[toby]

On two different rides I experience a sudden roughness and a loss of power. At 65 mph the bike suddenly felt like I was running at 50 mph in 5th gear. Kind of like lugging at too low rpm per mph. This happened after riding for approximately 1 and a 1/2 hrs with a big change in altitude and temperature. Not once but twice on two different rides. And it wasn't my imagination because the 2nd time it happened I tested it by trying to see how fast I could hit 120 mph as I have done before. It seamed to take much more time and barely got to 110 and wouldn't go any faster. And before it hit 120 it a blink of your eye and had more to spare. So I know there was a difference. And after I park it for a bit and run it again it was fine. But have not had a chance to do anther hr or more ride yet with altitude changes like that. Thinking maybe a fuel mixture censer not working right. Or maybe bad gas? Any one have any ideas?

 

[sfcmcgan]

1. Bad gas could cause this...
2. inferior gas and altitude wil likely cause this...
3. dirty plugs will also cause your bike to randomely loose power... I would check this 1st.

did the loss of power happen on the same tank of gas? OR...gas from the same fuel station within a day or so?

 

[MNStryker26]

Toby, if the station where you fill up doesn't turn their storage tanks often because of low use and fuel sales there is a chance that (because of ethanol) a lot of water can develop in these tanks. This has happened to customers of mine in western Kansas. They have a tank of 89 octane 87 +10% ethanol that sits there for a long time because nobody buys it. Water developed and other contaminents from sitting. There is a very likely chance it was bad fuel because of your remote location and the length of time the fuel sure in their tanks. You should try to get a sample.of the fuel and send it into a lab for testing. If it is a branded station they could be held accountable if damage was done.to.your bike.

 

[ratboy]

Bad gas is a common problem here in Jacksonville, Florida. I have started filling up at only certain stations to prevent the exact problem you describe. It was even worse with my previous bike which had dual carbs. Fuel injection seems to be a bit more forgiving, but no internal combustion engine will burn water, lol. Before spending any money, I recommend running out your tank and re-filling at another station and see if that fixes the problem.

 

[chris]

I agree that It could be bad gas if your running the correct octane 87 if your running higher octane say 93 that would do it to if its doing it at higher elevation.

 

[toby]

Yes I am leaning towards bad gas. The first time it happened was after gassing up In Upper Lake for our 140 mile ride home About an hr into our ride. And it was on the way their that I hit 120 mph with no problem.Then I gassed up at our regular station. But still had at least a gal of the old stuff left when it happened again. And I know about bad gas at stations, it happens everywhere. My son in-law rebuilt his carbs and flushed his tank. Two days later it started running like **** so he drained the boles to work on it again and found muck and water in the gas. Pretty sad.

 

[trigger]

Toby: I've known guys who could clear a room with bad gas but NEVER heard of anyone who could make a moving motorcycle miss-fire or loose power.

Sorry; I couldn't resist.

You don't say whether the problem occurred at high or low elevation.

 

[ROADKILL]

Elevation shouldn't matter the ECU should compensate...when I added a PC111 to my Raider it was dynoed in Florida which is basicly sea level..I've ridden out west in the mountains at high elevation with no problem...it almost seemed like it ran better there than here.

 

[sfcmcgan]

Elevation shouldn't matter the ECU should compensate...when I added a PC111 to my Raider it was dynoed in Florida which is basicly sea level..I've ridden out west in the mountains at high elevation with no problem...it almost seemed like it ran better there than here.

This is true... that is the glory of fuel injection! But the ECU cannot compensate for "bad" gas.... basically... the gas does not "explode" very well... this with the thinner are density creates a not some optimal "power stroke" every time... which give you the loss of power and hesitation feeling.

 

[immortal13]

Toby, I think your bike is just pissed off at you for riding on all that ice.

 

[toby]

Toby, I think your bike is just pissed off at you for riding on all that ice.

Ya I think you are on to something with the ice pissin my bike of so now I have parked it because it's got down to 14 degrees at night here and barley 30 in the day. And on the way home from picking horses up this weekend a tow truck was trying to pull a car up from over a cliff on a icy corner. But now I have a serious case of PMS, Parked Motorcycle Syndrome. Is there any cure for that? :-X

 

[11Stryker]

Modding Time Toby!!

 

[strykenshane]

hey Toby, before I got my autotuner I would have issues riding in the North GA mountains, have made 3 rides since and no issues, I have been running mid-grade since day one and I get better gas mileage and it seems to run better, I'll throw in some Lucas fuel treatment about once every 10 fillups