Bike is acting finicky in the rain...

LoneRonin

LoneRonin

Well-known member
Its an 09 Ninja 250r with 60k km on it, its never really sat, longest has been maybe 3 weeks or so. It has shimmed carbs, I've used stabilizer but have never full out cleaned the carbs because they've never given me problems.

I noticed this past winter when I would start it in the cold with full choke the rpms would rise to about 3-4k then come back down to idle (1300-1500 rpm) then slowly rise up again. I found it weird it didn't stay at 3-4k and rise up from there, but I just attributed this to the sub zero temperatures. I'd ride off with the choke on and it would be fine, sometime shutting off if I came to a quick stop and it was still not fully warm.

Today was the first day I really rode in the rain and the rpm's kept dropping under 1k to as low as 500 when I would come to a stop in the rain, however the bike was warm. I had ridden almost close to 60km during the day so its not as if it was sitting all day...

I just went to fill up and it was at a nice consistent idle in the garage with no choke, I took it out and when I stop at the lights it drops down and shuts off...I get it started with no choke but it does it again at the next set of lights...WTF?? This is the first time I'm ****** off at the carbs. My radiator was also steaming but I think that's just normal because of the rain...

So have any of you guys experienced something similar? Are they just in need of good cleaning?
 
hardk0re said:
How about the plug wires, water shorting them out?
Click to expand...

Agreed. I had a similar problem last spring. It turns out it was a damaged spark plug wire cap. Replaced and no problems since.
 
Get onto a Ninja 250 based forum and start searching. Many bikes have an electric Achilles heel; one (or more) particular connector(s) that really don't like getting wet. A quick blow out with compressed air followed by a little dielectric grease and you're all set.

One of the advantages of having my bike torn right down during winters is that I can access all said plugs and they all get greased.
 
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Since you think the problem is affected by rain, as posted above, start your search on the electrical side of things.

It could also be the carbs needing a little love as it seems to be getting worse with time.
 
I will check the plug caps tomorrow and spray them to see if the spark...
I would also like to point out I have the snorkel removed, is it possible I could be getting water in the airbox? I have had it removed for over 40k though and never experienced this before...
 
If the engine had a miss at idle I would look at for a ignition problem, but your low idle sounds like your carburetor(s) may have a pilot jet that is gummed up.
 
My bike is some 20 years older than yours; it is also carbureted.

My carburetors have and idle adjustment screw. I've never played with a kawasaki, but being oldschool, I can't imagine a carb setup without an idle adjustment.

My bike came with an 'owner's manual,' and I bought a supplementary 'service manual,' both are invaluable tools -- and they outline the use of choke and idle adjustments.

Our bikes might be similar.
 
If im not mistaken, your bike is tempermental in colder temperatures.

Secondly, fill up with some fresh gas, and add seafoam to the tank.

Thirdly, after that i would look at the idle adjustment.
 
I'm pretty sure my idle is fine because without choke its about 1200-1500 when decently warm. I will check it again though.

Today i warmed it up for about 10 mins and it was at a consistent idle, I get on the highway ride from Miss. to Toronto which is plenty time to warm up. On the highway it felt like it wasn't pulling how it should, I get off, first set of lights it turns off...****ing hell!! I'm gonna check the plug caps and pull the carbs today...
 
I checked the plugs caps and they seem fine, I put some anti seize on the plugs and around the tops of the cap to keep out any water that may be getting down there...it still fluctuates a bit on idle sometimes but I'm going to run some seafoam first before the I pull the carbs. I was going to today but ended up working this evening...
 
less than 5k km ago...I doubt its the valves. Likely needs a proper carb cleaning after all the riding its been through, but I hope that is all...
 
Did the valves yourself? What were the clearances?
Were the carbs sync'd afterwards?
 
got em done at Rider's Choice...they were within spec. I don't think they did anything to the carbs
 
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