Crosswind sensitive GPZ (sorry - long)

[Stephen Hampson]

I have'nt experienced the crosswind problem but when I took the carbs of for
another problem I had, just after I bought the bike. The two clear hoses
from the carbs route into a hole in each side of the airbox. The hole is
just behind the downtube and in the rear recessed part of the airbox. 

Now I don't know if this is correct it was just how mine was when I got it.
But by the ends being in the airbox they should not be affected by any wind
turbulence.

On another matter of wind turbulence, I have just fitted some LSL type
risers and have found that the bike is a lot more sensitive to cross winds.
Possibly due to the more upright seating position.


Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Sims [mailto:bob.sims at us.army.mil] 
Sent: 20 April 2007 20:21
To: 'Kawasaki GPZ1100 discussion'
Subject: RE: Crosswind sensitive GPZ (sorry - long)

> I could use some advice on this: Since the beginning of this 
> season my trusty old GPZ has become sensitive to gusty 
> crosswinds from the LEFT. 

Ped,

I've noticed a similar problem w/my GPZ before, but normally only in very
high winds (rare), and even then it was never enough to really bother me.

I've heard of this happening with other bikes as well, some worse than
others.  I think it may be the carb drain hoses that exit from the top of
the carbs, and route beside the airbox.  These hoses are clear on my bike,
and there is one per side.  The wind moving across the ends of one of these
hoses would create a vacuum within the carb bowls, momentarily starving the
engine.  If I remember, the hoses route between the airbox and the frame
tubes, so the tips are close to the sides of the bike (and the wind).  I
suppose you could try re-routing these hoses, or extending them, or covering
them with some type of breathable foam.

A friend of mine many years ago had a Honda Hawk NT650, and this same
problem would cut a lot of power to the bike when the wind angle was right.
Apparently, it was a "known problem" with the Hawks, and the fix was to trim
or re-route the carb drain hose so the tip wasn't exposed to the wind.

Keep us updated, and hope this helps.

Bob
www.twowheelsburning.com



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