Engine surging when riding against the wind

I still have a bit of a problem. Bike runs great except when I'm riding against the wind. It starts cutting out pretty bad. I don't have pods. The only thing that I haven't replaced are the exhaust gaskets. Any suggestions. Thanks.

Are you using pod air filters by any chance? hehe

Are you sure the engine is surging? I think the same thing sometimes but really just think I'm being buffeted by the wind.

Positive. It is totally cutting out. Only when riding against the wind.

If you are sure it's totally cutting out it must be electrical. I'd check under the tank for loose connections or spark arcing. Since you don't have pods and you know it's not buffeting I can only guess it's there unless you have some pretty big slits or holes in your carb boots. If you have a leaf blower maybe you can recreate it in the garage to narrow it down.

Maybe a short in the wiring to the OFF/RUN switch?? Thinking possibly wind pressure (against wiring loom entering right-hand handlebar switch assembly) is "activating" the short?? Or maybe the OFF/RUN switch is itself worn out and being affected by the wind gusting??

Good Luck!

wind is sucking the air out of the pod filters,i usually notice it from crosswinds .stok airboxes have their advantages

FYI: He says in his original post he doesn't have pods...unless......4th dimensional pods are appearing where his airbox should be when it gets gusty!!:blink: I guess ya never know!!:silly: :silly: :silly: :ohmy:

Then again he doesn't actually say he has an airbox either....:huh: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :pinch:

Your exhaust would have to be leaking pretty badly for that to be the cause but stranger things have happened. Blow some smoke (insense stick or punk) around the exhust coupling with the engine running to see if you have a sizable exhaust leak. It's said if you cherry up the exhaust gaskets and quick quench them they will return to new condition (pre-crushed). I have never done this as they are pretty cheap and I usually have a set or two on hand but in a pinch I would try it.

Question -- when engine is cutting out, does it make any difference if a downshift or two is made (keeping same road speed at higher rpm) ??

Another wild guess --- Possible fuel starvation where engine is working harder to buck headwind, and receiving insufficient supply of fuel.

Will lob some ideas regarding possible fuel starvation ---

Maybe fuel tank cap vent is clogged (test by running with cap unsnapped and left ajar while running).

Maybe petcock strainer screen is clogged, up inside fuel tank or inside petcock??

Maybe fuel has crud and/or grit floating around inside the tank hovering around the petcock intake which collects around and clogs the petcock screen when riding (could flush out the tank)??

Maybe inline fuel filter is clogged??

Maybe needlejet is clogged?

Maybe mainjet is clogged?

Just thoughts about other possibilites rather than electrical.

Good Luck!

Is air filter in good condition, not clogged, and not over-oiled, and not blocked with a shop rag or anything else stored underneath the seat?

I have switched back to the airbox with new k&n filter, fuel cap is venting, tank is clean, petcock is nos and clean, in-line filter is new, carbs are fresh with all new o-rings, gaskets, jets, and are the second rack that I've put on, valves are adjusted correctly, new dyna coils, new wires, new plugs, new dyna ignition, 170 psi compression, wiring harness has been combed over with new connectors, good alternator, good rectifier, 12v at coils. There are probably other things that are in check so I don't know what else there is that I can do. It is running better than it was a few months ago. I just don't know what to do about this wind thing. It does seem that my plugs are darker sometimes and then lighter at other times. I'm kind of running out of options here. Because I've been trying to figure this out for so long I broke down and bought a new ninja zx-6r. But I would still like to ride my KZ. But this problem is getting to be a little rediculous.

Also, downshifting doesn't help at all. Just makes things worse.