| Author | Message | ||
     Cybergeak |
I can't seem to find a good answer for the problem I'm having. I'm new to the board and i've found a lot of good information so far but it all seems poorly organized, no offense to those that run this show, its a great resource, it just seems disorganized. If i post something that is all too familiar i apologize but like i said i've been looking. Getting to the point: I bought an '02 blast last month with 1100 miles on it, had the 1000 mile service done right after that and hoped everything would be dandy. There is a "swirl" or some such sound of metal sliding across metal related to the speed I am traveling at. I figured it was something wrong with the discs. That isn't my problem though, or at least the problem i am writing about (and i still haven't actually gotten around to looking at the breaks). (i think) My problem is that i live in northern new mexico around 7000 feet and have to deal with a 2000 foot change in elevation between where i live and where i work. It bottoms out around 5000 in the middle of that ride so i have to climb out of that in either direction. I also weigh 205 lbs and probably hit 220 with all my riding gear. I realize the blast isn't a powerful bike but i'm having a hell of a time doing the speed limit at times. The speed limit being 65. Its 75 on the way to albuquerque ( i live in santa fe) and there are many ups and downs along that route. The problem i have is that i wouldn't even want to take it on the interstate because i don't think i could maintain 75, let alone keep up with the rest of traffic (closer to 90). I really think my bike should be able to handle these conditions better than it has been. From what i've read there are a couple of things i should check first including but not limited to: -The primary (i read they over tighten it) -Leaks around the intake/carb -maybe leaks around the exhaust? I don't have a garage or many tools (apartment life still), i know people with these things and i'll have to hit them up. I don't have any reason to believe the carb has been jetted for this altitude or altered in any way, and all the rest of the parts are stock. Yesterday i ran it most of the way home in 4th, 5th gear is as good as riding with my foot on the rear break ( which i haven't been doing since i've been putting my feet on the passenger pegs on the highway), it does nothing but slow me down. Am i just too heavy or is the blast too weak without major modification for me to ride in this area? Its a great bike for speeds at or under 60, i just wish it could move me along with the rest of traffic. Also, i checked the oil today (750 miles since the 1000 mile service) and the stick was dry. i checked it 3 days ago (250 miles ago) and it was at least registering, is this rate of consumption usual? Or usual for the bat-out-of-hell style of driving i've been attempting? Also i think i'm only getting something in the neighborhood of 44mpg. Most literature claims 70 for the blast, its just a pain in the ass to have to switch to reserve every 100 miles. Thanks Alex | ||
| Jprovo |
Lets see here... what you describe seems normal to me. THe Blast might not be enough bike for you with todays high speed highway traffic... Some comments below: 1. The stock jetting is a little lean for sea level, which may actually suit your altitude better (thinner air requires smaller jets). You might want to bump one more jet size down (to a 165, same as 2000 and 20001 jetting), it will help improve fuel milage. 2. At the altitude that you are talking about, the Blast is going to be a little anemic. The affects that altitude has on lessening performance is especially noticable on the Blast. 3. You're going to have to run in fourth gear. While riding cross country, I think I ran most of the state of Colorado in fourth. 4. Oil consumption is going to be high when you're running WFO all the time with high engine loads. A quart of oil ever 750 miles is high but not abnormal in those conditions. Best of luck with your bike, James | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Concur with James, run that bike at sea level and it will seem like a different bike. I would definitely check the primary chain adjustment since it seemed that the noise appeared after the 1000 mile service and will cause a lack of power. There is a minor modification to decrease oil consumption. If you dont mind a little noise, changing the exhaust will gain some power (the most bang for your buck). Dont be afraid to rev the engine high in all the gears, thats what its gonna take! Lastly, Welcome! | ||
| Berkshire |
If high altitude is the problem, then a low-restriction air filter should help even more than it would at sea level. bumping up the compression ratio would also help. | ||
| Jackbequick |
"..but it all seems poorly organized..." That is probably because you are not logging on to the Search page and using the "Search By Date:" section. Try this: Log on, click on the Search topic. - Click the Registered Users selection under Search by Date, - Fill in you username and password, - Click on Perform Search at the bottom of the page. From the result page, you'll see every new post since the last time you logged on. And they'll all be arranged in a logical manner with topic names and the first few words of each now post. Click on the stuf of interest and close that page (don't use Back) to return to the search result. If you click on a post you enter the thread at that post, if you click on a topic, you can see the entire thread. Do that the next two or three times you log on the read the BadWeb. And don't cheat by floundering around from topic to topic on the Topics page. That's what you're doing now and it is the hard way. If you don't find using the Search page better than the way you're doing it now, I'd be very surprised. But if you don't you can go back to doing it the hard way and hating it. I'm told the Buell disc brakes will typically have a light drag. It you have the wheel off the ground and spin it with your hand you can hear it a little. That will also let you check for a noisy or dragging wheel bearings. And I can occasionally hear the rotor on the front wheel of my Cyclone when I'm riding at slow speeds. If yours are not discolored from overheating, you're probably not having a problem with excessive brake drag. Try touching each brake lightly and see if the noise stops or changes. Good luck with finding your problem! Jack P.S. This is Blake's board. Blake is a genius! (Message edited by jackbequick on April 11, 2006) | ||
| Ezblast |
Concur - rejet to 165 main . Replace intake boot, check that exhaust is torqued correctly - change plug - old is probably partially fouled from richness - if 90% of your riding is above the 5000 mark then you might even go to 160, but I'd see how 165 works first. GT - JBOTDS! EZ  (Message edited by ezblast on April 11, 2006) | ||
| Naustin |
Even if you find all the bike's performance by having the carburetor set-up properly and going to a free-flow (LOUD ASS) exhaust, you won't be riding at 90mph. Especially on the way back up to 7,000 feet... Heck, the bike redlines at 96 -- and that's on flat ground with a tail wind on a good day. 75 is the sweet spot in 5th (at least at my altitude). However, There have been times when I've been riding into a stiff wind that the bike won't hold that speed without downshifting. I imagine climbing up a mountain would present the same problem. | ||
| Ezblast |
My red bike will do 75 to 80 all day with my rather large bod on it and the Black will do 80 to 90 all day - both though will go through oil fairly quickly though at those constant rpm levels - above 5000. The trick is always on how ya set her up - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Nb_mitch |
I am about your same size, but at sealevel in Florida. I know with cars they actually use lower octane gas at elevation, I assume the same may be true for a Blast. I can easily get to 95, I don't normally even shift into 5th until almost 70. I would agree with everything said so far about checking for leaks and I would suggest talking to your local bike shops, they should have experience tuning bikes for your altitude. My oil consumption was about 2 oz every other fillup, but after my 1000 checkup, I have only used 6 ozs in the last 2500 miles, but I know most blast burning allot of oil, probably more the harder you ride. |
