Thanks for the replies guys, but I think it's under control now.

Flyingdoctor: My bike got worse as soon as I rode into Brazil and better when I left shortly for Argentina, and it actually seemed to get worse the longer it ran on their gas. I have since learned from Suzuki that the 2007 models have a different ECM that can handle this type of gas, but that didn't help me.

Through a contact I had from Suzuki Colombia I was introduced to someone at the factory in Sao Paulo who offered to help, but the timing and location wasn't good for me so he introduced me to a dealer named Ego Motos in Rio de Janeiro (the oldest Suzuki dealer in Brazil). Even though they were small, these guys knew what they were doing and as soon as I pulled up they started working on it. They installed new cooler running spark plugs (NGK CR9EK instead of my typical CR8EK), cleaned the injectors (ultrasonic) and throttle bodies, installed a new air filter and tie-strapped the intake manifold to the engine (the backfires blew the manifold off the rubber boot connector).

After riding more than 400 kms since their work, it still backfires, but very rarely, and with much less force than it used to. Their friendliness, workmanship and genuine effort to help me solve this problem was admirable. At this point it seems to have successfully reduced the backfire problem to a non-issue for me and to say I am very pleased would be an understatement.


If you ride Suzuki and you are ever in Rio, be sure to stop in and say hello to Mr. Manuel Vechina, the owner of Ego Motos. GPS coordinates: S22 55.196 W43 13.856