Need help with idling issue / bike cutting off

[nick_the_guy]

Hi, I have an issue with my bike that started before I let it sit and has now grown. It has to do with the idle speed. I started to notice that when I braked at an intersection, clutch disengaged, the bike was capable of cutting off and dying. Now, I find that the bike idles very slows when it is very cold or wet (I ride in the rain, no choice). I find that for the first 10 minutes of riding, if I don't give a bit of gas when I stop for an intersection, the bike is capable of cutting off and dying. I noticed that when the bike runs in the morning, it runs at about 900 rpm. When it is really hot after riding a long period  (ex. 1 hour), it runs at about 1600 rpm. I don't think that adjusting the idle speed will help because the range of the idling speed is very great. The bike runs fine when I give it gas and it does not have any starting problems. Any suggestions as to the problem and solution?

[Egaeus]

It sounds to me like your bike might be running on just one cylinder when cold.  It could be a carb balance issue, or a clogged carburetor jet (or jets).

To see which side isn't running correctly, start your bike cold and put your hands on or near both exhaust pipes.  The running pipe will heat up rapidly, so be careful.  Alternately, you can feel the cylinders, but it will take a little more time to tell. 

Edit: It could also be valve clearance problems.