i've been having issues with a 1995 gs500e i've been trying to troubleshoot. when i start the bike it idles at 1,200 rpms for about 10 seconds before the throttle absolutely takes off and  accelerates to 6,000 or higher rpms without anyone touching the throttle. i'm still quite new to bikes so my terminology may be a bit off but when i run the bike with the tank off it seems the throttle valve isnt opening and yet the rpms are still soaring. any thoughts on how this is happening? any help would be greatly appreciated as i have no idea where to begin. thanks

Tank off, throttle valve isn't opening ...
You throttle cable is hung and you're stuck at 1/2 throttle ... looks like ... and @ no load it will rev to the moon. Easy.
Tank has nothing to do with throttle valve whatever that is ... you mean throttle butterflies ok that is in the cable ... loosen that guy, if it fails, un hook the choke ... these things all need free play at the minimum to be 1-2 mm. I set mine @ the high end ...
Cool.
Buddha.

warm up the bike and then adjust the idle screw (long screw with white plastic cap located between carbs that is accessed from undern the carbs)
this should fix your problem if not post back and we'll take it from there

good luck

PS. you should first introduce yourself here:  http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=4200.0

EDIT: make sure that the choke cable is not stuck either

+1 for idle screw i totally agree, sounds like your idle has been set pre warm up and so when it does finally its like wtf? and starts to race off.

thanks a ton. i loosened the cable and adjusted the idle screw and now the idle is under control