R1200GS stalling. Sparkplugs worn out? Is it running lean?

[c_dug]

Hi All,

My 2009 GS has started misbehaving. It's been a slow and steady decline but it's becoming problematic now.

I did about 1500 miles around Scotland a month or so back, before then it felt a tiny bit misfirey around town on the odd occasion, it was such a small amount that I was never really sure and thought it might be my mind playing tricks on me - it's not exactly a smooth bike anyway.

Then, on the way up to Scotland it began to feel a bit sort of dull on motorways, I thought it might need the valves adjusting as they'd not been done in about 10,000 miles.

I didn't have any time to look at it properly right after Scotland, so probably put another 1000 miles on it in the following month or so. During that time it started to feel much worse at city centre speeds, and stalled a handful of times when moving really slowly at low revs in places.

Last weekend I managed to spare Saturday to do the valve clearances, which all seemed to be pretty close to their tolerances, but adjusted all four anyway. It did seem to ride a bit better on A roads after that.

It's still riding badly around town though and seems to be getting worse. The stalling is happening more and more regularly, probably once a day or so.

I intended to change the spark plugs when doing the clearances, just as a matter of course, but I completely forgot to order them I'm wondering if they might be the cause of my issues, which will be obvious once they're changed I guess.

I'm also wondering if the bike is perhaps running a bit lean. It's got a slip on end can installed. Supposedly this shouldn't effect the fuelling too drastically, but the plug looks a bit light to me.

Two questions:

Does this look a knackered enough to cause stalling?
Does this look a bit too light coloured, suggesting lean running?

The image goes a bit squiffy on BCF so click here for a better image.

https://i.imgur.com/fjmnYqm.jpg

Thanks
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[jaffa90]

I would suggest that the fuel injectors and feed pipes be pro cleaned.

[c_dug]

Very specific suggestion, why so?
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[martin734]

Spark plug gap should be 0.8-1mm, yours looks quite a bit bigger than that and I would say that those plugs are looking well past their best.
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Current bike: ST1100 "Big Red"

[jaffa90]

[Old Git Racing]

New plugs definitely needed, they look really lean compared to my BMW. Also invest in a vacuum gauge and balance the throttle bodies, they go out and it makes them run really lumpy
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[MCN]

There's a fuel pump under the left top tank panel.
It's diode controlled to limit pressure at a set pressure. It cuts out. Aye.....

They burn out. It can be by-passed and the pump driven direct off the battery.

You could also ask a BMW phaphery station to look at it.
Problem is finding one with an enthusiast that knows wot he/she is talking about and not just rely on the Sun Tuner's say so.

Plug looks OK. Correct colour but from the pic the side electrode does look a bit eroded but it may be the phoatie.

New plug in place of auld will always make good.

I think they are 12000 mile change items.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Robby]

This is one of those threads that could get expensive.

Your plugs are suspect. You haven't changed them yet. Change them, see if it makes a difference. Then work through any other servicing you might have missed, like a new air filter.

Then come back and ask us to suggests problems if it's still playing up.

[stinkwheel]

[Pete.]

My R1100S went very rough running. New plugs fixed that. I believe it's the combination of commuting stop-start and those big 600cc cylinders. every so often mine will pink terribly if I give it too much from too low a rpm. That's hard on plugs.

Is the 1200 twin-spark? Mine is and when one of the two plugs go out it gets a bit rough. Diagnose it by popping off one each of the plugs in turn. If one is already not sparking, un-plugging the other will naturally kill all spark to the cylinder.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[c_dug]

[MCN]

[Polarbear]

Are they something special those plugs because the electrodes don't look like any I have seen before.

Expensive or not, they are the first thing I would change. Clean air filter. New oil and filter (yes, I know that won't cure your problem but I'd give it a full service to start with) and work from there.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Grubscrew]

I would strongly suggest you get the plugs from a reputable dealer in person, as there are a huge counterfeit supply online.....they really are a recipe for disaster....you have been told!
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FJR1300/CBR1000F

[Nobby the Bastard]

It looks like iridium plugs which should be good for at least 50k miles.

the problem with iridium plugs is that they don't give such an effective spark as tradition on plugs.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[MCN]

[c_dug]

I eventually got around to replacing the spark plugs today. It's definitely improved the ride in general, but unfortunately twice on my way home it still misfired/coughed at very low revs low speed.

I'll try putting the standard end can back on when I'm back at work on Monday, I honestly don't think that's the cause though. I can't say I remember perfectly how well it rode when I first installed the slip-on, but, I reckon if it had been misbehaving like it is now I'd have taken it off right away.

Any thoughts as to other causes?
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Skudd]

Pop over to the GS site and ask their.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[jaffa90]

As my first post.

[MCN]