Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

She don't like the cold!

Any decent ride outta town in sub 10 degrees will see her erm not running well (like it has a flat spot or something?) will just kinda hesitate for a bit before roaring back into life (lots of fun mid-corner ) The commute is not much fun with this going on either.

But as soon as the temperature warms up a little - all the problems disappear and she purrs along like the awesome bit of machinery she is supposed to be.

How can I fix this? It is driving me mad and it's not even winter yet!!!!!

Sounds like you have the old icing up problem. Kawasaki used to put a de-icing kit on the 98 models under warranty. Maybe have a chat to a Kwaka dealer or see if someone has the modded carbs (from memory I think it's just the bowls which they pump a bit of warm water around).

I suspect Mick will be well aware of the problem

I agree, I know it happened to a few 9's in Ballarat. When the techs came out from Japan they came to Ballarat and Canberra, Apparently it's the only 2 places in Australia it happens

Given how cold it will probably end up being this Friday when he head off for HG, if you want I'll have a ride of it for a bit and see if it feels like the carb icing I used to get. If it's going to happen it will most likely happen first up when we are plodding along in the cold at a steady pace with small throttle openings.

For my 9 it usually only happened on the colder mornings if I didn't warm it up real well, or in the situation above on longer rides, especially if it was damp as well as cold.

Thanks Mick

I try to warm the bike up, I don't take off until it's showing two bars in the temp thingo and it's usually hit three by the time I get to the end of my street. But yeah start having problems after I have been running at around 100km/h for a little while (closer to work, around Murrumbatemen, Bungendore, that sort of distance).

Definitely sounds like icing then. Unfortunately, as far as I know, there's not a lot you can do beyond what Glen suggested


The worst I had it was around Nimmitabel one year, it was only a couple of degrees and had been drizzling rain constantly. We were sitting on a steady 120km/h and it just kept spluttering away until I cracked the throttle open for a bit and cleared it....so I was wasn't actually sitting on a steady 120km/h most of the time but it got pretty interesting in the slippery conditions when it did clear its throat

Yep, sounds like carb icing Mel, mine does it and elevation makes it worse as well. The carb heaters are the way to go - still I havent done it to mine and I have 2 sts of carbs in the garage, spose I should see if they are equipped with the heaters.

Mel wrote:How can I fix this? It is driving me mad and it's not even winter yet!!!!!

Move away from Canberra, But stay away from Ballarat

Ok so the carb iceing issue has bee sensibly addressed , if not cured .
Now Mel , why bother getting up so early when its Cold ? The 9 being the worlds greatest motorcycle knows full well that lingering a little longer at home in the warmth is far better for you .
Perhaps sharing a cup of Twinnings with your 9 , like I do , in the morning will make both of you a lot more able to cope with the daily grind . ( thats not coffee BTW )
Good luck , and make sure its not a T bag , use a pot , theres a Dear .

Yep sounds like you need a Fuel Injected bike

the kid wrote:Perhaps sharing a cup of Twinnings with your 9 , like I do , in the morning will make both of you a lot more able to cope with the daily grind . ( thats not coffee BTW )
Good luck , and make sure its not a T bag , use a pot , theres a Dear .

Now that sounds like a fine idea, Irish and English breakfast are good that time of the day - and Earl Grey is acceptable at all times.

Remember to use proper tea and not those bags

Come on Mel the poor bloody thing has never seen a sub 10 degree day all it's life till you took it from it's nice warm sunny home

Just give it a chance to aclimatise (Oh and a carb de icing kit as per above might help)

hehehe

OK I'm off to go have a cuppa twinings with the 9 to try and woo her into behaving on the way to work this morning (it is 5 degrees though so shouldn't be as bad as yesterday )

Perhaps I should move to WA... she was probably very happy in winter there!

Guess the local kwaka dealer is the best place to start re the carbie heater thing... though perhaps I could knit the carbies some little cardigans or something?

Thanks guys

I rode mine to work today - spins up easy on wet roads . No carb icing issues here in Sydney thought, it is positively balmy

two words . . . . . . HOTHAM BOND !!