I need some  help.  I was on a road trip from LA to San Fran, when I got about a 100 miles into it, and my bike died.  I was going about 65 mph, and the bike suddenly lost power and I dropped down to 55 mph.  It held on for a few minutes at 55 mph, and then started slowing going, until finally it just quite on me.    Does anyone have any ideas of is going on?  I tired doing some trouble shooting, and the sparkplug is not getting any gas, but the carburerator is getting gas.  Any help would be appreciated.

BTW, this is not a GS500 but a Honda 250 XL.  (I use to an '89 GS500, but I like coming to this site b/c I have gotten a lot of very good information in the past, so please don't let that stop you from helping me out)   

Thanks...

Did you switch to reserve? Have enough fuel?

Did not switch to reserve, but definitely had enough fuel.  But I did check the gas petcock to make sure it was working when I took the gas tank off.

try setting it on prime and see what happens. ( btw dont forget to turn off prime when done)

okay, thanks for the tip.  I'll try it when I get home.  BTW, sorry about posting in the GS500 Forum and not Odds and Ends...   

No worries! I'll be interested to see whether other bikes have our dearly beloved GS500's fuel-starvation issues!   

FYI...  I went home yesterday after work and fell asleep.  Therefore, didn't have any time to work on it.  Hopefully, I will be able to get to it tonight.  At least I darn well better...   

 

Okay this is where I'm at...

I have spark on the spark plug, and gas is getting through the carberurator and into the engine block, but after turning the engine over a few times with the kick start the sparkplug is still dry as a bone.  Also, I could not feel gas on my finger when holding it over the hole where the spark plug came from.  BTW, there is compression.  Anythoughts as to what is happening here?  Do I have to tear into the engine block?

I've been researching the problem further on the internet and I want to post my theory to see if anyone has any thoughts on the subject. 

The cylinder head gasket leaks oil (I asked my mechanic about it, but he said it was no big deal if I'm okay with oil leaking onto the side of the engine).  However, as I further investigate my problem of not being able to start my engine because it is not getting gas to the spark plug, I'm beginning to wonder if the vacuum is being affected by the leaky cylinder head gaskets.  (BTW, gas is getting into the engine block and there is compression (when I turn the the engine over with the kickstart and hold my finger over the hole for the spark plug it blows my finger off the hole). 

Can I have compression and a vacuum leak? and would that scenario prohibit the flow of gasoline to the spark plug?