Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

My 08 bug has had a little problem with stalling when its a bit cool. It has done it since I got it, but I initially put it down to my inexperience on the new bike (the first time it happened it made me drop the bike ). I have had it for quite a while now and it seems to be getting worse. So here is the scenario...

Start bike to get ready for work/ride etc
Get my shit in one sock, gear up ready to go
Bike idles for about 3-5mins, depending on the temp. I usually let it get to 50-55 deg + before throwing a leg over, sometimes gets up to 65-70 before I start to ride.
Get on the bike
Give it a little tickle to go down the driveway
Pull the clutch in at the gutter
Bike stalls........$#%^$@#&(*&^$#@%$
Start bike and drive down road
Pull clutch in at intersection
Bike stalls........(*^$%$#^(*&^&%^%$

I think you get the point. It does this in the morning or afternoon, hot or cold weather, when the engine is at 40 or 70 deg, parked inside or out etc etc, until I have ridden it for a few minutes. It seems to have gotten progressively worse/more frequent, since the last service. Has anyone else ever had this problem, or has it with the same bike? I was always under the impression that a fuel injected, computer controlled fuel system, would be LESS likely to have stalling issues than carbies. It idles perfectly, doesn't have any throttle hesitation and runs like a dream otherwise. It's really starting to piss me off though. It's a brand new bike FFS so there shouldn't be ANYTHING wrong with it.

i had a similar problem with my zxr250 the bike was running rich and would play up whilst at the lights. Mine was a fuel mixture issue but your bike is fuel injected unlike mine, so i'm not sure. I know that last couple of times i stalled was because i left the kick stand up hehe does your bike run well whilst on the move? If its brand new I say take it back to the dealer and ask them wtf is going on, or go ACCC on their ass!

I reckon you're probably warming it up too long.

Might be worth checking what your idle is set at when it's had a good run too.

I'm with Mick, possibly bump up the Idle a tad & see if the problem persists

i had a problem with one of my fuel maps doing that when it was cold but it was only when i gave it a rev. once the revs dropped down it stalled. it was running a little rich down low. when it goes down to idle. took 2 secs on dyno to fix. but if you havnt touched the bike and it was straight from the dealer id take it back

I'll try the changing the idle tonight. It sits almost dead on 1k RPM when its warm and running, I would have thought that would be enough for a bigger bore bike. It does do it if I give it a rev before I ride it too, like danzx10r said. I haven't had any mods done to it apart from the akro slip on. I'm wondering if the dealer I take it too fucked with it in the last service now Might have to take it back to Slacks Creek from now on.

1000 seems to be a very low rpm to me... maybe try 1200-1250 warm... 1500 if u have to...

My 07 did the same, Which I believe is down to the weak 1st gear map. Try knocking it into neutral before stopping at the gutter, if it doesn't stall it's the mapping. A TRE will solve the problem.

You could probably turn the idle screw up a bit, but remember your cold idle will also rise.

As for leaving the bike to warm up, this may not be doing the good you hoped. I have been told that as part of the weight saving Kawasaki installed a fairly light oil pump. While this is fine once the revs are up, it does not get enough oil to the head at idle. You are better to start it and ride almost straight away - but ride conservatively for the first couple of KM

photomike666 wrote:My 07 did the same, Which I believe is down to the weak 1st gear map. Try knocking it into neutral before stopping at the gutter, if it doesn't stall it's the mapping. A TRE will solve the problem.

You could probably turn the idle screw up a bit, but remember your cold idle will also rise.

As for leaving the bike to warm up, this may not be doing the good you hoped. I have been told that as part of the weight saving Kawasaki installed a fairly light oil pump. While this is fine once the revs are up, it does not get enough oil to the head at idle. You are better to start it and ride almost straight away - but ride conservatively for the first couple of KM

It doesn't like going into neutral while its rolling. I didn't know about the oil pump though. I always thought it would be better to warm it up first, although these days it's not such a biggie apparently, with the new synthetic oils and better put together engines......i probably should have thought of that myself Thanks for the advice fellas. I'll let you know how it goes tonight.

Ummmm sorry not meaning to bump but does that mean the 08 600 shouldn't be warmed up either, this would be a good thing to know as we warm our bikes up for a bit before we ride, not applicable to mine but the mans got the 600. You should also have manafacutre warranty on yours so if it is a fault with the bike or from the service you should be covered, I know our 08 600 has manufacture warranty for two years so if there is a major problem take it back to the dealer.

What I do is start it up, then chuck my helmet and gloves on, by which time it's warmed up a bit, has some oil flowing and I can ride off (without flogging it of course). What you want to avoid is the start it up then walk back inside for 5-10 minutes, it's just too long.

I'd also say that 1,000rpm is a bit slow so try bumping it up a bit and see how you go.

Cool thanks Mick yeah that's what we do.

Mick C wrote:What I do is start it up, then chuck my helmet and gloves on, by which time it's warmed up a bit, has some oil flowing and I can ride off (without flogging it of course). What you want to avoid is the start it up then walk back inside for 5-10 minutes, it's just too long.

I'd also say that 1,000rpm is a bit slow so try bumping it up a bit and see how you go.

Yeah same here. I start it stick my Lid and Gloves on then ride off and baby it until it warms up. That's usually about how long it takes for a temperature to register on the display. Mine idles at about 1200.

The dealer servicing it would not have caused an issue but would have expected them to say something about the idle being set at 1000rpm if they took it for a ride or let it idle. Mines set about 1200 or thereabouts with Akra slip on's and a TRE. When its cold may hint of stall but never does.

Mine does the same, you need to tickle the throttle when you need to stop until sh'e nice and warm, prob about for the first 3-4 mins. also I leave the (warm up ??) lever on half way for the first 5 minutes minimum. I normally start riding the bike after a maximum 2 minute warm up too, modern engines arn't suppose to warm up for too long, best to start riding to get the oil pump cranking the oil around the engine.

also my idle speed is 1,200 to 1,300 rpm minimum, anything under and it just feels sloppy.