Kawi2strokes.com Forum

I would like to see how you guys ride, I can't seem to keep pistons in mine for more than a couple thousand miles before they start to rattle around like a old baby toy!

That's the difference. To go long distances on pistons you can't let rattling bother you. Check the skirt clearance once in a while if you want, and when it gets over about 0.006" one can think about a new top end. I suspect Rod's was bigger than that after all those miles.

I've read that you like to keep your RPM way up, even when riding at steady speeds (maybe I misinterpreted), so that might contribute to faster wear. On the other hand, Rod may have been racing his, as well as putting miles on streets. Rod?

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

I do have a tendency to run it between 6 and 8 grand most of the time. I rarely drive it if I’m going somewhere where steady long miles will be the norm. Usually 40 to 60 mile rides on country roads with plenty of full throttle blasts between corners.

I’m going to check it this winter just to see where it’s at. I was watching some of Johns videos and noticed his sounds much like mine .... there just so nice and quiet right after a nice fresh bore and pistons, it would be nice to have it stay way for a bit, guess I’m just to hard on it.

They're a lot quieter if you put rubber dampers between the fins all around the cylinders like Yamahas have.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

I am about to speak blasphemy

The two noisiest bikes I own that always make me wonder WTF is going on inside the motor is my 91' Electraglide 70,000 miles, no rebuild, runs like a top, no oil consumption, no problems. And my H2.
Both motors make a lot of racket that make it sound like ball peen hammers are being throw about inside.

i always thought a triple would be a really quiet, balanced engine........used to run polaris triple snowmobiles and though they weren't very reliable, they were really sweet running engines, when they were running!

The only time a kawi triple is quiet and smooth is when it's not running.......

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........

Have to agree on the smooth... mine is not bad for vibration through the bars, I do have short clip ons though, but I can't keep mirrors on it from vibrating loose, going through my second different type to see if they will stay. My motor is mechanically quiet for a triple I think.....

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1974 Kawasaki H2B 750, 1981 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, 1986 Kawasaki KDX200, 2003 Honda XR100, 2004 SDG140. 2006 Ninja 500R Turbo intercooled fuel injected.

I finally used red loctite, I have bar ends so I used to on the threads and on the parts that expands inside, they now just slowly turn in the bar and start pointing slightly down after a while.