Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: 1994 Virago 535 stalling while riding, pilot jet, carb tuning

Question
Hi.  I'm a new rider, took MSF couse in January, got the mentioned bike at the beginning of Feb.  I haven't had a lot of time on the bike, but I'm comfortable with maneuvering each time I am able to ride.  I haven't taken it into traffic, all riding is done in my apartment complex parking lot and residential road.  The last two times I rode the bike stalled in second or third gear.  I was slowing slightly from third so that I could downshift approaching a stop one of the times, the other time I was just riding in second and it died.  There was no warning (sputtering) just absolutely nothing.  I was able to start it right back up & ride again with no problems.  I'm afraid to ride it now due to the stalling...I'm not sure if it's mechanical or operator related.  I checked all the fluids & they are fine.  Choke is not stuck open.  I did think that the bike seemed hot, but I'm not familiar with bikes enough to say one way or the other.  I'm trying to figure this out so that I can actually ride my bike! Thanks!

Answer
Hi Evelyn,

Also, if you're looking for advice on how to get out into the real world of traffic after taking the BRC, you'll really enjoy my new book How to Ride a Motorcycle: A Rider's Guide to Strategy, Safety, and Skill Development.

I'm not much of a mechanic but it sounds like a carburetor problem. It could be that your idle is set too low--there will be a screw or knob in a fairly obvious place on the carburetor that you can adjust the idle.

Check the owners manual to find out what the recommended idle speed is, and adjust your idle to match that. That will probably take care of it.

If that doesn't help, it may be that your pilot jet is clogged or the carburetor is gummed up. This happens when a bike sits for a long time with gas in the float bowl that evaporates and leaves a gummy residue. You can pull it apart and clean it if you have some mechanical ability, otherwise, take it into a shop for a carb tuning.

It could also be that the engine is running too lean, and that the carburetor needs different jets/settings. Again, this is a job for a competent mechanic. Sometimes if a bike moves from lower to higher elevations, the thinner air makes the bike run lean. Running lean also means it will run hot, like you said. If you live in Colorado and the bike came from Mississippi, that would be a major elevation change.

Good luck, I hope that helps!

Pat