I was going to take in to work(a good 35 mile drive this morning) to try the easiest of the suggestions below(the gas cap ), and it wouldn't turn over. Probably the coldest weather I've tried to start it in yet(just over 30 degrees). It's kept outside with a blanket and bike cover(no garage). Soooooooooo....something else to figure out first

It whines and turns maybe twice, really slowly/painfully. Assuming it's the battery........ never ends.....

 

ok...new battery Took it out Saturday for a good 40 miles or so...

gas cap check didn't fix it


HOWEVER, it's occurred to me, if it was venting TOO much, would it cause the same issue? I have flush gas caps(they push into the tank). On occasion, this cap leaks...I very frequently see just the smallest bit of fuel on the top of the cap from time to time. It doesn't come out from around the sides....it comes up through the middle of the cap. Hard to explain without pictures(those familiar with these kinds of caps know what I'm talking about). Where the push top pushes into the cap itself.


Again, if the tank vents through the gas caps(TOO much), would it cause me the same symptom?

 

Nope.

Not sure what you might consider an all day ride or precisely what you consider "rough"... could be any of the things mentioned above, belt tension changing with temperature, VOES losing ground ocassionally or just a bad spark plug... there's a long long list of "maybes"

 

Unlike this past Saturday, an all day ride is anything 100+ miles. My point being, it wasn't just something that happened when the bike was still cold and/or warming up.

One down, a few different tests to try. Thanks for all the suggestions, all!