After having hanging idle issues a week after rejet, pipe and snorkle mods, I finally was able to zero in on the cause. vacumm leak ! Used carb cleaner spray to isolate the leak and bwala... Fixed . runs and idle great.

 

Where was the leak? carb boot? Vacuum plug?

 

The carb boot and top cover of carb.

 

I've found that all my rubber parts are cracking. The smog straps fell off and the starter boot is split. One more thing to keep an eye on I guess.

 

My SMOG straps were cracked when I took them off right after I bought the bike.

 

hmmm I should check mine. But then again a clean bike is a ......ok I got nothing LOL

 

deej, your rubber parts are all probably on their last legs due to detergent abuse.

Seriously though, maybe it's the location one lives in or something like that...or maybe where/how you store or park your bike. I have an '06 with many thousands of miles in the heat of west Texas and ridden in places hot and cold out west. It's normally parked in a shop away from sunlight when not in use at home, and it doesn't sit out parked all day as a commuter bike. All my rubber parts are in amazing shape and are still pliable with no exterior cracks or discoloration. I'm thinking some environmental factors may be at play.

 

Direct sunlight is the big killer of rubber. I learn that when I had to buy a lot of spearfishing rubber slings - I used to wash them to get rid of saltwater and hang them on the sunny side of verandah sometimes for weeks.

Then the guy in the shop recommended to store them in dark place and these things lasted ten times longer.