Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods Engine stalling problem fixed....

I've researched this extensively here and elsewhere and have seen a number of posts and threads on the topic, with most suggesting removing the O2 sensors and AI system. This may be the best long term solution but that entailed doing a number of rather complicated steps ( for me).

I have a 2011 Speedmaster and mine was stalling a lot on take off from a light and naturally during heavy traffic stop and go. It had become dangerous and annoying. The dealer had no solution and acted like they had never seen the problem before.

So the big revelation was simply to turn up the idle to around 12-1400 RPM. I rode today in stop and go traffic for a couple of hours and not one burp, hiccup or stall.

So for now, this seems like the solution.

Sometimes it can be as simple as just getting used to the new bike. There has been some posts on here that just indicated that the EFI bikes may take some getting used to, although I don't know why that would be true. Now it the dealer/mechanic rode it and had trouble, THAT would be a problem!

EFI requires more skilled/sensitive throttle control than carbed bikes from 0 throttle to about 10% throttle. So yes, getting used to the bike is a big factor.

Low idle rate is also a big contributor to the stalling problem. Triumph recommend idle set at 1150rpm. Riders coming from a v-twin background often want to hear a lower idle rpm and also mistakenly think their torque power range begins lower than it does on the Triumph. Hence the stall. The AI contributes too because that kicks in below about 5% throttle and the transition between the AI a/f mix and the mapped a/f mix is not smooth (jerky).

Interesting you mentioned that Triumph recommends an idle of 1150, because when I mentioned the stalling to the mechanic he was nice enough to put it on the computer and check the mapping etc but oddly enough he set the idle to around 900.

And the stalling got worse.

I was pretty happy when I moved it up to around 12-14, that I've not had a problem since.

The service manual states 1,000 rpm give or take 50 (so 950 - 1050). [pg 10B.99]

I've never felt great with my carb model idling below 1150, though. Can't speak to the EFI bikes.

My carbed idle is set 11/1200. Its not a Harley.

mine idles best around 1100 also

i like to keep my oil pressure about 20lbs at idle on a really hot day, in order to do this i find the idle set of about 1100/50 or so to work best.

I was told by my mechanic that my '07 should idle between 1100 and 1500. Mine seems, as many here to usually be between 1100/1150.

Mine had always idled around 900rpm.

If I go above 900-1000 RPM at idle, I get a stumble when I twist the throttle. Are my carbs set up wrong? If they are, it's a completely tolerable problem.

I think it is more likely because they are set up right like mine are.

K well then someone come set mine up right please :-)

I dont have a Tach on my 05 TBA, but if its stuttering, I adjust. every day its a tweak here and a tweak there.