Cold start issue getting worse

[NortonCharlie]

Are you absolutely certain you do not open the throttle at all when you start the bike.  The symptom sound very similar to whacked throttle position sensor offset.  I know it is such an ingrained habit from starting carburated bikes that it becomes second nature.  The throttle position sensor resets when you start the bike.

[pineygroveshop]

Only 9,000 miles on the bike?

[Bixxer Bob]

Tt will do now it's trimmed itself out.  If you'd fitted it before you went, the trims would still be as the dealer set them.  IE bloody awful.

The speedo running slow is more curious.  I'm beginning to wonder if the dealer put a map in that's not meant for your version.  Either that or your broken magnet is making itself known.....

[Chris Canning]

Easy bit first the speedo has run slow for a long time because I set it that way,but it's even slower now sometimes but not all the time!!!.

Re the map,no  matter what map I have had blown into it never stays that way,both my XT/K/R1100s do.

The way it ran yesterday is more than good enough.

[benebob]

Are you absolutely certain you do not open the throttle at all when you start the bike.  The symptom sound very similar to whacked throttle position sensor offset.  I know it is such an ingrained habit from starting carburated bikes that it becomes second nature.  The throttle position sensor resets when you start the bike.

Not touching the throttle at all. 

[benebob]

Only 9,000 miles on the bike?

Not even 9k on it.  Got it in February after my 885i and myself got crunched by a drunk driver.  Had 7500 on it at the time.  Got permission to ride again in May, then had another surgery or two over the summer, just started riding again around the first of sept.  Only put about 5 miles on it a day round trip from home to work, work to the gym, then gym to home so  it takes a while to increase. :)

[metalguru]

Couple of basic things here.

1. The convoluted pipes leading from the Idle Air Control Valve to the Throttle Bodies are worth checking out for cracks and fit on the corresponding spigots, if in doubt change for thick wall silicon vacuum hose. Some fit 5mm for a tighter fit and some have had success with 6mm.

2. While the tank is off to check this lot, the Throttle Bodies can be balanced. When balancing with very accurate gauges, the balance HAS to be EXACT or it will not run nicely or as it should.

If you are feeling adventurous when the airbox is off, look inside and you will see a wall of plastic with two small holes in it, it is good to remove this.

I am sure that because of the low miles the servicing has not been carried out fully as they probably thought it would be ok. There will be some Yellow paint on the balance screws, it is most likely still intact.

[Bixxer Bob]

All good standard stuff Nige, but his fault, like mine, is regular and only at certain predictable times.  That doesn't fit with the erratic behaviour caused by split pipes and bad balance.  Not saying it's not worth doing, just it didn't fix mine.

[metalguru]

BB
Yours sounds very much like the IACV is set too low.
EG, if it is set at say -8, try setting nearer 0 to say -5.
Carry out the blip test if the revs drop quickly to below target idle go to -4 and blip test again.
If the revs drop slowly and hover above target set to -6 and test.
Carry out at normal operating temp.
Not teaching to suck eggs but sounds like the problem. Have you blown a map in recently?

[benebob]

I my laziness and general poor condition has lead me to a possible solution for mine.  I filled up 1/2 way with gas and added the up to 12 gallon bottle of chevron teckron to the 3 gallons of gas.  The idle is now starting out around 1000-1150 before climbing and it hasn't stalled out yet.  Granted I'm 6 days of riding into it so we shall see but all signs point to an injector that may not be spraying as good as it could.

[Bixxer Bob]

Now there's something I hadn't tried!!! Gonna buy some injector cleaner and give her a good thrashing.  When it stops raining. 

[benebob]

It stops over there? :)  I got made fun of when I went to get my hair cut today b/c I was in a vehicle with a top.  The woman who cuts my hair has never seen me take something other than my TVR or a bike.  Only reason I drove was b/c I had a dentist appt. 10 miles across town otherwise I would have ridden despite the 2 inches of rain we got today.  I'm wondering if it might be a combination of dirty injectors and a bit of water in my gas.

[benebob]

Well now I'm stumped.  Seemed like on the way to work it would bog down below about 4k then run fine above.  Then on the way home it stalled, had trouble restarting it and now it doesn't like to run at all plugged in the ecutune and no codes or the like.  It isn't safe to ride.  I'm gonna drain the gas tonight and see what that does, but any other ideas?

[benebob]

Oh and not sure if this has anything to do with it.   I've noticed for the past few weeks the headlights flicker a bit on the throttle.  Had just assumed it was just from the regulator as I accelerated but I'm now not so sure.  Not that the other very poor running started then.  I did drain a bit of gas out today but didn't get it all out as I can't get the crossover fuel line off.

Any ideas?

[NortonCharlie]

Your battery terminals tight?