Bandit Alley

MODEL SPECIFIC => SUZUKI BANDIT 250 & 400 => Topic started by: hstokes on May 21, 2007, 09:46:19 PM

Title: Won't stay lit
Post by: hstokes on May 21, 2007, 09:46:19 PM

I bought a Bandit 400 for my wife to ride but it's got a bit of a problem. It has sat for a few months in the garage (ran great when I put it up...of course) and it will still crank and run. But when I ride it, it will run for two miles or so and then the RPMs start to drop steadily until it just dies. It takes about 15 seconds to die once the RPMs start to drop. It won't start again until it sits for 15- 20 minutes or more and then it will run just long enough to get me back home. Anyone experienced this issue before? It will sit and idle in the driveway for as ling as I care to let it, but when I get rolling this always happens.

Title: Won't stay lit
Post by: gsxr400 racer on May 22, 2007, 01:47:07 AM

bad battery / charging system or more than likely it is the pick up coil . cause they heat up and go bad then all the spark goes away.

Title: Won't stay lit
Post by: pmackie on May 22, 2007, 02:06:33 AM

...or tank vent issue. Make sure the vent hose is not blocked.

Title: Won't stay lit
Post by: gsxr400 racer on May 22, 2007, 02:45:04 AM

lol i forget about those they are first thing that goes in the garbage

Title: Won't stay lit
Post by: hstokes on May 22, 2007, 10:03:29 AM

Thanks guys. I e-mailed Paul Dean at CycleWorld and he thinks it might be the fuel vent too...it's fuel related at any rate.

Title: Won't stay lit
Post by: interfuse on May 22, 2007, 11:31:46 AM

What happens when it dies out on you? Just dead?

When I was messing with my carbs and had them setup way to rich. RPMs would keep dropping, but you could keep the bike alive with throttle, then eventually you'd fuel foul the plugs and it would go anywhere... if you pull the airfilter and it runs you know thats the problem... and if thats the problem its probably bad o-rings.

Title: Won't stay lit
Post by: Russtang on May 22, 2007, 05:17:21 PM

Try riding with the gas cap opened up.

Title: Won't stay lit
Post by: turbofb on May 22, 2007, 10:48:40 PM

Definately worth a shot.

I had the exact same symptoms with my FZR1000 once.
I had switched the ignition,seat lock and tank lid after someone tried to pop my ignition with a screwdriver.....those Yamaha ignition tumblers are damn tough!!!!.......anyways,the gas cap I got was non-CA and thus was not vented in the same spot(no vapor recovery system).
I could get about 5 miles and then it would slowly die down to nothing.I could struggle home with the choke on and full throttle,since the big FZR has a fuel pump to kinda overcome the vacuum.I finally figured it out when I opened the cap and got a huge "Whoosh", from breaking the seal. :duh: