Your bike is 30 years old - that certainly provides an opportunity for an occasional problem!


You need to provide us a bit more information - but it does sound like you have a fuel flow problem.

Does the bike shut off completely when you get to 55 /60 - or does it just run poorly?

If you accelerate at full throttle through the lower gears - does it run fine until the 55/60 speed is reached?  

When you cleaned the carb - did you remove and clean the filter that is on top of the seat for the float needle?

Did you install an inline fuel filter?  (If so - they can sometimes restrict flow - remove it and see if the bike runs better).

Try taking the fuel cap off and put it back on...and see if the problem occurs right away....or only after you ride a little while (This might indicate a problem with the fuel tank vent).  

Sorry I left out a lot of info. First bike and limited mechanical knowledge, so try to be patient with me   In town at slow speeds it was running fine. It wasn't until I reached higher gears and higher speed. It starts running poorly.. and by poorly, I mean f-ing horrible. Suddenly my throttle does absolutely nothing... and then it dies. Acts exactly like it ran out of gas.

I didn't PERSONLLY clean the carb. The ex-husband did, and carbs are kind of his strong point, so I have faith in that, but will double check. I did not install anything in the line of fuel filter.

I ordered a new mikuni carb last night because everyone insists that will solve my problem. But I figured I would reach out and get the opinion of ppl who actually have these bikes

Was the carb cleaning an attempt to address this issue, or did the problem start after the carb was worked on ?

There is nothing wrong with the carburetors on these bikes when they are clean and working correctly. I'd hold off on installing the Mikuni till I was sure what was going on.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 05/19/17 at 08:07:29:


If it's a New Suzuki petcock it may be junk. If it's a Cheapo Raptor knockoff, it Is junk. The tubing is small.

Drain the carb bowl into a clear container.

Don't start throwing money at it.
Be patient.
This is not so rare of a problem.
You can fix this.

It would help us to know where you got the petcock.

pictures would help too.

OK, then the first thing you'll want to do is go straight to a Yamaha dealer and get a petcock for a raptor. (Someone will post a part number here shortly I'm sure.)

Then your going to install that and plug the vacuum line on the right side of the carburetor.  You'll want to make sure you have the correct size fuel line as well.  Maybe just order a stock fuel line from Partzilla just to be sure.  (Actually you can order the Raptor from there too.)

If that solves your problem, great.  If not, someone on here will point you in the right direction from there.

Have you tried putting the petcock on pri. ? when you have the problem do you find any fuel in the vacuum line? when cleaning the carb did hubby remove the float valve seat and clean the screen underneath? Is the float level set at the proper height ? did he take the needle jet out of the slide? need more info!