Xr650r odd issue (electrical?)

My xr650r had been running great, starting 1-2 kicks hot or cold, then, after a ride, i rinsed her off, then changed the tire, and noticed she was harder to start then usual, rode about a mile, then she wouldn't idle. I had to bump start it and keep the rpm's up. I made it home, where she wouldn't start at all, just a bit of sputtering, and back fire.

This is a low hour bike.

Oil is full and clean.
Just checked valves and they were perfect (.006 intake and .008 exhaust)
cleaned the carb entirely twice
fresh fuel
petcock on and working
kill switch not the issue
I got it started once, after i pulled the plug and put the wire on, seemed to run decently, then i tuned it off, and went to start it later and same old problems.


I will be checking the timing and the coils tonight. This is acting like an electrical issue if I ever saw one. Any pointers though?


How she started last ride, 1 kick.

Does sound electrical, maybe you got some water into the coil HT leads or plug cap would have thought it would have dried out but you never know....for what they cost swap the plug out and see if that helps ?.

I tried another plug to no avail.

How are you going to check the timing ?, didn't think it was adjustable...maybe your carb cleaning wasn't as good as it should be ?, is the chole needed to start or not ?. Just seems strange you washed her now she is playing up.

Clean the carb with compressed air - if you did do it again.
Sounds like fuel to me, ignition's very reliable.

ground cable connection?

check all connectors, take em apart and use some contact spray

BuRP wrote:Clean the carb with compressed air - if you did do it again.
Sounds like fuel to me, ignition's very reliable.

I did, twice.... Hmm, messed with the wires a bit more, cleaned off the staor and all its connections, unplugged the cdi, coil, pug etc, then replugged. what do you know, she fired up. I did find 2 exposed wires. 1 was a ground wire, and the other was for the headlight, neither was the issue..... very odd indeed.

Just uncorked her, (except the new needle and seat which i ordered.)

Man she rips!

The issue is back.... thinking bad cdi.... more testing to come. It just flat out died on my on my way to work.

cognugget wrote:The issue is back.... thinking bad cdi.... more testing to come. It just flat out died on my on my way to work.

If your struggling to find a 650 CDI certain XR400 units will work and give a higher rev range.....see Burp for details or search here.

It was a simple issue. The choke was hanging up and sticking on, causing it to die when hot.