also when your low on fuel itll pop to tell you to switch to reserve..least my 06 does...

**New Update**

I went into work a bit late this morning, as I was stuck in my garage putzing with the carb on my bike.

I followed the instructions (thanks for those, by the way)  and had the top and diaphragm off of my carb in less than 10 minutes.

I took out the two retaining screws and the needle popped right out.  I took the spacer off and then built up from the C-clip using 3 small washers.  I then put the spacer back on and ran it over some 100 grit sandpaper.  Overall, I reduced the spacer by 1/3 to 1/2.  Where I ran into trouble was the reassembly.

I had no idea that the plate holding the needle in place was keyed (I didn't pay close enough attention when I took it apart.) So I assembled it backwards, partially covering the two back holes.  I figured that was not right, so I took it back apart and turned it over.  Much better.

While I had the diaphragm out, I inspected my jets and throttle body.  Everything looked clean (no carbon build-up), but I ran a small pick through each jet just to make sure.

I reassembled the carb , refitted the gas tank and partially filled it (maybe 1/2 gallon).

When I went to start it, I forgot to apply the choke, but to my amazement, it started anyway!  Cold, no choke!

I let it idle for a minute while I refitted the seat then took it on a short test run.

I immediately noticed a HUGE difference.  Instead of lugging from the start, the acceleration was MUCh improved.  Likewise, the surging that I was feeling at low rpm operation was nearly completely eliminated.

When I opened it up, I still did not hear the back fire between shifts and the only time I could make it back fire was after letting the engine spool down from high RPM (maybe 5k or so).  Before, it would backfire every time I would use engine braking to slow.  Not any more.

The throttle response is amazing now.  I can go from low throttle and crack it open with ne hesitation. Before, it would go thud-thud-thud-vroom.

I cannot thank you guys enough fof the information you gave me.  I guess this is something that the dealer would never have done for me, so in a way, I guess they were right.  It's supposed to run like that.

I'm happy!  And i'm riding to Cranberry for lunch!

Thanks again!!!!!

-Skrap

skrapiron -FSO wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:

Aloha,
I have been riding my bike with either a full or half out choke since I bought it.
The previous owner said it ran cold, and to leave the choke out until it warmed up. Well. I've been on a 2 hour ride and I still couldn't push the choke back in without the engine knocking or almost shutting down. I think I might try what you just did.
Please tell me where the instructions you followed are.
I red all of the "So let me get this straight..." quotes but I don't see the instruction on how to.
Thank you!

Actually I was looking in the tech section.
It's just that I don't know the terminology, and that most post titles don't make make sense to me.
And to open up each and every post to read if it is what I was looking for would take forever. The only time I have is late at night when the kids are in bed, or an occasional afternoon when I decide just to forgo doing the dishes or the laundry (I normally  pay for that decision later).
My shocks are also leaking oil at the moment, my search for shock rubber ring turned up pretty empty. Now I know it is called a front fork oil seal. Who would have thunk it is called a fork seal instead of shock seal? Did you know the part department at bike bandit calls it front damper? Yet another terminology, no wonder I couldn't find the seal. I had to look at every schematic to recognize the shocks.
Well maybe in about 1/2 a year from now I might actually know how to phrase stuff and find it.