GPZ Question

[Guest]

Hi,

I passed my mod 2 today, and with a smile on my face picked up my Kawa GPZ500 from my friends garage he'd stored for me since purchase. The bike is an 'N' reg with highish miles, but complete service history. My question is this, has anyone ever owned one, and are slight lumpiness at slow speeds and popping sounds (at any speed) when easing off the throttle normal?

Any help would be great!

Cheers

[Guest]

I had the ER-5, (same engine) and there are a few on here with the GPZ, how long was it stored?

a basic once over wouldn't hurt, fresh oil, Oil filter, plugs and airfilter.. its not a difficult job, GarethNW has just done his.

http://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/view ... =3&t=26580

and you could try fitting an inline fuel filter (2.99) and depending on how old the fuel is, some fresh fuel (i.e older than 6 months...)

this will hopefully solve your problem, and if not, it covers the basics so we can look futher..

(and add your location to your profile, as if we know where you are someone may be in the area to help..)

[JoshTimmins]

Hi,

I passed my mod 2 today, and with a smile on my face picked up my Kawa GPZ500 from my friends garage he'd stored for me since purchase. The bike is an 'N' reg with highish miles, but complete service history. My question is this, has anyone ever owned one, and are slight lumpiness at slow speeds and popping sounds (at any speed) when easing off the throttle normal?

Any help would be great!

Cheers

 

i got one of these, M reg... mine is restricted.

Luminess at slow speed, only when its cold, but i always make sure its warmed up now before i go out anywhere.

And the popping sound, i got too, im putting it down to the pinhole i have in the downpipes, but as the downpipes are off the bike now and i need to replace em, thats that gnna be sorted. Maybe check yours over?

Josh

[cyberwolf]

i use to have gpz years ago it was 92 dunno what reg that be but never had any probs with it and i didnt use it for 2 months as i had op,

have you tried taken old fuel out and putting new in petrol as shelf life of about 6 months thats first thing i would try

[Guest]

Thanks for your suggestions, It has a non-standard exhaust (nexus?) fitted which could explain the popping, I'll probably get that changed at the next service. The bike has been standing for about 2 months, so fuel should be good. I filled her up yesterday which will hopefully help.

I might try and give her a small service this weekend, as it seems like quite a simple process.

Thanks Again.

Chris

[GarethNW]

Yeah I have had the GPZ500 since I passed my test this year. I love the bike myself.

Service on this bike is very easy to do yourself!

I find the bike isnt choppy at slow speeds even when cold, it's choppy no matter what below 3k revs. anything above that and its smooth and friendly. At 3K revs it feels like its barely turning over on my bike and it should be a very smooth bike to ride.

Only thing id watch for is when u let the clutch out for enginee breaking, its almost thrown me off twice cause I let the clutch out a little quick with confidance and bike went all over the place.

Hope you like it!

[Guest]

Thanks for your suggestions, It has a non-standard exhaust (nexus?) fitted which could explain the popping, I'll probably get that changed at the next service. The bike has been standing for about 2 months, so fuel should be good. I filled her up yesterday which will hopefully help.

I might try and give her a small service this weekend, as it seems like quite a simple process.

Thanks Again.

Chris

your popping has something to do with the exhaust, you may have a leak.

start the bike up and with a gloved hand put your palm over the hole, you should feel resistance, and if its a cold morning see any fumes (smoke) escaping.. also the bike will nearly stall as its choking itself, this is not a problem and shows that the exhaust isn't leaking anywhere...

[Colin the Bear]

Only thing id watch for is when u let the clutch out for enginee breaking, its almost thrown me off twice cause I let the clutch out a little quick with confidance and bike went all over the place.

 

This will happen on any bike if the gear is too low. To avoid this , don't change down too many or too soon. Stay in a higher gear.

The popping might be due to it running a little rich with the non standard exhaust. If everything else checks out on a service, a little carb tweaking may be required.

[GarethNW]

Does the engine on a two cylinder engine not generate a lot more breaking than say a bigger 4 cylinder?

This will happen on any bike if the gear is too low. To avoid this , don't change down too many or too soon. Stay in a higher gear.

 

I let the clutch out a little easier now just incase ive gone down one to many gears by mistake.

[Pete]

Does the engine on a two cylinder engine not generate a lot more breaking than say a bigger 4 cylinder?

This will happen on any bike if the gear is too low. To avoid this , don't change down too many or too soon. Stay in a higher gear.

 

I let the clutch out a little easier now just incase ive gone down one to many gears by mistake.

 

You're both right. Engine braking happens on any bike, but yes Gareth it happens more on a two cylinder than a big 4 (2 pistons the size of you compared to 4 pistons the size of a bar of soap!).

To avoid either let the throttle out slowly, or get into the habit of blipping the throttle on the way down the gears.

As for lumpiness and popping Chris just do what people have suggested (although with most bikes if you're changing down too soon the exhaust will pop...usually at higher speeds though). Putting an in-line fuel filter in is a good idea, but that won't cure the problem yet (but it will go some way to stopping it in future). You may just have gummed up carbs. My first port of call would be Halfords to get a bottle of Redex (make sure you get the one for your type of engine, not diesel or fuel injected!) and chuck that through a couple of tank loads. People's opinions vary on whether Redex does any good but I've always had good results in the past.

If the Redex goes some way to making it better but doesn't totally rectify it you might want to consider taking the carbs out and giving them a good clean by hand. It's not as hard as it sounds, but can be time consuming so make sure you have a nice workbench to sit at, a radio and a heater!

[Guest]

Thanks again! All very helpful. I'm pretty sure the exhaust has a small leak, it's pretty audible from the front of the manifold. Going to get her serviced in a fortnight as I also discovered the cooling fan is completely jammed. Building up a pretty healthy list of works required!

The lumpiness is odd, but normal I think. Its like an old transit until you get to >3k revs, when it just comes together! I will try some redex though, if only for the plums of white smoke!

Cheers

[Guest]

you may find that fixing one fixes the other, get the zorst sealed, and see if the lumpiness goes away...

[GarethNW]

A gpz will allways be lumpy below 3k revs. no matter what condition itsa in.

[Guest]

A gpz will allways be lumpy below 3k revs. no matter what condition itsa in.

 

BUT... if this has the same engine as the er5's the riding schools use, why aren't they lumpy?