anyone elses bike not like the cold?????

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captain chaos

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
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380
Location
Kokomo, In
I rode the bike yesterday to take care of some BMV stuff and this thing really doesn't like the cold (it was mid 20's). It seems to be running VERY lean. The revs hang bad before returning to idle (at one point it wouldn't return to idel at all) and the cylinders/ pipes get HOT (even in the freezing cold). It seemed to be OK when I bought it. I took it for a short ride then and the conditions were similar. It seems to have developed this after doing my breather re-route. I havent modified the airbox (yet) other than removing the snorkle. Any thoughts?
 
i've noticed that as it got colder, I seemed to lose power. Like I have te rip it up in 2nd to get the front wheel up. I have breather re route, ebr ecm, open airbox, and I have a k & n but am running the stock filter as to keep from running any leaner. I intend to try to give it a good tune this spring after I get a new laptop and the software
 
My bike doesn't seem to mind the cold but my back ( since 2 surgeries ) doesn't like it at all!!!
 
yeah mine seems to hate the cold. It has a hard time starting when it below 40. Last year I fouled the plugs on it and this year i took it for one last ride before winter, and it was only running on one cylinder. Once i opened it up it cleaned it out and ran fine. I attribue some of this to living in northern maine and having that winterized crap they call gas here. Some of my buddies at work say that their Harleys hate the cold too.
 
The day I winterized my bike it was about 35 out. I took it to the gas station to fill up and it actually seemed to run better. The only mods I have is the factory race kit.
 
I have a sneaking suspision that the cold temp enrichment is crap on the factory tune. I believe I have the Race ECM (race muffler, k&n, and no light with the exhaust valve disconected) although I haven't verified it by taking off the fairing to check the ECM. Seems as though someone bought the "Race Kit". Anyway, it still doesn't like the cold. I get the feeling that they spent very little time getting the fueling right for sub freezing temps.

My carb'd Sportster ran fine in the cold. My carb'd GSXR LOVES the cold. Funny how the only bike that has given me trouble has been the fancy modern EFI equipted one.
 
I have a sneaking suspision that the cold temp enrichment is crap on the factory tune. I get the feeling that they spent very little time getting the fueling right for sub freezing temps.

That's what it sounds like, are others having this problem too?

~Mike......
 
I've had hanging revs as well - very uncomfortable when jumping on it for the first time in about 2-3 weeks, expecting some engine-braking, but instead you get cruise control! GRrr.. I even pulled over to mess with the throttle cables - and only made it worse. The bike ran much better the next day and the day after. Don't know why it did it, but I definitely thinking it was the cold.

I haven't noticed any extra heat.
 
It isn't only the Cold-start enrichment, though this surely sounds like it should be adjusted. Once the bike is warm, it should run normal. After about 130 Celsius it is out of cold-start region.

Does everyone know about the AFV on our bikes, which compensates automatically for changes in altitude/weather/etc.? Don't forget (or here's new info if you never knew) you need to ride the bike at cruising RPMs, cruising throttle position (no blurps or WOT runs) for a little while (10-20 minutes?) for the AFV to adjust properly. It will increase from 100% to 120% or around there. It should run better after this.

Once the weather gets warm again, it'll tend to run rich, so you should repeat this procedure.
 
its hittin 20 degress in idaho it was down to 0 for a bit that was when i put my baby in the kitchen above a heater vent:D
 
I'm gonna do my plugs once I get back from school in May/June. I'm going through withdrawals as I'm used to riding it at least once or twice a week to work! [mad]
 
Driving in the cold is rough on our bikes for some reason. They same to change your oil more often if you ride in the cold alot.
 
I've had my 04 xb12s since new, it has the factory race kit on it and it loves the colder weather. Mine has more problems in the summer...it pings like mad under a low rpm load.
 
I've had my 04 xb12s since new, it has the factory race kit on it and it loves the colder weather. Mine has more problems in the summer...it pings like mad under a low rpm load.

Bike probably is addicted to the cold! LOL! Seriously tho I have heard of this.
 
Mine has more problems in the summer...it pings like mad under a low rpm load.

If it pings under low RPM load when it's hot and not cold, it's too much ignition advance. Your running a Race ECM, are you running 92 or better octane? Those maps are optimized for high octane fuels. Try dialing back the ignition advance in the RPM range your hearing the pinging at high load. The reason I say it's ignition and not a fueling problem is because if it was fueling, you'd have the opposite problem with the pinging happening when it was cold rather than hot.

~Mike.....
 
When I can I run vp unleaded race gas. I don't want to go outside and look but I think its 101 octane. It runs great on that but my distributed closed (its hard to find anybody local that sells unleaded race gas around here). So for now its 92 octame pump gas and octane booster when I remember to by it. But your right about it liking a little more octane.
I was thinking about the timing...I just haven't looked into it yet. I've just been running the vp or adding octane as I go.
 
KMine runs fine in the cold .However i don't understand why you removed the snorkel/the air needs to be stablized coming in the air box. The air box was made that way so when enviroment changes, the IAT along w/the ecm will compensate for the changes.An every day riding bike when changes are made needs good plugs & good air but not too much. Whats good for Summer doesn't work for winter. The cylinders & heads need the heat so no firing problems occur from a too cold situation. There are other factors as well but thats another post. Try to keep at least 70 miles of fuel in the frame(tank)when its that cold.I would start over put the part back on & try a better plug set . Could be something as easy as a pinched vent hose not sure what all has been changed keep at it and post up soon.
 


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