| Author | Message | ||
     Pwnzor |
This morning, about 4:00am, I rode to work as usual, but the unusual thing was, the hardest downpour I've ever had the pleasure to ride in. With the rain coming down so very hard, I noticed that when I tried to accelerate from 80mph, my engine bogged down a bit. My question is this: Did this happen because water is making its way into my airbox, perhaps even into the velocity stack or the throttle body? If so, how can I prevent it? If not, then what's really going on? When maintaining a constant speed, I didn't notice any lack of power, but it definitely bogged when I accelerated from cruising speed to passing speed. Any thoughts on this? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Some will tell you it's the ignition wires. Others will tell you it's increased ambient moisture in the air. Replace your wires and see. | ||
| Froggy |
My thought is the bike is telling you to slow down, its effing raining.  I had the open airbox kit and cold air induction airbox cover from American Sport Bike. There was a few times when i would notice the same thing, but it was only if i was in the rain for extended periods of time or if it came down really hard. Never really bothered me as the problem went away when the rain stopped. | ||
| Froggy |
Damn you ft_bsrd, i like being first responder.  I did have an issue a while back with chaffed wires that would cause major performance hit from even getting water spray up on the bike, but the dealer changed the wires (i think, nothing was on bill) and the problem went away. | ||
| Lovematt |
Check the front plug wire...I had that one chafe on the inside of the frame. Changed the plugs to the ones with the little rings around the ends for better protection and have never had the problem since. The chafed wire was only a problem in reasonably heavy rain...when dry it never gave me a problem. Oh yeah...what the HELL were you doing going more than 80 in heavy rain? I guess some like more excitement than others... (Message edited by lovematt on January 28, 2008) | ||
| Pwnzor |
Uhhh... if you don't go at least 80 around here, you get run over from behind. It's the unwritten California speed minimum. It only happened when the rain was coming down REALLY hard. I mean, like, friggin BUCKETS. But I must say that my cheapo $30 rain suit kept me nice and dry, toasty warm. I'll try changing out my plug wires, they're probably due anyway after 40k+ miles. Original equipment. Next question: If I get heated grips, what happens if they get soaked? Are they sealed units, unaffected by water? | ||
| Lovematt |
Oh...I didn't check your profile to see where you were. You are correctamundo. Amazing how going only 220 miles north on 101 changes things... | ||
| Metalstorm |
If you use heated grips in the rain you will have very wet gloves but warm hands At least with the polly heaters. After many rides in heavy rain, I'm happy to report that I've found no shocking evidence to make me stop using them. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The heated grips are sealed in a sandwiched pad or in a coil pod. You shouldn't have any problems. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Dude, I'm planning a 7-10 day trip to the Bay Area in late June, perhaps early July and am trying to get some people to go along. I'll let you know as the details firm up. | ||
| Xbswede |
I live in the Portland area so I get caught in some nasty rain all the time. I had the same issue of the motor bogging down when accelerating while running the I open air box kit. I ended up sticking a 07 air box cover on it and it helped reduce the symptoms in heavy rain but not as good as the original 06 air cover box. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Damn you ft_bsrd, i like being first responder. Type faster noob. You ain't 1337 like me!  | ||
| Sparky |
I suspect the "bogging" was the psychological expectation of going faster when actually the rear tire was hydroplaning and the speedo went up to 80 but you were actually going the same real-time speed. Kinda like when your brakes go out as you hit the pedal and you think the vehicle speeds up! | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
In my experience, 80mph is a good speed for a downpour, especially when wearing a mesh jacket! | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I suspect the "bogging" was the psychological expectation of going faster when actually the rear tire was hydroplaning and the speedo went up to 80 but you were actually going the same real-time speed. +1 on the hydroplaning. This has been my exact experience. I figure being from Seattle I might have a little experience with this. | ||
| Froggy |
I had the exact same thing happen to me twice, i was trying to do a wheelie while the roads were wet, but ended up doing my first 2 rolling burnouts | ||
| Etennuly |
I have run my Uly in the rain on the interstate through Atlanta over 80 for a lot of miles for the same reason Pwnzor stated. Go or get run over! If it scares you, stay on the porch. The rain runs are where you appreciate a good rain tire. I've had non better than the Syncs. These bikes do amazingly well in heavy rain. A couple of times on my former City-X I was running in rain 2" deep on the flat highway, not because of flooding, it was raining that hard. It did not hydroplane at all and stayed hooked up very well. The Uly has been the same, except for the occasions where tire wear is an issue. With some plastics detail cleaner on the face shield it is interesting that I can usually see better than in a car with wipers running. | ||
| Igneroid |
Just a thought but if the dew point(info available from weather services)is close to the air temperature, you may be getting carb ice. Airplane dudes are very familiar with this phenomanon as well as some of the machinery I use at the sawmill. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
What air filter are you running? IF you have the stock paper one, in a driving downpour, you have definite blockage issues. Worst rain ever, if yall saw the floods on the news; I rode home in in that. 2 feet of standing water, and rain sideways. No problems, but it was not a fun ride home. "Adventure is taking inappropriate equipment to out of the way places" | ||
| Pwnzor |
K&N filters are the only thing I use, for air, oil, and breathers. I don't think I was hydroplaning, or at least not enough to affect my acceleration in that way. The motor definitely bogged down between 4000 and 5000 rpm, but only when I grabbed it hard. If I roll on a bit more gradually, it didn't happen. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Pwnzor, maybe hydroplaning is not the right description. Think of it when you are driving along, and encounter a shallow puddle. Your vehicle slows as it sheds the water It is the same thing on the bike. It is unnerving at first. First time I rode in the rain I though the bike had ingested water. I just learned to "gas on" | ||
| Xbswede |
As I mentioned earlier mine does the same. And it's not hydroplaning or slowing due to standing water. Mine actually will bog down under heavy throttle and if i try to force it through by not letting up on the throttle it will cough back up through the intake. Again this is only when it is raining real hard and I have been riding in it for at least 30- 45 minutes at higher speeds. Pwnzor, not sure if this is the same symptom that you are experiencing. The only way I was able to reduce the symptom so far is by replacing the restrictive air cover cover back on. This helps keep as much of the moisture from soaking the air filter as quickly. Now maybe if someone was to only ride 30-40 mph in the rain there would be no issues. But when doing 70-80 mph on the freeway there is a lot of air and moisture being soaked through that open water saturated filter. I have never experienced it going 55 or slower. But then again you goto do 80 if you want your visor to be self cleaning in the rain..  | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I rode up through Kentucky in the rain on Lake's S3 a couple of years back, along with Ozz666 on his S3, at times all I could see was the speedo reading around 80, a faint red light in front, semi's overtaking on the right going downhill, & dually's blowing by on the left. When we stopped you could see the pucker marks on the seat!! |
