Hi guys,

I have some strange behaviour that I'm not sure is normal.

When I pull through the revs and gears, it feels like the engine (I assume) starts grinding at around 6000rpm give or take. I can feel it through the handlebars and it tends to go after about 7000rpm or when I push it way up into the power band its fine too. This occurs worst when im going about 60 mph and keeping the revs in the trouble zone.

I also found that if I potter along at just over 5000rpm it feels really smooth, no vibration or grinding and almost no negative engine sensation at all.

I have a new chain and sprockets (600 miles ago) and a new oil filter and oil change then too (when I bought the bike). In an attempt to improve it, I tightened my chain very slightly today and lubed it and realigned my back wheel because I notcied that the adjustments on the chain tensioner didnt completely match and managed to get them to be almost the same now.

I took the bike out 2 hours after making the adjustments to allow the lube to dry a bit and I feel like it has improved and the rpm range of grinding is narrower now, but still centered on 6k. I will check the engine oil level in the morning just to make sure too.

I have tried to search for this but havent seen anything that exactly matches what I feel.  As an engineer, it makes me cringe because i'm running all kinds of imagination adventures where I visualise too big metal plates grinding swarf into my gearbox haha

Is this well known to you? Any tips?

Many thanks!

James

Hi guys,


I'm just introducing myself as I bought a Fazer last week and love it! I changed from an XT600E which was my first bike. I'm an English guy that has been living in Sweden for the last 5 years. I passed my bike test at the end of September last year (I don't have a driving licence for a car though), and rode the XT through the whole winter.


I got my fair share of crappy weather conditions over the winter- Freezing fog (couldn't see through the visor), hail storms, pea soup fog, icy roads, snowy roads (I fell off the XT on a gravel road in a forest that was snowy. I could have avoided this but in my naivety thought that I could tackle it and busted my knee up a bit). So that opened my eyes a bit, but I'm glad I did because I think a lot more when I ride.


Here is the Fazer after a polish and clean today:


Front



Left Side



Right side





Also, I have a question for you seasoned veterans about the forks... I have the oxidization on my front forks because of chipped lacquer. I want to remove the lacquer and polish them up because I want to make/keep the bike tidy. I have a new tube of Autosol, but what is the best way to remove the lacquer? I'd like to avoid using paint stripper if possible. Wire wool, sand paper? I think this question has probably been asked numerous times before so you'll have to forgive me. I just joined and wanted to introduce myself before I delve into the website for answers.


Here is a picture of the front fork ugliness:


Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my introduction! I look forward to chatting with you and learning a lot!
Oh... here is the XT:





Thanks!
James