bike stalls on freeway and ideas why?

[cbcanada]

once in a while my bike stalls on freeway like its out if gas. is this because it cannot draw enough gas?
should i be running in prime?
anyone experience this?

[turbokenta]

Hi there! New member here chiming in, so don't expect the best response maybe... 

I had the same problem, and from what I have gathered there are several causes. (1) What solved my problem of having to use "PRIME" at highway speeds was to replace a fuel filter that had been inserted in the fuel line with a new one. Other causes I have come across reading the forums are (2) faulty petcock, could be one of two, most probably the one attached to the tank (on the bottom I believe?) or less probably the "usual" one, and (3) clogged or faulty(?) gas cap vent (there's a write up somewhere here on fixing that too...).

Hope this helps!

[jestercinti]

Check the following:

Make sure your tank is FULL.  I have responded to many posts where "Oh, I thought I had enough gas..." 1 gallon left, and you are on reserve.

The tank petcock, make sure that the screwdriver indicator is straight up and down.  Anything else, and you will have reduced fuel flow.

Next, check that your gas cap vent is clear.  Open after the next stall and listd for a 'woosh' sound.

Check fuel hoses and the carb vent hose (the one that routes on top of the air box) for kinks.  Search for fuel routing diagram if there are questions.

If you have an inline filter, take it out.  Our bikes run on gravity fed fuel.  Some swear by fuel filters, some swear at them.  Stock has a screen located in the tank petcock.

If all else fails, switch to prime and see what happens.  If prime works, check vacuum line to petcock.

[cbcanada]

maybe some of the lines are re routed incorrect. because i just rejetted my carbs the day before this happened so i might have missed something in connecting the lines back up...

[DavisGs]

I have the exact same problem but it doesn't happen every time I get on the freeway. The very last time it happened I went on a ride after installing my new white face gauges. I jumped on the freeway and ran I harder then I usually do and I didn't even make it 2miles when I felt the bike lose power & bog down. If I keep on the gas it will surely die on me but if i let off just a bit it regain some power. When I re-apply the gas the engine will bog down again.

I usually have to pull over and once I engage the clutch the bike completely dies. After being on the side of the road for about 5 minutes the bike will eventually starts back up and runs normally. I have cleaned my gas cap vent and have recently cleaned my carbs which gave me the chance to check the hoses and everything checked out. I will be checking out some of the other things mentioned here.

Any other ideas from people?

[craigs449]

Are there any inline fuel filters?  If so, get rid of them!

[mimikeni]

Had the same problem until I replaced fuel hoses.  I think the old hoses (16 years old) weren't permitting an adequate vacuum seal.  I secured the new hoses with hose clamps.  The old hoses didn't have any.  The bike runs better at 70-75 than it has ever done before in the 2.5 years I've owned it.  $5 + 45 minutes home labor=priceless.  I agree that other causes should also be ruled out as suggested above.  I agree with Addidasguy that the petcock rarely fails.

[Dizzledan]

Are there any inline fuel filters?  If so, get rid of them!

Everyone says this but doesn't account for why. I use an inline filter designed for a motorcycle and after fixing my carb vent tube location I haven't had sputtering or loss of power. What's the reason inline filters are bad?

[craigs449]

Are there any inline fuel filters?  If so, get rid of them!

Everyone says this but doesn't account for why. I use an inline filter designed for a motorcycle and after fixing my carb vent tube location I haven't had sputtering or loss of power. What's the reason inline filters are bad?

I added the gravity fed style inline fuel filters to mine after I put new fuel lines on it (it sat for a year before I bought it).  When I rode the highway at 75-90 mph steady speeds for a long time, if i slowed down, then gassed it (like getting off of an exit ramp) she would sputter a bit like she was lacking fuel.  I happened to look down once while that was happening and noticed that the air gap in the filter was much bigger than I had seen it before.  Adidasguy suggested that the filters were starving gas to the motor.......I took them off and she runs much better now. 

[DavisGs]

I don't have any filter running in mine but my hoses did look a bit worn when I did my carb cleaning. where is a good place to buy hoses? could I just get it at a autoparts store, are they all the same size?

thanks for the extra tips everyone.

[dchrist]

fuel starved. run PRI

[craigs449]

I don't have any filter running in mine but my hoses did look a bit worn when I did my carb cleaning. where is a good place to buy hoses? could I just get it at a autoparts store, are they all the same size?

thanks for the extra tips everyone.

Yup, pull one of the old ones off and take it there to match the size......always buy a few feet extra for good measure (figuratively speaking  )

[Huff1371]

I had this same issue, I'd be going up a mountain at full throttle or barreling down the interstate and it'd act like it was running low on fuel. After some poking about I noticed there was quite a bit of air running through my fuel lines and the bike always smelled like gas if the tank was 3/4 full or more. I saw the end of the fuel lines had hardened up, so I cut them a bit shorter and stuck em back on (with hoseclamps of course). This helped but didn't solve it. Turned out the o-rings inside BOTH petcock valves were shot. Replace them ($0.20) and never had it run so good. Many people are surprised at how something so cheap and small can be such a PITA. And to further rant... SCREW ETHANOL. THIS $HIT HAS COST ME MORE DAMN TIME AND MONEY....