Cold vl 250

[Hurley]

I took the bike to work this morning, about 6 deg when I left home. Let it warm up like I've read people say I should do(on here). 20 km ride to work was fine apart from a lack of proper winter riding gear. As soon as I pull up at work the bike starts to idle rough then dies. Restarts good as gold. Tried the hose from behind the head into the air filter trick to try and get a bit of warm air in but it caused too much restriction and the bike wouldn't idle. Is there anything I can do to fix this as it really stuffs up a good ride on a good winters day.

[DrunkenMistake]

I took the bike to work this morning, about 6 deg when I left home. Let it warm up like I've read people say I should do(on here). 20 km ride to work was fine apart from a lack of proper winter riding gear. As soon as I pull up at work the bike starts to idle rough then dies. Restarts good as gold. Tried the hose from behind the head into the air filter trick to try and get a bit of warm air in but it caused too much restriction and the bike wouldn't idle. Is there anything I can do to fix this as it really stuffs up a good ride on a good winters day.

How new is the bike?

I had an old bike that used to do the same after a while of riding and she was at temp,
Just needed a new set of spark plugs and a carb balance if I remember right

EDIT: I didn't use my eyes, its an '07... still might be worth a look.

[Hurley]

It's an 07, only 5400 km on the clock.

[DrunkenMistake]

It's an 07, only 5400 km on the clock.

Is it bone standard or has it got aftermarket cans/pipes or anything like that?

[DrunkenMistake]

Looks like it may be common,

I done a bit of a google and there are a few hits for VL250's and issues on warming them up enough before they die,
maybe not so much dying after been warm,

Start with the easy stuff,
Pull your plugs and have a look at them,
Make sure your carbs/throttle bodies are in their rubber sleeves, could also be a vacuum leak possibly causing it.

But personally sounds to me like its a fuel/spark issue,
I could be miles off im sure there is someone who knows far more than I do who will post in this thread tomorrow.

[Hurley]

Bone standard, apart from the bugs on the headlight

[duckonin]

Could be running a mite lean. Lady friend of my had same problem with vl250. The colder the day the worse it got.

[Jackal]

Mrs Jackal had a VL250. She did not do a lot of winter riding on it until she went for her full licence on a very cold Mid Canterbury morning. Bike keep stalling on her at each stop. Examiner was great and realised it was a problem with the bike and not the rider and she passed the test. Took the bike into our local Suzuki shop and was advised that this can be a bit of a problem with this model. It being a carb problem and its inability to cope with very cold air. They advised us there is some sort of kit that can be installed to over come the problem. We did not bother as I mentioned earlier Mrs J does not do any cold weather riding and soon as she passed her full got onto a bigger bike. Hope this helps.

[Hurley]

It's just annoying that's all, but I don't do a lot of winter riding so will just go out when it's warm. Might have a chat to the bike shop next service.

[DrunkenMistake]

It's just annoying that's all, but I don't do a lot of winter riding so will just go out when it's warm. Might have a chat to the bike shop next service.

What about bumping the idle up 200rpm?

[Hurley]

Out for a ride now, starting to cool down so will bump the idle up a fraction and see how that goes.

[ruaphu]

Could be running a mite lean. Lady friend of my had same problem with vl250. The colder the day the worse it got.

Bingo. Suzuki tends to run very lean to get better emissions, standard set up for them world over except our models don't get al the extra pipework the poms and yanks get fitted up with. Definately try getting it more fuel opening the mixture screws half a turn at a time. Being a Suzuki it will no doubt have those annoying brass bungs over the mixture screws too. Just done a mates S40 for the same reasons, runs like a trooper now, better starting, roll on, little change in fuel consumption and less backfiring too.

let us know how you get on., A Dub-ya

[kevin168]

Bingo. Suzuki tends to run very lean to get better emissions, standard set up for them world over except our models don't get al the extra pipework the poms and yanks get fitted up with. Definately try getting it more fuel opening the mixture screws half a turn at a time. Being a Suzuki it will no doubt have those annoying brass bungs over the mixture screws too. Just done a mates S40 for the same reasons, runs like a trooper now, better starting, roll on, little change in fuel consumption and less backfiring too.

let us know how you get on., A Dub-ya


Hi, Had the exact same problems with trouble starting and stalling in cool.. The bike would idel and die when trying to warm her up before the ride. Once it die I can't get it to start again. tooke it to the bike shop twice now, and they since had put in new sparks that will run hotter. It works for a few weeks but since then the bike die and now I can't get it started again.

have charged the battery, change the oils, check the sparks. Any helps?? Much appreciated.

[Rhys]

Does it run ok when your riding or does start to run a bit rough when the air is cold ?

[ruaphu]

yep what Rhys said, tell us how the bike goes over all. Does it start and operate OK in warmer temps? Once warmed up on a cold day is it ok? Kevin has the has the bike had the mixture richened up at all? if not this is probably the best place to start as commented on earlier. Cheers Ando