Service

SERVICE

Going, going, gone KX80

My 1986 KX80 was stolen and I never got it back. If I ever get another dirt bike I would like to know if there are any anti-theft items I can get—like a key ignition or something.

Justin Macort Ambler, Pennsylvania

A keyed ignition would do little to stop the theft of a small, light motorcycle like an 80. Such a bike could be easily rolled away or simply lifted into a pick-up's bed or a car's trunk. Several manufacturers make cable or chain type locks. With a chain or cable and lock, the bike can be secured to an immovable object such as a power pole, steel fence post, etc., making it a little more theft-proof

Decibel-downers

I own a 1 988 Suzuki Katana 600 with 5400 miles on it. I am interested in an exhaust system change, partly for looks, partly for a slight performance gain. I don't need a full-blown race system that requires carburetor jet changes and I don't want excessive noise or a peaky monster of a powerhand. I would like to install a Cobra Fl R or FIS but my dealer discourages any exhaust changes for strictly street use. Do you have any experience with the Cobra slip-ons? Can they actually be installed without rejetting? Will they decrease the smooth running and easy starting of my bike?

David H. Whitney

Oakland, Maine

We have tried the Cobra slip-ons on several different motorcycles. None of them required jetting changes nor did the slip-ons alter the engine's smoothness or starting characteristics. They did reduce weight and minutely improve performance, with a noticeable, though not objectionable, increase in noise level. The Cobra FIS is quieter than the FJ R version.

Bad Connection

Earlier this year, the battery on my 1978 Honda CB750K went dead. The problem was traced to a quick-connect plug that had melted due to increased resistance caused by corrosion. Should 1 check the other connectors in the system and clean them? If so, how and what do I use? I don’t want to damage any of them by using the wrong chemicals.

Len Parkin

Gillette, New Jersey

Contact cleaner in a spray can, available from almost any auto accessory store or motorcycle dealer, usually does a good job. If any connector appears to have extensive corrosion, scrub it thoroughly using an old toothbrush and contact cleaner, then give it a shot of WD-40 or any similar corrosion-deterring spray. Also, be careful when cleaning the male portion of the plug, as some designs are easily bent.

More stop-and-go

I had a similar problem to Burt Metzger’s (Service, March, 1989) with a Kawasaki 650 I was working on: It would suddenly quit running and then restart after sitting a few minutes. I traced the problem to a fuel filter that had been added. The added length of the fuel filter caused a kinked fuel line which resulted in fuel starvation at higher engine speeds. A dirty fuel filter or a plugged gas-cap air vent could also cause such a problem.

Donald D. Maxfield

Sparks, Nevada El