Motorcycle Repair: acceleration, compression check, valve damage

Question
hey mate im just wondering a general motorbike question....wat would make a bike idle and not accelerate.i have a flange blown in my exhaust havnt taken much notice but someone said it could have burnt my valves. cheers jamie

Answer
Usually if valves are burnt you will notice a drop in overall power.  I have also heard that an exhaust problem, which reduces back pressure, can give rise to valve damage although I have not personally seen it.  Best thing is to do a compression check.  If the bike idles but refuses to accelerate, I would start looking at fuel supply, since more is required when accelerating.  Check any fuel filters, taps and lines for clear flow.  Hope this helps,  Jan