AE Stuttering

[Auron]

I love my AE, it's exactly what I was looking for and if I could go back 4 months, I'd do it all over again. My problem is the stuttering is really leaving a bad taste in my mouth about the bike overall. It does sit for a week or two between rides (there's my first problem) but I live in Colorado and that's the way it is. Everything was fine when I bought it, but that was when it was really hot in my garage and before I installed my G2 throttle. Now with the colder weather it's a big deal to get it moving for the first 10 minutes. Starting out on an incline is rediculous, bucking around like I'm doing it on purpose. Doesn't seem to matter if I open the throttle quickly, slowly or even drag the clutch. I've played around with the idle + or - 1050 and as soon as I thought it helped one way or the other I'd end up making it worse. I'm looking for some advice on technique or fixes or just dealing with it mentally. That throttle tube couldn't make it worse could it? A clutch soak doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either for a long term fix. I'm sure it's great for a few rides but after that you're back to normal.

I should note that 1/2 hour into the ride everything is fine, it just seems wrong for a bike to do this.

 

[FJRBluesman]

It's been a while since I've posted this, it's that time again.

 

[BwanaDik]

Well, that was certainly ******* helpful. The guy says he loves his bike, what do you care?

Your problem doesn't sound like it's a result of anything AE, more a possible problem with the fast idle wax thing down in the bowels of the bike going wrong. I've read about it but don't know if it's a GenI/II item or just a Gen I. Try searching for "fast idle" and see what comes up

 

[Monty]

The AE will stutter in cold weather if the bike isn't warmed up to at least 3 bars. Also, try my remedy of leaving it in 1st gear when parked instead of in neutral.

 

[Auron]

Forgot about the nuetral thing. Kind of embarrassing, but how do you get it into neutral without it running? I've tried and can't get it. Does storing it in neutral have any negative effect?

 

[MrM0t0]

Do you park it on an incline? If not, shift it into nuetral before you shut it down. And ++1 on letting it warm up to 3 bars. It will make all the difference in the world.

Love my AE!

 

[networkguy]

Forgot about the nuetral thing. Kind of embarrassing, but how do you get it into neutral without it running? I've tried and can't get it. Does storing it in neutral have any negative effect?

You DO have to at least turn power on, but you can shift it from 1st to neutral without it running (electronic clutch, remember?)

And +1 on letting it warm up before starting. That eliminated my stuttering issues for the most part when I had my AE.

 

[Auron]

I'll try it as soon as it gets warm enough to have a decent ride. And thanks for the tip on getting it into neutral, maybe I'll avoid it all together. Anyone know why this works? I can't imagine.

 

[odot]

Most treatment programs for people who stutter are "behavioral."

I suggest you change your bad behaviour and move on in life.

jes sayin' and beemer's fat.

 

[mcatrophy]

... My problem is the stuttering is really leaving a bad taste in my mouth about the bike overall. ... it's a big deal to get it moving for the first 10 minutes. Starting out on an incline is rediculous, bucking around like I'm doing it on purpose. ... I'm looking for some advice on technique or fixes or just dealing with it mentally. ... A clutch soak doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either for a long term fix.

...

I should note that 1/2 hour into the ride everything is fine, it just seems wrong for a bike to do this.

If by "stuttering" you mean the clutch seems to rapidly engage then dis-engage as you start to take up drive moving from rest, the most likely cause is the hydraulic fluid has some air in it.

When was the fluid last changed, or at least bled?

Dry plates won't help the situation, but they are more likely to cause nasty gear changes. However, soaking the plates needs no special equipment and can be done with an hour or so of your time plus the "soak" time, different people have different views on how long this should be, but I'd suggest overnight to be on the safe side.

 

[BwanaDik]

I'll try it as soon as it gets warm enough to have a decent ride. And thanks for the tip on getting it into neutral, maybe I'll avoid it all together. Anyone know why this works? I can't imagine.

Don't forget to apply at least the front brake before trying to start the bike. An AE won't start without a brake applied. It will start in gear if it is on the centerstand but not with the side stand down, even with the brake applied. It will start on the side stand in neutral but won't go into gear without the side stand up. You can shift from neutral to first and back without the brake on, engine on or off, but the side stand must be up. It's all to prevent (or minimise) the possibility of unexpectedly roaring off when started or driving off with the side stand down (the same as a standard FJR)

Describe the problem a little better. Is the "stuttering" and bucking around, like on the incline, from the engine or the clutch? I drive off on mine with as little as 30 seconds warm up with zero issues. Just start it and go. It just slips the clutch a lot before full engagement at a higher than the usual speed. I've also ridden off shortly after starting it in 19 F in New Mexico during a BB1500 with zero probelms. Always full engagement at one bar under any weather condition.

How are you "dragging the clutch" as described in your first post?

 

[Auron]

I actually meant to say dragging the rear brake, not the clutch.

It stutters and jerks even on a decline for a good 15 minutes and that's after letting it warm up to 2-3 bars. Then it's fine which makes be doubt there's air in the system. The bike is a brand new '09 and sat for years but the day I brought it home it worked beautifully. It was only after messing with the throttle tube, colder weather and sitting for longer it became an issue.

 

[BwanaDik]

Well, it still sounds like it could be air in the lines, wouldn't hurt to bleed the system. But you also might try the clutch soak, might be the problem

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=126839

 

[mcatrophy]

Again, can you be more specific? Is it when the clutch is slipping when moving from rest, or is it just the engine being hesitant when under way?

 

[Auron]

Once the clutch is out, everything is fine. Shifting is fine as well. It's getting it from a dead stop that's the problem, 5 minutes into my last ride, on a slight incline pulling out onto the street it was rediculous. I thought it was going to stall or something. I immediatly opened the throttle about half way for a sec and it almost got worse just momentarily, then after bucking all over the place, the clutch engages and it's all good. I got on the highway and rode it for 2 hours without anymore problems.

 

[mcatrophy]

It is worth bleeding the fluid, or preferably changing it.

This has been reported on this forum in the past.

Yours does sound severe, but it's a small outlay and is likely a full cure.

 

[El Toro]

I wonder if there's a difference between leftover AEs that were assembled in 2009 and lived hopefully waiting for sale in a showroom vs. the leftover AEs that were cleared out by Yamaha in early 2012 and lived in crates until it was necessary to assemble them for sale.

I have had two leftover AEs. The first an '06 that I bought in '08. The second an '09 that I bought in '12. I haven't had any experiences like what you've described, but that doesn't help you or diminish the problem you're experiencing.

I really think you need to get the bike to an authorized dealer for diagnosis and correction on warranty.

Whether you're at one bar on the warm up or three, you should not experience this sort of trouble for the first half an hour of your ride.

FWIW, if the bike is unreliably taking throttle on an incline from a stop to the extent that you have to give it half throttle, you're not safe. Its not worth dicking around with a bunch of advice from us. Make it Yamaha's problem.

As for the turkeys who want to diss the AE, these are guys without opposable thumbs, and they can't work the paddle shifter. They're pretty much jealous.

 

[Auron]

Maybe I will take it in. I thought bleeding the system involved taking of the swingarm and all kinds of other crap. Must have been something else...

I bought it because of the electric clutch. If certain riders take pride in their ability to operate a clutch, more power 'em.

 

[Auron]

I just called around a nobody really is familiar with this problem. Should that make any difference where I take it? This will be the first bike (out of like 12) that I've have to take to a shop, kind of nervous to have someone messing with it.