Hi: I had a case of what was probably vapor-lock of some sort but wanted to check to make sure the symptoms fit the bill:
Hot august day, at least hot for bay area standards. Bike was parked in the sun at work until 2:30pm, and started right up and I rode off. It felt a little weird I have to say... but I thought maybe it was just having to stop and go in traffic and me not hitting my gears right.
seemed to right itself once I was on the freeway.. crossed the bay bridge and just about hit the "maze' when it starts to sputter.. power loss at throttle, gets worse as I nurse her to the side.. then backfiring.. then I put it in neutral to roll as far as I can up the offramp. I figure: Vapor-lock, so I pop my gas cap, shake the bike a bit.. wait a minute, then bam.. she fires right up and away I go.. still a bit of sputtering but I am hoping that will right itself. But instead, it gets worse again. So I sputter to a stop. wait, then go, then wait (push it shade each time), then go and manage to get home.
what is the thoughts on this? relocate the pump? don't ride on hot days? heat shielding?
or could it be something else?
thanks-
josh