So my bike sat for two weeks or so, and i went to go out on a ride on my birthday... and my bike decided to give me a gift. The thing ran great for a bit, then it shutdown on me mid-ride. I had plenty of fuel and the bike would idle. The issue was around 2500-3000 RPM it would stutter and stall. I managed to ride home with the clutch out and revving the engine to about 2500 RPM (this equated out to a blazing max speed of 7 MPH).

I'm not great with carbs, but I'm thinking that's where the issue lies. Any recommendations as to what to check? Could the two weeks of sitting cause the carb to get dirty by settling gas by any chance?

 

Check the clutch and side stand safety switches. They can corrode quickly and give you grief if left unattended.

 

Like WOK suggests, I'd check those annoying safety switch issues first...and maybe while you're at it, just yank them out. Carb issues from sitting almost always result in a plugged pilot jet and/or a stuck float...fuel overflowing and spilling onto the ground. In those cases you can't get the bike to idle with any effort except the using the choke. Your case doesn't sound like that at all. And two weeks usually isn't enough to turn gas to gunk.

 

If it was a safety switch I shouldnt be able to get the thing going in gear at all should I? I definitely had it plodding along in first at 2500 or so.

I can't state this enough, but I'm a carb noob. My understanding is the needle would be responsible for any issues during the 2000 - 4000 cross over?

 

Hey Chris, I don't have an answer to your carb ? Happy Birthday! Was that Nov 1? So was mine and TMoe's also. Good luck w/ your carb. You'll get it.

 

Sounds like the main needle is sticking or gummed. For starters, turn off the fuel and idle the engine till it dies. Then try turning the fuel back on and restarting the engine to see if improvement is made. Another thing to do is to use a fuel cleaner in the fuel tank. If anything else, drain the carb, and spary a carb cleaner down the fuel line into the carb. Let it sit for in the carb's fuel bowl for about 15 mins.

 

 

fuel tank venting??

 

Don't rule anything out, including what Woz has suggested.
IMO, Good idea to bypass the interlocks anyway.

But if you think its a fueling issue.
Drain the fuel from the bowl. (and maybe from the tank as well, start fresh)
Pull the air cleaner and get a can of carby cleaner and squirt it everywhere.
Pull the fuel hose off the carb and squirt.
Squirt it in where ever it's easy without having to pull the carb.
Go to town with the stuff.

Fresh fuel and see how you go.

Could be moisture build up in the fuel.
(had that before )
Over oiled air filter can cause the excess oil to gum up the carb when left for a period.
(I assume filter is clean, dry and oiled)

Worth checking the plug.

 

+1. You didn't get into any water did you?

I would definitely try draining the bowl first. I've had the same symtoms after just a wee bit of water got in my carb. Drained the bowl and all was fixed

You are correct about the safety interlocks. I they were the cause, the bike would not run at all.