From experience, there's so many things that can cause this it'll be an elimination process until you find it.
No matter which angle you look at it though, once warm the bike should run fine, no ifs or buts, i'm on about a quick warm up on the choke in very cold weather then it should be good to go.
You keep mentioning short journeys, so why not take it on a longer journey for starters, and see how it behaves?
Nothing major, just take it for a blast to get the heat up, and see if anything changes.
If something is simply not right, then i doubt engine heat will improve things, a bike that's mechanically sound won't have these kind of problems, so you need to do things one step at a time.
Stuttering can be caused by:
Air leak, ie: cracked inlet rubbers
TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) Do a quick check on it, it can cause starting, running, and idle problems,if breaking down or knackered.
Spark Plugs, loose, old,or fouled with oil. (Iridium are longer lasting, look around online, you'll find someone that sells them at a reasonable price)
Carbs,have you ever had them balanced? I'm guessing no. Air filter and TPS have to be spot on for a good carb balance to work well, but once done properly can make it feel like you're riding a new bike, especially at lower revs, it makes a huge difference, even more so if it hasn't been done for years which is a big possibility.
HT Leads, i had my own problems myself with starting, and was guided to chop 10mm off the ends of each HT lead then screw the spark plug caps back on, and again the bike found a new lease of life. To say i'm a fussy bastard is an understatement where my bike's concerned, and even after replacing bits and bobs i knew it just wasn't quite right when starting in the mornings, but this simple enhancement worked wonders, and it runs beautifully now.
Double check the caps haven't worked their way loose at all, the caps just tighten on to a self tapping screw, it's a crude but age old method.
Spark Plug Caps, on that note which caps are on your bike? OEM ones have a tendency to eventually give up, which in fairness is understandable after so many years. However, with the mileage on your bike i'd guess this is an unlikely scenario, but worth knowing that new OEM caps cost above £200, yet you can buy NGK replacements for just over a tenner that work just as well.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R...+&_sacat=0
There's a few pointers for you, go through them and you'll get to the bottom of the problem eventually, whilst inadvertently servicing your bike at the same time.
NOTE: Make a note somewhere of all mods or services that you do to your bike. Tyre changes, oil, plugs, literally everything, then you'll be able to keep on top of things before stuff starts going tits up (technical term).
Any questions or help needed, we're always here to teach or mock. :thumbup
No matter which angle you look at it though, once warm the bike should run fine, no ifs or buts, i'm on about a quick warm up on the choke in very cold weather then it should be good to go.
You keep mentioning short journeys, so why not take it on a longer journey for starters, and see how it behaves?
Nothing major, just take it for a blast to get the heat up, and see if anything changes.
If something is simply not right, then i doubt engine heat will improve things, a bike that's mechanically sound won't have these kind of problems, so you need to do things one step at a time.
Stuttering can be caused by:
Air leak, ie: cracked inlet rubbers
TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) Do a quick check on it, it can cause starting, running, and idle problems,if breaking down or knackered.
Spark Plugs, loose, old,or fouled with oil. (Iridium are longer lasting, look around online, you'll find someone that sells them at a reasonable price)
Carbs,have you ever had them balanced? I'm guessing no. Air filter and TPS have to be spot on for a good carb balance to work well, but once done properly can make it feel like you're riding a new bike, especially at lower revs, it makes a huge difference, even more so if it hasn't been done for years which is a big possibility.
HT Leads, i had my own problems myself with starting, and was guided to chop 10mm off the ends of each HT lead then screw the spark plug caps back on, and again the bike found a new lease of life. To say i'm a fussy bastard is an understatement where my bike's concerned, and even after replacing bits and bobs i knew it just wasn't quite right when starting in the mornings, but this simple enhancement worked wonders, and it runs beautifully now.
Double check the caps haven't worked their way loose at all, the caps just tighten on to a self tapping screw, it's a crude but age old method.
Spark Plug Caps, on that note which caps are on your bike? OEM ones have a tendency to eventually give up, which in fairness is understandable after so many years. However, with the mileage on your bike i'd guess this is an unlikely scenario, but worth knowing that new OEM caps cost above £200, yet you can buy NGK replacements for just over a tenner that work just as well.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R...+&_sacat=0
There's a few pointers for you, go through them and you'll get to the bottom of the problem eventually, whilst inadvertently servicing your bike at the same time.
NOTE: Make a note somewhere of all mods or services that you do to your bike. Tyre changes, oil, plugs, literally everything, then you'll be able to keep on top of things before stuff starts going tits up (technical term).
Any questions or help needed, we're always here to teach or mock. :thumbup
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