running rich bandit1200

[dingley00]

over the last two days, i noticed my bike hasn't been running as well as it used to. it's a 1998 suzuki bandit 1200. at low RPMs, it is very choppy, and seems to be missing some acceleration. there is a strong gas smell, and it stalls from time to time, and is hard to start.
i know this is a newbie question. but what can someone with only basic mechanical knowledge (oil changes) do about this problem. i assume the bike is running rich, but it may be something else.
please help!!

[Kurlon]

Has it been running ok up to this point, or has it been in storage/sitting till now?

[dingley00]

it has been running okay to this point. i've been riding it at least 3 times a week since march.
also, it pops in the muffler. not full blown backfires, but quieter pops.

[Ericthejet]

How are the plugs doing?
Air filter good?
Any reason to suspect weak ignition connections?
Bad tank of gas perhaps?
LAst time the bike was "tuned" up?

[kb1]

Yup, first thing I would do is check your gas, might be some crappy gas that's fouling up the fuel ratio. Also have a look at your air filter make sure you didn't get something in there that's highly restricting your air flow...after that I would suggest taking it to a shop and just have them do a quick tune-up on the carbs, I don't know much about tuning carbs so that's as far as I would go trouble shooting myself....

[Kurlon]

I wouldn't be quick to muck with the carbs. If it really is running rich enough to screw up rideability like that, the plugs will be nice and black. Carbs normally lean out if they get dirty/clogged etc, so it's either something altering the intake like a clogged filter, or if all four plugs come out fluffy black, I'd suspect coils. I went through this with a friend's Bandit 1200, chased carbs for a while, dropping main and pilot sizes like crazy, still stupid rich. New coils, happy days. Old coils showed acceptable spark if you pulled a plug an held it against the motor, but on a coil tester the difference was night and day. The old coils would break up at a 7mm gap, new coils could fire cleanly past 14mm, the limit of the tester.

[dingley00]

i'll pull a plug friday morning (i live in boston, so must do all my work outdoors), to see the condition, check the air filter.

the problems do seem to coincide with the new fresh tank of gas i got.

so, on friday to do list:
-pull plug (check to see if fouled)
-check/clean air filter
-recheck all ignition connections
-if all else fails, get "tune-up" of carbs
-wait out this crumby tank of gas?

[noxin]

If you don't know about maximum-suzuki.com, go over and register now. The single largest wealth of Bandit information on the interwebz.

[toocrazy2yoo]

Can't wait to go hook up witchoo boys when I get up there..Dunno SHIT about fixin a bike, but I'll bring alcohol and moral support!

Best I kin doo..

[dingley00]

checked it out... put some seafoam in it with new tank of gas, air filter was clean, some white smoke at higher RPMs...
any more ideas?

[dingley00]

bump

[Kurlon]

Pull the plugs, see how they look. Based on a prior Bandit, I'm going to say coils.

[dingley00]

this is getting very frustrating... does anyone on here know how to do this or can suggest someone that can help?

[obsolete]

Drive in front of me cause I'm running lean. :shrug:

Hell I have no clue.