Help!

Where to start - what a day ive had!

This morning my gear linkage rod snapped on me, so I rode to fowlers in second gear only, and bought a new one. Fitted it and managed to get the gears working the opposite way. Me being a donut i worried a lot about it until i found out from a mate i fitted it the wrong way round.

My main problem is on the way home, by the time i usually get to a few roads away from my place the revs drop when in neutral, did this for me a lot as usual. I think its the engine not being warm enough, i only have a 3 mile ride home. When i was going up the hill to my home, the bike lost power in the lower revs, but i could accelerate cleanly out of it. When i pulled the clutch in, the bike dropped to about 800rpm and cut out. Started again and same thing. Also the exhaust was backfiring LOUDLY about 5 times whilst i was going along in first at 10mph, low revs. Any ideas? PLEASE PLEASE be something that isnt serious! I dont wanna fork out any money before christmas!

Curvy or Pointy SV?

Curvy '99 SV650s (X) model.

Buy some Silkolene Pro FST, follow the instructions on the back and put some in the petrol tank. It will get rid of any sign of carb icing, just keep putting some in when you fill up with petrol.

Isnt that for carb icing? My carbs are heated as standard - not an import.

Or is it still possible with the carbs heated?

Originally Posted by Phaelok

Or is it still possible with the carbs heated?

Aye, it is.

Another thing to do is move the carb heater sense out and into the colder airflow, it is under the petrol tank on the right hand side....

Sounds like carb icing to me aswell. Silkolene in normal petrol solves this, as does using shell v-power (which, it has been proposed, has additives similar to those that make up pro fst).

3 miles isnt a long time really for an engine to be running; last winter (before i used v power or pro fst) i would suffer from poor running / carb icing for about 5 miles.

Oh, and my 1999 sv is a standard uk sv, with the carb heaters....they are a bit pony

Mmm ok, will chuck some of that stuff in tomorrow morning.

Gave my bottle away to a mate of mine for his RCR50 lol, wasnt running well and his didnt have heated carbs.

Ok, will buy a new bottle tomorrow and report back. Youre definately sure though Dave?

Ok thanks guys - much appreciated for the input. Will give many virtual manhugs (possibly more) for your help!

Originally Posted by Phaelok

Youre definately sure though Dave?

With the symptoms you gave it sure does sound like carb icing.