So I'm driving along and all of a sudden to engine cuts out. "No problem" I say and switch to the reseve-the bike will not start. After flogging the starter about 50X I walk the bike 1/4 mile to gas station(thank God I was not deep in the woods). With gas she fire right up!! Is there any trick to activating the reserve? Any thought on this?

You most likely ran it on reserve, still gets me sometimes, never had to walk yet.
The little embossed arrow (short end of switch) should point towards ON until it
runs out then move it to RES.

Me bonehead.

another trick is sometimes theres just alittle bit of gas on the right side of the tank. Lean to left and gas will pour over to the petcock side.