Couple of annoying issues 2004 GSX250

[biketimus_prime]

Hi guys,

Couple of issues have risen since I've been riding around now.

First:

My clutch engages near the end of my lever travel (when I almost let go of it). I tried adjusting it and there is enough free play and it engages and disengages just fine, it's just annoying that it is so far at the end of the travel. I've adjusted the cable to get the right free play but is there another adjustment that my owners manual does not show to adjust the bite point?

Second:

When I try accelerate hard in first and second, the bike revs hard till about 4000 then seems to feel like it has hit a wall and struggle to rev hard, it then passes that point slowly and revs just fine all the rest of the way. If I just accelerate normally up to third and over, it will rev just fine throughout the range after that. However you can just feel it isn't very alive at the mid range, it goes well in the high RPMs (over 7ish) up to redline (haven't tried in 1st 2nd or 3rd to redline, only in 4th and over).

Also as this issue has come up, my fuel mileage has decreased, I got 300km to a tank when I first got the bike, it is now down to just over 200km.
Also when I rev the engine at idle, it doesn't seem to be as rev-happy as my mate's hyosung 250.
Bike seems to ride just fine if I don't rev it too much and works fine for commuting, just annoying to have bad fuel mileage...

Any help and input appreciated. I can do mechanical work myself but if the carb needs tuning or something I'll probably need a mechanic with experience, so suggestions for one on the north shore in auckland would be cool.
Thanks in advance

[nzspokes]

As riders become more used to there bikes they rev them harder and the fuel economy drops. Have you changed brands of fuel you use?

Does sound like you may have a bit of crap in a carb, just drain the bowls to start with but it could be a transition port thats blocked.

[biketimus_prime]

As riders become more used to there bikes they rev them harder and the fuel economy drops. Have you changed brands of fuel you use?

Does sound like you may have a bit of crap in a carb, just drain the bowls to start with but it could be a transition port thats blocked.

I haven't been riding it any differently to when I got it apart from more motorway driving. I use Z 95 which is what the last owner used too.

How do I go about draining the bowls and doing that stuff? Any guides for my particular bike? Still trying to find a workshop manual too :/

[jellywrestler]

it may have the wrong clutch lever fitted and not providing the correct leverage.

[FJRider]

Hi guys,

Couple of issues have risen since I've been riding around now.

Clutch ... apart from fitting adjustable levers ... so there isn't as long a reach to the lever ... not a lot of options left. The clutch may be "on it's way out"

Issues 2 & 3 may be the same problem. My guess the air filter is blocked/dirty. Not getting the right fuel/air mixture will cause both problems ...

[Akzle]

get new sparkenators.

[ducatilover]

Adjust the clutch down under the fairings on the adjuster, follow the cable and you will find it.
Get someone decent to look at the bike with the fueling issue, could be a few things, float levels, poo in places, slides sticking whilst lifting and whatnot

[biketimus_prime]

it may have the wrong clutch lever fitted and not providing the correct leverage.

Nah it's the standard one I'm 100% sure of it, bike is untouched.

Clutch ... apart from fitting adjustable levers ... so there isn't as long a reach to the lever ... not a lot of options left. The clutch may be "on it's way out

Issues 2 & 3 may be the same problem. My guess the air filter is blocked/dirty. Not getting the right fuel/air mixture will cause both problems ...

Can't be on it's way out as it is such low mileage, doesn't slip and works just fine, just that it engages so late. I did manage to adjust it a bit more towards the middle but not much.
I'll have a look at the air filter next time. I haven't had a chance to explore under the bike yet.

get new sparkenators.

New sparkenators were done in september last year and it has done about 5000km since, CR8E plugs. Perhaps they need re-gapping or something.

Adjust the clutch down under the fairings on the adjuster, follow the cable and you will find it.
Get someone decent to look at the bike with the fueling issue, could be a few things, float levels, poo in places, slides sticking whilst lifting and whatnot

Already adjusted it there and at the lever. I read online that other bikes have a hidden adjustment that you need the workshop manual to find, which allows you to adjust the biting point. I was wondering if my bike has the same.

Will try find a decent place. Does anyone know a mechanic that doesn't charge an arm and a leg on the shore? I never trusted mechanics on my cars and have done the work myself always, but carbs are a different world to me!

[FJRider]

Can't be on it's way out as it is such low mileage, doesn't slip and works just fine, just that it engages so late. I did manage to adjust it a bit more towards the middle but not much.
I'll have a look at the air filter next time. I haven't had a chance to explore under the bike yet.

If it works just fine ... why mention it in this thread .. ???

It's a 10 year old bike. They (clutches) don't last forever ... Do it while you can. Not when you NEED too ...

There are more broken bits when you DO need to ...


