I wanted to get into the smaller bikes so I just bought a 2011 kawi 250. The guy I bought it from is from Utah and had the carburetors re-jetted (his altitude is 5000ft). I'll be riding it in the midwest (grattan, autobahn, putnam,etc...). The bike seems to run fine but I notice 2 things: 1) from sitting on the rear stand, if I blip the throttle the bike wants to die 2) the throttle response is delayed I know literally nothing about carburetors. Do you guys suggest me to re-jet them? If so, anybody knows a shop in the Detroit area? every input is always very welcome. Thanks, Guido
I have the same delay you are talking about on mine (2011 just like yours). I've found that if the bike is fully warmed up i dont get it or at least much much less. The previous owner also had the idle on mine super low so raising that helped some as well. I dont think i just gave you an answer to your problem but potentially some things to check.
hey Nate thanks for the input. I actually just found a youtube video that shows EXACTLY what my bike does: the guy in the video says that the carburetors are dirty. I guess I'll have to go a shop...I try to do everything myself usually, mainly because I didn't find a honest motorcycle mechanic yet but messing with the carburetors it's something totally new for me and I'm not sure I want to do it.
Well i will go out and mess with mine tomorrow and see what it does. Carbs are simple man....Something you should not be intimidated by.
I'm going to be in the same boat as you. Just went out and messed with it and its definately got something going on with the carbs. I'm going to pull them out, clean them thoroughly, install a jet kit, and than make sure they are synced and balanced.
"Its a feature!" That's wierd that it revs THEN lugs and dies. Before you take it in, find the petcock on the left side that isn't a real petcock but is something like Run and Open. I keep mine (2009 250r) on "Open" at all times. Turn it with a flathead screwdriver and see if that helps. Open means that it fills the carb continuously, so if you have it open when you drain the carb on wintertime you'll empty the gas tank very slowly. That Open might solve your fueling issue or at least help. I know plenty of carb owners swear by seafoam as well.
thanks. Will try. It's funny that you mentioned seafoam. The previous owner told me that he put seafoam in the tank for the winter. What does seafoam do to carbs?
You know those oil commercials that say how their oil removes engine buildup? Kinda like that. Started for dudes clearing out their outboard boat motors, now used by everyone from cars to lawn tractors with carbs. Basically scrubs everything and hopefully something gets fixed. Use it with 93 octane gas, because adding anything to gas makes to not as concentrated. As for the winterization, its a similar to Sta-bil.
There are many factors with this. Does the bike have an aftermarket pipe? Does the bike have the air box modified? Has someone installed a jet kit with adjustable needles? What main jet size? What pilot jet size? Where is the mixture screw set on each carb?
This is a symptom of a clogged or lean pilot / low speed jet. Open is for prime. You should keep the petcock in the on position so that the vacuum operates the manifold on the petcock only when the motor is running. If it runs on the choke and then wants to die off the choke it's clogged pilot jets. If you leave the petcock in the prime or open position and the gas drains down into the motor the needle and seat valves and / or o-rings are bad. The needle and seat valves and o-rings around the brass piece should not allow gas past them into the cylinders.