Sorry for the delay here
I ordered the clutch plates and the tool to properly change the plates. Took a couple of weeks because the bozo's at the local dealer didn't have my number. I called them to find out what was up.
Anyway, before I started, I posted another note over on the local bike site and someone there mentioned syncing throttle bodies. I did a google search and found:
Common symptoms of unbalanced cylinders is rough idle and low load surging, as well as slight hesitation while accelerating.
That seems to match the symptoms perfectly. So I made an appointment with a local bike shop for Tuesday.
Saturday I replaced the spark plugs (looked pretty good) and cleaned the air filter (I have a K&N). The air filter was pretty cruddy with dead bugs and stuff.
I put the airbox back on the bike and on Sunday I oiled the filter and put back on the bike. Unfortunately the poor 'busa fell off the rear stand when I was done. The FI light came on and stayed on after that. I figured it was a tip-over switch. The guys at the shop suggested I needed to turn the key on and off after it falls over or the FI light will stay on.
On Tuesday I rode the bike to work. FI light on. It sounded a little throatier but it was still slightly surging. They were nice enough to drive over with their trailer, pick up the bike and then come over later to pick me up and take me to their shop.
(I also had them replace the rear wheel bearings with sealed bearings and ordered a replacement rear sprocket since it's in bad shape; I'll be replacing them today or tomorrow.)
They said they found out what the FI light problem was. I neglected to put the connectors back on the sensors *doh* Apparently the airbox wasn't all the way on the throttle bodies on the right side. I'm 100% sure I had it pushed all the way down before I screwed it in. Maybe it popped off on the tipover.
Anyway, when I left the shop, I rolled up to the stoplight and could see a long line of cars (two lanes) coming my way. I know there's a nice long runway (I mean "merge lane"
) so just as the first car entered the intersection to the left, I turned left and accelerated. I didn't feel any hesitation and by the time I got to the end of the merge lane, I was 7 or 8 car lengths in front of the first car.
So it felt a lot better
Yesterday and today I was particularly sensitive to how the bike operated. I _think_ I felt a slight surge while on the freeway yesterday but that's the only time I felt the problem I was feeling before and it might have been me vs the bike (my suspension is a tad mushy; I have to fix it).
So I'm pretty sure synchronizing the throttle bodies fixed the problem. I didn't replace the clutch as it didn't seem necessary however I have the gear for when it's time.
Carl
