I have a 2012 naked gs500, i don't know too much about these bikes or any bikes to be honest. It has only 3500kms on it, and the seller claimed it had not been ridden for the 3 months. My first 300kms felt and sounded great, was heading out for a big trip, topped up with synthetic oil 10-40 oil (FUCHS Pro4), and whilst doing 110kmph, my throttle gave out, checked my fuel tank was around 1/3 full, and it wouldn't start was very hot as i tried to give it a bit and the throttle wouldn't do much and it was crackling. Pulled up, put it on reserve, opened the fuel cap, left it on choke for 10 minutes, i thought it was the oil, i put to much or the wrong type, but the more i thought it i was sure it was a fuel problem. Topped up my tank, bike was running, but sounded different, a bit of ticking sound. Now when i use the choke it sounds like crap, it has to go the mechanics on tuesday either way for a roadworthy certificate, i was contemplating changing the spark plugs, and oil filters as it hasnt been ridden or serveiced for a while.

Because of the shape of the fuel tank, what you see as "1/3 full" is usually significantly less.  You were probably low enough to be on reserve, and "ran out" of fuel.

Since these bikes have a vacuum actuated petcock, sometimes it takes a minute for the fuel level in the carbs to "catch up" after being drained, which is probably why it wouldn't start right after it died on you.  The fuel line only flows when there's vacuum, and there's only vacuum when the engine is turning.

And letting it idle for 10 minutes on choke, especially after it's already warmed up, can definitely foul out your spark plugs, which may be why it ran like junk afterward.
If you pull a spark plug it'll probably appear to be very dark and maybe even sooty.
You can attempt to clean them, but it's usually cheap enough to just replace them.

@Watcher -  Thankyou, makes perfect sense. Quite the scare being on the freeway on the furthest lane and having to cut across with no throttle. I'll replace the spark plugs, replace the oil and try clean the carbs. Shame there's no fuel gage or even a tripmetre on the bike.

Should have a tripmeter though.

+1 to that

Welcome to the site Sihq!!

There's definitely a trip meter...

But thats why reserve is a thing.  It starts chugging, flip the switch, look for a fuel stop.

Quote from: Watcher on March 12, 2017, 10:54:03 AM
There's definitely a trip meter...

But thats why reserve is a thing.  It starts chugging, flip the switch, look for a fuel stop.

or always have it on reserve and when you touch 180 miles on your trip, get gas. ASAP lol! I've never run out of gas, I have chugged it into a gas station lot tho... 

Quote from: J_Walker on March 12, 2017, 12:48:25 PM

Quote from: Watcher on March 12, 2017, 10:54:03 AM
There's definitely a trip meter...

But thats why reserve is a thing.  It starts chugging, flip the switch, look for a fuel stop.

or always have it on reserve and when you touch 180 miles on your trip, get gas. ASAP lol! I've never run out of gas, I have chugged it into a gas station lot tho... 

Until you are in a hurry and forget to reset your trip and thus get stranded 3 miles from the next exit...

Be grateful your main and reserve hoses weren't switched at the tank petcock by the previous owner, or you would have been walking, and I can tell you, that sucked LOL.  Maybe the reserve line had some debris that got into the carbs? or the reserve line is slightly pinched between the tank and petcock, but if this was true, it should have cleared as soon as you filled up and switched back to ON.  The ticking sounds like valves, and I have heard it said, noisey valves are good valves.  Is there a chance that the experience of losing power in the middle of the highway got your spidey sense tingling a little, causing you to notice things you hadn't noticed before. Good luck