Bike did something weird today. Help please!

[Alkemist]

I need your help.
I was riding on the freeway, going about 70 mph and the bike started to lose power and dropped in speed.  I pulled over to the side of the freeway and the bike died.
I tried to restart it, and it turned over but wouldn't start.  I then applied the choke and it started right up and i road the rest of the way home without a problem.
My question is; does anybody know why it did that?  I would like to get it fixed before it happens again.
Thanks!!

[94suzuki500]

could possibly be fuel starvation, but if you were in top gear running 70 I wouldnt think it would be a problem. if it does it again while riding then reach down and turn your pet chicken to prime while still riding (straight up on the 89 to 00)  If the bike runs fine after you do this then fuel strarvation is your problem.  The only way to really fix this other than turning it to prime is to put on a pingel or some other higher flowing petcock.

[Alkemist]

okay, stupid question probably.
What does turning the petcock to Prime do?

[Destro]

Do you know that there is a reserve setting on the bike?  You may have run the fuel below the on setting in the tank.  Prime allows gas to run into the float bowls without the vacuum from the engine.

[VersOne]

yeah man sounds like you ran out of gas...it's deceiving on the gs...seems like you have plenty of gas left.

Jonah

[Alkemist]

yeah, the first thing i did was check the gas tank and there was a lot of gas still in there.

[RVertigo]

Did you switch to reserve?

Although, it sounds like it wasn't at the reserve yet if you could open the choke and ride it...

[Destro]

That's what I think, K.I.S.S. :lol:

[Alkemist]

I stupidly didn't switch to reserve, cause I didn't think I had to, cause I had just put gas in there.  It's a 1991 and I just recently bought it, so while i was riding all I thought was that maybe there was some other mechanical problem, so i didn't think of reserve.

[Destro]

Glad that is the problem, would have sucked to tear your bike apart for such a small error.  Have a good ride!  

[VersOne]

yeah..we've all been there...That petcock knob is confusing anyways...

all the way up is prime, middlle is reserve, bottom is on.

Cheers,

Jonah

[Destro]

I figured out the problem, so I get the last post.  

[number1]

on my 04 all the way up is reserve middle is prime and all the way down is on. so i gussed the changed it  :dunno:

[Destro]

Yep, you want to see something wierd, you should see my setup.  04 tank, 04 fuel lines and a 92 petcock. PITA to get routed right!! :guns:

[RVertigo]

It was on my mind because I had to switch to Res on the freeway just today...  I was getting 200 before the reserve, but I hit it at 185...  I guess I've been twisting more than usual.  :dunno: