One side of engine casing much hotter than the other.

[crazyfish]

Hey guys. I noticed today that while my engine heats up the right side cooling fins get pretty hot MUCH faster than the left ones which take quite a while to heat up. Firstly is this anything to get worried about, and secondly and ideas whats causing it?

For some background, all the carb jets are the same on both sides and the plugs are fairly clean iridiums. Stock settings all round apart from the customary rejet.

Thanks

[kml.krk]

are both cylinders firing? is bike running normally?

[black and silver twin]

sounds like one cylinder isnt firing. heres a test: when the bike is cooled completely, start it. imediately touch the headers (very quickly so as not to burn your self). if one gets hotter faster, then the cooler one isnt firing. (or not firing well at least)

[yurtinus]

Or pull off the spark plug wire on the hot side and see if it dies...

[kman]

you can touch the headers with a damp paper towel too.  It seems like you should see some difference in looking at the plugs if one is not firing.

Also if you pull the hot side wire and it dies, make sure to check that pulling the cold side wire lets it keep running for a proper comparison. 

Is this a new occurrence or just a new discovery?  Have you messed with anything just before this started happening?  Is your fuel mileage suffering severely? 

[crazyfish]

From black and silvers response thats pretty much what I was doing when I noticed one side was hotter. Its been garaged for a while so I've not noticed a difference in performance because it hasn't had any significant riding for a while. Any hints on what might be causing it or things to check?

[black and silver twin]

plugs, carbs, coils