Motorcycle Repair: Yamaha Stalling and I smell Gas, yamaha 1100, gas fumes

Question
Hi Chris,

I just bought a Yamaha 1100 Cassic (03) and on the way home with my purchase, It began loosing power and stalling out like it was out of gas. I pulled over and it was not. It would start w/in 5-10 min but do the same thing. Eventually it would not fire or start but did sound like it was trying to turn over. I smell heavy gas fumes and heard some minor back firing in addition to choppy acelleration just before dying out. Please tell me I dont have a new lemon. The previous owner later told me the gas had been in the bike since January (and today is May 25) with very limited riding. I did test the bike a week before the purchase on a small ditance (< than 1 mile)with no indication of a problem.

Thanks for any info,
MiMi

Answer
Hi Mimi.

No, you didn't buy a lemon.  You just need the carbs attended to.  they may need cleaning or a needle valve may have come loose and is causing flooding.

Get it in to a shop and tell them what the problem is.  They should be able to fix it within a day.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON