XB9 Running like crap

[alexkharris]

I started my bike this week and it ran okay. Went out later to take it for a ride and now it runs like crap. Charged the battery good and added some fresh non ethanol gas and no go. This is the first time I have cranked it in at least 4-5 weeks this winter. I did notice that the front header pipe is only luke warm compared to the hot rear pipe. Sounds like the front cylinder isn't firing. Check engine light doesn't stay on that I remember. Could it be a clogged injector? or fouled plug? something else?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[snrusnak]

Fouled plugs are fairly common on this engine, it's a cheap place to start.

 

[user_deleted]

alex: what sean said. alot of machines have something that i call "nature of the beast". with every XB i've ever owned or stored during the winter for someone...when they sit for a month or longer...they can be odd or tempermental to start. by that i mean i suspect your bike cranked over longer than usual, fired up on one cylinder being the rear, front never came alive or did after several seconds then went dead. 99% of the time it's the spark plugs like sean mentioned. ECM programming quite rich on these bike during cold start. i'd suggest getting yourself a pair of NGK DCPR9EIX iridium plugs. pricey but will prevent this from happening again and really perform well.

 

[alexkharris]

You guys are geniuses. New NGKs and she runs like a champ. Supposed to be 70 degrees tomorrow. I'll be riding for sure.

 

[Hooker]

They aren't THAT expensive. I get them for all my bikes, sleds, and toys, for 5$ a pop from auto zone. Now, you start doing that to a V8 or V6 car, and it gets worse, but be thankful you only have 2 cylinders to take care of

 

[Hooker]

I'll be interested to see how mine starts up. I fogged the cylinders, topped the tank with shell 93, added stabil, and stored her in my shed with LOTS of mothballs (best mouse repellent i've ever used), and took the battery out and kept it in my warm bedroom on my desk. However, this will be the first spring start for me in the upcoming month. I got my bike last april and had a blast before that. The blast was CAKE to start. Just spray some ether in the intake and hold the throttle wide open while cranking for maybe 10secs. Hopefully my XB9 won't be too much trouble, though we've had several below zero days in illinois this winter. Less than 3in of snow, but cold as SH*T. I never got to rip my sleds this year, so i'm ecstatic about digging my bike out. SPRING IS NEAR!