So I've been riding my F4 as a Commuter for a while now just to smooth any bumps out for when I can get to the track. The bike is really hard to start if I haven't ridden in a few days, while it starts on the first or second attempt it does not fire up to life like it used to rather it it just spins up and slowly gets going. If I use the choke the engine dies doesn't matter if its a hot day or cold day. Now here is where it gets really strange. I've noticed that my gas...evaporates. Yep I left the bike sitting for two weeks a little while back with about 1gal in the tank and when I went to start it it was empty (any thoughts on how to reduce that?

History on the bike:
Has about 22k mies so getting close for service
it is jetted, have the files if need be, a/f is rich at 5k rpm.
carbs are clean and sync'ed
fuel filter and tank are clean with no restrictions
air filter is clean
ignition is advanced

There are a few other things that I need to do on the bike like readjust my CCT and find a ticking sound that has developed, clean the chain.

Edit: Oh and I'm getting quite a few hard shifts, clunky shifts and missed shifts. Any ideas?

 

Are you 100% sure you don't have a fuel leak? That could also cause the starting issues as well solve the mystery of the disappearing gas. While your at it, why don't you give your oil a smell. Does it smell like oil, or does it smell like gas? It could be a possibility that you have a float/needle valve that isn't working, and gas is draining into the cylinder, into the oil, which would cause hard start ups, disappearing gas, and hard shifts/sounds if your oil is starting to thin out because of gas.

It all depends.


Check the stuff that's real easy first.


If your oil checks out and you're positive there aren't any leaks, I'd hit the starter a few times, and then, before the bike comes to life, I'd pull a plug and see if your plugs are getting wet.

 

I'll go sniff my oil and check the plugs. If it was cold I might understand hard starting but Its San Diego, bike's got no excuses.

 

This just in: Still hard to start with no fuel in the oil. Going out on a limb, would it be the valves? I know they are coming up on an inspection but I didn't they would have an effect on starting.

Also I cannot use the choke or the engine dies. This is new and only happens after I got the bike rejetted.

Edit: Oil has less than 500 miles on it and when changing it I noticed a pretty large amount of metal build up on the magnet next to the oil filter as well as the drain plug. Right now I'm using a scotts reusable filter so I might toss an OEM one on next oil change to see if its that.