Sputtered and died

Hello, just bought my first bike ever Sunday, 83 KZ750 twin LTD. The battery needs to be changed so i have been using the kick start. My buddy and I changed the oil and now every so often i get a little puff of smoke out of the right rear pipe. An old mechanic i work with told me what it was, so save it for a winter project. However on my way home last night it was sputtering and stalled in front of my house (good spot for that to happen) I don't have any ideas sorry for being vague but i am NOT mechanically savvy. Any ideas or should i just take it for a tune up?

if the battery is bad, that would be the first thing to replace, also put a volt meter across the new battery to make sure the charging system is working properly

"on my way home last night it was sputtering and stalled in front of my house "

Welcome, glad to see another twin. Sorry for such a simple question. Are you out of gas?? or rather, is your reserve setting working and did you put it on reserve when it started to die?

I don't think i am out of gas, i will no doubt check that and put it on reserve, i would gladly feel like an idiot if that is all it is. I also am getting a battery and new plugs for it this week. Thanks for the suggestions.

Bike won't run right with a bad battery. 1st OR with no or bad gas.

A few other people and the mechanic i work with seem to think it was the gas too, because there were no strange sounds, no knocking, clicking, or clanking.

Happened to me a mile from my house, on my 79 750 twin, a mile is a long way to push a 750 twin when you're pushing 60.

First thing I did was flip the petcock to reserve, but that didn't help any, and the reason why it didn't help is that there was a huge pile of gunk over the reserve intake port inside the tank, so reserve wouldn't work. And I had run the fuel level down to where I needed to switch to reserve.

Maybe you have the same problem?

It's simple to take the petcock off and check.

Without truly knowing your defintion of "sputter & died", it may be one more thing....

Points and condensor....

At Z1Enterprises.com
Ignition Kit - Kawasaki KZ750B3/B4 KZ750G1
KL20-6863

Points & condensers - fits Kawasaki KZ750B3/B4 (78-79) KZ750G1 (80)

$13.91

Just a thought....

OMR

When the bike died,did you still have any battery power?
Any lights working?
Would it turn over?...

Lights were working, they have always worked. I know i need a new battery. I just hope that i was low on gas, never had a bike before so i don't too much.

Was there enough battery-life to turn the engine over after it died?
Just trying to help narrow it down.

No, i have been using the kickstart. I just got my learner's permit Monday and have only been on the road twice, i put maybe 25 miles on it. Those two times were the first ever on the raod, besides my moped. I am going to see if i am low on gas. The bike lights come on and it sounds like it wants to start with the electrical starter but it doesn't, then if i have ridden for a while after i turn it off and try the electrical starter again it has more juice than before so i think i just need a new battery as well as plugs which i am getting Thursday. I know nothing about engines so maybe it is the gas i hope. I hope it is a case of a rider who knows nothing about the bike.