Good days and bad

[Tuono1961]

Chaps

08 GS 16k miles

Why is it that some days (today) my bike runs like a dream. Super smooth, loads of torque, free revving. Yet on other days it feels lazy, rattly and just a bit of an old nail.

I'm sure if I took it to a dealer on the bad days they'd say there's nothing wrong with it. Which there isn't but when it has a good day it just feels so much better.

Only engine mod is an accelerator wire much discussed in other threads.

I've sort of narrowed it down to three areas but would much appreciate the thoughts of the fountain of all GS knowledge so I can get it to always have a good day.

1. Fuel
As I regularly fill up at the same place as thats the way the commute works I doubt it could be this but does fuel vary a great deal even from the same station ?

2. My head
Always put it down to this, but its too pronounced to think it may be me. Could be down to my riding on a particular day but I've now worked out my riding is more a reflection of how the bike is running rather than the other way round.

3. Atmosphere
This is where I'm focusing at the moment. It's was cloudy overcast on the commute this morning and the bike was running great. Whereas yesterday (old nail day) the skys were clear. So do people feel that the atmosphere ie air pressure makes a difference as to how the bike runs ? And if this is the case why is it so pronounced on my bike?

Generally it has more bad days than good and I'm loathed to go down the mods route until I find out why there is such a change in the engine characteristics as it is. Owned many bikes over many years and I've never really noticed an issue like this before

Any thoughts??

 

[Keith Chapman]

I would go with the atmosphere theory.

 

[majorbumsore]

in ya head?

Ive had 7 Gs ers from an 1100 in 97 through the range and now own a HP2e.
and they all do that.
I'm convinced its in the head of the rider.
Put some good ear plugs in and they all ride great, take them out and your sat on a bag of spanners tied to a space hopper.

but then again it could be just my head.
just my penny's worth.

 

[Spout]

Certainly with carb'd bikes the atmosphere does have a effect.

Our fool injection with all its sensors and electrical wizardry should cancel this though. Maybe your "accelerator" mod is stopping normal function

 

[Beemerman59]

Same on my '08 - sometimes smooth and little engine noise, othertimes rattles like hell. I turn the music up at times like that.

Probably denser air makes it feel less stressed hence on cooler days it will feel better.

 

[Tuono1961]

Maybe your "accelerator" mod is stopping normal function

What's causing the inconsistency though that's what's bugging me. If it was always "bag of nails" days I would accept that's how a GS is and get on with it.

It's the good days that bug me because I keep thinking "how do I make it always like this"

 

[snerkler]

I think a large part will be in your head, or how you're feeling. For example, if I've had a bad nights sleep and a touch irritable I notice the vibes of the bike more, wind noise etc etc. When I'm feeling refreshed I don't notice these things anywhere near as much.
What I don't understand is how the bike feels more powerful on some days compared to others. I don't think it's fuel as I try to always use vpower
Also I've noticed that I get more wind noise when it's colder, and especially if it's cold and wet. I'm guessing that might have something to do with the air being more dense/heavy?

 

[Beemerman59]

What's causing the inconsistency though that's what's bugging me. If it was always "bag of nails" days I would accept that's how a GS is and get on with it.

It's the good days that bug me because I keep thinking "how do I make it always like this"

I'm with you on this one, I don't think its anything to do with your "head" either - the engine rattle does vary daily. I have wondered if there's inconsistency in the tightness of the cam chain tensioners could have something to do with it. Sometimes on start up there's no rattle, othertimes quite a bit for a few seconds and it seems on the latter times the engine runs noisier than before. Mine's always done it so I'm not concerned but would be nice to know the cause.

 

[Tuono1961]

This place is great therapy

I'm not "concerned" either but it does bug the hell out of me. There must be a scientific reason for this out there somewhere even if it's not fixable.

It's so good to know I'm not alone though

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

Mine always runs smoother when Iv'e got earplugs in

 

[Pip_UK]

It's the good days that bug me because I keep thinking "how do I make it always like this"

I feel the same way about marriage

 

[Tuono1961]

I feel the same way about marriage

Now, I wouldn't even attempt to sort that one out

Anyway this is supposed to be a semi technical thread and the female "mental" has no place here

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Its the weather, the colder the air is the better your engine will run. Cold air is denser so you get more in the engine along with more fuel and you get a bigger bang so more and smoother power. Same happens between high and low altitude. An engine always runs at its best on a crisp night.

 

[Tuono1961]

Its the weather, the colder the air is the better your engine will run. Cold air is denser so you get more in the engine along with more fuel and you get a bigger bang so more and smoother power. Same happens between high and low altitude. An engine always runs at its best on a crisp night.

Are we going definitive on that then ?

 

[snerkler]

Its the weather, the colder the air is the better your engine will run. Cold air is denser so you get more in the engine along with more fuel and you get a bigger bang so more and smoother power. Same happens between high and low altitude. An engine always runs at its best on a crisp night.

So the OP needs to move to the Arctic then so his bike can run smooth all the time

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

yes or go south and live with it.

 

[shugie]

Mine always runs smoother when Iv'e got earplugs in

I feel the same way about marriage

How true.