1994 NC35 bogging below 7000rpm

[Weasal]

Hi all,
Ive done a bit of searching and found lots of info on jetting and needles and stuff about carbs but honestly have no idea what all of that means, so i will give a brief outline of the issue and hopefully i can get this issue sorted with the wealth of knowledge available on this site.

This being my first road bike which was bought from Sumoto in South Melbourne, Australia last September (I know, Ive since read alot of bad reviews about them) i have had no issues as a first time sportsbike owner. In saying that, never ridden something like this before, i also had no idea what to expect with rev's and performance e.t.c. I've since done about 6000kms and always wondered wether not being able to accelerate quickly and bogging down when the revs were below about 7000RPM was normal? It always bogged down and i have to down gear a couple and get the revs up around 7000RPM again to get her up and going. (Not an issue when riding to work on a highway at 110-120 in 6th sitting at about 8000RPM for 1/2 an hour).

Anyway....I've had the shocks and springs done to set it up for a heavy aussie bloke as it was sagging at the back and have just taken it to a local mechanic to test ride to see if he thought their was an issue with what i described above or if it was normal. He said, and i quote "Have you been riding it like that for a year?" and suggested it may be running rich

So i left it with him for the week to service and tune when he could get to it. When i get back to pick it up he lets me know that he's had a look at a carbie and couldn't really do much to the tune because the needles aren't adjustable and couldn't take the plugs out and check because it was a strange size and didnt have a plug spanner to suit but cleaned the air filter and put me onto another workshop who Dyno Tunes bikes and should be able to sort it out.

Long story short, the second workshop tells me that he's tried to re-jet a few without success in the past and there's nothing i can do. He reckons if i was in Great Britain/England then no worries i'd be right. I know very little about bikes but i cant believe this to be true, hence the post. Can anyone shed some light on what may be the cause of it bogging down and if there are any reputable mechanics in Victoria or even Australia that work on these bikes and can rectify or atleast have crack at doing something. I may be able to do a bit myself if i buy a manual but it will be a slow process with three young kids running around the garage at the same time stealing my tools and bits of carbies. LOL

Even if I start at the basics and go up from their to eliminate any probable causes, it will be better than doing nothing. If it rides like this now then cant wait to ride it when its running properly!!

Cheers,
Mick

[Drunkn Munky]

Man you have some shit mech's in aus, this is the 2nd similar post from aus ive read in 2 weeks. The 1st was right in saying its rich but the needles are adjustable to a certain l extent but you really need to get he carbs apart and let us know whats inside jets and settings wise for us to help, also what system are you running? And is your intake stock?

Personally I cant belive you were sold a bike like this and didnt take it straight back to be sorted but hey thats the past now, were get it sorted you just need to get your hands a little dirty.

[Cammo]

The bike can definitely be sorted to run to its full potential, many mechanics won't have worked on these bikes and they can be fussy to set up.

My bet would be that it's a fuelling or induction issue - both fairly easily sorted but can take some time when tackling it for the first time.

Where in Melbourne are you?

Man you have some shit mech's in aus, this is the 2nd similar post from aus ive read in 2 weeks.

That we do. Many garages won't touch grey imports, and those that do often don't know what they're taking on. To be fair though, these bikes can be fussy and if mechanics haven't worked on them or not aware of this they can easily create more problems. It's a pretty poor excuse though, as factory workshop manuals are available on the internet.

[Weasal]

What system are you running? And is your intake stock?

Sorry Drunkn Munky, I'm working offshore at the moment so cant get the details of the system (by which i assume you mean exhaust ) but is aftermarket and ill be honest, i have no idea about wether the intake is stock. All i know is that i have counted the teeth on the rear sprocket and it is one less (if i remember correctly) to the original specs i found on the net and thankfully the only thing i've had to do to to it is change the speedo pickup joint thing which attaches to the front sprocket bolt

Personally I cant belive you were sold a bike like this and didnt take it straight back to be sorted but hey thats the past now, we'll get it sorted you just need to get your hands a little dirty.

I'm hearing you mate but being a newbie to roadbikes i had no idea what was the norm and what to look for hence why i paid more and got one from Sumoto with all the gear e.t.c. rather than the possibility of buying a lemon private. After buying it and reading all the mostly negative reviews of Sumoto, i dont think taking it back to them to fix would have changed anything and looks like i might have paid more and still bought something ive got to sort out properly anyway.

Where in Melbourne are you?

I'm in the south east near Cranbourne.

[Cammo]

That's a fair distance from me - I live in Ballarat, work in Melbourne.

