[edit] Gas Tank Vents
Symptom: Loss of power at high speeds. Power returns after the bike sits for some time, or you open the gas tank to check gas level.
Problem: Gas tank vent is plugged, and so there is a partial vacuum in the gas tank preventing the petcock from drawing fuel.
Solution: Clear the gas tank vent by blowing compressed air through it. The gas tank vent can be found if you open the gas tank; it is the cone-shaped protrusion on the underside of the lid. See this thread for more info: [1]


FOund this on wiki, sounds alot like what my bike is doing

 

That could possibly be it.

 

Do you by chance have a 'California' model with Evaporative Pollution Control
and been overfilling your tank?

The Owner's Manual (page 30 in mine) states:

CAUTION
California Models Only:
Never fill the tank so the fuel level rises into the filler neck.
If the tank is overfilled, heat may cause the fuel to expand and flow into the
Evaporative Emission Control System resulting in hard starting and engine hesitation.

THIS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE WIKI[/color].

 

Sounds like my bike until I took apart the gas cap.

Telltale sign is that the bike starts up after a couple minutes of being shut off. If you feel suction when opening the gas cap, or hear the sound of suction, then it's definitely the gas cap.

Take it apart (tape the key flap down so the springs/bearings don't fly off), clean it even if it doesn't look dirty, reassemble and ride on.

 

If the starter was clicking when you tried to start it after it quit that is NOT a gas cap issue...

 

I think when he said the starter was clicking he meant making it's usual starting sound before the engine catches.

FYI bike is NOT a CA model.

This happened to me once on the 500 a long time ago. Had to wait about 10 minutes to get the bike to restart.

Were you low on fuel? If so, that could be it. I would also check the gas cap and blow it out with compressed air. That made the issue go away for me. Finally, if you feel the bike beginning to die, pull the choke lever on. Seemed to help things.

Good luck!

 

thanks, it stopped after i blew the gas cap with compressed air