2007 KLE 500 stuttering / misfiring
 

Hi, I own a 2007 Kawasaki KLE500. I bought it with 784km on the clock. Currently it has about 23000km. I have had no problems thus far. All of a sudden the bike started stuttering almost like there is water in the fuel system or like it is misfiring. This especially happens when I for example go to the next gear at too low revs. If I then gear back and rev it out the bike runs well. This happens at any time irrespective of engine temperature. Sometimes it will happen in 1st gear with pull away. If I then pull the clutch and rev it out the bike runs well again. It seems as if the problem gets worse when I lift someone. There is no water in the system or any blockages in the fuel system. I changed plugs, and plug wires and suppressors. I removed the carburetors. No issues with any diaphragms or any clogged airways or jets or O rings. The engine idles very smooth with excellent throttle response. There has been no change in power and the bike has no problem reaching 160km/h and maintaining that for 60plus kilometers. I average about 16km per liter. Any ideas as to why can be the problem?

Has it all been on tank of fuel, could it be some dodgy fuel maybe? The petrol companies do get it wrong sometimes. You could try a fuel additive.

Hi, I drained the entire tank and have since driven about 2000km with various different brands of fuel same problem.

Try checking the carb breather hoses; perhaps there is a blockage somewhere?

Cheers

I had a similar problem, turns out the diaphragm on the petcock was torn. Easy way to check is it may throw gas down the vacuum line (the skinnier one) coming out your carb, but worth taking apart to discard entirely just in case. Careful with those oatmeal screws.