i have been having a very strange problem with my 2001 XTE over the past few days. It began last week after a wash, air filter clean and fuel fill up. i immediately noticed a cough / vibration in 1st and 2nd gear upon leaving the station. I checked the air filter that night, all looked good.

the next day i noticed the same cough / vibration, but the bike rode so i took it out for a spin. about 65km down the highway the bike coughed and completely stalled at 95km/hr. I pulled over to the side of the road and was able to immediately start the bike back up, ride another 6-7km before encountering the same problem, like the bike was gasping for air. This continued until i reached the next fuel station about 20km up the road. I emptied the tank and put in new fuel. i was able to ride 30km without a problem. then two more stalls at 90-100km/hr. I was heading back home and thought i would just try one last time to ride it out and sure enough, 80km without a hitch.

The next day the bike rode okay for about 30km, and then began the same coughing / stalling. I took off and cleaned the carb. i was able to ride about 60km without a problem, but noticed the bike wasn't its usual self. i took her to a mechanic who again cleaned the carb. the bike rode fine for a day in the city, but with a new vibration that wasn{t there last week. Over 90km on the highway and she goes dead.

i thought it was bad gas, but after two carb cleans and a tank clean i feel it might be electric (maybe something shorted when it was getting pressure washed), but have no idea where to really begin. i am very new with this bike and do not know anything about the electric system or location of wires. she starts up fine, but definitely lacks the old smoothness i knew last week and dies over 100km in 5th.

any ideas out there. thanks!

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Unseated carb rubber?
Damaged / disconnected CDI?
Kinked / blocked fuel line or tap?

These are the 1st things I'd check...

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