Motorcycle Repair: lurching and bucking Honda Shadow, vacuum lines, fuel mixture

Question
Hi Wayne. I just got an '83 Honda Shadow and it's had the air filter cleaned and the carbs as well.  But still, once it's warmed up, it starts bucking and lurching. This will happen at any speed, but mostly it happens just starting off from a stop, and at around 60 mph in overdrive.  There is a wee leak of gas someplace.  The bottom of the carb housing is wet, but not dripping.  I've adjusted the throttle cable, but no change.  Please advise.

Answer
Katherine,

-make sure battery cables aren't loose.
-water in the fuel possibly.
-did it do this before the air filter was serviced?
-Also look for any loose hoses or vacuum lines
around the carbs.
-An air leak around where the carbs go on can be
checked with spraying some carb cleaner or wd40
and see if the engine speed changes.
-do you notice any pressure in the gas tank,
may be a plugged tank or cap vent.
-spark plugs and/or plugs wires can cause hesitation.
-are any fuel lines running near the engine
where they can pick up too much heat and vapor lock?
-check your spark plug color, if they are black
that is too much fuel, whiteish is lean or not
enough fuel and tan color is good fuel mixture.
-if the plugs show black, you should have that
carb checked that looks wet, it might be flooding.
-usually bucking and lurching is a lean fuel
problem, or an air leak on the intake.
does it improve with the choke on partially?
-last idea is the ignition pulse coil which
could cause problems when hot.