I drive my bike back and forth to work each day and only drive it during the week. I drove it last Friday and it ran fine. However, it rained both Monday and Tuesday so I took my truck to work. I went out to start the bike this morning and as soon as I hit the started it immediately backfired. All it will do now is spin over. It never fires. I did not choke it since the temp here is hot and it always just starts up. I am trying to figure out where the spark plug is at so I can check it but I have no idea where it is at. Any ideas on what could have happened? I have over half a tank of gas and believe me I could smell the gas. I am just not getting any spark. Oh yeah, it is always parked under a carport.

Thanks,

 

Get a service manual (much more detail than the motorcycle's owner's manual)....here's a link (where I got mine):

http://www.repairmanual.com/motorcyc.../0/20048/17601

 

chances are that its not the spark plug. this is somewhat of a common problem with the 250s that get left in the rain. check the wires comming from the kill switch, its most likely a short. Ive also heard of people having problems with water in the ignition switch causing this kind of problem.

the spark plugs are right on top of the engine, under the gas tank. you have to remove the tank to get to them.

 

Definitely doesn't sound like a spark plug problem. How old is the bike?

There are two possibilities I'd look for: Ignition short, or timing chain.

 

Why not pull on a little choke? Even if the temp outside is warm - the bike is not fuel injected they still like to get a burst of gas at start up. Backfire can be cause by fuel to air ratio being off. Carbs may need a sync.

 

I had some problems with starting up my 250 after not riding it for a while. Had to get my carbs cleaned but that's because it was a 3 week riding hiatus with the fuel valve on.....bad beginner mistake. If it is some gunk in the carbs...pour a half can of seafoam (can get it at any auto part store like o'reiley's) in the tank. Since you it was just a couple of days without riding, the seafoam should work its magical wonder once circulated through your bike...if the problem is the carbs. You gotta use the included tools to remove the screws of the tank and side fairings to get to the spark plugs. It is under the tank and you use the included tools to reach to unscrew the spark plugs (sorry don't know the techincal terms for tools).

 

The bike is on a few months old with about 2400 miles on it. At night it is parked under my carport but a few times it has been in the rain during the day at work. I dropped it off at the dealership today to let them fix it. I had to bring it to them anyway to fix the fuel guage. I found out from Kawasaki that some 250s have a problem with the fuel gauge not going all the way to full because of corrosion on the float. They have a fix for it but it is not a recall.