Going down the highway this weekend, 3100-3300 rpm in 5th gear the engine cut out... It felt and sounded like what happens when the engine has no more fuel, right before you reach down and flip the tank valve to reserve - except I had a 3/4 full tank (fresh fuel, probably the third tankful of the season). Suddenly powerless I began drifting to the shoulder and shifted down to see if the engine would catch, and of course all it did was decelerate me faster. As I coasted to the shoulder I engaged the clutch and hit the starter button and the engine roared to life (I had the throttle wide open) and I was able to re-merge back into traffic without losing my place (it all happened quickly). My riding partner said when I did that, there was a cloud of black smoke that came out the exhaust. We were fighting a stiff headwind and I thought maybe I was unintentionally lugging the engine and fouled the plugs. I continued with the trip except keeping it in 4th gear 4000-4200 rpm and it seemed to run smooth. When I tried 5th gear it felt like I was getting subtle intermittent lurching as if the engine had occasionally misses. Later in the day on the return trip the same thing happened - on the freeway, except in 4th gear, 4000-4200 rpm and the engine died (a new tank of fuel as well). Clutch in, starter button, and it fired up again allowing me to continue. This is only the second season I've had the bike, mileage is 7800 (1200 of that is mine). Per the previous owner, the bike has the Triumph High Performance Long Exhaust, the 19 tooth countershaft sprocket, the Air Injector Removal Kit, and a Pingel high flow fuel petcock. Ideas?
