Hello all. I bought my 1998 800vn in June I would say, it had sat at my friends dealership for about 8 months before he got tired of looking at it and we agreed on a price. I had to install a new battery, but it started right up and I drove it probably 2000 miles before I parked it a couple months ago to go out of town. I came back, it was dead. I recharged the battery this morning and was on my merry way. I'd say I rode a good 30 miles or so, came back home patted myself on the back and did a few Tim Taylor grunts. My GF came home, we decided to go out again. Everything went well, for about 15 miles. All the sudden, I noticed at a red light the bike was dying. I applied the gas a little more firmly, turned around to go home. Next red, same thing. As I was approaching the following Red, it was sputtering and felt like its moments were numbered, so I pulled into a gas station, got almost to a good parking spot, and POOF, gone. Frustrated, I was. I had put gas in it earlier when i reconnected the battery about a mile out, but didn't fill it to the top as I know this is a problem sometimes. I checked the gas at the station I was now stranded and looking foolish at, plenty of gas. Tried to start it, and all it did was click quite a few times and wound to a gasping death. Still had lights, but no turn over. I looked around and realized I wasn't looking very cool at this point, so in my shame I pushed the bike to the side of the gas station for less people to mock. Still dead, I called a friend up who was polite enough to bring me a jump box. While sitting there I noticed to the (if sitting on the bike) left side there was a small pool of fuel about a half dollar sized. My friend came, The motor roared back into life and off I was to drop it off to my friends garage for tomorrow. I'd say his garage is about a mile from where I spent quality time with the strangers at the station, it rode fine even stopped at the red, and continued on. I pulled up to the shop, eyed a decent parking spot and pointed the front wheel in that general direction. I almost made it too. I got about 10 feet from it before the bike died once again. Now, I have 2 other bikes, so I know a thing or two, but not everything. Also those bikes are fuel injected, I'm not much of a carb guy. I did read a few forums sitting out there in the moonlight via my smart phone, talking about pops and swooshes when opening the fuel tank, of which I got neither.I realize my battery is probably toast but I can't imagine it would cause such a slow death and fuel to leak out. If you have any advice, it would be very appreciated. I really enjoy this bike, and look forward to many many more miles on it.