I have a 97 savage with about 9500 miles.  I recently returned from afghanistan and wanted to get it running again.  It sat in my garage on a stand for about 13 months.  I charged the battery, drained the fuel (it had stablizer), filled with fresh fuel and drained again, changed spark plug, changed oil and oil filter, and filled with fresh fuel.  It started rough, ran awhile, backfired several times with increased throttle, and overflowed fuel into the airbox.  I let it run about 15 mins and then turned it off.  About a week later i tried to start it up again, but it wouldnt start, it just cranked.  Over the next week i tried starting it multiple times, but it never would start, just crank.  I checked that the sparkplug was sending a spark, which it was.  I then checked the carb to make sure fuel was getting through, drained, put on prime, ran fuel through, etc. It appeard to be working just fine.  I took off the carb, took it to a buddies house and took it apart and cleaned it with B12, it was very dirty hence the overflow of fuel when it ran.  Checked the vacuum hose for leaks. Tried to start, wouldnt, just cranked, could hear the air being sucked in.  found the link for the clymer manual, downloaded, checked the automatic decompresion cable. Tried to start, didnt.  I dont know what else to try.  Does anyone have any ideas of what else i can do to try to get it running again?

Im at Oak Grove Ky, i changed the plug when i first got it started, when i checked the plug to make sure i was getting spark, it had a thin black carbon layer on it, im guessing from the multiple attempts at starting. It was getting a blue spark when i cranked it.  Are you saying to change the plug again?  Its a new plug i just got.  Everytime i check something i usually have to tank off the tank which means draining fuel, so when i try to start it again, i do put it on prime for about 3-5 seconds.  And i charge the battery between every start attempt with a charger, that way i have a fully charged battery when i attempt to start.  Usually i get mad at it and try to start it so much i kill the battery anyway.  I also try all the choke posittions when i try to start.  Ive been trying for a little over a month now.  I havent tried to push start, never done it so im not real familiar with how. How? Thank for reply.

Checked it, no gas in it.  I even blew air in it with a bicycle pump while covering the other end to check for air leaks, no leaks.  I actually thought this was the problem because after i put the new plug in when i first was changing things, i forgot to put the vacuum hose back on, and of course it wouldnt start.  so i put it on and it started, that was the only time it started over a month ago.  after it wouldnt start again i checked the vacuum hose because its doing the same thing it did when i forgot to put it on. but it checked out ok. thanks for the reply

when i try to start it i will try with no throttle, and a little throttle, and usually go back and forth.  what slide are you talking about?  and i had my tail pipe covered and i checked it before i started it, nothing.
thanks

to push start ( the lame gimpy fat b@$tard way)
caution-these instructions are for stock bikes with all the safety's in place.
1.prep it to key start like normal
2.put in 1st, kickstand up
3.run like hell (for me that 5 to 10mph)
4.jump on (pant, pant, pant)
5.push the starter button
6.let it rev a couple of times then let out the clutch
7.it will chug, sputter, etc untill the voltage recovers and lites up the ign full charge.
8.give it some throttle and let it roll in gear until it evens out.
9.smile you've just push started the bike w/o leaving 6' of rubber on the ground.

this works cause the starter gets the motor turning, and letting out the clutch automatically disengages the starter.

is the battery 1997 ?
btw:
your service is our freedom THANK YOU!!!

Try this,...crank the engine, and feel for vacuum on the carb side of that vac line....
Sometimes when an engine has been sitting, or has been having problems starting...too much unspent gas flows down the cylinder and creates a "gas wash".... This removes the fine coating of oil on the cylinder walls that creates compression...
Squirting about a teaspoon of oil down the sparkplug hole will allow the walls to be recoated and compression will return...

A carbon fouled plug that gets fuel on it will not jump the gap in the cylinder under pressure, rather the coil voltage goes back down the wet carbon path to ground. Pretty hard to clean the plug these days as I haven't seen a plug blaster for years. I use a oxy/acet jewelers rig my dad had with the smallest tip and an oxidizing flame, it eats up the carbon as extra fuel, but just a little to much heat or not moving fast enough and the porcelain cracks and it is trash. New ones are your best bet, don't have to be fancy until you get it all worked out. You might want to do the head cover door mod or leave it off until you solve all the problems. Max