hi there guys.
riding an '03 RSV mille, had it for about a year with no issues or worries. currently it's my only means of transport (commuter bike? sure)
recently an issue cropped up. i'll explain it in as much detail as i can:
- when at idle, or low RPM flat-throttle (i.e. constant speed about 3-4k, not climbing in revs) the engine sometimes loses power (feels like it's losing a cylinder, or running out of fuel, it sort of jerks forward and backward because of the lumpy power delivery. once it nearly threw me forward) and the headlight/dash backlight flickers at the same time.
- a couple of times it has cut out entirely (on a roundabout, along a country road). once it wouldn't start again for a minute or so, but the other occasions it has started again just fine.
things i've noticed:
- the headlight flickers, and sometimes gets brighter for a moment, while i'm riding along, and it seems to go along with the engine spluttering (although it seems to flicker anyway, with normal riding?). the dash backlight seems to flicker when the engine splutters, but not otherwise. i don't get any warning lights or messages on the dash. just the backlight dropping as the engine does.
- give it some higher revs, and the spluttering disappears temporarily. it pulls smoothly when accelerating. this makes me think there's a dodgy connection somewhere that a higher voltage is able to overcome, when you pile on the throttle. this has led me to wonder if it's a battery charging issue (like, the alternator or something) but i'm afraid i don't have any electrical equipment to help me test this theory.
- i was able to make the issue disappear for about a month. i liberally sprayed WD40 on every connector on the bike, took off the R/H switch gear (killswitch) and WD40d it as well, pressed the switch a gajillion times to get any water out. cleaned the sidestand switch and also did the brown-connector mod, as well as replacing the ***** old battery which had to be recharged every day. however, yesterday, i went over a load of speed bumps and the problem returned with vengeance. ugh!
- the killswitch itself is suuuper sensitive. is this normal? i only have to touch the thing lightly and it kills the engine. i don't actually have to "actuate" the switch, just brush against it.
- this spluttering also happens if the bike is in neutral, when stopped at traffic lights. this leads me to think it's not the kickstand switch (looks intact, at least).
other information:
- i ride the bike (daily commute) in all weather. it rains quite a bit, and the bike has to cope with this. i always clean the bike down with cloths/rags/WD40, and at home it sits in a garage, but it does get left sitting in the rain sometimes when i'm at work.
things i've done so far:
- brown connector mod
- new battery
- fiddled with connectors and WD40d them (seemed to temporarily fix the issue?)
any ideas? i'm pulling my hair out. what little insignificant part of the bike is making a dodgy connection?
riding an '03 RSV mille, had it for about a year with no issues or worries. currently it's my only means of transport (commuter bike? sure)
recently an issue cropped up. i'll explain it in as much detail as i can:
- when at idle, or low RPM flat-throttle (i.e. constant speed about 3-4k, not climbing in revs) the engine sometimes loses power (feels like it's losing a cylinder, or running out of fuel, it sort of jerks forward and backward because of the lumpy power delivery. once it nearly threw me forward) and the headlight/dash backlight flickers at the same time.
- a couple of times it has cut out entirely (on a roundabout, along a country road). once it wouldn't start again for a minute or so, but the other occasions it has started again just fine.
things i've noticed:
- the headlight flickers, and sometimes gets brighter for a moment, while i'm riding along, and it seems to go along with the engine spluttering (although it seems to flicker anyway, with normal riding?). the dash backlight seems to flicker when the engine splutters, but not otherwise. i don't get any warning lights or messages on the dash. just the backlight dropping as the engine does.
- give it some higher revs, and the spluttering disappears temporarily. it pulls smoothly when accelerating. this makes me think there's a dodgy connection somewhere that a higher voltage is able to overcome, when you pile on the throttle. this has led me to wonder if it's a battery charging issue (like, the alternator or something) but i'm afraid i don't have any electrical equipment to help me test this theory.
- i was able to make the issue disappear for about a month. i liberally sprayed WD40 on every connector on the bike, took off the R/H switch gear (killswitch) and WD40d it as well, pressed the switch a gajillion times to get any water out. cleaned the sidestand switch and also did the brown-connector mod, as well as replacing the ***** old battery which had to be recharged every day. however, yesterday, i went over a load of speed bumps and the problem returned with vengeance. ugh!
- the killswitch itself is suuuper sensitive. is this normal? i only have to touch the thing lightly and it kills the engine. i don't actually have to "actuate" the switch, just brush against it.
- this spluttering also happens if the bike is in neutral, when stopped at traffic lights. this leads me to think it's not the kickstand switch (looks intact, at least).
other information:
- i ride the bike (daily commute) in all weather. it rains quite a bit, and the bike has to cope with this. i always clean the bike down with cloths/rags/WD40, and at home it sits in a garage, but it does get left sitting in the rain sometimes when i'm at work.
things i've done so far:
- brown connector mod
- new battery
- fiddled with connectors and WD40d them (seemed to temporarily fix the issue?)
any ideas? i'm pulling my hair out. what little insignificant part of the bike is making a dodgy connection?
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