^ Did the symptoms go away after refueling?

 

Yeah but no but yeah but.......no.
When this was happening it made no difference how much fuel was in the tank.
I see where you're going but..... no. Not that.

 

^ Where I was going was the ethanol in the fuel. Before re-jetting, some pumps I visited had more than others and the bike would fall, totally fall, on its face. I was thinking that the ethanol in higher amounts would not light off at higher RPM at the compression ratio we are running. Ethanol is slow burning and would cause problems at high RPM's. Higher compression engines need higher octane and ethanol is an octane buster.

Where I was going is maybe you got ahold of some bad fuel. I never once thought that you were running around at +100mph on an empty tank, that's something left for guys like me.

 

Tim,
you've really got me thinking. In fact I've spent three days thinking since reading your reply.
This year (2013) we get higher levels than ever of ethanol (biofuel) in our petrol and diesel. 10% in the UK, some say up to 15% in the US.
Having read extensively over the last few days about the destructive effects ethanol has on various materials I am starting to get more than a little worried about how we're going to stop the rot from within that will inevitably follow.
I think it may be a good idea if, after a little more research we start a thread on this specifically to research the problems and come up with answers. Lots of parts may need to be changed; carb jets, maybe even the whole carburettor set. Aluminium and most of the components inside the carbs are attacked by ethanol and will eventually disintegrate.

The list goes on.
I'll stop there but there is some worrying food for thought ahead.

Thanks mate. Good thing you brought that up.

Anyway, I was running on super, which at the moment doesn't contain ethanol in the UK. For how long that'll last only time will tell.

My carbs are going to get some TLC soon.
Wish me luck riding in the snow tomorrow.
H

 

Given my recent experience and the one and only failure of the old girl in 3 years here's my tuppence worth.
Have a look at the contacts inside the starter solenoid. Although its cased it plastic and rubber the contacts on mine were badly corroded. This is what left me high and dry on the side of a motorway recently.
She had been reluctant to start then a bit hesitant at speed then complete cutout. It seems the solenoid is in use even after its primary function.

Good luck riding in this weather. Took mine 300 yards today and gave up when still wheel spinning in 3rd.

See you at the London bike show maybe?

Rick

 

Thanks Rick.
I'll check that out. Again, reliability makes us forget to check these things.
As luck would have it the health and safety course I was going to attend in London today has been cancelled so I'm staying firmly planted at home. After a short walk down the road at 05.30 this morning I figured it could be a battle getting onto the main roads which have been salted.
Hmmm- when's the bike show?