Hey Jules and stalling

bikerbetty,

the stalling is quite common on any carbie'd bike below 0, in Canberra.
(at least, from my experience in Canberra winters, anyway). Some bikes
are more sensitive to it than others.

Being naked and unfaired, my poor little Virago is extremely sensitive
to temps at or below -5, but the other bikes I have owned (which had
fairings), only started having issues at -7 or -10. The cold wind/wind
chill factor can also help the freezing process, even if the temp isn't
that low.

It gets worse when it is very foggy and below 0 at the same time. This
means that the dampness soaks everything, and then freezes solid on
whatever it settles on. (the carbies freeze up, then makes the bike stop
when you stop at lights).

It is nothing unusual in Canberra winter temps, and I doubt very much if
it is anything to worry about, mechanically speaking, apart from being
very annoying when it happens.

I might catch the bus if its below -6 tomorrow...


bikerbetty wrote:
> I remember you saying you were coming to Canberra in late June.....
>
> Rug up - we've had a couple of minus 7 mornings!
>
> Related to the freezing weather is this question for any other
> cold-weather dwellers/riders...
>
> Is there anything I can do to stop the GPX stalling every time I gear
> down at lights? As soon as the temps fall below zero (and we get a lot
> of that here) I have a bugger of a time at lights- and it's a bit scary
> when cars come hooning up behind me and I'm frantically trying to
> restart the engine, especially as it's still dark at that time....
>
> Any suggestions? (apart from the obvious *take the bus*, ha ha)
>
> thanks
> betty
>

sharkey wrote:
> bikerbetty <bikerbetty.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > No, only car mechanics have been like that with me. The bloke I take
> > the bike to is terrific - explains stuff to me, shows me stuff
> > (probably because I sound interested and he knows I want to learn about
> > it.) Besides, his workshop is only small and he only has one offsider
> > - I find set-ups like that are always more helpful.
>
> Feel free to gratuitously plug ...
>
> -----sharks
> --
> Nick 'Sharkey' Moore | "Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents,
> <sharkey.RemoveThis@zoic.org> | and everyone is writing a book." -- Cicero (106-43 BCE)

Cool!

<gratuituous plug>

Bruce's Motorcycles - Grimwade St Mitchell. I think Bruce is great
because he takes me seriously and listens to my concerns about my bike.
It doesn't matter that I'm a little woman on a little bike, and have
L's, and the first time I picked up the bike after a service I admitted
to being too scared to ride it away from the workshop in peak hour (you
know we have a SHOCKING peak hour in Canberra, right???<snigger>). He
actually understood that and didn't make me feel like an idiot - and
has thus earned my undying loyalty.

Women riders are on the increase, like it or not <grin>, and mechanics
who don't treat them like idiots are going to be the big winners in the
long run.

I told Bruce about the stalling problem and we had a bit of a chat
about the whys and wherefores, and it all tallied with what you guys
(and other friends) have said. He's adjusted the idle speed a bit and
now I'll just have to see how it goes. Sounded good on the way home
from the workshop (in peak hour this time, YAY!!!!!)

Thanks for your responses folks - fingers crossed for tomorrow morning
on the way to work in the frost!

betty