Well on the way from picking the new addition of my family up from a good sale, my 1998 cbr 600 f3 was driving great...for about 20 miles. Great throttle response, great feeling, great bike. On the way home though, there was a lot of traffic and a lot of sitting. I went to accelerate up again and it just cut off. Tried starting it back up and realized the battery was dead. Going to get a new battery this weekend hopefully, but I called up a friend and threw it in the back of his mini van for the remaining 20 miles. I got home and still the battery was dead, so I tried push starting it and cranked right up. Let it sit to idle for a few minutes then just cut off. Couldn't get it to start back up by push starting and the battery sure as hell wasn't doing anything, but I'm wondering why it would just cut off while idling. It was running like a champ all the way until it just cut off on me randomly. There was a good amount of gas in it (maybe a gallon and a half or so). I'm thinking maybe the carbs just need cleaned? I don't know absolutely anything mechanically when it comes to motorcycles, but I'd love to tinker around and fix whatever the issue seems to be. Going to replace all of the fluids while I'm at it. Anyone know what the issue may be? I know it's not much information and I'll answer what I can, but the bike is currently in a friend's garage. Thanks so much for reading.
-Aaron

 

Check your charging system output. Sounds like the typical regulator and/or burned plug problem. Search around....its been covered hundreds of times. They don't charge at idle, only at rpms.

 

Any things I should do other than change fluids and clean the carbs when buying a new used bike?

 

I'd probably check the brake pads/discs.
It's more fun when you know you can stop.

Or is it?

Check your chain's tension, and have a look at the condition of the teeth on the front and rear sprockets, or just get a new set of all three and see what a difference it makes.
Your bike will feel really tight and crisp and responsive.
That's a good thing.

Have a good look at your tyres, all the way around.
You should do this fairly regularly anyway, but you need to know they're good if you trust your skin/bones to them.

BOLTS:

Brakes
Oil
Lights
Tyres
Suspension/Steering

That'll do to start.

Enjoy!!

 

Any things I should do other than change fluids and clean the carbs when buying a new used bike?

Wash it thoroughly!

Clean every bit of it. Thats the best way to look at every part, nut, bolt, and discover what been done to it. Keep your eyes open and look for things that aren't right like loose/missing nuts and bolts, broken things, bad wiring splices, cracks and damage. As mentioned, lube things and check tires and brakes, and change all of the fluids. I put all new bulbs in mine as well, just because I want them all clean and new. Not a bad idea to verify charging voltages and battery condition from time to time, since it's a common fail on these bikes. (you know all about that now hope you got that all worked out)

 

Thanks for the responses guys and sorry it's been a while to respond since I've been busy trying to get this thing going. I replaced the oil today which was kind of fun without allen wrenches around. (It's in my friends garage and forgot some tools). I think the first thing I'm going to do once I get it running is buy some fairings because the idiot I got it from broke basically every plastic pin that holds them in place and its all zip tied together and looks ghetto as ****. I charged the battery and just tried to put it back in and thought maybe it'd at least start up...well it cranked for about 10 seconds, I stopped turned the key off and back on. Tried again and nothing happened. The lights were on and everything. Turned the key off and back on, but this time absolutely nothing, no lights, nothing. I'm still waiting on the r/r which is supposed to come in tomorrow the guy said. But I mean shouldn't I atleast have a little power to the lights at least just after 10 seconds of trying to start it or would the r/r really kill it that quickly? I checked the battery with a multimeter after and it still read about 12.5 volts so just confused Maybe I'll pick up some new spark plugs when I pick up the r/r tomorrow but damn this is frustrating. The guy I bought it from did most of the work himself and the wiring looked fairly decent, even though I know absolutely nothing about the electronics parts. Any ideas?

 

I didn't mean to say it was "cranking" but the battery was trying to get it started and it wanted nothing to do with it

 

I'm a first time bike owner, I have a 97 cbr 600 f3. I don't know much about the mechanics of bikes, but sounds like a similar problem I had. I rode the bike a few times no problem. One day after about 40 miles the bike cut off as i came to a slow stop and the rpms fell to about 1.5.

Like your situation my battery was fine but wouldn't crank over. I was able to get it to start by slowing throttling up while holding the start button and could ride as long as i maintained 2 rpms at all times.

I took it to the mechanic, had the carbs cleaned, and since then its ran well. Hope you get your bike up and running.