So today after heavy stop and go traffic on the way downtown bike was running fine but instead of the usual heavy purr the bike would put out through the exhaust I started to hear some sort of growling noise. Not over thinking this I rode and parked at my destination and went inside the building for max of about 10 minutes.

When I came outside to start the bike it would turn over but it wouldn't start so thinking perhaps if I turn up my choke on it, the bike would start. Didn't work, but it did start after a few tries (with the choke off) but I had to hold down the throttle to nearly the max and it would only go to about 2-3k rpms. When I let got of the throttle, the bike would die and shut off.

I somehow got it to work (and it still turned off at some lights so I had to keep the rev's over 2k to keep it running) and seems like if I over rev the engine, occasionally it would put the bike over its funky state. It seemed like it was running fine earlier in the day but all I did different was to fill it up on gas (some of the gas poured onto the side of the tank , didn't think anything of it) and I rode through some heavy stop and go traffic for a good 15-20 minutes. Any ideas before I put it in the shop?

I haven't really done any basic maintenance on the bike besides an oil change, putting some seafoam into the gas tank and changing out the ignition (user error, broke key in ignition). What should I start doing to eliminate some possible issues?

 

Took off the gas tank and air Filter. ordered a new K&N air filter.

I started my bike up and same issues with it dying came up, so I found the cable that adjusts the idle and I played with that for a bit and it did keep it the engine on. My friend said it could be that because it's getting colder I may clean out or get a new air filter, and I may need to adjust a screw for something related to a adjustment of mixture? Any help would be appreciated, didn't have any issues prior to yesterday.

 

So I took out the spark plugs and inspected them, they didn't look too dark or anything but I did get some 200 grit sand paper and sanded down some of the metal electrodes and surrounding metal pieces. Replaced them and it still makes the same identical noise. I also got in my K&N air filter and neither seemed to help. Going to upload a video of my bike running so maybe it's a little more clear what I'm experiencing.

I figure at this point it may be a vacuum line leak somewhere, maybe causing the bike to run lean perhaps? Other than the visible hoses I see that connect to the air filter box I don't see any other hoses. There must be some attached to the carbs or something right?

 

I'm not sure about the growling noise, i've had a f2 and 900rr that both had a sticky starter button and the starter would keep spining making a growling noise. The bike starts and runs so it would seem its sparking fine, replaced the air filter, which leaves fuel delivery. If the pump is doing its thing that leaves the fuel/air mixture. If your carbs are jetted then some adjustment could be useful to a trackjunkie looking for every ounce of ooomph but being 4 stroke it isn't neccesary for street riding in cooler months. If it's not jetted don't change anything, it should run like an ape just fine on factory settings. Check every hose and boot connection (especially the manifold to carb boots, they can dryrot pretty good over the years) and clean the carbs with carb clean and compressed air. A hunk of funk the size of a grain of sand could play havoc on pilot jets and other small fuel passages so "Mr.Clean" is the word there. Maybe someone else has more to add? Good luck!

 

Seems like it was a temporary issue. Bike's been running great since I replaced the air filter and spark plugs (NGK iridium ones). Sounds pretty beastly now with the K&N air filter so I'm glad I shelled out a bit more money for something that should last me forever (I have a Scion xD that I put a K&N air filter in).

Now going to solve the brake issue (probably something with the rotor, put an aftermarket 16inch rim on the front for a temp fix) it vibrates into a not so smooth stop when I brake.