Hey guys, I bought a 2000 Vulcan 500 a couple weeks ago. When I picked it up it cranked but when you throttled up it would die. I raised the idle and got it going.

The other day I drove about 50 miles at 90 and the bike suddenly dropped to 60 and started backfiring repeatedly. Then started jerking when throttled. I took the carb out and cleaned and pulled the air filter. No better. Any ideas?

 

Welcome to KF it helps if you introduce yourself and give people a bit of background info about you and the bike.
Well I learned something I was thinking do you mean a Vulcan 1500? I'd never heard of a 500 but it had a 20 year production run. Must be an american model I guess I'm sure it never came to Australia.
90 MPH is pretty quick on a 500 twin cruiser, they really are not designed for that type of thing. It's possible you overheated it especially if it was running a bit lean. IF that is the case you may have done damage.
When you say you pulled the filter I assume you mean you cleaned it and replaced it? Do you have any previous motorcycle knowledge? I'm not being smart I don't know these things hence the questions.