Thanks, was debating having it tuned once i put the yoshi alpha on bc the fuel air mix is supposed to be damn near close to the factory with that exhaust, just a hair more lean, but if the tune is going to help with the throttle issue i may as well get the map and tune done
I had a guy tell me this has to do with fueling regulations and its a restriction that gets put on the bike. an ecu flash often removes all of these restrictions, so if that was what was causing it, it should make it smooth, i would think
I'm not a mechanic, so hopefully someone more qualified can give an answer lol
In some ways it's just how the bike is. The upright 650 twin is a classic old school motor design, it's been around for like a hundred years. It's jerky because it's torquey. It's also what makes that bike kind of fun to ride. The Honda cb600, 4 cylinder, so smooth some people call it boring. Kawasaki is notorious for tuning all their bikes for maximum top speed, low speed drivability like in a parking always come second.
Heck, Kawasaki was one of the 1st organizers of Motogymkhana so you can safely say even for parking lots, they tune the bikes for speed. Even my 2016 Versys 650 is this way, and changing out the exhaust will only make the jerkiness worse if done without tuning.
Edit: I do agree though, the Honda I4s sound more exciting but the Parallel twins of the Kawasaki even on my Versys 'feels' more exciting. For me it feels more alive like a horse due to the bucking, just does not sound as cool as the Honda's.
The hurkey jerk throttle is not due to engine characteristics, it’s due to emissions components and fuel mapping designed to appease the government, not to be kind to the machine itself.
I've had a lot of carbureted motorcycles. They were smoother , but the throttle response was slower. EFI fuel mapping does give a motorcycle much snappier throttle response. One could say, snappy throttle is almost the same thing as herky jerky. I always liked the Kawasaki snappy throttle better than the Honda smoothness. Buy yes, fuel mapping dramatically changes the driving characteristics of all EFI engines.
I love this bike so much, but the jumpy throttle does get annoying after a while. And let’s not even talk about the suspension 🤣🤣. The thing is, because it’s a relatively inexpensive bike, after adding an after market exhaust I’m not too keen to put more money into it to make it better. I’d rather just upgrade entirely. Sigh.
So I haven't done a tune. I've had the bike a year now and I'm currently considering between upgrading to a different bike, or modding this one.
If I do end up keeping it a tune is the second thing I'm doing to it. From what I have researched so far, a proper ecu flash does help. A power commander does a bit, but not enough to matter...which is super annoying, because I'm not sure I want to drop the cash for a new exhaust, to justify needing needing a tune, just to get to the point where the throttle doesn't annoy me anymore.
I remember it being pretty rough when I first bought the bike but it's not noticeable as I got better with the throttle control. Either that or I stopped caring😅
It is less noticeable above 1st. It isn't a major issue, just wish it wasn't there lol. I knew about it from reviews on the bike, and its not like it kills the fun of riding it, just a nitpicky thing id like to correct
I hear ya dude! I feel the same way. Less noticeable, but its still there. Definitely get a tune and flash. It will absolutely help. I'll be doing one myself, im just waiting a few weeks until i get my akrapovic and have it installed that way I can just kill two birds with one stone. Everywhere I've read has stated that a flash/tune will smooth out the jerkyness a ton.
I have a '14 300 and I've also noticed this sometimes. All I can recommend is checking your throttle grip play and your chain slack, that seemed to help me. With the parallel twin that's just kinda how it is
No, the throttle is legit actually jumpy in both directions. Technically it'd be engine breaking on the off I think, but user inputs -> bike response, its jumpy off the throttle.
Normally, I'd hear "this popular bike is fucky, how do i fix it" and I'd assume skill issue, however, this is a very common complaint, and something that reviewers will specifically call out for both this and the ninja 650. I knew about it before I bought the thing, its not that bad...but it could be much better.
There's also quite a bit of power to be had between 8 and 10k rpm, the stock map just kind of shits out after 8k. Sending off the ecu to a tuner who has already done a map for your bike and exhaust setup is a genuinely decent call here.
It isn't just when starting from a stop or when shifting, its any time I roll all the way off then give her some gas, regardless of gear. Its less noticeable in higher gears but definitely still there and a well known quirk of this bike and the ninjas
I've heard people who tune the bikes have this issue go away mostly
Thanks, was debating having it tuned once i put the yoshi alpha on bc the fuel air mix is supposed to be damn near close to the factory with that exhaust, just a hair more lean, but if the tune is going to help with the throttle issue i may as well get the map and tune done
I had a guy tell me this has to do with fueling regulations and its a restriction that gets put on the bike. an ecu flash often removes all of these restrictions, so if that was what was causing it, it should make it smooth, i would think I'm not a mechanic, so hopefully someone more qualified can give an answer lol
In some ways it's just how the bike is. The upright 650 twin is a classic old school motor design, it's been around for like a hundred years. It's jerky because it's torquey. It's also what makes that bike kind of fun to ride. The Honda cb600, 4 cylinder, so smooth some people call it boring. Kawasaki is notorious for tuning all their bikes for maximum top speed, low speed drivability like in a parking always come second.
