a stupid way to die ?? stalling at speed

[Chris Norloff]

Yeah, I agree with 'a stupid way to die'. I ran a bike out of gas by forgetting to fill up *after* turning the petcock to reserve. Nothing like reaching down, in rush-hour traffic, to turn it to reserve and ... it's ... already ... on ... reserve. This was on I-66 west of Washington, DC, where the right shoulder is open as a regular lane during the evening commute. Fortunately I coasted to a pull-off. However, there was no space between the guardrail and the sound barrier to walk to get gas - I was pretty much stuck in a concrete canyon. Walking on the edge of the lane, during the commute, would definitely qualify as 'a stupid way to die'. Luckily, a GoldWing came by, I flagged him down and got a ride to a gas station. Got a milk jug from the trash, filled it with gas, and got a taxi ride back to my bike. Chris ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Mike McCourt Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:42:59 -0800 (PST)

>Thanks for the response I appreciate the ideas. I'm >pretty sure it's not out of gas since That tank was >filled and then run only 130 miles, it gets to at >least 200 before going on reserve. The petcock almost >never gets moved, I fill before going to reserve, so >it's run many tanks to near 200 miles before refill >without problems. > >I have two KLRs and the other one doesn't do this, I'm >sure it's not operator error, though it's always a >possibility. > >Thanks, >Mike > >--- Jokerloco9@... wrote: > >> It sounds to me like there is nothing wrong with the >> bike. You are just >> running out of gas. Look at the owners' manual >> regarding the position of the >> petcock. >> >> I have noticed that at speed on the freeway, when >> the KLR runs out of gas >> and needs to go on reserve, it does not give you >> much warning. My 1974 Honda >> CB750 would kind of sag a bit, and give you plenty >> of warning that you needed >> to go on reserve. >> >> Also, when you do run out of gas, I am not sure if >> you can just switch to >> reserve, like old bikes, and the fuel just flows. I >> think there is a diaphram >> opened by engine vacuum, that only flows fuel with >> engine running. But I >> think there is a position that allows filling carb >> when dry. I personally don't >> remember, and I'm too tired to go find my owners >> manual to figure it out >> right now. There are plenty of others here that >> know the scoop. This may be why >> you had to goof around with the bike for 15 minutes >> to get it running again, >> to fill the carb bowl. >> >> So before you loose faith in the bike, determine if >> it was nothing more than >> just "operator error" >> >> Jeff A20 >> >> >> In a message dated 2/12/2008 8:19:29 P.M. Pacific >> Standard Time, >> mjmc335@... writes: >> >> >> >> >> Have been lurking for a couple of years and posted a >> few times, but >> here's a long one. >> >> After spending 6 months rehabbing my shattered >> elbow from a dirt ride >> on my 03 KLR last August, I'm back on the bike >> riding to and from >> work. Tonight my 05 KLR failed me a second time, >> stalling in the >> middle lane at 65mph after coming off the Dumbarton >> bridge here in >> the Bay Area. The bike has been ridden a few times >> and charged up so >> it didn't sit the whole 6 months. It also was filled >> with gas on >> Sunday and has 130 miles on this tank. >> >> The first stall was probably 10 or more months ago >> when the bike died >> with no lights or electrical power. After fiddling >> with it for about >> 10 minutes while standing about 18 inches from >> Freeway traffic, it >> started up and was fine for a few thousand more >> miles. I suspected it >> was the petcock because when it stalled, I turned >> on the reserve and >> even though it didn't' start up right away, it >> eventually did. >> >> Tonight the bike just died at speed. I immediately >> turned to reserve >> and barely made it to the right shoulder, which was >> about 3 feet >> wide. Luckily it had all electrical power (so the >> battery connection >> is not likely), neutral light, turn signal, brake >> lights, tail light, >> headlight, and starter. After trying 4 or 5 times it >> was turning over >> but not starting. I began pushing it to the exit, >> about half a mile >> away, hoping to get it started. I left the ignition >> on so the left >> turn signal would flash and I could hit my flashing >> brake lights for >> extra "attention". All the while thinking, "this is >> such a stupid way >> to die", on the side of the freeway pushing my bike >> in the dark >> waiting for someone not paying attention to plow >> into to the bike and >> me". In retrospect I should probably have just let >> the bike sit >> while standing on the outside of the barrier and >> then tried to start >> it later. >> >> After pushing a while the bike would start but when >> I dropped it into >> first it stalled, about three times. After pushing >> some more I tried >> it again and it started and held when in gear. I >> rode it to a gas >> station to check it, turning it off and starting >> again, but couldn't >> see anything obviously wrong and rode home. Total >> pushing time was >> about 10, maybe 15 minutes, with the ignition on the >> whole time. >> >> My first thought to the problem was gas; maybe the >> petcock or the >> valve is bad. Next is the safety start circuit >> because it would start >> and then die when going to first gear even with the >> kickstand up. >> >> Questions: >> Has anyone had the bike stall at speed and find out >> it was the clutch >> lever/side stand safety circuit? >> Any ideas on the petcock or anything else? >> >> I'm losing some confidence in this bike, the 03 >> hasn't had this >> problem though it was a slow speed stall that sent >> me into the dirt >> with the elbow shattering. That one was my fault but >> this stalling >> thing is spooking me a bit. >> >> Mike >> >> >> >> _Messages in this topic _ >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/message/181560;_ylc=X3oDMTM3YmM3NXQ2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDU >> >xMjYyNjIEbXNnSWQDMTgxNTYwBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTIwMjg3NjM1NgR0cGNJZ >> AMxODE1NjA-) (1) _Reply (via web post) _ >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJxdGZlNzRiBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE >> >3MDUxMjYyNjIEbXNnSWQDMTgxNTYwBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3JwbHkEc3RpbWUDMTIwMjg3NjM1Ng--? >> act=reply&messageNum=181560) | _Start a new topic _ >> >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJkcjVodTZpBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQR >> >ncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMjYyNjIEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDbnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMjAyODc2MzU2) >> >> _Messages_ >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJkdGJ2OHJkBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMjYyNjIEc2VjA2Z0cgRzb >> GsDbXNncwRzdGltZQMxMjAyODc2MzU2) | _Files_ >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJlM2g0ZmViBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcE >> >lkAzE3MDUxMjYyNjIEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDZmlsZXMEc3RpbWUDMTIwMjg3NjM1Ng--) >> | >> _Photos_ >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJkYmdwdGg3BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMjYyNjIEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDcGhvdAR >> zdGltZQMxMjAyODc2MzU2) | _Links_ >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNWVvdWV1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUx >> >MjYyNjIEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDbGlua3MEc3RpbWUDMTIwMjg3NjM1Ng--) >> | _Database_ >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJibWVnYmFrBF9TAzk3MzU >> >5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMjYyNjIEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDZGIEc3RpbWUDM >> TIwMjg3NjM1Ng--) | _Calendar_ >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJjcWhqNjFiBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUx >> >MjYyNjIEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDY2FsBHN0aW1lAzEyMDI4NzYzNTY-) >> >> List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: >> www.dualsportnews.com >> List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: >> www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >> Member Map at: _http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650_ >> (http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650) >> >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJjaTlzaWVsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMjYyNjIEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDZ2ZwBHN0aW1lAzEyMDI4NzYzNTY-) >> >> _Change settings via the Web_ >> >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZ2VqcDJhBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMjYyN >> jIEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDc3RuZ3MEc3RpbWUDMTIwMjg3NjM1Ng--) >> (Yahoo! 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