15' down on power?

[B33fys]

Hi guys.

My bike feels like its down on power for some reason, feels like something is "dragging" or holding it back going up through the revs. It's hard to explain, it's not as quick through the Rev range as it used to be?

It's got 8500miles, has had servicing done and is prob due an oil change soon, do you think this may help? What about spark plugs? I'm also going to put a new chain on it as I have got a renthal on it but never greased it since new as don't like grease going everywhere on the bike. The chain is shot now though, after a run yesterday I couldn't even touch the chain it was that hot, but I don't think this is holding the bike back.

Thanks

 

[fast_ryan]

Chain

Not lubricating the chain is incredibly foolish and just asking for trouble. Just invest in a good quality chain lubricant from the likes of W?rth or Muc-Off and you won't have any issue. It may very well be this that is causing you the problem.

 

[MacRR]

Flippin' heck, you've got to lube your chain chap. Got a gold renthal on mine, its stayed in lovely condition thanks to Wurth dry chain lube which doesn't fling and allows your chain to also stay smart.

 

[B33fys]

Yeah I know guys once I renew I'll invest in chain lube for sure. I'll be phoning demon tweeks to order more renthal chain n sprockets. Am also going to have to pack the Cush drive rubbers coz they are 100% shot too.

 

[fast_ryan]

B&C Express

For Renthal sprockets you may want to try B&C Express.

www.bandcexpress.co.uk

 

[B33fys]

Cheers dude. Do you think it's worth me changing the spark plugs too? Bmw said they shouldn't need done at 8500miles. really strange but bike used to lift in 3rd to go into a wheelie but just doesn't do it as easily now, like it's down on power a bit?

Am thinking do compression check etc, or there's a dropped valve or something but would surely experience that happening if that was the case huh?

 

[Toan the Moan]

It's not in rain mode is it ! ?

 

[bananaman]

Anywhere you can take it for a dyno run?

 

[B33fys]

Nah it's not on rain mode lol. Run it on user mode now and engine is in slick. I was thinking about taking it for a dyno run yeah. What should the WHP output be? Cheers

 

[fast_ryan]

Power

Horsepower figures will vary significantly between different Dynos and different bikes. An experienced Dyno operator will know if there is an issue by looking at the power curve and A-F ratio and not the actual figure produced.

 

[soofsayer]

Can I ask, the perceived drop in power... is it over a period of time you've noticed or immediate?

If the chain is really done (and it does sound that way) I agree that is probably a big contributor. Apart from reducing the life of the chain and sprockets, not cleaning and lubricating the chain may cause it to fail and break, which can be rather disastrous. Fwiw, Wurth dry lube is the best stuff imo, zero fling. my last chain was my first chain from factory and it did me nearly 14k miles with some trackdays included. Clean and lube after every ride/trip, takes a couple of minutes as soon as I get home when the chain is still hot.

 

[bananaman]

As Ryan says, figures differ between dyno's, ball park would be between 185-200

 

[Thefridge1980]

How do you know the cush drive rubbers are shot? They really shouldn't be at that milage, is your bike heavily abused?

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

 

[Stephen]

Cheers dude. Do you think it's worth me changing the spark plugs too? Bmw said they shouldn't need done at 8500miles. really strange but bike used to lift in 3rd to go into a wheelie but just doesn't do it as easily now, like it's down on power a bit?

Am thinking do compression check etc, or there's a dropped valve or something but would surely experience that happening if that was the case huh?

It hasn't dropped a valve haha.

Start with the chain and work from there, if it's as knackered as I'm picturing it In my head then I can imagine it could restrict the power, is it taught like a bow string? Can you spin the rear wheel pretty freely?

 

[Oli]

I agree entirely re all the above comments on the chain and lube. It's not an optional piece of maintenance.

Re the loss of power, as Soof said, is it immediate or is it over time as your bike gets hot? If it's the latter it is very common for a slight but tangible decrease in power as the bikes get hot, I notice it particularly in the summer when spending extensive time at slow speed and the bike is over 100 C

 

[bananaman]

Another thought considering yr lack of maintenance, are front pads binding? Ive had this at a relatively low mileage

 

[stuartb]

Is your chain possibly too tightly adjusted ?...and on the chain thing Wurth Dry Lube..we have a cracking discount on all Wurth Products for Premier members. From Memory RRP on a 500 mil can is something like 11 quid i think we pay about 7, similar discount levels across the whole range.

The helmet cleaner is the best I've used.

S

 

[B33fys]

Hi again guys. Yeah so I greased the chain up and seems to be ok just now but I have ordered Muc off dry chain lube and chain cleaner too so will see how that is when it comes.

My bike has went thru 3 sets of Cush drive rubbers, turned 9k miles now. That's been very hard miles it's had to be fair. It's due a set now but I'll pack the rubbers up with something as I'm not forking out ?60 all the time for Cush rubbers. The front pads don't seem to be binding no, and the rear wheel is easy to spin. Maybe it's just the warm weather with the air being more dense? Not sure. Changing the oil this week too. I'll just continue to rag the balls off it hehe

 

[B33fys]

Oh and the chain has 45mm of play when on side stand and the chain doesn't seem taught, all the links seem to be loose. Probably due to it never getting lubed. Sounds like lubed up is the way to go from now on hahaha

 

[stuartb]

I would say so mate...a well tended chain will give you good service.