What are the symptoms other than the spark plugs to tell if a bike is running lean or rich?

Do the symptoms change between when the bike is cold at start up and when the bike is warmed up?

Google is pretty good for this sort of thing but some of the most obvious are.....

Rich:
Down on power
Rough tickover
Smokey exhaust that smells of fuel.

Lean:
Hard to start.
Runs on choke
Idle issues (poor, won't or hangs)
Overheating.

http://mechanics.stackexchange.com/questions/732/symptoms-of-lean-or-rich-carb-settings-on-a-motorcycle

Lean bike.... probably in a corner!?

Rich bike. ... Power Ranger matched leathers/helmet/bike colour scheme and logos!?

Quote from: Janx101 on August 09, 2016, 04:01:44 AM
Lean bike.... probably in a corner!?

Rich bike. ... Power Ranger matched leathers/helmet/bike colour scheme and logos!?

Janx - Funny guy!

So what if it's hard to start, but you can't use the choke until warmed up? Or idles and dies? But the throttle hangs when warmed up?

Biggz, are you actually experiencing those problems? Or is that more of a "what if" kinda thing?

Either way, an engine is designed as a system and if one part of that system is functioning as it is designed, it can give you headaches. Like if your air filter is clogged - the lack of air makes your engine run rich. You don't need to change your jets..... you need to fix the actual problem.

Quote from: Big Rich on August 10, 2016, 05:15:45 AM
Biggz, are you actually experiencing those problems? Or is that more of a "what if" kinda thing?

Either way, an engine is designed as a system and if one part of that system is functioning as it is designed, it can give you headaches. Like if your air filter is clogged - the lack of air makes your engine run rich. You don't need to change your jets..... you need to fix the actual problem.

Big Rich - thanks for the helpful question. The bike takes a few tries to start up and if I use the choke it just dies. After the third try with a little throttle it starts, but Idles pretty low around 800-1K. After 3-4 mins when it's warmed up and with a little throttle the choke will catch and work. After about an hour of riding the throttle hangs when it's closed, at about 3500 rpm. Then slowly comes down.

I have a lunchbox and jets I want to install, but want to figure out if I'm lean or rich first, to determine the right jets. I'm a bit apprehensive with the jet kit since so many people on here have screwed up a bike that runs well.

Hmmmm..... I'd say it's something else in the "system", not specifically your jetting (although that can contribute).

Hard to start with choke usually points at either valve clearances, high float height, or even clogged / malfunctioning chokes.

That hanging idle screams intake leak to me. How old are your intake boots (and orings under the boots)? Sometimes with a cold engine , the boots are contracted and don't leak. Once warmed up, they can expand and allow air past.

Everything is stock from 2009. Looks like I'll try spraying the boots with WD40 (read this somewhere on the board).

I had a '64 Plymouth Valiant that would start and idle just fine without the choke while covered with a foot of snow, it was.......Rich!

eeeeee I had a '75 Valiant... and I still miss it!! I sold it and then bought my GS... I still have two other Mopars tho 

Sorry, continue everybody