I recently took my lovely KLE500 in for it's 4000 miles service (the clock said 5,780, but who's counting). After much drinking of capuccino's along Clapham high street, I returned to pick the bike up. No significant problems, but keep an eye on the front tyre tread (Avon Distanzias, 4000 miles old). As I pulled away, the bike started to struggle and eventually died on me. I restarted it and the same thing happened again. Out of petrol already I thought? Interesting... I virtually dragged the bike to the nearest garage and filled the tank up. It still had plenty in there. Now I was getting suspicious. I pulled away only for the problem to reoccur. Rather than pull it to pieces at the side of the road, I pushed it back to the dealership. At first they didn't believe me as the bike ticked over fine, so I insisted they took it for a run. 30 minutes later, I sighted the technician pushing it back.

Naturally, they looked perplexed, but offered to fix the fault and loan me a ER6n until mine was ready. Two weeks later, and they eventually had it fixed. After much headscratching, cleaning of carbs, fuel taps and airboxes and a long call to Kawasaki they gave me my bike back. All they did was change the fuel. Apparently, the fuel that was in the tank wouldn't ignite properly and was spitting back out through the airbox. Not something I have heard of before, but maybe the tank had become contaminated at some point.

Anyway, it's nice to have my bike back and get rid of that bloody ER6n. Nice road bike, but in southeast london, we don't have many of what you'd call roads...

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"On that? You're nuts!" - My cousin's boyfriend

Current Bikes - Kawasaki KLE500 '05 (May 06)
Previous Bikes - Hyosung GF125 (Oct 05 to May 06)

What fuel you use? I never heard about this problem!!!!!!

And I guessed that only in Romania you get fuel with water or other nasty things! But never had this problem ... only fuel filter changed at every 200-300 km.

But good posting!!! I will have in mind this problem when I will change fuel filter and still get that problem.

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In all honesty, I don't really believe there was anything wrong with the actual petrol as it came out of the pump. I've used everything from 88 octane in Germany to 97 octane around London and not had a problem. The only thing I can think of is that they got some air filter oil or carb cleaner into the tank somehow or got water into the tank. Dealerships always try and lump the blame onto you, but other than leaving it out in the rain and not cleaning it, the bike gets very well looked after. In the last 6,000 miles, it's had three oil changes, one new set of tires and front pads. For a dual sport bike, that's pampering.

__________________
"On that? You're nuts!" - My cousin's boyfriend

Current Bikes - Kawasaki KLE500 '05 (May 06)
Previous Bikes - Hyosung GF125 (Oct 05 to May 06)

what!?!?! It looks like too much changes and "face lifts" I hadn't got so much things to change .... at 5000 Km oil change and brake pads at 5000-7000 km or more, and tyres!?!!? I was forced to change them because of the accident on front and on rear I cut it on a train crossing .... but I use enduro tyres so I don't have to wory if I wear them too much.

Good luck and safe trips!!!

__________________
See me,
Feel me,
Touch me,
BEER ME!

The last 6,000 miles are also the first 6,000 miles; it's a new bike.

__________________
"On that? You're nuts!" - My cousin's boyfriend

Current Bikes - Kawasaki KLE500 '05 (May 06)
Previous Bikes - Hyosung GF125 (Oct 05 to May 06)

If it was 'bad fuel' that wouldn't let you ride away from the garage, how did you get there ?

I guess i am a bit too jaundiced for my own good