First time rider, loving my 500 despite the headaches its giving me

395 Views 17 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Turbulence, 3 d ago

darwin _diaz

Discussion Starter · 8 d ago

Hello all. My name is Darwin and my 2003 ninja 500 is my first bike. I'm in love with the looks, sound, and feeling (and the price lol) of my bike. Once I finished the MSF course I was so excited to ride.

She's been giving me some problems lately (grinding noise, hard time starting when cold, etc) and I don't know how to service her yet but I'm confident that I'll learn what I need to be a good bike owner through this fourm

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Davenay67

· #2 · 8 d ago

Welcome!

Do you know any of the service details from the previous owner? Have the faults developed since you owned the bike, or did you buy with these issues?

Hard starting is most likely the carbs needing some attention.

Can you elaborate on the griding noise. Where is it coming from? Speed related? When braking, or just riding?

People will be along to help, but more details will be needed....

darwin _diaz

Discussion Starter · #3 · 8 d ago

Davenay67 said:
Welcome!

Do you know any of the service details from the previous owner? Have the faults developed since you owned the bike, or did you buy with these issues?

Hard starting is most likely the carbs needing some attention.

Can you elaborate on the griding noise. Where is it coming from? Speed related? When braking, or just riding?

People will be along to help, but more details will be needed....

Hey Davenay67 thanks for the welcome. The faults have developed since I bought it. I’ll ask the previous owner for the history and get back to you

video of bike not starting:

http://imgur.com/a/lBWW6yl

The Petcock was on open. Maybe the bike was flooded because when I closed the petcock and let it sit for a while. I later came back, opened the petcock and it started weakly (I had to throttle to stop it from dying)

also I rarely ever can get the bike to start from choke. So I have to start normally,throttle, then when I know it won’t die I put the choke

Video of grinding noise:

http://imgur.com/a/hofdsOn

I’ll be real on this one — I dropped the bike from a noob mistake. I rode the bike home and I didn’t hear the grinding until the next day, a few mins into my next ride

This noise first came when I shifted from third to first gear as I came to a stop sign. I shut the bike off and rolled it home in shame

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bpe

· #4 · 8 d ago

Wheel Tire Jeans Vehicle Fuel tank

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ducatiman

· #5 · 8 d ago

flat battery from your 1st vid. Charge or replace with new.

2nd vid.....1800 is too high an idle ...adjust to 1200.

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darwin _diaz

Discussion Starter · #6 · 8 d ago

ducatiman said:
flat battery from your 1st vid. Charge or replace with new.

2nd vid.....1800 is too high an idle ...adjust to 1200.

how do you adjust your idle rpms?

darwin _diaz

Discussion Starter · #7 · 8 d ago

ducatiman said:
flat battery from your 1st vid. Charge or replace with new.

2nd vid.....1800 is too high an idle ...adjust to 1200.

also where can I get a new battery? My autozone can't even part check my bike

yorkie

· #8 · 8 d ago

darwin _diaz said:
how do you adjust your idle rpms?

look under the carbs there is black knob turn it anticlockwise (as you are when looking down on it)

darwin _diaz said:
also where can I get a new battery? My autozone can't even part check my bike

anywhere that sells motorcycle batteries, ask for a YB14L-A2.

Reactions: 1

bpe

· #9 · 7 d ago

darwin _diaz said:
how do you adjust your idle rpms?

Loosen the screw with the black knob to lower the RPM's.
Counterclockwise if you were laying on the ground looking up at it, as the screw is upside down.

ridervfr

· #10 · 7 d ago

Just another observation, thought I heard a bit of exhaust noise from the header area, (could be wrong) would be nice to put a socket on those cap nuts and see if you get a turn, could be getting a leak there.

Turbulence

· #11 · 7 d ago

If you want to do servicing yourself I'd highly recommend getting a Haynes manual - you can pick them up pretty cheap second-hand on ebay ect. If you don't have one get hold of a copy of the owners manual as well, any one from a '94 bike onwards will tell you the basics of everything on the bike.

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darwin _diaz

Discussion Starter · #12 · 7 d ago

yorkie said:
look under the carbs there is black knob turn it anticlockwise (as you are when looking down on it)

anywhere that sells motorcycle batteries, ask for a YB14L-A2.

Will do, thank you

darwin _diaz

Discussion Starter · #13 · 7 d ago

bpe said:
Loosen the screw with the black knob to lower the RPM's.
Counterclockwise if you were laying on the ground looking up at it, as the screw is upside down.

I'll definitely do this when I get the chance

darwin _diaz

Discussion Starter · #14 · 7 d ago

Turbulence said:
If you want to do servicing yourself I'd highly recommend getting a Haynes manual - you can pick them up pretty cheap second-hand on ebay ect. If you don't have one get hold of a copy of the owners manual as well, any one from a '94 bike onwards will tell you the basics of everything on the bike.

I got a Clymer manual for the model years 1987-2002, is that any good for my 2003 bike?

Cincinnatikid

· #15 · 7 d ago

To me, it sounded like your grinding noise was more of a vibration noise. It seemed like it was louder when your phone was above the tank, and was quieter when you moved it towards the engine. The engine sounded fine enough, although sure the idle was a little high. Perhaps the choke was still on?
You said the noise started after you dropped the bike, which makes me think it’s something external on the bike that was broken loose, and is just vibrating back and forth when the engine is running. Like a piece of fender against itself or some other part.
Use a pair of gloves to keep from burning yourself, and maybe just press your hand on various parts of the bike while it’s idling and see if you can get the noise to quiet. Worth a try?

Battery:

https://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/scorpion-ytx14ahl-bs.html

$50
Shipped for free
It’s what I have in my bikes

Reactions: 2

yorkie

· #16 · 7 d ago

Cincinnatikid said:
which makes me think it’s something external on the bike that was broken loose, and is just vibrating back and forth when the engine is running. Like a piece of fender against itself or some other part.

good advise there, take note. I once developed a rattle half way on a long ride home. WTF sounded like the engine was about to give out. stopped the bike for a quick look over, but soon discovered it was missing the screw that holds the front fairing to the tank (yes that one) nothing to do with what it sounded like at all.

darwin _diaz

Discussion Starter · #17 · 6 d ago

Cincinnatikid said:
To me, it sounded like your grinding noise was more of a vibration noise. It seemed like it was louder when your phone was above the tank, and was quieter when you moved it towards the engine. The engine sounded fine enough, although sure the idle was a little high. Perhaps the choke was still on?
You said the noise started after you dropped the bike, which makes me think it’s something external on the bike that was broken loose, and is just vibrating back and forth when the engine is running. Like a piece of fender against itself or some other part.
Use a pair of gloves to keep from burning yourself, and maybe just press your hand on various parts of the bike while it’s idling and see if you can get the noise to quiet. Worth a try?

Battery:

https://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/scorpion-ytx14ahl-bs.html
$50
Shipped for free
It’s what I have in my bikes

Man I wish I saw this before buying a Walmart battery… thank you for the comment

Turbulence

· #18 · 3 d ago

darwin _diaz said:
I got a Clymer manual for the model years 1987-2002, is that any good for my 2003 bike?

Yes, bikes the same.

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