Eeeeeek!

[Lias]

On the way home from work last night my bike was playing up, it was backfiring and stalled like it had run out of gas at one lights.

Went to the servo and checked, it didnt need gas (took a whopping $3.80 into the tank).

Got home and thought hrmm I'll check the oil and water just incase, then book it into the bike shop tomorrow.. Bugger me, the little glass oil thingy was empty. The bike has an oil warning light on the dash, which WASN'T on so I am hoping that the bike was just really low on oil not out of oil.

Filled her up with oil and the bike seems to be running okay now (no backfires/stalls at any rate).

Is this likely to have caused any damage to the bike, or did I spot it in time?

[F5 Dave]

Sounds like water in the petrol. Or a faulty plug/cap/ignition system (always good to check battery condition/charging on Suzis).
Buy a meter if you don't have one & see what the battery voltage is off & running (Dicky smith have them for
~$0). cup of Meths in the tank should clear water through.

If it was lack of oil & misbehaving then it would be totally engine shagged so wouldn't have come right.

[FilthyLuka]

what mr fs said. get into the habit of checking oil before you ride. if the light comes on you would have already scored something important and promptly raped your engine... long story short if the light comes on its usually to late... in my experience (atleast with the ginny) theres only about 300ml difference between seeing oil in the glass (just below full) and not. seeing as you have a 800 twin, its probably a bit more... still, check your oil regularay (sp)

[F5 Dave]

Most are oil-pressure rather than oil-level on bikes, but if the light does come on then the level is seriously low. Yam Exups have a dicky level switch that can come on for no reason.

[NighthawkNZ]

In most cases by time the oil lite comes on its usually to late... not just for bikes either... But as F5 Dave said most are a oil pressure lights rather than a oil level. The little window thingy is how you usually check your level.

As for damage, it can do damage for prolonged use with very oil level and if no oil cease. However I very much doubt it would have caused the back firing as such thats sounds like a fuel feed or a spark/electric problem.

Get into the habit of regularly checking your oil, brake fluid and general maintenance. ie check and oil your chain say every 1000k (more if used in wet conditions) check cables (oil them to if needed) check for loose nuts and bolts and tighten if needed and including regular oil changes even more regular than what the hand book suggests... When I was riding my XJ (100kms a day) I was doing an oil change every 5000ks instead of the recommended every 10 000. (this may be the extreme but it paid off I got 139 000ks before the engine decided it had had enough.)

Its good idea to even wash the bike regularly as part of the maintenance plan as it allows you to look the bike for anything out of the ordinary.. oh and it help keeps it shiney :yes: :innocent:

Your bike will love you for it and will keep things in tip top condition for as long as possible.

[Chill]

How often would you recommend a brake fluid change?

[imdying]

Every 6 months to a year... depends on kms though... no longer than a year.