[Maja]

Before I say anything, I just wanna say I'm new to the forum :-D

I got a an '04 Ninja 250 about a month ago. The oil and oil filter were changed when I got it. And it was all good . . . until it got a little cold. In Chicago it's 30 - 40 degrees outside and my bike won't keep running after initial start up.

I have the choke on for a minute, turn it down gradually and then ride off. . . at the first light or stop sign, my bike dies without choke. It goes on like this for about half a mile. Nasty smelling white smoke starts to appear on the right side, but it's coming from under the bike . . . kinda by the oil window but it's definitely from under the bike. It smells sort of like burning plastic . . . I'm always in traffic so I did not get a chance to get on my back and look under to see exactly where it's coming from.

This happened once when I had the choke on while parked and getting ready to go. I just thought I left it on for too long and crossed my fingers that I did not mess anything up too bad . . . and then I rode off.




I dropped the bike a couple weeks ago and it sounds like the valves are clinking at low rpm so I don't know if that is part of the problem.


Anyone have any ideas? Help would be much appreciated!

 

[zedx11]

Welcome

the 250 gets the valves checked at every service interval, if you don't have records of past services it probably would be a good thing to either check them yourself or have them checked.

you need to get under that think once you get home to see if you can tell where the smoke/smell is coming from. could be anything from something laying against the exhaust to needing a new O-ring on the oil filter or crush washer on the drain plug.

in the cold you will have to adjust the idle up a little also.

 

[Maja]

I'll try to pull over in the day time to catch it smoking . . . last night I couldn't see a thing.

I turned the idle up a bit when it first started getting cold, so at optimal temp it runs fine. It just has a hard time keeping running when it's first warming up.

The white smoke only happens with prolonged application of choke . . . if it were an o-ring or crush washer issue, wouldn't it be smokin' all the time?

I'll take a better look and post an update. I just hope the damage isn't gonna be too bad.

 

[JasonFMHS]

I dont think that anything is wrong at all accept maybe you need the valves checked. The 250 takes forever to warm up in cold temps.