Can You Stall A Motorcycle At High Speeds? Let’s Find Out!

Many new motorcyclists complain that their motorcycle keeps stalling when they try to accelerate or start from a stop. This might happen unintentionally if you don’t know how to properly apply the clutch and throttle while driving, or your bike might have some internal issues.

But can you stall a motorcycle at high speeds? Yes, your bike can stall while you are driving at high speed. This happens for various reasons, such as:

• Improper application of the clutch and throttle.
• Damaged pistons.
• A malfunctioning fuel pump.
• A clogged fuel filter.
• Damaged ignition coils.

In this article, we will discuss whether you can stall your motorcycle at high speeds. So, let’s get started!

Can You Stall A Motorcycle At High Speeds?

Technically, you can stall your bike while it is moving at a high speed. If you need to stall your motorcycle, pull in the clutch too quickly without giving any gas. This action will disrupt the flow of power from your bike’s transmission system to the back wheel. Thus, your bike will stall.

However, intentionally stalling your bike at high speeds is highly unsafe for you and other passengers on the road. Plus, experts recommend motorcyclists use the proper braking system to bring their motorcycle to a stop.

For a visual representation of this process, you can watch this YouTube video.

What Internal Factors Can Cause Your Motorcycle To Stall At High Speeds?

Your motorcycle may stall while accelerating on the road due to several technical reasons. Check out the information we have added below to understand some of these causes and their solutions.

1. Damaged Pistons Due To Engine Overheating

When you drive your bike at a high speed for a long time, the temperature inside the engine increases rapidly. So, it gets difficult to develop an oil film between the piston and the cylinder block.

Thus, the frictional force between the piston and the inner parts of the cylinder significantly increases. This, in turn, damages the pistons in your motorcycle. So, your motorcycle stalls while traveling at high speeds.

Symptoms

If you notice these signs, it is possible that the pistons in your bike are damaged:

• Your motorcycle stalls frequently.
• A burning smell comes out from the engine.
• Your bike’s engine produces strange noises.

Remedy

Replace your damaged piston with a piston that has a bigger gap and an upper part shaped like a “W.” These pistons are good at dispersing heat and managing pressure. 

You should take your bike to a good mechanic and get the burnt-out piston replaced with the expert-recommended piston. The new piston should resemble the piston shown in the picture we have provided below.

To learn how to replace damaged pistons in a motorcycle, you can watch this YouTube video.

2. Your Bike’s Fuel Pump Isn’t Operating Properly

Gasoline fuel in gasoline engines typically boils at a lower temperature range (40°C-190°C).  When you drive your motorcycle at high speeds, it needs more fuel to operate smoothly. 

If the fuel pump in your motorcycle is damaged or clogged, it cannot supply enough fuel to your bike’s engine. As a result, there will be more air in the engine than fuel, causing your bike to stall at a high speed.

Symptoms

You will notice the following signs if your bike’s fuel pump is not working properly:

• Your bike’s engine will overheat frequently.
• The fuel pressure gauge in your bike will show inaccurate readings.
• The check engine light will come on your dashboard.

Remedy

You need to replace your bad fuel pump with a pump that can handle high pressure and maintain a steady fuel flow. To properly replace your bike’s fuel pump, you can follow these steps:

• Step 1: Use your bike’s key to remove the passenger seat from your bike.
• Step 2: Try to locate your bike’s fuel tank. It is usually located under the passenger seat.
• Step 3: Take a screwdriver and remove the screws holding the fuel tank in place.
• Step 4: Disconnect the wires and fuel pipes connected to the fuel tank.
• Step 5: Afterward unscrew the screws that connect the fuel pump to the fuel tank. 
• Step 6: Take out the clogged and damaged fuel pump.

• Step 7: Clean the O-ring on your bike’s fuel tank and add some waterproof grease.
• Step 8: Take the new fuel pump and install it in the same position as the old one.

• Step 9: Now, reinstall your fuel tank and reconnect all the wires and fuel lines to their original positions.
• Step 10: Lastly, add new fuel to your bike’s fuel tank and reattach the passenger seat.

3. The Ignition Coils In Your Bike Are Damaged

The ignition coil in your bike uses electricity from the battery and transforms it into a high voltage of about 20,000-45,000 Volts.

This high amount of voltage causes a spark in the spark plugs. This, in turn, activates the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders and ensures complete combustion takes place to operate your bike smoothly. 

If the ignition coils in your bike are damaged, they won’t generate the high-voltage current needed for the spark. So, incomplete combustion will occur, and your motorcycle will stall at high speeds.

Symptoms

If your bike has a bad ignition coil, you will notice the following symptoms:

• Your bike’s engine will shake when you are driving at low speed.
• The check engine light will flash on your dashboard.

Remedy

You should take your motorcycle to a garage and get it checked by a mechanic. The mechanic can help you identify the coil that has developed a crack and replace it with a new one.

4. Your Bike’s Air Filter Is Clogged With Contamination

It is important that the air entering your bike’s engine is clean and free from dust or contamination.

A clogged air filter won’t be able to effectively purify the air entering your bike’s engine. Thus, incomplete combustion will occur. This, in turn, will cause the following issues:

• Your bike will stall when you try to accelerate.
• The fuel economy of your bike will decrease.
• Power output will be negatively affected.

Thus, you need a properly functioning air filter that can filter all the air entering your bike’s engine. Moreover, it should be able to remove all kinds and sizes of contamination.

Remedy

You should take your motorcycle to a servicing center and get the air filter cleaned by a skilled technician. If you frequently ride your bike in a dusty area, you must get your bike serviced every three to four months to prevent these issues.

Useful Tips To Prevent Your Motorcycle From Stalling Suddenly

Below, we have provided some tips that you can follow to avoid accidentally stalling your bike.

1. You should make sure your bike has enough fuel before heading out on a journey.
2. Check the battery of your bike every other month so that it doesn’t die while you are on the road.
3. Get your fuel pump, spark plugs, and ignition coils checked by a mechanic twice a year.
4. Practice properly engaging and disengaging the clutch.

FAQs

Read the FAQs we have provided below to gain more information on whether you can stall a motorcycle moving at a high speed.

Final Words

If you are a new motorcycle driver, you might make mistakes while using the clutch and throttle in your bike. This could cause your bike to stall when you try to accelerate or start your bike from a traffic light.

Furthermore, there are some technical reasons that could cause your motorcycle to stall frequently while you are traveling. Thus, you should get your motorcycle serviced by a mechanic every four to six months to avoid engine stalling issues.