If you can get the bike to Ballarat I'll sort it in a day for you no cost, no dramas. Easiest there where I have tools and parts (if needed).

Only thing is I don't have any time until after Phillip Island motogp. You've put up with it for a year, what's another few weeks lol!

[RoninZX-10R]

Weasel,
I'm in Greensborough and have used a couple of places that know these bikes like the back of their hands.

The 1st is C&C Motorcycle Engineering (2/25 Aylward Ave, Thomastown VIC 3074, (03) 9469 4774), they've done a heaps of work on my bikes, plus they have a dyno so can get the thing run sweet. They will also do any type of mods you need done, headwork or any performance type work when you feel the need for more speed :-)

The 2nd place is PMT, Profesional Motorcycle Tuning, (8 Rodd Rd, Airport West VIC 3042, (03) 9330 4909), he's also got a dyno and actually sponsers one of my mates who races in Formula 400. He's very knowledgable and good with setting up our carbies.

Good luck and once you learn a bit about the bike you'll be right to fix all the problems yourself. By the way, have you checked out Cammo's carbie set-up guide? If you follow that to the letter your bike will be running sweet. It's at the top of the Workshop section. Pull your carbies off and go through them as described in the guide and I'm sure you'll fix the issues your having.

Cheers,
Josh

[Cammo]

Yep, C&C are very good with these bikes.

Part owner Clyde Wolfenden ran the Aussie superbikes RC30 factory team.

[Weasal]

If you can get the bike to Ballarat I'll sort it in a day for you no cost, no dramas. Easiest there where I have tools and parts (if needed).

I appreciate the offer Cammo. It's awesome that people are willing to do this for others. Might even be able to talk the wife into taking the kids up to Sovereign Hill for the day in the future and have an overnight stay

By the way, have you checked out Cammo's carbie set-up guide? If you follow that to the letter your bike will be running sweet. It's at the top of the Workshop section. Pull your carbies off and go through them as described in the guide and I'm sure you'll fix the issues your having.

Just had a read through it and without knowing anything, it looks to be a very informative and not hard a process to follow. Maybe i'll have to find the time to pull it all apart and have a look to see whats actually in their to start with and to see if anything has been put back in the wrong place or blocked e.t.c.

I take it then that the NC30 and NC35 are the same carbie setup and what about parts for these bikes, where is the best place to get these from if required?

On another point, what can i do to get a bit more out of her whilst i'm in their doing this? What can i modify to get the best out of the bike. I'm used to participating in forums for my 4WD to modify things so i'd assume it's the same but on a smaller scale and about something i know nothing about. LOL

[Cammo]

Just had a read through it and without knowing anything, it looks to be a very informative and not hard a process to follow. Maybe i'll have to find the time to pull it all apart and have a look to see whats actually in their to start with and to see if anything has been put back in the wrong place or blocked e.t.c.

I take it then that the NC30 and NC35 are the same carbie setup and what about parts for these bikes, where is the best place to get these from if required?

It's not difficult, a bit time consuming and fiddly the first time though. The best place to start would be by removing the carbs, inspecting, cleaning all parts and adjusting to factory settings (or other depending on exhaust and induction changes). Your problem could be as simple as a blocked pilot jet. It can be difficult to get the carbs back on at your first attempt (lots of swearing usually), hard old rubber intake boots don't help.

The vfr and rvf carbs are different, but the same basics apply and they look similar enough to use most of the advice in the vfr jetting guide. Jet sizes, pilot screw setting and needle specs are different amongst other things, but I can help with all this info if you decide to delve in yourself.

You can get all parts required but not all locally, some will need to be sent from overseas. It's a case of not knowing what you'll need until you find the issue, but for a job like this I would arm myself with these at a minimum:

- New rvf carb intake rubbers: Call RB's in Sydney and check availability: http://www.rbimports.com.au/
- Blair's carb gasket kit: (can result in leaks if you reuse old gaskets): http://litetek.co/Carb_Kit_Honda_NC35.html

Just setting up your carbs to suit your bike will most likely give a noticeable improvement in performance, but yes there are a couple of minor things you can do at the same time to improve performance.

[Weasal]

Awesome Cammo, i'll definitely look into getting those parts and see how i go with time before xmas pulling it apart to atleast get an idea on what i've got currently in the carbie and how it looks, see if its been molested before and go from their. I'll also find out what exhaust it is i'm running and check out the air box and see how we go from there. Certainly keen to get in and check it out and do it myself although i also do like the idea of dropping a bike off and getting it back all sorted. LOL As long as its done properly and from what i'm seeing it's pretty well hit and miss unless you know where to go.

Cheers, Mick