2002 Kawasaki ER5

ruane · L Plate Warrior Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Karma :

I was looking at an '02 ER5 during the week. Might have bought it too but decided to leave and come back a couple of days later for a test as I wanted to see the engine start from cold (it was still warm on first viewing).

Anyway came back, and engine started fine, but then it ran irregularly for a minute or two. I fiddled with the choke a bit but couldn't smoothen out the engine. After a couple of mins it ran fine.

Clutch wouldn't fully engage even after minor adjustment, and revs dip briefly (1/10sec) to 600rpm ish when bike stops in 1st gear with clutch fully engaged. Engine revs also dip when going from neutral to 1st gear.

Long story short - I went home in the car.

The ER5 was at the right price but I don't know much about these bikes. How does the ER5 usually start when cold? Is it normal for the clutch to not fully separate the drive? If the bike will be fine after new plugs / oil & a clutch cable I might still go ahead and take it.

Any help greatly appreciated.

0ddball · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

It's a parallel twin, they aren't the smoothest of engines anyway. As long as it sounds ok when it's warm it will be fine. The choke cable might just need a bit of adjustment at the carb end.

The clutch sounds like it is dragging a bit. If it can't be sorted by adjusting the cable then the plates are probably sticking a bit. This is more likely if the bike has been laid up for a while, some fresh oil and a decent ride out should sort it. Again, nothing serious.

They are pretty tough and simple bikes so there isn't much to go wrong and whatever does go wrong is usually cheap (in biking terms) to fix.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

If they haven't been run for a while, they can be a bit rough. Sometimes even fire up on one cylinder then kick in with the other after a few seconds.

A certain amount of clattering is normal at tickover with those engines.

The other symptoms sound like a sticky clutch as SpannerMonkey says. It has probably been sat for a month or two without being ridden.

That said, you weren't sure and walked away, exactly the right thing to do when looking for a second hand bike. There's plenty more fish in the sea.

ruane · L Plate Warrior Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Karma :

Thanks for the replies, I might go ahead and buy it after all. I wasn't sure at the time and wasn't prepared to take the chance on a bike I had concerns about.

Other than the faults I found, the bike did seem genuine. Previous owner has original invoices and all documents, and there's no evidence of abuse or damage.

Thanks again. Ruane

davidimurray · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Karma :

Hi Ruane

I happen to have a 2002 ER5. Tends to start well, the only thing I find is that if you start it with choke, you have to give it a tiny bit of throttle once it has started to get the choke to kick in. Once t does the revs increase and it runs quite fast.

At idle they sound a bit like a tractor- sounds like they are going to stall - if you crack the throttle a bit listen for any rattles then.

If the bike has been stood then the petrol may have gone off. I bought a 125 for my girlfriend last week. That had been standing since last august when it was serviced. It wouldn't idle at all and I had to pull the clutch in and rev the nuts off it at every opportunity. I stripped it down, drained the fuel and changed the plug and checked the carb while it was in pieces. Now runs as sweet as a nut. The fuel we drained out didn't actaully smell of petrol!

Any questions don't hesitate to ask.

Cheers

Dave

ruane · L Plate Warrior Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Karma :

After much thought I went ahead and bought it. Previous owner was nice enough to deliver (due to my lack of insurance cover) it to my house last night.

I went to take it for a spin today. Started first time, brought the choke back to keep the revs from going too high, eased it out of the garage and then it starts raining. Typical. Anyway, I just did a few laps of the housing estate to get a feel for it. Gear change is a bit 'clunky' but otherwise it handles fine.

Oh and it stopped raining the minute I killed the engine. Maybe it's a sign...

davidimurray · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Karma :

Congratulations Ruane and welcome to the ER5 fold! They are pretty bomb proof - hence why they are used by training schools. Mine is an ex training school bike so its a bit tatty but it does what I want!

The first couple of gear changes are always a bit clunky until the oil really gets spread around. Also make sure that the oil isent overfull.

Cheers

Dave