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Where's the power?

5K views 27 replies 19 participants last post by  Stromartist 
#1 · (Edited)
We recently bought the wife a '10 F650GS and then my '09 DL650A a couple months after. We've spent a bit of cash and time setting up both bikes to our liking as 40mile and 110mile highway commuters (part of the fun IMO being a guy who likes to wrench). But I kept feeling like my Wee is lacking something, like it was always working too hard to keep me at 80mph and I'd have nothing left. This is painfully apparent when I ride my wife's GS to the point I'm considering getting rid of the Wee now and getting a BMW for me. But I'm not one to hop from bike to bike so quick. And so many people have such great things to say about the Wee I'm figuring I need to give it more time. So I figure I'll keep tweaking my bike and get a better seat for me to use on the wife's GS to really make sure that's what I want if I get rid of the Wee.

Then another thought hit me. My bike had only 2400 miles on it when I bought it as the PO had it in storage in Oregon for quite a while. I've found evidence of this in couple mouse poop spots under the battery and, most recently, under the tail section while I was installing my Skene P3s. So I think maybe I should check the air filter for more mouse poop before I bitch too much more about lacking power. I ignored the air filter before because it had only 2400 miles and it's not easy to get to.






:jawdrop:





That's not a bird, it's a mouse nest made of enough feathers to make a bird.



Sooooo figuring I just might be onto something now I clean it all out, make sure it's still actually a filter and not an open port for debris, and go for a quick ride. It's no 400 lb F650GS but it does feel a lot better. On order now is a new filter and a 16T front sprocket to help with my high cruising speeds. It's parked until I get the new air filter, I just couldn't resist a quick test. I'll also be adding some steel mesh to the air box opening to keep out future vermin.
 
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#5 ·
Maybe check they haven't chewed some wiring too... I know someone whose brand new car suffered a $3000 wiring repair bill from mice sheltering in the shed during a cold snap!
 
#6 ·
+1 on this. I had a brand new Toyota that mice destroyed the wiring on. Fried wiring and one of the computers. Definitely worth checking.
 
#8 ·
Now I'm wondering if he actually ate the bird... :yikes:

Tread carefully friend, he might be the big brother of the dude in "MouseHunt"!

jc
 
#9 ·
No offense meant in any way. Im coming from a Goldwing, sprint st, and 3 cbr 600. Lots of power available on all those bikes.

After buying the dl650 I was in no way disappointed in the LACK of power. We buy the 650 knowing its not a beast but a blast to ride. Yeah it screams on the interstate but dude its a 650. Spend 5k more and pick up bmw but know this with a bmw you get a totally different motor that will not scream on the interstate. No to be a dick but the whole lack of power concept blows my mind with people. You want power buy the dl1000. Sorry for the rant but when you sell the bike because it doesn't have nenough for you let me know I give you half what you paid.
 
#10 ·
*sigh*
Just sharing how having a pound of mouse nest in your airbox can make a guy question his choice of bikes. Riding this thing was the highlight of my work week until some of that nest probably moved and blocked more of my filter. Then the highway wasn't as much fun anymore. I thought it was my dumbass getting spoiled with cush rpms at speed. Didn't come accross that way I guess.:confused:

And no offense taken, keeping both bikes regardless.:mrgreen:
 
#11 ·
Stuff like this is very common with vintage bikes -- the owner buys an old bike, and might ride it for years without ever really getting it sorted out. The bike takes forever to start and warm up, it doesn't have much power, it pops and snorts, it dies at stoplights, etc. He just figures it's old, and normal for old bikes. Until he encounters other examples, he simply has no idea that an old bike can and should run better than new.

We also encounter a lot of people who putt around like little old ladies, afraid to rev a 30 year old engine. On my GS850, the powerband is VERY entertaining at 6,000 rpm to redline. These old bikes love to spin, and with a few suspension upgrades, they're perfectly reliable and deceptively fast with a bit of skill.

Anyway, the lesson is if something is disappointing, doin't just accept it -- check into it. It may be as simple as this clogged air filter. On bikes with more miles, it's very common to find that valve clearances have been neglected.

