Hi, I'm a new rider on a 2000 Honda Rebel! I was riding for about a month and than I started coming into a problem. Everytime I'm in third gear for very long, or trying to downshift into third from fourth my engine cuts out and it wont start back up for 5-10 minutes. I thought it was me, since I am new, so I really watched what I was doing and it didn't help! It doesn't do it every time. It didn't do it for a month, and all of a sudden, every other time I ride it does it. One day, it did it everytime and it took me 45 minutes to go 9 miles to my house. Since, I started driving my Jeep, but I really wanna get back on the horse...

Is it me or should I take my bike in? Another rider pulled over for me once and he said it could be because it was so hott outside that the gas was evaporation before it got to my engine. It didn't help in the evening when it was cooler....

Any advice would be great!!! Thanks so much,

Rox  

I don't think that it is anything that you are doing.  Sounds like it is time to take it to a trusted mechanic.  

HI. When was the last time you checked the spark plugs? These engines don't like old plugs. How many miles on the bike? Have you checked the fuel filter? I think I would change the plugs if you don't know when they were changed last. This is the easy stuff to check first.. scruffy..  

It has 2080 miles on it. I have never checked the spark plugs or fuel filter. I'm not going to lie, I don't even know where those things are. I talked to another rider and he basically said exactly what you said so I'm going to look up the manual and see if it's something I can do; if not, i'm taking it in.    

Thanks for the help!!!  

Rox