Guest Posted July 5, 2014 Posted July 5, 2014 Evening all... I recently bought a slightly tatty 2002 Varadero 125 with about 20k on the clock (best I could afford!), and am now on the point of giving it some TLC... As I'm pretty much a total newbie to bikes, I wondered if I could mention a few things I've noticed about this one and see if any of the more hardened pros out there could suggest diagnosis...NB: I've just bought a service pack, and am going to do oil / filter / air filter / sparks as a matter of course...The two main issues I've encountered so far (over a couple of days of light city riding) are1. It's often hard to get it into neutral, esp at a standstill: seems to require a feather touch up from first, sometimes I see the faintest flicker on the "N" light but then it clunks into second, sometimes the light comes on and it hits neutral. However, both when the bike is coasting to a stop and when it's stopped with the engine off, it generally goes into neutral no probs... But why?!2. It's been lurching and stalling in first a lot. Initially, I put this down to me being a total amateur and needing to get a feel for the clutch...which is probably still true, but then the other night, towards the end of my longest continuous ride so far (3-4 miles; Hells Angels move over), when stopped at a set of traffic lights with the bike in first, i noticed the revs dying: needle falling towards 1k. I revved hard to keep it alive, and then gave it it a lot of throttle in first once the lights had changed -- but the bike remained stationary and the revs slooooowly climbed up until the needle was at about 6k (this took about 5 seconds), at which point the bike began to move, and then quickly resumed business as usual: second and third gears were just fine; but when I hit the next set of stop lights and dropped to first it was the same problem again... - The online reading I've done so far suggests that this is most likely clogged carbs; or possibly a battery problem... is there anything in the above which suggests either of these - or indeed something else - to you guys? I'm not 100% sure how long the bike was standing around for before I bought it but I reckon 1-2months at least, so fuel clogged in carbs is a definite possibility. I've just put some Forte fuel additive stuff in the tank, as a sort of what-the-hell measure, to see if it makes any difference... But I've also been mugging up on the "stripping carbs" pages in my Haynes manual... Anyway, any tips / thoughts gratefully received... as is any advice on other stuff to look out for / change on a bike of this vintage!Cheers, Pete Quote
Rik398 Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 Sounds like you are on the right track. I had one and didn't notice any gear selection issues. Seeing as your longest continuous ride has been 3-4 miles so far, I wouldn't worry. Before panicking about the gears, get some more experience on it first. Finding neutral was always more tricky for me than finding an actual gear at first, so its likely that you may just be starting to get the hang of it. Longer rides and some experience may sort it, look for the simple / cheapest options first and all that As for the revs, again, if your longest ride has been 3-4 miles, then it may be the bike warming up properly? I am fairly sure it has a manual choke? make sure that is not left on after starting and warming up. A longer ride and getting it to a proper running tempreature may sort it, get things moving properly. If not, then yeah sounds like it could be a carb issue, its where I would be looking. Also, you may find that after doing the service, it sorts some things out as well.I would do the service first as you have mentioned, and try taking it for longer rides. If that doesn't help it, only then go further. They are fairly tough machines. Quote
eastanglianbiker Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 before you go changing the oil have you checked the oil level in it now and have you got the clutch cable correctly adjusted,chain tension is another cause of problems as well Quote
klingelton Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 before long you'll be accidentally selecting neutral when shifting from 1st to second and revving the nuts off your bike while the traffic you just filtered between re-overtakes you and you feel a real plonker!Clean the carbs and invest in a new battery - if you don't know the life of the old one. New plugs, fresh oil and filter. have a look in the haynes about adjusting the clutch cable as well and make sure your chain is well adjusted. All simple things that can give symptoms you speak of.Welcome to the world of 2 wheels buddy! Quote
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