Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I have a 2004 Z1000 with some minor head work, Muzzy exhaust and a PCIII. The problem is when the humidity is high and the temp is below or close to freezing it will run like crap and uses a lot of fuel. As soon as the temp goes up or I stop for a while all is OK. I suspect ice is building up in the injectors?? Any ideas. It never runs bad when the temp is above 5 Degrees C. I was thinking of putting a plate in front of the radiator to block off some of the cold air??? I tried Jim Beam but it only made me run better. The engine temp is 64 degrees C. which is a little low I think as the thermostat doesn't open until 61 degrees C. '

I've got a bladder that runs bad in cold weather...

Have a bundy and coke...

bit of cardboard across the rad with some 100mph tape holdin it in place adjust until fine tuned just remember to take it off when the weather gets warmer

Sulli wrote:bit of cardboard across the rad with some 100mph tape holdin it in place adjust until fine tuned just remember to take it off when the weather gets warmer

I made a metal baffle that will partially cover the rad protector. I'll try it tommorrow. Thanks.

What's cold weather?

loubre wrote:What's cold weather?

Around freezing or below, sometimes -5 C or 23 F or colder. Not to many people on the road at that temp so it's a fun ride. I just have to watch out for ice. Cheers!!!

Sulli wrote:bit of cardboard across the rad with some 100mph tape holdin it in place adjust until fine tuned just remember to take it off when the weather gets warmer

I made a metal baffle that covers about 5 inches on the right side of the radiator and that brings the running temp up to where it should be and so far it runs great. Thanks.

u could probly put a dif temp thermostat in it if u wanted would make motor run a bit warmer

ninja bob wrote:u could probly put a dif temp thermostat in it if u wanted would make motor run a bit warmer

I tried to get a warmer thermostat but the dealer had no clue what I was talking about???? The baffle seems to work ok for now and our winter this year is getting warmer so all seems to be ok on my last ride. Thanks for the info. Jim time!

oldman wrote:I tried to get a warmer thermostat but the dealer had no clue what I was talking about????

That's because normal people don't ride in the fucking snow!!!

seiko1 wrote:

oldman wrote:I tried to get a warmer thermostat but the dealer had no clue what I was talking about????

That's because normal people don't ride in the fucking snow!!!

That explains the lack of other motorcycles on the road?? Hmmm

Sulli wrote:bit of cardboard across the rad with some 100mph tape holdin it in place adjust until fine tuned just remember to take it off when the weather gets warmer

I posted a long post on this and it's disappeared. However, I think the mods were fucking around with me while I was on an LSD trip new years eve, so it's probably gone there.....

OK, short version. Blocking your rad or putting in a higher temp stat will do very little if anything to alter the situation. It's got nothing to do with the motor temp and all to do with the air temp and humidity. Kawasaki started using inlet heater kits in the mid 90's when ram air started causing carb icing issues. The same thing is most likely happening with your injected Zed. Do some research on an inlet heater kit and see what you come up with.

Strika wrote:

Sulli wrote:bit of cardboard across the rad with some 100mph tape holdin it in place adjust until fine tuned just remember to take it off when the weather gets warmer

I posted a long post on this and it's disappeared. However, I think the mods were fucking around with me while I was on an LSD trip new years eve, so it's probably gone there.....

OK, short version. Blocking your rad or putting in a higher temp stat will do very little if anything to alter the situation. It's got nothing to do with the motor temp and all to do with the air temp and humidity. Kawasaki started using inlet heater kits in the mid 90's when ram air started causing carb icing issues. The same thing is most likely happening with your injected Zed. Do some research on an inlet heater kit and see what you come up with.

I agree to a point. On the Kawasaki Z1000 the intake air passes through the radiator and over the top of the engine to get to the injectors plus a warmer motor will transfer heat to the injecters. If you have isolated injectors or carbs or a ram air that does not let the intake air get heated by the motor you are right. But in the case of the Z1000, (2004) it seems to help. Cheers! Jim time. He who drinks Jim probably eats shit and barks at the moon, huh???