My GS is garage kept so i don't really bother covering it or anything.
I warmed him up on saturday night (boy did that take some time)
I rode around a little bit but 1st gear was way more jerky than it had been in the past.
is this normal for bikes that haven't been ridden in a while?
The oil sits into the all the gears and the clutch plates. After several years they could deposit and cause stickyness, but I would not think that after a few months.
Was the oil that was sitting in the bike old while it sat?
Was it better afterwards while riding than when you first began to rode?
I have one thought: GAS
Did you use stabilizer? How long did it sit? A month or 2, OK. Takes a while for an air cooled engine to warm up. Then there may have been moisture in the engine/oil. A little is OK...it will just evaporate.
Three or more months sitting probably old gas. If it's been 5-6 months or older...dump out the gas and put in fresh gas IF no stabilizer is used. Ethanol turns into junk after only a few months. Thank you Al Gore! Also run some Sea-foam through it. I use stabilizer if I don't replace the gas for a month. Maybe overkill, but it takes only a few minutes.
One thing I'll add...if better gas (for engine jerks) doesn't work...
And if an oil change (for clutch jerks) doesn't work...
Try cleaning and adjusting the clutch plates in Kerosene: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62991.msg741842#msg741842
I did put stabil in late last year but i forgot to fill up the tank. i might go get some fresh gas in there today.
it's only in first gear that this happens. once i shift, it's smooth but not nearly as fast.
i'll keep riding it around and see if that fixes it.
i'll look into the cleaning as well. hope it doesn't need it. :)
Let me know what you come up with. I recently bought my bike and it has similar symptoms, fine in every gear but jerky in first. I haven't been able to get the bike on any good rides though since it's has a bald front tire (putting a new one on today). Will let you know if I come up with any solutions.
my gas tank is virtually bone dry!
i'm going to get some fresh and good gas in it tomorrow and see how it goes.
how could i have let this happen?!
If the fresh gas doesn't do it, drop in a little bit of Lucas Oil Fuel Treatment! :thumb:
Yes, typical on bikes that are not ridden frequently. Few tanks of gas should clear it up.
Also, check your chain tension.
Yeah, so I put a good tire on my bike so I was willing to actually ride it more than up and down the block. I think it's gas for sure, I put a fresh gallon on top of whatever was on the tank thinking magical osmosis would some how make all the gas better. Well it was a little better but had stutters under load and died at stops at least half the times I came to a complete stop. I will try some stabilizer and see if that clears it up, I really don't want to have to dump the gas.
I have been having this problem as well, but I (incorrectly?) was just thinking that as I new rider I hadn't quite mastered the clutch yet. But I know have 700 miles on the bike and still have the problem. First gear, low speed jerking. Only at very low speed such as manuevering in a parking lot, or making a U-turn. My bike is a 2001 and only has 5,000 miles, so it sat for a LONG time. Should I think about cleaning the clutch plates? Gas is good, and has had a few fuel tanks run through it.