strange behavior

So I'm back at the forum with another question. I've had one heck of a time with this bike. Anyways, today I go out cruising for a nice long ride and everything was going smooth untill towards the end of the ride I had to cut it short. And try to get home. Because my bike started acting funny. I don't really know how to explain but I will try my best. While driving it almost seemed like it was running out of gas then act normal. It also seemed like it was in too high of a gear because I was running sort of sluggish. Then it would act normal then crappy, normal then crappy then normal by the time I got home. Checked the plugs which I switched to NGK as suggested by another user on the site, and they looked normal. I'm puzzled. I switched to prime on the petcock and it had no effect, I also pulled the choke with no improvement (thinking I was lean) it happened out of nowhere. Like I said I had a nice long ride before. A similar issue happened before but I was low on gas. But I just topped off the tank before my ride.

Just a long shot here, but did you buy the gas at a gas station that you normally use? I ask becasue I once bought gas at a brand new gas station and then my bike barely ran. I found out there was still some water in the new fuel tanks at the station, and I got some in the gas I bought. I had similar symptoms. Ed

Yes, it is the gas station I use all the time. Funny you said water, two days ago I brought my bike to work, and it ended up down pouring and couldn't get my bike started until after the rain. I drove it home, and to the gym and back last night with the same gas. but topped her off today... But also upon arriving at the station today, I think the gas truck was leaving after refilling all the pumps.

If it is water, you may be able it out by putting the tank on prime and draining fuel out through the lowest carb bowl. Most of the water will be at the lowest point in the system. Also put some HEET or whatever other alcohol product you prefer in the tank.

If the 'crappy' times coincided with the 'warmest motor' times (under load or sitting with no airflow), and the 'normal' times coincided with nice breezy straights or downhills, then it sounds like your valves may be tight and in need of adjustment.

Hmm, well the crappy times coincided with the normal times, same stretch of road. It would be crappy, then normal. Under same load. If I remember it seemed like giving it more throttle may have helped? But I could be wrong. However, after I got home. About 45minutes later I took the bike back out, and there was no issues, granted I only took her for about 15 minutes. And she was full of power. So maybe it is the valves.

Maybe there's fuel starvation --- the fuel tank canister system may not be venting properly?

Another thing to check is the ignition system. After riding the bike, feel the coils to see if they're hot --- press hard with your fingers; they should be warm, not hot. Redo all spark plug wire connections --- unscrew the ribbed compression boots at the coils. If there's the white crusty oxidation, nip off the ends of the wires a tad. Or go ahead & install new. Clean, check & lubricate the timing advancer.

Water in the H/T leads. Take the plug caps off and disconnect them from the coils. Ant green or funky looking stuff, trim the wires and try it again.
Steve

Do you have an in line fuel filter, & is it clean ? if you don't , you should install one, also, how does the inside of your tank look, could be some rust or crud blocking your petcock filter
Pete

Does sound like an ignition issue. Test the coils with a heat gun or blow dryer applied (may want to take them off the bike and clean wire connections anyway) and notice if the OHMs rise when heat is applied. Basically trying to recreate the issue without the engine running. If the coils are cracked, being left in the rain that day could have invited moisture into the coil winding.

Does the problem persist both at start up and normal running temperature? Or does it require a longer ride to surface?

I have only noticed it twice, once a about a week ago, bike died. I attributed that to running out of gas, switched it to prime and it ran fine. Today. I was riding for a while, 30-45 minutes. Then it started.

It sounds like ignition problem...coil,pickup,cdi box or wireing

If it were an ignition problem why would it arise after the bikes been rode for a while?