Carb problem or is this normal?

[TC713]

I have a '96 NH 750 and when i'm rolling through the corners, I feel like the throttle isn't very smooth. Their is that little play that the throttle  has, but sometimes if I just "hit" the throttle going through a turn, it almost jerks a little.

I'm just wondering if this is normal, as i'm new to riding, and this is the only the 2nd bike I've ever been on. I took my MSF on a NH 250 I think it was, and I don't remember it being like this. I kind of remember it being a lot smoother.

Everything feels fine when i'm riding......any ideas? Simple adjustment or cleaning perhaps?

Thanks.

[Snoopy]

I would start by checking the carbs to make sure the cables are tight.  From there I dunno.

[TC713]

Ok.

I can tell you guys this too- I was able to go to my local shop where the PO did all his service and pull all his previous records right down to inspections. Anyway, a couple times from what i've read, it was brought in for poor fuel economy. Said he was only getting 70-80 miles on a tank.
Again, I have no idea if this is normal or not, and the 2 months I have ridden the bike, I fill up frequently because i'm nervous to get stranded.

The report said something like- adjusted carbs. ?? I don't know. Maybe it has bigger problems I don't even know about. yet.

[Bumblebee]

Is it actual throttle response or riding experience/skills? If it's doing it only in turns and you have minimal experience, the power changes could be rider induced by body position and motorcycle dynamics. Has anyone else been on it that experienced the same symptoms?

As mentioned, throttle cable tension. Throttle or choke cable routing can affect things too.
Also vacuum diaphram slide or vacuum pistons can be sticking just a little resulting in varying amounts of uncommanded power changes.

[captjohn74]

Im kinda think throttle cable... trace it out from grip to carb and turn your handle bars to the extremes and see if there if the cable is ever really tight.  A little turn of the throttle adjustment might be the ticket.

The fuel economy sounds like carbs or possibly a bad/clogged fuel filter.  I tried to get away with a chintzy mower in line fuel filter (because it was clear annnnd cheap) and it dramatically decreased my fuel economy.  Good luck

[TC713]

Is it actual throttle response or riding experience/skills? If it's doing it only in turns and you have minimal experience, the power changes could be rider induced by body position and motorcycle dynamics. Has anyone else been on it that experienced the same symptoms?

As mentioned, throttle cable tension. Throttle or choke cable routing can affect things too.
Also vacuum diaphram slide or vacuum pistons can be sticking just a little resulting in varying amounts of uncommanded power changes.

I don't think it's my lack of experience.....it could be....but something in my gut is just telling me that it should be smoother.
Its hard to explain, but that play that we have in the handgrip, if I just full out twist it from a closed position, I get that sudden jerk of power or choppiness. Sometimes I feel like I CAN smooth is out, but feel like I have to really finagle it.
Does that make sense? It would help if someone more experienced rode it I guess. I just figured I would ask.

I'll check on that throttle cable though....

[Bumblebee]

So the problem occurs when going straight also?

Its hard to explain, but that play that we have in the handgrip, if I just full out twist it from a closed position, I get that sudden jerk of power or choppiness. Sometimes I feel like I CAN smooth is out, but feel like I have to really finagle it.
Does that make sense? It would help if someone more experienced rode it I guess. I just figured I would ask.

Does that mean being very aggressive when adding power or a reasonable acceleration rate? Or does it happen even when very gradually applying power?
When you add throttle, does it feel like it's dropping out a bit then has a big surge of power? Or does it feel like there is no loss of RPM or power loss then the big surge?

If it's dropping out a little, that could be the accelerator pump not keeping up (clogged/restricted/control linkages) or vacuum slides not opening up properly due to slight sticking. Of course there is an aggression point that the accelerator pump and vacuum can't counter however that's likely not the case since you're not trying to flip yourself over backwards.

Definitely check the throttle slack. Just a little slack is all it needs, not a whole bunch.


I mentioned the possibility of rider induced due to your comment about being new to riding. I put my sister up front to see how she handled the motorcycle once (solo is absolutely forbidden on my motorcycle) after she did the MSF thing. There were lots of little power fluctuations in turns that she didn't really notice though I could tell easily. It was caused by body position and letting her shoulder and elbow move while not countering the motion with her wrist. It was excessively annoying feeling the 25ish RPM power changes.

[TC713]

I wouldn't say i'm not very agressive period. When I said I full out twist it, I meant that I don't put the grip at the end of its "play".....if that makes any sense.

With that said, I would say that their is no loss in power and then the surge.
Its wierd, and it may just be me....or like you said, my postioning. The hard part is that a.) i'm new and b.) I can't just go hop on my bike and try to troubleshoot this with you.
I'm going from my memory 6 months ago.

I appreciate the thoughts though. Is the vaccuum slides or acc pump somthing I can diagnose or have a shop check out?
When the bike gets inspected, I can at least "sound" like I know a little somthing.
 

[SmokinFast]

You might want to have an experienced rider try it and get a second opinion.

If he thinks there is a problem, I would first try synchronizing the carbs with vacuum gauges. If that didn't help I'd remove, disassemble, and clean the carbs.

[FocusPlayer]

But it only does it in a slow turn.. when you're turning the bars?  If so, then I'd be on the Cable, to tight or binding wagon. 

 DItto, let someone else ride it.

[Custom82Hawk]

something somebody hasn't mentioned yet.  it could easily be what gear you're in when taking the turns too.  lower gears are much more torquey than higher gears which could make it feel like what you're describing.  there's been times when i held the clutch in through the corner cause i knew the gear i was in would make it twitchy and wanted to be through the corner before i let the clutch out due to not wanting the rear tire to spin out.  think this could be a possibility?