Hi, I am a long time reader and this is a VERY informative site.

I love my bike I bought it in dec and am very please with it,, I have a 2 questions about it.

1. The header pipe get realy red when I am riding it at NIGHT. It only takes a few miles till it gets red ,,is this normal? the dealer says that it is because the header pipe it thin,, it realy scares me that i could probly light a cigar on it,,, but as soon as i stop and leave the bike idle the redness goes away please help!

2. When I first start up my bike after it was sitting a long time(overnight) I hear a ticking sound that sound like a lifter is unprimed,,,, the dealer says that it is the decompression thingy that is making the noise. It only lasts till I give it a shot of gas does it go away. Whats up with this?

 

My 99 used to have the header pipe glow at night sometimes. Never had anything come of it . If it really does bother you, you could always get that header pipe wrap from highlifter. Its purpose is to keep heat in, but if nothing else it would just keep you from having to see the thing glow (thus taking it off your mind). And that sounds pretty stupid too I guess. I've heard a lot of people talk about seeing this over the years, and I think its common. Don't know that anything is wrong. I wrapped my header pipes on my 660 to keep the heat off the carb, and the stuff does a good job of that. Still, $40 for it is steep for what you are getting.

I don't know about your second question.

 

Have your valves adjusted, if the the adjustment is too tight the exhaust will run hot, you can also burn a valve.

Your DEALER is correct about the DECOM. the engine must reach about 600rpm to shut it off.

 

anyone else? the red pipe really bothers me! should i be worried or should i insist on the dealer making run richer,,,, what will i harm if im too lean? too rich? the atv has 700m and is still on waranty.... will the waranty cover the re jeting to make it richer? and if i make it richer will my summer performace suffer? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Well I don't think I would insist that the dealer make it run richer, probably won't solve the problem and can create more. I guess what I am trying to say is that a red pipe is not necessarily an indication of a problem. I think your dealer hit it on the head though, thin pipes. You have said mutlple times that the bike is running good, so just knowing that I would relax some, but investigate further. The first thing I would do is make sure that the plugs read good. There is already a ton of information out there (manuals, books, internet) on how to do this, so I won't repeat here. If the plugs read good and the bike runs good, I wouldn't worry any further.

However, if you are still concerned I would adjust the valves, then verify that the idle is set right, then adjust the idle mixture screw, then and only then worry about the jetting. I am not sure about the new models but I know on my 2001 500 they recommend adjusting the valves after 300 miles.

 

Basstoy continuing from your problem list. You should have the dealer adjust or look at the valves under the warrenty.

 

Basstoy- I checked mine out and it did the same after about 10 minutes of driving. I don't think I would worry about it. If you really wanted to have something done, have the valves adjusted and see what happens.....

 

Basstoy- sorry no time to check my AC tonight but tomarrow I'll really try. sorry. get back soon.

 

I think you just answered your own question. If it goes away soon after you shut the bike off than it must be thin. Think about it, what's easier to lite, a big log, or a thin splint? Does a thick piece of steal get hot and glow quicker than a thin piece?, and the tin one will cool off faster.

My brothers 450 honda does the same thing and 2 different dealers told us that it was normal.

 

Both of our cats have done this from day 1 and it IS normal. I first noticed this on my 99 when I first got it and after talking to several dealers and a tech,rep from the factory they all said it was normal. Must be so as I have 7000 miles on the Warpony and my son has around 3000 miles on Littlebad and both bikes run strong and don’t use a drop of oil between changes.