Zephyr 550 - running issues

[DynamiteBoy]

Still getting used to my new bike, it aint the fastest but shes good fun to ride...

I have a few slight issues with her though and was wandering if anyone has any suggestions or previous experience with these bikes?

Been slightly adjusting the idle screw to try and get her to idle nicely at junctions, bit hit and miss... Currently shes idle ok after a long hard blast but will sometimes die down and cut out (not very often - but takes ages to warm up). If i slightly turn the revs up while idleing she will over rev after taking the rpm up over 2-3k, and wont re-settle.

The most annoying thing is that when i get to around 80mph in 6th the bike starts to kangaroo slightly, almost bogging down feel to it, fine in every other gear... Planning on taking her the garage soon for the carbs to be balanced? I know she was sitting for a while before i bought her and i did need to run her home on reserve, ive been through 3 tanks of fuel with redux... any advice welcome...

If this helps i also think shes using to much fuel, thought she'd be similar to my old gpz500, but she does use more... Thanks Ow
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Honda CG125 (sold) - Kawasaki GPZ500s (sold) - Kawasaki Zephyr 550 (sold) - Kawasaki er6n (current work horse)

[yambabe]

Re the idling thing, on my 400 Zephyr I have the idle set so it revs at about 1200 cold. This means it goes up to around 1800 once warmed up which I thought was maybe a bit high but so far (touch wood) I haven't experienced any cutting out and my fella says this is fine although it might use a touch more fuel.

Are you letting it rev right up on choke when you start it? All my kawasakis like to scream through their rev range (much to the amusement of passers-by) on starting, and if I don't give them full choke, let them rev, then knock the choke off they sulk and cut out, refuse to idle or just don't start again!

Re the kangarooing, I am being told it sounds like a fuel problem. Take the carbs off and clean them properly and it should sort that one. He also says what happens if you drop it down a gear when you are experienceing the bogging in top? What does it do?
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[Grav]

Balance the carbs. This should sort it.

It should idle at around 1400 rpm when warmed up properly.

[DynamiteBoy]

cheers for the advise guys, when i drop a gear it runs past 80, but not in 6th...

I think ill have the carbs balanced, just got a feeling its carb related...i know the last owner replaced the carbs and seals.... he was a mechanic though...
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"I dont like my Job anymore - I dont think i'll go" OfficeSpace

Honda CG125 (sold) - Kawasaki GPZ500s (sold) - Kawasaki Zephyr 550 (sold) - Kawasaki er6n (current work horse)

[bish777]

Youll probably need to replace the float valves/needles and reset the float heights, then give it a balance.

If its anything like my GT550 it should manage 110.
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GSXR1100J

[DynamiteBoy]

Had today off so i thought id give her an inspection... Got a set of vacuum hoses on, all carbs seem to balanced - didnt have time to take carbs off and strip them as it started to piss down.

All the plugs and the air filter look fine, really annoying me!!! Think ill have to strip the carbs when i get a chance, just need the bike for work at mo. Also i tried opening the choke while riding and hitting problems at 70-75mph, didnt make a difference. For refrence i used a mpg calculator online and worked out i get around 53mpg, is this normal for a zephyr 550?
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"I dont like my Job anymore - I dont think i'll go" OfficeSpace

Honda CG125 (sold) - Kawasaki GPZ500s (sold) - Kawasaki Zephyr 550 (sold) - Kawasaki er6n (current work horse)