My Suzy GSX

[Ramius]

Hello.

Hope and trust everyone is having a fantabulous holiday.

Coming up to Gisborne was fantastic, the roads were nice and there were periods of rain. Also got a Christmas Eve speeding ticket. So I can't complain.

In the second half of my trip from Welly to here I noticed that my bike was surging in the 8000- 11000 rpm range at 100km +, I have spoken to a couple of people, one guy at a motorcycle store had no clue whatsoever, however, my thought is that it could be something to do with the petrol?
I only use BP ultimate or Caltex Vortex 96 if I have to. She got serviced 3000 km ago which was something like 3 weeks ago.

Any thoughts or ideas on that one?

Oh, and one other thing, I noticed that when driving at low speeds I can hear a whirring sound as if the break was engaged, and it feels like the bike is towing something... could this be the end of the love affair with Sean and his GSX???

[Bonez]

Oh, and one other thing, I noticed that when driving at low speeds I can hear a whirring sound as if the break was engaged, and it feels like the bike is towing something... could this be the end of the love affair with Sean and his GSX???

Calipers coud be just sticking. Check the break pads to make sure there is pad material left. Could explain the "surging".

[FROSTY:Me]

Hello.

Hope and trust everyone is having a fantabulous holiday.

Coming up to Gisborne was fantastic, the roads were nice and there were periods of rain. Also got a Christmas Eve speeding ticket. So I can't complain.

In the second half of my trip from Welly to here I noticed that my bike was surging in the 8000- 11000 rpm range at 100km +, I have spoken to a couple of people, one guy at a motorcycle store had no clue whatsoever, however, my thought is that it could be something to do with the petrol?
I only use BP ultimate or Caltex Vortex 96 if I have to. She got serviced 3000 km ago which was something like 3 weeks ago.

Any thoughts or ideas on that one?

Oh, and one other thing, I noticed that when driving at low speeds I can hear a whirring sound as if the break was engaged, and it feels like the bike is towing something... could this be the end of the love affair with Sean and his GSX???

The whirring sound is the holes?grooves in your disks sweeping across the brake pad surface-it aint a problem.
The surging hmm Im wondering if maybee the chain may have developed a tight spot

[mini_me]

Calipers coud be just sticking. Check the break pads to make sure there is pad material left. Could explain the "surging".

try putting some lubricant of some description on the brake dics, make them run quieter

seriously tho, i had a similar thing on my zxr but it was just the chain that had stretched and left a tight spot so i replaced it, also made a kind of whirring sound as well

[F5 Dave]

There is no reason your bike won’t go fine on ’91, but that is a side issue.

For a start look at the wheel issues. Get someone to prop the bike up on the stand while you spin the front wheel. It should spin freely. Well ok it won’t, there is always some brake drag, but if it is locking you will know all about it, the wheel should continue to spin for another ½ rotation rather than clamp stopped.

Rear wheel, check chain as stated above. Watch fingers, never have it running. A tight spot will be obvious if you wiggle the chain, rotate a bit repeat.

But my guess is the bike sounds like it is starving for fuel. I’ve had a few bikes do this for various dumb reasons. The first is if the fuel line is kinked (in my case more than once with an aftermarket fuel filter in place). Or the time I made my own airfilter out of normal foam (ok I was 17 & stupid. But more recently when I found the bike I just bought had the plastic tube on the top of the carbs broken off (by some mechanic when synchronising the carbs I bet) & the float level was too low (bike would stall going up really steep street.

Further it could be some crud blocking up on of the pilot jets in the carb. This will also cause the surge you describe.

[Monsterbishi]

I wouldn't dare run any engine that has a 12.2:1 compression ratio on 91 octane fuel, it's just asking for trouble...

[F5 Dave]

Small cylinders, short spark lead & the fact that if you actually measured that figure, you’d find it was a trifle optimistic. As I said that is another story.

[Aaron]

Two day reader, first time poster...

I've ordered my first bike, due to arrive next week (2004, GSX250) and was wondering what fuel it takes, (hadn't thought to ask the guys at the shop and was going to do so later this week ). Monsterbishi, you mention a 12.2:1 compression ratio, but on the back of the phamplet I've got it says a 10.5:1 ratio, is the latter something you'd still not run on 91?

