is it just missing or, what is wrong with it?

[Semper Fi]

I have a 2003 FJR that just turned 20,000 miles. I know, it is a "new bike", but that is the problem. Sometimes when I start it, and sometimes not, it sounds as if it has a miss. When you drive it, it doesn't miss or sound like it is, and has plenty of power. It will still do it after I have ridden the bike for an hour. I have had it to a couple of dealers and they can not determine what is wrong with it. One of them said that I should just stop listening to the bike. I have done a complete tune up to the bike already this spring, before ever riding it this year. Do you have any idea what could be wrong with it? It did not do this when I bought it. I had thought it was a bad spark plug but, would it still perform great and not miss if it was? I am confused and in need of some help.

 

[Donal]

Sounds kind of normal to me, now if you could post a sound file...................................

 

[Fred W]

+1 - These bikes tend to stumble at idle a little bit.

Here's a

of a perfectly normal sounding FJR at idle. Much easier to hear the burble with the crappy sounding aftermarket exhaust

 

[leedavis]

Hard to say without listening to your bike but what you're hearing is probably normal. While not as tightly tuned as a sport bike engine, the FJR engine is still a thoroughbred. It likes to run. Mine will miss a few beats at idle now and then. It wants me to get moving.

 

[ionbeam]

Even without listing to a recording of your engine I'm still able to ask what your idle speed is

Also, with so few miles on the FJR over the years I would highly recommend running a few tanks with a fuel system cleaner like Techron, Yamaha Ring Free or Sea Foam.

The coils fire two plugs simultaneously, if one plug was worn it would cause both plugs to fire weakly. I think your FJR is probably running in the range of 'normal' and doubt that the plugs are causing an occasional misfire.

The FJR engine runs lean and sometimes has a lean misfire. At some point you should try to put your FJR into the diAG (diagnostic) mode and see if any previous owner(s) may have done the Barbarian Jumper. If the diAG screen opens with the CO (Carbon Monoxide) screen the jumper modification was done at the ECU connector. If it was done you may want to take a look at the four CO readings and be sure they are at a sane setting; someplace between 0 & 17. If the diagnostic mode starts in diAG then the jumper has not been installed. This shouldn't be related to a misfire but it is another piece of information you should know. It is possible to bump the CO readings to help a lean misfire but I would recommend against it unless you are using an EGA probe (Exhaust Gas Analyzer). Some info >>HERE<<

 

[Semper Fi]

thanks, I will try and get a video posted of the bike running.

 

[ionbeam]

thanks, I will try and get a video posted of the bike running.

Since there is no reply to the engine RPM question, let me say that you should confirm that your idle speed is 1,100 and not lower. Please consider a fuel system cleaner before doing anything else of significant effort or cost.

 

[Fred W]

While I agree that the bike runs best overall with an 1100 rpm idle, on my bike the idle is actually the smoothest, with the least "lean stumble" when I drop it down to 1000 rpm. I prefer to leave it at 1100 and live with the lumpiness

 

[escapefjrtist]

Sounds like the typical FJR lean idle stumble. As others have said, make sure the idle is at least 1100 RPM, I prefer another hundred over that...makes for less clumsy shifting...YMMV

--G

 

[Semper Fi]

the RPM of the bike is 1100. I have ran many injector cleaner bottles through the tank. I have a video but, I will have to wait until my daughter gets home to post it for me.

 

[bluesdog]

Kinda like it's clearing its throat?

My '11 occasionally did that for a while, until I increased the idle a notch, and performed the RDCUATBS

The fjr does tend to run lean, and is sensitive to fuel impurities. I run a yamaha ring free treatment every oil change, and it seems to keep the engine happy.

Also, the feej likes to have the throttle nailed, and redlined from time to time

 

[Bustanut joker]

stress less



RIDE MORE.

 

[Semper Fi]

here is a short video of my FJR and the weird sound it makes. It will make the sound 3 small times during this video, why or what is it? Make sure your volume is up loud because the first one is hard to hear. The first one is around 8 seconds, the second 2 sounds are after 21 and 24.

https://s105.photobucket.com/user/semperfi_03/media/M2U00659.mp4.html

 

[Fred W]

I heard it twice. Couldn't hear the first one even with your guidance.

I believe that this is the noise of a misfire. It has been known to happen more often on 2nd gens than on firsts. It's because the idle speed isn't high enough and the fuelk mixture isn't rich enough for the cold engine conditions.

It sounds like you are coming off of the fast idle a whole lot quicker than my '05 does. Was this a stone cold start or more of a half warm start? If the bike was stone cold then it seems like your fast idle mechanism isn't holding the rpms up enough for the bike to complete warmup.

 

[RossKean]

I get this from time to time - most often when the engine is not fully warmed up. I did not find that a higher idle made any difference. Started worrying about all sorts of things; especially cam chain related. I found out that many (most?) others have the same sound so I just ignore it now. Strategy has worked for the last 100,000 miles!

 

[Fred W]

Many / most 2nd gens do this. Many / most first gens do not.

Something to worry about? Probably not.

 

[Semper Fi]

The bike will do this, sometimes, when it is hot. It will do it at times after it has been ridden for a while. I bought this bike last October and it only had 12,000 miles on it so that means it did have some "old" gas in it. The good thing is that it fired right up. This spring, before I rode it, I did a tune up to it, changed plugs, oil and filter, air filter, new front and rear tire, painted the bike and, had the dealer do any factory recall repairs to it. He told me that the only thing I needed was a throttle body sensor replaced. Should I take it another dealer and have them look at it?

 

[Fly Bye]

stress less


RIDE MORE.

Yup

 

[Semper Fi]

ride more??? HA HA HA I ride it every day to work!!! ride more?