Venting... I had not thought about venting so after reading your post I just drained my tank to see what the gauge would show- Guess what, one bar, which is probably about right. Started the bike, cranked right up. Ran it till it reached operating temperature, all fine. so it appears it might be a venting problem. I have not had the tank off, but go figure this problem did start right after i installed a fuze box under the rear seat. To do so I had to run a 14 gauge wire from the battery back to the fuse box. I did lift the tank, i mean like an inch, to get the wires under the tank but they are not being pinched. But, in do this i guess I might have "messed" with the vent tube. Thanks for the guidance.
So, couple questions on the vent tube. I assume the tube poking up inside near the gas cap hinge is the vent tube? Do you know how this system works or where the vent goes?
The long explanation.
Yes, that orange grommet is the top of the vent tube.
You will notice a small hole in the gas cap near the hinge that matches that grommet.
The tank vents through the gas cap where there is a system of check valves and out to that grommet.
The check valves in the cap can get gunked up (technical term) or corroded and fail to work properly, not likely on a new scooter.
That grommet is the top seal for a steel tube that runs through the interior of the fuel tank and exits out the bottom of the tank on the left rear.
There is also a drain tube in the 9 oclock position of the well in the top of the tank where the gas cap assembly lives to drain spilled fuel or water from that well. That drain is also a separate steel tube that runs through the interior of the fuel tank and exits on the bottom of the tank on the left rear, near the vent tube.
On early scooters there were 2 drain hoses from those tubes leading out the bottom of the scooter.
On later scooters those 2 drain hoses are "Tee'd" together with only one hose leading out the bottom of the scooter.
Pour a light liquid into the vent tube at the orange grommet and see if it drains out under the scooter. If so the vent line is not likely blocked. Blowing air through the vent line will not be a good test if there is a blockage below the "T" since air can travel back up the drain line if blocked from exiting under the scooter.
If the liquid drains out of the vent line, then it might be time to examine the gas cap.
Now aren't you sorry you asked??
PS- There is a second drain tube sticking out under the scooter that is a drain from the air box. There is a small round filter in that line.
dan
YMMV