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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
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Message started by kecuki on 08/22/16 at 11:55:28

Title: Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
Post by kecuki on 08/22/16 at 11:55:28

I'm noticing that riding my bike in first gear, it doesn't have as much acceleration and power as I think it should have, or as I'm used to from very different bikes I rode in the past. Usually, when I stop and start moving on 1st, acceleration is not linear, sometimes a little bit jumpy even. As I'm opening the throttle, it doesn't accelerate smoothly. From 2nd gear upwards it's much better, opening throttle gradually accelerates bike forward. Is this something I should expect from this bike or is it not normal? I have '99 Ryca, unknown mileage. Many thanks for your responses and sorry for the dumb question ::)

Title: Re: Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
Post by Dave on 08/22/16 at 12:00:45

If the bike surges and doesn't accelerate smoothly at low throttle settings - but the acceleration smooths out when you open the throttle over 1/2 throttle - that is an indication that the bike is running too lean at lower throttle settings. The cure for that is normally to replace the white spacer on the slide needle with 3 washers that are #4 Machine Screw size (sometimes 2 washers if 3 doesn't cure the problem).

Maybe you could use a carb cleaning as well?

What kind of oil are you using? Hopefully not an oil with Friction Modifiers that could be causing your clutch to slip.

Title: Re: Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 08/22/16 at 13:12:31

162D2037262A31372C242936450 wrote:
If the bike surges and doesn't accelerate smoothly at low throttle settings - but the acceleration smooths out when you open the throttle over 1/2 throttle - that is an indication that the bike is running too lean at lower throttle settings. The cure for that is normally to replace the white spacer on the slide needle with 3 washers that are #4 Machine Screw size (sometimes 2 washers if 3 doesn't cure the problem).

[this is directed at the OP, not Dave]

The easy way to determine if lean jetting is causing performance problems is to engage the choke while accelerating and see if performance improves.

[of course, Dave knows this]

Title: Re: Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
Post by Dave on 08/22/16 at 14:00:38

I am not a big fan of using the choke for doing an analysis on carb issues....however if it does run better with the choke on, that is an indication the engine needs more fuel for some reason. It doesn't help you to know if it needs a jetting change, idle fuel adjustment, the carb cleaned, or there is low fuel in the float bowl.

However...the choke can help you figure out if the issue is fuel related, and if the problem is too little or too much fuel. It shouldn't be used as an indication on the main jet size.....the choke doesn't work at high throttle settings.

Title: Re: Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
Post by kecuki on 08/22/16 at 14:14:17

58636E7968647F79626A67780B0 wrote:

What kind of oil are you using? Hopefully not an oil with Friction Modifiers that could be causing your clutch to slip.

I have Suzuki 10w40 (4-Cycle Motorcycle Engine Oil)

I remember playing with a choke a little bit some weeks ago, and if I recall correctly bike was running a bit better (in 1st gear, that is)... I will need to try again to be 100% sure.

Title: Re: Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
Post by Savageman on 08/22/16 at 16:14:19

Do you have the petcock mod installed? Sounds like it's starved for fuel.

Title: Re: Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
Post by Riley on 08/22/16 at 16:43:01

I think part of the problem in 1st is that the power isn't spread over a wide range making acceleration short. 1st ends so quickly the bike doesn't have much time to spend in the powerband whereas in 2nd it does. Of course past second the gutless bike will have a hard time spreading the low amount of torque over the gear ranges.

Title: Re: Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
Post by Savageman on 08/22/16 at 20:22:32

If it's tuned right no way. It has plenty of torque in all gears but only 30 ish HP. It's not a Kawasaki Ninja racing bike it's a thumper cruiser different class. It's not the kind of engine you rev to 14000 RPM. If you do you'll be in pieces.

You have something out of adjustment. Timing chain, carburetor, valve lash, bad gas... :-?

Title: Re: Not-so-great acceleration in 1st gear
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/22/16 at 22:03:59

If you're not getting a giggle either you're spoiled by having a seriously quick bike, or yours is not running right.
With mods real close to a six second zero to sixty is totally doable. Stock, IDK, but they aren't gutless. First gear is done quickly. If you're Riding in first you should be in a parking lot.
If you want acceleration you should be grabbing second no more than a couple of seconds after leaving the line. I'm in fourth by about ten seconds out. Not trying to run each gear all the way out, just feeling the torque.