Why won’t my bike idle properly after being stored?
If your motorcycle has been sitting for weeks, months, or even years, one of the most common issues you’ll face is a poor or unstable idle. Riders often report that their bike will only run with the choke on, stalls when the throttle is released, or simply refuses to idle smoothly. This problem is almost always linked to dirty or partially blocked carburettor circuits, particularly the pilot (idle) jet and the tiny air passages that feed it.
Fuel left in the carb bowls over time evaporates and leaves behind varnish deposits that harden like glue. Even a microscopic blockage in the pilot jet will drastically affect how the bike runs at idle because this circuit is responsible for fuelling at low throttle openings. Spraying carb cleaner into the airbox won’t resolve the issue — these passages are so fine that they need full ultrasonic cleaning and proper disassembly.
At The Carb Shack, we regularly see carbs from bikes like Honda CB series, Yamaha R1s, Suzuki Bandits, and Kawasaki ZXRs all suffering from this exact issue. Our ultrasonic cleaning process breaks down hardened fuel varnish and corrosion deep inside the carb body, ensuring every jet, passage, and needle seat is restored to factory clean condition. We also carry out full bench testing and setting of float heights, mixture screws, and synchronization so that once refitted, the bike idles smoothly with minimal adjustment.
