running out of gas at wot is a fuel flow problem.
I'd 1st check fuel flow
figure out the flow rate for 200 mph (you can dream can't ya?) at 50 mpg and pull off the line to the carb and fill up a pint.
If it can't do that then you know where the problem is.

Got a Raptor thingy on her. It flows good , still ain’t got it off yet to inspect it. I think it’s crap in the float bowl that gets sucked up against the main jet  sometimes. If I don’t find anything then I’ll dump the fuel and r & r the petcock for a peek in the tank. But I’m sure it’s in the carb , weekend is nearing. I’ll get to the bottom of this.  Gonna run a clear fuel filter , just in case , I’ll be able to see any collected gems in the filter. Big fun but I’d rather be riding it. It’s been hot here so it’s a early morning rides before
the valley begins to swelter , watched a flying bug land on the concrete it was so hot it died before could take off or crawl to the grass.

It will be up & running Saturday , flying low Sunday morning. Found an interesting five way intersection , needs further investigation x 5. Calling it 5 points n , s , e , w & one in between. So many roads.    

Ruttly wrote on 07/24/23 at 15:34:13:


My VM38 has been on the bike for the last 16,000 miles and has been absolutely reliable.  I do need to use the enrichment lever to get the bike fired up the first ride of the day - the engine starts at what seems to be the first compression stroke after hitting the starter button......it never needs to crank more than a turn or two before it fires up.  I can push the enrichment lever off and the bike will run fine.....but as with any air cooled bike with a carb the idle speed is just a bit low and uneven until the bike warms up.  When I start the bike I am fully dressed and ready to ride - so after a few second of running I click the bike into gear and ride gently for the first few miles as the engine warms up.

When I am done riding for the day and headed home - I shut the fuel petcock off as I pass the STOP sign down the street.  By the time I reach my driveway the engine is beginning to sputter as the float bowl is nearly empty of fuel.  I feel better knowing the bike is sitting in the garage with very little fuel (ethanol) in the float bowl trying to corrode or clog my things up.  If life gets in the way and I cannot ride it for a week or month.....there is no fuel in the carb rotting away.  I have not needed to clean the carb since putting it on.  Every year at the end of the season I will take the little jet access plug off the bottom of the carb and check for dirt/water....I can't remember ever getting much of anything out of there......my tank is lined with the epoxy and I don't run a fuel filter other than the one that is on the petcock inside the tank.

The VM38 may be old technology - but it works!

I like old technology , been owning Mikuni carbs since I was a kid. Cost effective and easy to get parts.

Finally got time for a quick ride. New carb rich on pilot & pretty close on the main. 38 has a different feel, than the 36. Don’t really care , I like it ! I have realized it’s not a in town bike , way better suited for backroads with lighter traffic. Local Leo follows me when ever he spots me just waiting for me to crack that throttle. I just head outta town , he fades away. May have terrorized downtown a bit too often. Stopped by H/D dealer , no Chinese Harley’s yet , they didn’t think it was funny when I asked if I could order one on Amazon ! Thought for a minute I had earned an escort out of the building , absolutely no sense of humor.            

Really , might explain their growing discontent with me. One employee did laugh , probably currently unemployed. Last I heard they were Chinese made , Honda clone. I’d buy one in the crate & hide it. Use it for a sacrificial marshmallow at the next Sturgis gathering !   Lmmfao.