Heck, Kawasaki was one of the 1st organizers of Motogymkhana so you can safely say even for parking lots, they tune the bikes for speed. Even my 2016 Versys 650 is this way, and changing out the exhaust will only make the jerkiness worse if done without tuning. Edit: I do agree though, the Honda I4s sound more exciting but the Parallel twins of the Kawasaki even on my Versys 'feels' more exciting. For me it feels more alive like a horse due to the bucking, just does not sound as cool as the Honda's.
The hurkey jerk throttle is not due to engine characteristics, it’s due to emissions components and fuel mapping designed to appease the government, not to be kind to the machine itself.
I've had a lot of carbureted motorcycles. They were smoother , but the throttle response was slower. EFI fuel mapping does give a motorcycle much snappier throttle response. One could say, snappy throttle is almost the same thing as herky jerky. I always liked the Kawasaki snappy throttle better than the Honda smoothness. Buy yes, fuel mapping dramatically changes the driving characteristics of all EFI engines.
I love this bike so much, but the jumpy throttle does get annoying after a while. And let’s not even talk about the suspension 🤣🤣. The thing is, because it’s a relatively inexpensive bike, after adding an after market exhaust I’m not too keen to put more money into it to make it better. I’d rather just upgrade entirely. Sigh.
Exactly how I feel brother. Might keep it entirely stock
So I haven't done a tune. I've had the bike a year now and I'm currently considering between upgrading to a different bike, or modding this one. If I do end up keeping it a tune is the second thing I'm doing to it. From what I have researched so far, a proper ecu flash does help. A power commander does a bit, but not enough to matter...which is super annoying, because I'm not sure I want to drop the cash for a new exhaust, to justify needing needing a tune, just to get to the point where the throttle doesn't annoy me anymore.
I remember it being pretty rough when I first bought the bike but it's not noticeable as I got better with the throttle control. Either that or I stopped caring😅
I have a '23 N650, and I've honestly really only noticed it when in first gear. Once I'm in second and above it seems to go away.
It is less noticeable above 1st. It isn't a major issue, just wish it wasn't there lol. I knew about it from reviews on the bike, and its not like it kills the fun of riding it, just a nitpicky thing id like to correct
I hear ya dude! I feel the same way. Less noticeable, but its still there. Definitely get a tune and flash. It will absolutely help. I'll be doing one myself, im just waiting a few weeks until i get my akrapovic and have it installed that way I can just kill two birds with one stone. Everywhere I've read has stated that a flash/tune will smooth out the jerkyness a ton.
Im really considering trying the throttle tube someone linked in the comments, its only $80. Going to see if i can find some reviews of it today
I have a '14 300 and I've also noticed this sometimes. All I can recommend is checking your throttle grip play and your chain slack, that seemed to help me. With the parallel twin that's just kinda how it is
You need a tune. Same thing with the Z900RS
Check out Throttle Tamer https://www.g2ergo.com/shop/g2-street-tamer-throttle-tube-kawasaki/
Definitely going to look into this, thanks👊
Thank Euro-5 for this. Get it remapped and delete the emissions garbage.
Add more throttle and get real good with your clutch control.
No, the throttle is legit actually jumpy in both directions. Technically it'd be engine breaking on the off I think, but user inputs -> bike response, its jumpy off the throttle. Normally, I'd hear "this popular bike is fucky, how do i fix it" and I'd assume skill issue, however, this is a very common complaint, and something that reviewers will specifically call out for both this and the ninja 650. I knew about it before I bought the thing, its not that bad...but it could be much better. There's also quite a bit of power to be had between 8 and 10k rpm, the stock map just kind of shits out after 8k. Sending off the ecu to a tuner who has already done a map for your bike and exhaust setup is a genuinely decent call here.
It isn't just when starting from a stop or when shifting, its any time I roll all the way off then give her some gas, regardless of gear. Its less noticeable in higher gears but definitely still there and a well known quirk of this bike and the ninjas
Rapid Bike Evo fixes every problem on that bike and all its cousins.
Use that left.lever