Idle speed

[kwakatlast]

Took delivery of my new GTR on Wednesday, beside the vibe issue mentioned in a members thread, am loving it. One thing not sitting easy with me is the engine speed at idle. It's idling at 1500 revs and when I select 1st gear I swear someones smacking it into gear with a sledge hammer. I took the bike back to the dealer within half an hour of collecting it, only to be told this is normal and kawasaki themselves have confirmed this. Can someone with a lot more experience please shed some light on this please, as I can't believe this is normal. 

[Lonewolf]

I would say that 'normal' idle speed is about 1000 to 1100 RPM. Just turn it down. 

[viper]

yes, just turn your idle speed down with the adjuster knob dangling down on the leftside. Im afraid the cluncky gear change is normal for kawasaki, some days are better than others, also better engine oils seem to help, maybe get it changed .

every kawasaki ive owned had had an agricultural gearbox, unbelievable that they cant make boxes as good as honda !!

[kwakatlast]

Lonewolf

Judging by my other bikes I would tend to agree with you. Loathe to touch anything before It's first service but will pop in on way home from work and insist on it being done, cheers!

[Lonewolf]

If you turn it down I doubt the dealer will even notice. I've had a couple of GTR's now, the latter being dealer serviced habitually and each time the idle speed remains as it was when it went in...1100rpm. Nobody has ever suggested it's too low. To me its the norm.

[kwakatlast]

Thanks for replies guys, funnily enough my CBR600, Fireblade 954 and Blackbird all smacked into 1st, was thinking it was just a Honda thing  rest of the gears are nice and smooth, so think I will just tweak the idle myself! 

[O.C.]

Set your idle revs at 1000 - 1100 rpm 1500 is definitely too high

[Boomer]

I set mine to 1200rpm as below that I can stall it when cold by pushing the throttle back (which I often do when reversing out of the garage).
When set lower the engine would also sometimes stall when coming to a stop at traffic lights.

[Deon]

I've adjusted my idling speed to just below 1000rpm and it does help a bit with the "clunk". I've also noticed that the box is smoother now that I am using Castrol Actevo 10W-40 semi synthetic oil in my engine but I still believe that the GTR box is not as smooth as it should be ( compared to the VFR1200, it is like an old MF tractor's gear change !! ).
What I also do on a weekly basis is spray a bit of Q20 ( think you guys call it WD40 ) onto the gear lever shaft where it goes into the engine casing.

Deon

[Bryn]

just turn your idle speed down with the adjuster knob dangling down on the leftside.

You learn something new every day    Never noticed it 

[nogoslow]

I've just had a look at the handbook for my '09. Mr k says that the idle should be 1050-1150 rpm.  hope that helps

[Bryn]

I've just had a look at the handbook for my '09. Mr k says that the idle should be 1050-1150 rpm.  hope that helps

My  09 is about 1150.... It will be interesting to lower it a bit and see if it reduces the clunk on selecting first   

[flatfour]

I experienced a similar problem with my GTR (2012) at around 1,000 miles or so. The dealer changed the oil for Motul 300V synthetic (a process repeated at the annual service a few weeks ago) and immediately things were much improved.

[SirToU]

I've owned lots of Kawasaki's,

when they leave the showroom, they are set to the correct idle - 1050ish.  however as the engine gets bedded in the idle increases - I've had this happen as low as 150 miles.  The same thing happened to my other half's ER6F, and she thought that she was doing something wrong as it was scaring her at slow speed.  it just needs resetting.

Down by your left foot is a remote idle adjustment, I would suggest you bring it back down. (its a long way down and I wouldn't suggest you do this while sitting on the bike.

Neil

[Kwikasfuki]

Idle speed should be 1150 ish