Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Well, today I went on my first real trek around the neighborhood since getting my bike at least mostly running. Seeing as how there are major roads on three sides of me...I could only go in one direction, but it lead me through some nice pretty San Diego neighborhoods, ultimately ending up at Mesa College. I found out that having a fractured thumb on my throttle hand makes for a little bit of a painful trip after a while. At least until my hand goes numb

This was mainly an attempt to get used to what my bike does/says/whathaveyou. I noticed that after it's warmed up a bit (started without the choke today, that was nice), it seems to have a bit of a throttle surge problem. I'll come to a stop sign, pull in the clutch, and the revs will jump to about 3300 and stay there. It's also not very nice when I'm coming down any of the many hills around here and the engine is trying to speed me up when there's a stop sign at the bottom.

Anyway, I can't really adjust the idle screw any, because it idles perfectly (albeit a bit low) when I start it.
Do you think I may just have a clogged idle jet or something?
Also, when I am going down a hill coming to a stop (or any stop for that matter), should I constantly downshift as I slow, or should I hold in the clutch, bounce my foot up and down until I'm in first, and just brake to a stop?

All my bikes have a lower idle speed until they warm up. If it idles just right when you start it, then it's probably too low.


When coming to a stop I generally pull the clutch and knock the gears down. I don't hit it into first until I'm about to stop. I generally have it in the gear I'll need at the speed I'm at as I slow down. You never know.

On my KZ550 I have a problem with one of the choke butterflys sticking I have to go in and fix it every now and again. (4 carbs.) when it sticks when the bike warms up the rpm jumps. quick easy fix. on the other note Im an old downshifter. hard habit to break I do know that down shifting streaches (SP) the chain but I still do it. on my older bike kinda saves the brakes

Check your valve clearance and compression. as this can be a vaccum problem. Also check your carb boots for cracks. Otherwise it can be the air jets are plugged or leaking. hope this helps

I was taught from a very early age that you should engine brake when slowing down to a stop, or going downhill. The only time I dont is when im comming in hot into a corner to keep forward momentum.

Use all three brakes all the time but not all always at once. Front, rear, and engine.

Doesn't it cause unnecessary wear on your clutch and transmission when you engine brake? My dad always taught me to just use the brakes in a car 'cause "brakes are cheaper to replace than transmissions." Is this the case with motorcycles as well?

as long as you dont drag the clutch engine braking shouldn't cause extra wear on the transmission. If you give the throttle a blip before letting the clutch back in you will save some wear on the clutch and still get some engine braking.

jmillheiser wrote:as long as you dont drag the clutch engine braking shouldn't cause extra wear on the transmission. If you give the throttle a blip before letting the clutch back in you will save some wear on the clutch and still get some engine braking.

i engine break as well, what do you mean by dragging the clutch?