Looks like my bike has the dreaded valve cover oil leak. I have 1 week left on my extended warranty, and the dealer says it's covered. Kaws procedure is all new thicker gaskets and new bolts. The dealer offered me a deal on another 2 yr. warranty, and I'm really tempted. I never get extended warranties, but when I was negotiating, and he couldn't lower the price anymore, he threw it in. Best thing that could've happened after all the crap that's gone wrong with this bike. If I was working I wouldn't hesitate.

I picked up the GTPP for 4 yrs when I got my bike, same scenario, beat them down on price, then they threw it in - this was back in Mar of last year on a new 2010. I figured even if I didn't use it, it would be a good deal sweetener if I ever decided to sell within the warranty timeframe... Haven't had to use it yet though (knock on wood) and frankly, I hope that I never do.

How much for the extension for 2 yrs?

I have no idea if the dealer is giving me a deal, since I have no idea what Kaw would charge me, but he offered $400 for 2 years.

I bit the bullet. If I could work on my own bike, I would. I worked on plenty of bikes in the good ole days, but my back just can't handle being hunched over a bike anymore. So a couple hundred a year "just in case", makes sense to me. Especially when the dealer I use has an excellent mechanic. He'll be tearing the bike down for the 4th time shortly.

My GTPP runs out in April 2015.... long after its titled in someone elses name. LOL.

Picked up the bike saturday. Had a great ride back, but one problem. Everytime I let off the gas, I get a constant "burble" from the exhaust. Even at a stop in neutral, if you rev and let off, there's constant burble. Great acceleration, smooth idle, but... I put the slip-ons on last year, and never had this problem. I'm thinking the mechanic missed a hose, or electrical connection. Any ideas?

What was done to the bike? How extensive was that repair and where was it? If we can pinpoint what was done, we can hose something like the PAIR hose might be leaking? Then again, did you shut down PAIR?

valve cover leak was fixed, so fairing uppers, tank, and air box removed (and of course the valve cover). Bike is an '06, completely stock except for slip-ons, and an '08 ECU. I didn't mess with the PAIR because I never had a backfire issue before.

Valve cover off = The PAIR hoses may be on, but not centered? One side is hissing or has a leak? This is too much on you bending over and looking; Fairing removal and all. Yeah, and '08 ECU with '06 440cc injectors? I had that combo. Rich as a bitch she is. Too rich in fact. But not harmful.

Unless blue wants to take a crack at it, Rook too. I'm thinking PAIR hose. Can't be a code you see on the dash, so if anything was removed that has something to do with air on the after side, meaning, the injectors are air sensitive on the before side. That says, air gets in the cylinder suck before the gas does. That stalls the engine. The air to fuel ratio is off. meaning, it stalled out being sensitive. Which again states you say it runs fine, starts fine, idles fine and all that.

Take it back or sit and be comfortable removing a cover, aim a light into the front center of the valve cover. The silver PAIR stacks or those hose nipples have to have the hoses centered between the air actuator module and the PAIR intake air towerstacks nipplespigots, call it. Are they to one side or centered? May have to take both covers off and a flashlight to see better. That, or take a ride and charge the battery, call it a comeback on your mechanic.

* Last updated by: Hub on 11/8/2011 @ 11:00 AM *

Hub; I gave it the once over, and didn't see anything obvious. The weather is failing fast, so it's either run it to the dealer, and risk it sitting there till spring, or take the fairing off myself, risk not finding the problem and hoping the dealer will still take care of it in the spring. Do you think riding it another 60 miles like this is going to harm anything?
After I get this fixed, I was planning to switch back to the '06 ECU. I like having the secondaries open sooner, but it does "feel" a little off. It seems too lean on the '06 ECU, and too rich on the '08. Too abrupt without the flies, and less power down low with them. Whatever the problem is, it's helping with the rich condition as it feels snappier.

You know, the way you are saying it just burbles, not backfires, not cuts out, not hesitates, I'm going to say rich/cold/'08 ECU on a bank of 440cc's, the tone now is burbling in the cooler air. More dense air, with rich too begin with? Now even more rich ~ Burble-Durble might be your burbling and not a PAIR the more I think of it.

* Last updated by: Hub on 11/8/2011 @ 5:02 PM *

And to do that de-burble variable?; Install the '06 ECU. If the burble is gone... What does that say?

the PAIR hoses look tight. I can't fit my hand in there to pull/push them, but they look tight. I can't find anything unplugged or loose. The bike ran fine on the way to the dealer at about 62 degrees, and it was only about 10 degrees cooler on the way home. I doubt that small a change would make a difference, but switching the ECU is easy enough.

Pizza's here!

I can't go for a ride, raining hard all day, but it seems like an improvement with the '06 ECU. The burble/backfire is still there, but I have to rev to about 4500 and let off completely. It was doing it as low as 2500 and let off. I'll have to wait to ride it to really tell. Thanks for all the help Hub! At the least I cleaned the air cleaner, took off the screen, and replaced the cover with a metal one.

Took the bike for a ride. Same problem. Run it up to about 5000 rpm and let off, brumdedubrumPOPdebrumPOPbumbrumdedePOPdedubumbrum. I was getting 27 mpg at 70mph in 6th. I'm going to try to get to the shop tomorrow. I wish I had some decent cold weather riding gear. I was freezing today at about 41 degrees, and that was only for about 4 miles. Tomorrow it will be 60 miles each way, if the mech can figure out the problem.

Problem solved! That was 2 very cold rides! Temp was 36 when I left, and 40 on return with a 25-30 mph sidewind. Mech put it on computer, no error. Stripped it and searched for unclipped electric, or unhooked hose, all good. Tried to call Kawasaki service for help, and they were in a meeting till lunch, so not available for 2 hours. I told him to take a last look, and then button it up, and I'd bring it back in the spring. Eureka! The hose from the reed valve to exhaust had folded in on the bottom when he pushed it on. It looked good, till he checked a different angle.