Hard to start and weak when running

Well, I was off to work....and usually my bike starts right up. But it's been giving me trouble lately. Doesn't seem to want to start right up like it normally does. You will hear the starter sound whine but the engine has trouble engaging. Once the engine does engage and I start to ride the bike doesn't seem to have much power. It's not the battery which read 12.4 volts. Checked my connections and made sure they were tight. I'm thinking I should probably change the plugs, as I had the same spark plug wires for 2 years now. Not too sure though, what do you guys think?

thank god,i thought you guys were looking in my bedroom window again !

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/06/28 23:50

Are your valve clearances adjusted? Have you checked compression? Are all cylinders firing? Test by spraying with water when the bike is hot. Water vaporizes on cylinders that fire and will roll off where they are not. There isn't enough info in your post to get started diagnosing whatever the problem may be. Describe your state of tune...

Sorry I didn't describe the problem well enough. Basically the bike had a hard time starting...but when it started it struggled to stay running...and when running it was very sluggish...as if it lacked power. I searched through the forums and decided that it was probably bad gas.

I pumped the gas out of the tank. I let the bike run with the gas lever to off until it stopped running. Then I put the new gas in the tank and switched the gas to ON. I ran it and it's running like it use to. I believe the old gas was from a Shell station. I used Mobil this time round. It's running great now