Stiff throttle after heavy month of winter commuting

[itswoodylondon]

Hi all,

Would appreciate your advice on something that's been bugging me
since I finished work for Christmas.

I was riding 400 motorway miles a week earlier in the month and had my Daytona heated grips on full-whack most of the time.

What I've noticed is that the throttle now feels generally stiff but more so when doing low speed stuff (so when you rotate just past the throttle free play). I tried squirting WD40 under the throttle tube but that didn't make a difference.

So I'm looking for any advice on how best to troubleshoot the problem before I hit the road again in the new year.

Thanks all for help in advance!

Woody

[greywolf]

If the grips don't have their own rigid plastic tube inside are installed over the stock throttle tube, the heat could have warped the stock plastic tube.

[UK_Vstrom650]

Also worth spraying the springs of the linkage arm in the image below with WD40 too. These can get sticky in winter riding - mine previously gave me unexpected cruise control as they'd stick open.

[itswoodylondon]

Thanks blokes.

I'll lubricate the springs first and if still no good look at the throttle tube. Keep you posted.

[itswoodylondon]

Also worth spraying the springs of the linkage arm in the image below with WD40 too. These can get sticky in winter riding - mine previously gave me unexpected cruise control as they'd stick open.

Can I just check, is it possible to do this without removing the tank?

[greywolf]

Also make sure the right side end of the throttle tube isn't rubbing on the bar end weight or hand guard spacer. See if you can see the linkage mechanism. That will let you know if you have access to the linkage. It isn't the springs that need lube, but the transverse rods that turn the butterflies. Also make sure no wires or tubes are near the moving parts.

[UK_Vstrom650]

You can get to them without removing the tank,  bit awkward but you can aim the nozzle/straw between the frame from underneath throttle side and give them a good soaking. Work the throttle a few times and repeat. I was very generous with the amount of WD40 I used but it fixed my sticking throttle.