Worn-out or unsuitable suspension is another big problem that too many people just accept -- for 40+ years, Suzuki has delivered many of their bikes with weak-ass suspension. In many cases, the suspension is unsuited for the weight of the bike, let alone a rider and luggage.
 
#13 ·
Worn-out or unsuitable suspension is another big problem that too many people just accept -- for 40+ years, Suzuki has delivered many of their bikes with weak-ass suspension. In many cases, the suspension is unsuited for the weight of the bike, let alone a rider and luggage.

Dude, you now have to sell your Vstrom for daring to suggest that it could not be the epitomy of perfection as delivered. Don't you know it has no flaws?:green_lol:
 
#12 ·
A loose spark plug wire or one bad plug really puts it down on power.

As mentioned above, don't be afraid to let the engine spin. It starts to hum at 5,500 and above. If handlebar vibration is excessive for you, Vibranator dampers work. The promo code ADVRIDER is good for a 20% discount.
 
#18 ·
I had this happen to my ATV over the winter when it lived in a shed. I now have a house with a walkout basement that has a garage door in it. Bikes, atv, boat, tractor...all stay inside now. For additional insurance, I hired two rescued cats that sleep on the bikes. Not your normal house cats, these are little ninjas with throwing stars and brass knuckles. I occasionally find some mouse that "made their day".

Makes up for having to cover up everything to keep from getting kitty fur and scratches on it.
 
#20 ·
Well, the blocked airbox is absolutely the first time I saw something crazy like that... It most certainly could have been 100% of your problem.

I had some gripes about my strom when I first bought it, about power, nothing quite as crazy as your airbox situation... My problems were easily fixed as well, I replaced the spark plugs on the bike as it was 7 years old and low miles when I bought it. The plugs had so much carbon on them it was a wonder the bike would fire up in the first place. Just a thought since your bike is sitting while you wait for a filter, might want to drop in some new plugs. My bike also saw a 5-10mpg increase when I installed the new plugs.... Anyways good luck!!!
 
G
#22 ·
I had some gripes about my strom when I first bought it, about power, nothing quite as crazy as your airbox situation....... The plugs had so much carbon on them it was a wonder the bike would fire up in the first place. ... Anyways good luck!!!
Did you ever figure out why there was so much carbon deposited on the plugs?
Seems a bit unusual for a modern unit.
 
#23 ·
Thought I had a mouse nest in the airbox problem so I tore everything down and, alas, found no mouse nest (must have some other issues I have not figured out yet). Just to make sure it never does happen, installed a bit of insurance before putting it all back together again. Just wanted to share...

Grille Automotive exterior Bumper Auto part Mesh


Bumper Grille Automotive exterior Auto part Guitar


Grille Vehicle Car


Footwear Grille Personal protective equipment
 
#24 ·
Here are pics of the air box and filter from my bike after this winters 3 month storage period. Thought you would enjoy seeing the pictures. :D

Here you go.



Little bugger even chewed the rubber intake inlet and the molded plastic ridges off the inside of the air box lid! Luckily he never made it through the filter and everything below it was clean and unaffected.



Always check your filter!! This bike was in storage at a local dealer for less than 3 months. It was on a rack system on the 3rd tier almost 20 feet off the floor! Who would have guessed? I rode it this way for over 6k miles this year and figured it wasn't running as strong as last year because I was past the plug and filter change interval and had been riding a bit of dirt and in all kinds of weather. Turns out this was the problem instead! :confused: Can't believe it was running at all.
 
#26 ·
A few winters ago I went to perform a valve check/adjustment and found mice living under my seat. After chasing them out I thought they may have relatives living in the airbox, I checked when I got the bike apart, but luckily it was rodent free. I placed a screen over the intake to keep them out and always take my seat off if I don't ride for any length of time. Keeping moth balls around the bike is another way to keep mice away.
 
#27 ·
At least you guys had gaskets between your mouse-house-filter and the engine. My PO (or PO's dealer) left mine out. I'd rather have horribly restricted engine than one letting all kinds of dirt in.

Hey and look at the bright side, you gained HP when the issue was fixed - your bike got better! .....mine got slower. Then I treated it to a 16t sprocket...yee haw!
 
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