Howdy all, so I havent had a chance to really look at the bike, but earlier this week I crack it up and she idled just fine, but then once i get going the bike lurches/jerks like its trying it cut off and doesn't want to stay cranked.  The throttle seems to work fine, but I can smell gas more prominently now too (or it could be mind games).  Anywho my first impression is that its not getting gas for one reason or another.  

Anyone have any ideas off the cuff?  Again I have had a chance to really look at the bike, but its been bugging me all week at work.  Thanks in advance all!!

switch the gas petcock over to the PRI area... this way it doesnt have to run off of the vacuum of the engine.

this woudl be my first step at troubleshooting.

if this seems to fix the problem. then make sure it has enough gas in the tank. the straight down position doesnt use the very bottom reserve of gas in the tank.. so if you look down and see it way down there it doesnt always mean you have enough to run in the vacuum/down position.
if it has enough gas theres a posibility the petcock is broken.

also,

have you ridden the bike enough to let it warm up? say 5 to ten minutes?

mine runs a little poopy until its completely warmed up. throttle response isnt the greatest and the bike does not like to hold a crusiing speed.. seems i have to give her more gas or lug it low in the rpms. this also has to do a little with the carb tuning which will be an ongoin challenge for me personally this spring.


im no expert but i would start with the petcock thing first to troubleshoot.
-frank

Thanks for the input, I know its a shot in the dark at the moment, but I appreciate the ideas on where to start.  I've never been an "engine" guy, but that is one of the reasons I liked the savage was that it isnt so complex that I cant take a stab at it and start learning!