low speed stutter/close stall

[Privateer]

Lately I've noticed my bike seems to want to idle very low until it runs at highway speed for a while.
It's not a matter of warming up.  I came home from work the other then, and 30 mins later ran out to meet someone.  bike idled down near 1,000.  Ten minute drive, 30 minute stand around, start up, still idling very low and the temp reads 160 on the gauges.  Ride home and it idles fine when I'm home.

This morning I started noticing at side-stand idle or low speed, ~2k it will almost stall when giving it very little gas.  It doesn't buck like it's bogging, the revs drop very low and then it catches itself and idles a little higher.  If I stop at a light, we go through this again.  If I fiddle with the fast idle and keep it at ~1250, it's fine on the sidestand but I can feel some kind of hesitation every once in a while.

It runs fine at highway speed, I don't notice any misfires or anything.  Once I get to my destination it idles fine both at a stop and when moving very slowly, like pulling away easy at a light, or maneuvering in stop/go traffic.


Before I go throwing money and parts at it, any suggestions on what to check/replace?

04 620, ~58k.


TIA

[DarkMonster620]

It happened to me sometime ago, checked valves and reset TPS manually . . .

[Dirty Duc]

How old is your fuel filter?

[Privateer]

How old is your fuel filter?

hmm, that's a good question. I last replaced it June 2011 and I probably put about 20k since then.

I didn't think about something that simple, my mind immediately went to coils, injectors, or worse...

[Dirty Duc]

I just did the same to mine, so it's fresh in my memory...

[seevtsaab]

Give your plug wires a look-see as well. A buddy just had an intermittant stumble / hesitation cured on a newer Guzzi with
R&R plug wire.

[Privateer]

alright, picked up a fuel filter at the dealer yesterday (going riding sunday and I didn't want to get stranded, but ouch.  Conveinence charge hosed me.).

Seemed to start and idle just file, rode it around the cul-de-sac a I didn't get that stumble, even when I didn't let it warm up fully.

Seems to have solved it.  I'm going riding tomorrow so we'll know for sure after that.  If it acts up tomorrow I'll start thinking about ignition.


Thanks everyone.

[Privateer]

as a side note, I photo-documented the change, in case anyone is feeling brave.

http://twoslow.com/2013/07/ducati-monster-fuel-filter-install/

[Privateer]

hm
bike ran like a champ all day sunday.  went out to start it for work and that low idle and near-stall are back.

[Privateer]

pulled my plugs and they look pretty normal I think. (pic below)

I have noticed it also is idling lower than it used to, now it's around 1,000 rpm, maybe a tad under - used to idle around 1250.  I also noticed I've got quite a bit of oil mist out the breather.  I removed the tank long before this problem presented itself.  I don't recall seeing this much oil, however.  No idea if those are related or not.  I'm buying the same gas.