Sensitive throttle

[Rhed]

I've had my GS500E for a couple of months and have been having a lot of fun riding it whenever I can.

However, I feel the throttle is very sensitive.

Unless I am very careful when changing gear I tend to lurch, rather than pull away smoothly.

I don't know if the problem is with me or the bike. There seems to be not a lot of difference between throttle closed and plenty of throttle.

Is this a known problem, and if so, is there a cure?

Thanks in advance.

[lamoun]

What about on-off transition? (This is where I mostly find it problematic)
Do you feel it like a hiccup or something.
If you open-close the throttle VEEEEERY slowly does it go away?

I have the same problem too, but haven't solve it yet...

[Rhed]

What about on-off transition? (This is where I mostly find it problematic)
Do you feel it like a hiccup or something.
If you open-close the throttle VEEEEERY slowly does it go away?
I have the same problem too, but haven't solve it yet...

Hi. The issue is only off to on. I'm a returning biker - I haven't ridden a bike for a while. I don't remember my other bikes being like this.
What I expect, is to release the clutch and accelerate smoothly away - as you do. What happens more often than not, is more revs than I want, resulting in a lurch forward.
I have checked the throttle cable action and it seems to be as per the manual. Maybe it's not the throttle but the clutch.

I haven't noticed any problems going from throttle open to closed - apart from more engine breaking than I'd prefer.

[ohgood]

What about on-off transition? (This is where I mostly find it problematic)
Do you feel it like a hiccup or something.
If you open-close the throttle VEEEEERY slowly does it go away?
I have the same problem too, but haven't solve it yet...

Hi. The issue is only off to on. I'm a returning biker - I haven't ridden a bike for a while. I don't remember my other bikes being like this.
What I expect, is to release the clutch and accelerate smoothly away - as you do. What happens more often than not, is more revs than I want, resulting in a lurch forward.
I have checked the throttle cable action and it seems to be as per the manual. Maybe it's not the throttle but the clutch.

I haven't noticed any problems going from throttle open to closed - apart from more engine breaking than I'd prefer.

clutch, ya, maybe it needs adjustment. i'd bet it's the PEBCAS (problem exists between clutch and seat) error. maybe you just need a little more practice, and a new clutch cable ? are you gripping the throttle too tightly ?

[Roadstergal]

1: Make sure you have the right amount of clutch freeplay.
2: Release smoothly and gradually.

[NF11624]

Is your GS modded at all?  Because a throttle from a different bike will behave differently.  I guess a SV throttle has a rotation about 1/5 shorter than the GS.

Also, if your revs are sticking and you have a vacuum leak, you'll undoubtedly get lurching.  Other than that I would check that the clutch is properly adjusted as previously mentioned.

[Rhed]

clutch, ya, maybe it needs adjustment. i'd bet it's the PEBCAS (problem exists between clutch and seat) error. maybe you just need a little more practice, and a new clutch cable ? are you gripping the throttle too tightly ?

Thanks for that, I'm going to check the clutch cable before anything else.
Might have to replace the cable if it's out of adjustment.
As for practice, you can never have enough!
I'm not aware of a 'death grip' on the throttle - as I'm conscious of not being too rigid when riding, i.e. I try to relax - without being sloppy.

[Rhed]

1: Make sure you have the right amount of clutch freeplay.
2: Release smoothly and gradually.

Again, thanks for your input.

I'm planning to have a look at the clutch cable adjustment first.

As for 2. I sometimes find - when I've been experimenting - that a short sharp clutch pull and release can be smoother in take up than trying to open the clutch really slowly.

[Rhed]

Is your GS modded at all?  Because a throttle from a different bike will behave differently.  I guess a SV throttle has a rotation about 1/5 shorter than the GS.

Also, if your revs are sticking and you have a vacuum leak, you'll undoubtedly get lurching.  Other than that I would check that the clutch is properly adjusted as previously mentioned.

I don't think it's been modded - but I haven't had it since new so can't be entirely certain.

The revs aren't sticking as such, I have slightly too many of them slightly too soon.  I've planned a 200 mile trip in a couple of days when I'm going to try everything to try to determine where the problem - if it is a problem - actually lies. Maybe it's the nut behind the tank!

But as per previous posts, I'm going to look at the clutch cable first and see if that makes an improvement - assuming it is out enough to adjust.

Thanks.

[Rhed]

I've now ridden a couple of hundred miles since my last post.

I have adjusted the clutch cable - to change the bite point as much as anything else; it wasn't out of adjustment.
I also reduced the throttle freeplay setting to the minimum specified (2mm).

I think there is an improvement in the overall throttle response, although I still think that I get too many revs, too quickly for my riding style.
Smooth gear changes are no problem at speed, the issue I had/have is at lower speeds - so, I'd better just ride quicker then.

Maybe I need a lower rev'ing engine - I think  fancy a cruiser!   

[bassman]

My GS is lovely and smooth when pulling away, but my Yamaha Diversion XJ600N is a bit like your GS - I find it very hard to pull away without over-revving and a certain amount of clutch slippage (which I am trying not to get a complex about!!!).  I reckon that I need to lubricate the accelerator cables - the Yamaha's throttle feels quite heavy compared to the GS.  I also spray WD40 on the GS's accelerator mechanism on the carbs to keep them rotating nicely!

Bassman

[Rhed]

Thanks for your input Bassman.

I may lubricate the throttle cables. But I am finding that adjusting the freeplay on the cables has improved the problem no end.
I wasn't sure if it was going to make a difference, as there didn't seem to be that much play when I looked at it first.

I rode for a couple of hours today and don't think I really had a problem at all - any dodgy gear changes were down to me alone.

So, I'd say the issue is sorted

...............onto clutchless upshifts, but that will be another thread!

Cheers