Ok, so I've only had the bike for three months and we all know I had definite issues when I got her. So I took the bike to the mountains this weekend and it just wasn't running right. I chalked it up to a difference in altitude, temperature and a not so smooth ride up there and didn't ride much. I got back on Monday afternoon and didn't have a chance to ride yesterday because of rain. I got the bike out this morning to ride to work and it just didn't sound right idling.

I decided to ride to the end of the parking lot and see if maybe a little bit of running would clear out her throat. She was backfiring pretty much the entire short ride I had her out. I was listening so hard to what she was doing, I dropped her when I parked. (I could care less about scratches now). I got her up and tried to start her, no dice. She'd fire up, but immediately die.

I broke down and asked the ex for help to get it back in the garage. He came out, and eventually got the bike started but said it's likely a combination of a plug fouled out and I'm in bad need of a tune-up. (Likely a carb sync).

If anybody has any suggestions on how to approach this now, it'd be greatly appreciated. I have to ride to the mechanic because I don't have a truck anymore. Then to top it all off, the car died when I started her this morning too. I was nice in the break-up; why is karma being mean to me??

 

Geez, if it weren't for bad luck, you'd have luck at all! Do you think you could change the plugs yourself? I'm sure some of the guys here can tell you exactly what you have to do. If you can, I'd try that and then drive it down to have a mechanic take a look at it. If not, do you know any one close by you that might be able to give you a hand? I hope you get everything sorted out soon.

 

If you can't find someone with a truck, you could always get it towed in. If you're not too far from the shop, I'd bet 10 bucks that if you went down there and explained your situation, they'd find someone with a truck to come pick your bike up as a favor (since you're a hot biker chick and all...).

OR

If you're feeling frisky and are half-way mechanically inclined, a fouled plug isn't TOO hard to replace if you have access to some tools. You should have a spark plug socket in the toolbag that came with your bike (under your passenger seat), and you'll need a spark plug gap/feeler guage, and torque wrench. I'd HIGHLY recommend the torque wrench. If you decide to try this on your own, be careful not to cross-thread the plugs when you put them back in. See if you can easily twist it by hand first before picking up that wrench.

Unfortunately the plugs on bikes are harder get at than in most cars. You'll have to remove the seats, the gas tank, air filter assembly, and carburetor assembly.

There's a pretty good site that walks through most of it here: http://www.themcdonalds.net/richard/...nt/plugs.shtml of course it's best to have the actual service manual for your bike...

Read through the whole process, and decide for yourself if it's something you think you can handle BEFORE trying to take your bike apart. Of course, it's possible that it's more than just a fouled plug, and if so, you'd have done all this for nothing. I'd go for the first option.

 

Yeah we changed the plugs on the bike when I first got it. Of course I had help back then. The hard part doing it by myself will be taking that big heavy tank off!!! I've got a call into the mechanic, but not word back yet. I know the bike needs a tune, and I'm ok with doing that; I just wish I could ride it to drop it off and then just get a ride back to my apt, than to have to haul it in, ya know?

The ex was pretty nice about helping me get her in the garage this morning, but I'm not expecting the nice mood to last. He's been kinda psycho since he got a new gf.

 

I hear ya. If you have the time, I'd drive down there and explain your situation in person. It usually works better than over the phone. I'm sure someone will help you out... Us guys are suckers like that.

 

I think your ex. rigged it...
but he sounds right... send it to the shop for a tune up...