A little history. I got the bike last year. It was not running well so I went through the carbs, and they were moderately dirty, but the bike ran much better after. I then parked it for over a year. The bike would start, but only run with the choke on, so I went through the carbs again. It still will only idle with the choke on. When I went through the carbs they were spotless. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

Air leak? Check for lines being cracked and also check for the mounting gaskets. Also, is it possible that you backed the throttle stop out to far? (all the way left)

I think air leak because you say it runs when the bike is getting a richer setting of fuel, but no run when that rich setting dialed back.

 

silly question, but i got to ask. did you adjust the idle ****? if i remember right the idle should be at about 1100-1200 rpm

 

+1 on that silly question. idle ****?

 

Just a quick FYI, but that thing we all like to call an idle **** is actually a cable that controls the throttle stop. If the carbs are clean, balanced and set for idle correctly at each carb, you should be able to completely unscrew that thing and have no problem riding. (idle is set by the idle screws on the carb itself and one needs a fairly precise tach to set correctly.)