Hitchcocks Forum

I have recently changed my daily commute, unfortunately for the worst. My new destination means more traffic and junctions and more stop starts. This isn’t a problem for my Himalayans agility and the comfy riding position, but I have notice under heavy traffic conditions a tendency for the tick over to drop very low and sometimes the engine will cut out. I have tried raising the idle speed to counteract the staling which helps; however when I return to free moving traffic conditions the idle speed becomes is too high. My question is: how would I remedy my undesirable slow running problems for all riding conditions.

Having never a scrap of trouble with my own Himalayan over the past two years - I would suggest an air leak somewhere? check all block connectors as a matter of course, check the air injection connections (maybe fit the air delete kit) several folks on this forum have reported better running after fitting and I intend to do this to mine on the 3,000 service coming up soon. Check the bolts are tight holding the throttle body? You could try the old style air leak test and with the bike running - spray some WD 40 around the throttle body - if the revs rise then you have an air leak somewhere.

Definitely recommend the air delete kit, I fitted one at the first services - no impact on warranty I was told by the Garage I bought it from.

You will certainly notice the difference at low revs, I am sure that it feels a little more torquey.

I have noticed that on tickover the revs increase slightly sometimes but not enough to be an issue.

Thank you for your reply and advice. I must say I am going to try Rushours air leak checks at the weekend and if there is no obvious faults I will try fitting the air delete kit which seems like a good idea .

There have been lots of discussions over on the other forum about this and a common cause seems to be a pinched fuel breather pipe from when the tank has been removed for service etc and then put back on. If you have had the tank off recently it may be worth a look.

Thanks for the pinched fuel breather pipe scenario, I will check that out. I have not removed the tank but the previous owner may have done something to it.

The Booster Plug Part No 921203/3 from our hosts should sort it out, better idling and removes the jerky low RPM when running

This seems an odd problem with a fuel injected engine. Could it be that one of the sensors is iffy? I don't understand why it would behave like this if the ECU is functioning correctly. Shouldn't it self-adjust to ambient conditions, temperature, engine speed and fuel delivery?