It was too nice yesterday so I had to get her out for a ride. Pics not the greatest off the crackberry but here's my old girl ... 65K and still looks pretty good.

Still running rough once warmed up after about 10 min. I checked out the air filter and it's practically brand new and looks fine. Pulling the plugs tonight for a look see.

 

65k huh...I'd be going through those carbs.

 

did you yo do all those miles on the bike. and since you in canada is that 65,000 kilometers on the clocks or 65,000 miles. start by checking with the fuel, then lines, filter, the pump, the easy 1 to 2 minute stuff, plugs adn wires and connections, if thats all fine and still rough, clean the carbs out.

 

Nice lookin' bike for the miles. At least I don' feel so left out with one of the only orange bikes on here..

 

65,000 kms and I am the second owner. The original owner used to commute about 100 kms a day on it so the miles racked up. The condition is pretty excellent really considering the mileage but he had good records of service and the price was right. I changed the oil a couple of weeks ago and it was in great shape and looking at the carbs the other day they seem to be clean (but will likely clean and re-balance in the next week or two). He indicated to me that it was ready for the routine valve adjustment (as listed in the shop manual ... it is ready every 16,000 kms). But, I'm checking out the easy stuff first like plugs, fuel, filter, etc... I'm assuming since he has had this bike since new that he has adjusted the valves three times allready and knew what it felt like when the hesitation started?

Anybody know a good shop in the Niagara, ON area? I've never had great luck with my other bikes and the local guys. I have mostly done my own service but don't have the time anymore. (Previously owned Kawa EX500, Suz GS500 and Honda CM250 over the past 20 years)

 

every 16,000kms thats only 10,000 miles, in the u.s. manual it say every 16,000 miles thats strange

 

You're right ... must have misread it. Pulled a couple of plugs last night and they look to be worn. Not burnt or oily but like old plugs. Picking up some new ones this afternoon and will see how it goes after that.

 

If you put plugs in your F4, can you please post some instructions and gotchas that you encountered? The service manual makes it seem not so hard but I think those service manuals are not exactly well written and there's a lot that happens when you're actually doing the work. I just had a shop put new plugs in mine and my bike seems happier (I didn't realize it needed plugs).

And, at 65K, that thing looks good. I think a good commute everyday on a bike is good for it - at least a lot better than one that gets ridden hard only on weekends when it's at least 80F and sunny and dry, etc.

Thanks,

Dennis

 

Plugs were pretty easy. Dropped the rad like the manual says and then after reading around here it looked like pulling the airbox was the way to go. Pull the airbox. You just hinge the tank up out of the way, leave it all connected and pop out one screw and the intake ducts and loosen off at the carbs and the airbox can easily be pulled up out of the way. I used the plug socket that came with the took kit and a 10mm socket and 12" extension to get them started and then by hand. The toughest part might be the coils but you just have to pull them straight up in front of the small round frame member and then snake them out.

All in all bike is smoother throughout all rpm's and even after about 45 min of riding there was no hesitation at all. Still likely clean out the carbs, fuel filter and anything else that looks sketchy.

I did put di-electric grease on all connections and used compressed air to blow out the plug holes BEFORE removing the plugs. Also blew out the inside of the coils (only light pressure air in here).