ing up the A/F ratios. Same thing happened today at sea level. Gonna change out the spark plugs tomorrow and add some seafoam to the tank.

[Zedster]

I put seafoam, didn't work, put berrymans, didn't work, took it into the mechanics, they changed out the spark plug and oil, did a carb clean, came out fine. For 1 day. The next day it was acting up again. Waited until the weekend and it was still bogging, so took it back to the mechanics, and this time they took it apart for free to try to find the problem. They couldn't find anything, but maybe they dislodged something that was in one of the lines without noticing, because it was fine after they put it back together and now it's running sweet again. I hope the problem doesn't come back!!

[dragonboy]

Glad to hear its working properly again. Can you check with your mechanic what it was? Trying to do some trouble shooting myself. Thanks!

[ceke]

I recently bought a used 09 2 months ago witk 5K miles that was bogging consistently when I flicked the throttle from idle but was ok if I slowly increased throttle from idle, even after a good warm-up. I think the previous owner had let it sit for some time as it had a decent coat of dust when I went to look at. Dust here in SoCal doesn't always mean it sat for long though. My daughter has been learning to ride on it and the bogging was really getting in the way. We pulled all the plastic and checked all the tubes for kinks, leaks, check the plug wires, cleaned air filter, but didn't do any major mechanical work. Buttoned it back up, put some Berrymans in it, and rode it for about 100 miles with no improvement. I decided to give the engine a good 'workout' before resorting to more drastic measures, so took it for a ride getting the revs up near red line for a second in 1st, 2nd, then 3rd, then off the throttle to let it engine brake hard in 3rd. After the second 'workout' the bogging was gone, throttle flick response was good from idle, the bogging was gone. I was loving this bike with the bogging, now its plain awesome . It's been about 2 weeks now with daily riding and the bogging hasn't returned (knock on wood).

[hybridkid]

Originally Posted by ceke

I recently bought a used 09 2 months ago witk 5K miles that was bogging consistently when I flicked the throttle from idle but was ok if I slowly increased throttle from idle, even after a good warm-up. I think the previous owner had let it sit for some time as it had a decent coat of dust when I went to look at. Dust here in SoCal doesn't always mean it sat for long though. My daughter has been learning to ride on it and the bogging was really getting in the way. We pulled all the plastic and checked all the tubes for kinks, leaks, check the plug wires, cleaned air filter, but didn't do any major mechanical work. Buttoned it back up, put some Berrymans in it, and rode it for about 100 miles with no improvement. I decided to give the engine a good 'workout' before resorting to more drastic measures, so took it for a ride getting the revs up near red line for a second in 1st, 2nd, then 3rd, then off the throttle to let it engine brake hard in 3rd. After the second 'workout' the bogging was gone, throttle flick response was good from idle, the bogging was gone. I was loving this bike with the bogging, now its plain awesome . It's been about 2 weeks now with daily riding and the bogging hasn't returned (knock on wood).

Imma rev the hell out of my bike tonight then...

[Alex]

The ever-popular Italian tune-up.