You'll have a look at the filter "NEXT TIME" ...??? You start a thread about your bikes issues ... and you say "You will have a look next time" ... so you are happy the way it is .... ???

New sparkenators were done in september last year and it has done about 5000km since, CR8E plugs. Perhaps they need re-gapping or something.

Or something .. ?? What is this something .. ???

Plugs don't last forever either ... replace them ... more good than bad to do so.

If you think you know better ... in future ... DON'T ask ...

[ducatilover]

New sparkenators were done in september last year and it has done about 5000km since, CR8E plugs. Perhaps they need re-gapping or something.



Already adjusted it there and at the lever. I read online that other bikes have a hidden adjustment that you need the workshop manual to find, which allows you to adjust the biting point. I was wondering if my bike has the same.

Will try find a decent place. Does anyone know a mechanic that doesn't charge an arm and a leg on the shore? I never trusted mechanics on my cars and have done the work myself always, but carbs are a different world to me!

You may simply have a stretched cable, I don't know of any other adjustment in a GSX
I doubt you need to re-gap your plugs, usually they stay pretty uniform in a motor that isn't very high performance.
Carbs are a walk in the park if you have an owner's manual, just be pedantic and take your time.
I'd strip them, have the bodies ultrasonic cleaned (with the jets left in), re-assemble with floats and needles at standard height, check slides are smooth and chuck them on and balance them.
If you go this far, google how to make a manometer, makes balancing very, very easy

[biketimus_prime]

If it works just fine ... why mention it in this thread .. ???
It's a 10 year old bike. They (clutches) don't last forever ... Do it while you can. Not when you NEED too ...
There are more broken bits when you DO need to ...
You'll have a look at the filter "NEXT TIME" ...??? You start a thread about your bikes issues ... and you say "You will have a look next time" ... so you are happy the way it is .... ???

Or something .. ?? What is this something .. ???

Plugs don't last forever either ... replace them ... more good than bad to do so.

If you think you know better ... in future ... DON'T ask ...

I just mentioned that I wanted it to bite a bit differently. How long do clutches last? Way less than cars mileage?
I am happy with the way the engine is as it works just fine to get me from point A to B. Just doesn't work as well when I want to push it hard. By next time I mean on the weekend when I have time I'll do the plugs at least then and see how it goes. I meant "or something" as in they could be fouled from me leaving the bike idling while checking to see how the clutch feels and repeated stalling and starting up.
Bike is rideable and works well as it is though, just annoying issues!
Look, bottom line is I'm taking everyone's advice on board to help me try pinpoint the cause and I appreciate all the input!

You may simply have a stretched cable, I don't know of any other adjustment in a GSX
I doubt you need to re-gap your plugs, usually they stay pretty uniform in a motor that isn't very high performance.
Carbs are a walk in the park if you have an owner's manual, just be pedantic and take your time.
I'd strip them, have the bodies ultrasonic cleaned (with the jets left in), re-assemble with floats and needles at standard height, check slides are smooth and chuck them on and balance them.
If you go this far, google how to make a manometer, makes balancing very, very easy

Alright perhaps it is a stretched cable but shouldn't the adjustments sort it? I have plenty of adjustability either direction still too.

I did look at some walkthroughs and it does seem easy to do carbs, just a lot of fiddly bits which I should not lose track of. Also looked at a manometer, one guy had a massive wooden plank haha, pretty awesome. This all could be a great learning experience I guess.
Do you reckon maybe if I sprayed some carb cleaner just into the inlets that might do the trick? Let the motor just burn it all out?

[Mike.Gayner]

Do you reckon maybe if I sprayed some carb cleaner just into the inlets that might do the trick? Let the motor just burn it all out?

The carbs need a proper clean - spraying cleaning in their general direction won't do a thing. They're really not difficult at all.

[jellywrestler]

I just mentioned that I wanted it to bite a bit differently. How long do clutches last? Way less than cars mileage?

the one in my suzuki 850 has done over 300000kms. you just got to treat them well

[FJRider]

the one in my suzuki 850 has done over 300000kms. you just got to treat them well

GSX250 clutches don't get treated well. Either .. learner "Issues" .. or wannabe Rossi "Issues" ...

[ducatilover]

Alright perhaps it is a stretched cable but shouldn't the adjustments sort it? I have plenty of adjustability either direction still too.

I did look at some walkthroughs and it does seem easy to do carbs, just a lot of fiddly bits which I should not lose track of. Also looked at a manometer, one guy had a massive wooden plank haha, pretty awesome. This all could be a great learning experience I guess.
Do you reckon maybe if I sprayed some carb cleaner just into the inlets that might do the trick? Let the motor just burn it all out?

Keep adjusting it, are you trying the clutch with it running after each adjustment?
You'll be sweet, buy hammers and crowbars, carbs are easy
Carb cleaner is shit