[Jantar]

Two day reader, first time poster...

I've ordered my first bike, due to arrive next week (2004, GSX250) and was wondering what fuel it takes, (hadn't thought to ask the guys at the shop and was going to do so later this week ). Monsterbishi, you mention a 12.2:1 compression ratio, but on the back of the phamplet I've got it says a 10.5:1 ratio, is the latter something you'd still not run on 91?

Welcome to the site Aaron.

A small high compression engine like the GSX should run best on 96 octane.

[**R1**]

Two day reader, first time poster...

I've ordered my first bike, due to arrive next week (2004, GSX250) and was wondering what fuel it takes, (hadn't thought to ask the guys at the shop and was going to do so later this week ). Monsterbishi, you mention a 12.2:1 compression ratio, but on the back of the phamplet I've got it says a 10.5:1 ratio, is the latter something you'd still not run on 91?

Hey Aaron welcome, 96oct for sure, i hope you didnt buy it from sportzone.....man those guys are dodgy, a guy i ride with bought a R6 from them that developed a oil leak they fixed that ok but left the rear axle loose and nearly killed the guy so be careful

[manuboy]

Hey Aaron welcome, 96oct for sure, i hope you didnt buy it from sportzone.....man those guys are dodgy, a guy i ride with bought a R6 from them that developed a oil leak they fixed that ok but left the rear axle loose and nearly killed the guy so be careful

Slightly O/T but I've had nothing but pure goodness from those boys - Joe in particular talks the normal sales guy BS a lot of the time but he's a good bloke - rides pretty well i hear...

Only had the beast serviced once there but nothin fell off (well, nothin really important). Could be something to do with the R6? :sly:

Glas i don't have to run that 96. Nothing but nasty nasty stuff in there... add-ins and add-ons and additives and ...

[**R1**]

Slightly O/T but I've had nothing but pure goodness from those boys - Joe in particular talks the normal sales guy BS a lot of the time but he's a good bloke - rides pretty well i hear...

Only had the beast serviced once there but nothin fell off (well, nothin really important). Could be something to do with the R6? :sly:

Glas i don't have to run that 96. Nothing but nasty nasty stuff in there... add-ins and add-ons and additives and ...

Dude you are lucky you have had no issues, another one i herd today was a guy that bought a new gsxr750 rode down the road and the rear shock let go, hes in ward 19
bike is in bits, i know its off topic but man those guys burn me, so many of my mates have delt with them and not enjoyed it at all, as for Joe...hhhhmmmm probly not fair to say when hes not here to defend himself....lets just leave it at that i used to ride with those guys on their saturday rides....lets just say BOOOORING

[Aaron]

Hey Aaron welcome, 96oct for sure, i hope you didnt buy it from sportzone.....

WTF? Yes I did...

To date I've had nothing but great service, certinally no complaints. Maybe I'll get it home on the trailer...

Haven't met Joe, been dealing with Tony the manager and Steve.

They've been in touch to advise of the bikes imment arrival, (on a boat from the NI I think).

At least 96 is easy to remember, same as my car

[Coyote]

Is 98 any better?

[F5 Dave]

If it makes you feel better that your bike is a high performance demon machine that couldn’t possibly run on anything but the best fuel then go right ahead.

High octane gas doesn’t necessarily have a higher calorific value (that’s the amount of power that can be extracted from the gas when you burn it, assume a lot of losses when using in an internal combustion engine). The high octane gas will stave off detonation & produce more power in an engine with a high enough compression ratio &/or the timing to suit.

As most bikes are produced for the world market they assume regular unleaded petrol is to be used & the timing is fixed.

But please don’t let that stop you. Buy 98 or AvGas if you fell so inclined & twist that throttle a touch harder & 'feel' the difference. You've paid for it after all.

Why do they have 96 or 98? Some European Vehicles are tuned for such petrol. Does anyone have evidence of a Jap vehicle stating high octane gas is required? (Like in documentation not some counter guy). Maybe the turbos?