Keep at it, you'll iron out all the faults eventually
Pity you're not closer to Derbyshire, I'd offer a hand. Already rewired a bike from scratch, and it (mostly) works!
Good call up there about old Beemers. My mate has an R65 (styled by the same bloke who did the katana for suzuki). They've all got a reputation as an old mans bike, but they are bombproof, and have bags of torque. Ridden a couple, they have a lovely wobble from the boxer engine. I want something like an R80/100 for touring on. Though really you want something like a 250 for winter, not enough power to spit you off and light enough to pick up.

I too run a Honda 400/4, though that is my summer bike-it goes away when theres ice about. So far its been brilliant, though the headlamp has just packed up.
( Greenbat, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 9:57, 2 replies)

Honda 400/4
Shares a front end with a CJ250. Yokes, forks, and everything attached.
(CADmonkey rollllllllled another one, just like the other one, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 16:43, closed)

At this rate, I will have tied it to a sack of kittens and thrown it in the sea!
Well that is how to get rid of old stones you don't want any more isn't it?

Yesterday the old Yam died on me in traffic, that was after it took me twenty minutes to get her started. Then she ran on three for a while, which saved fuel I guess, but she really lacked power. Finally just as I was about to give up she picked up and roared off down the road, almost on one wheel! When the engine pulls, it pulls like a steam train and feels lovely. One thing we need to check though, it seems that the inlet rubbers may have split slightly. With four of the buggers, I am not looking forwards to sorting that lot out.

Despite all of these niggles. I love my little Chop, she is awesome and will actually pull to an indicated 100MPH. Not bad for a thirty year old Rat bike wannabe.
( Rev. Jayneflakes Buy my book, I need the cash for drugs and hookers, Wed 10 Nov 2010, 15:52, closed)

that sounds like...
...a blocked pilot jet on whatever carb gets the fuel first.

Got an inline fuel filter for your petrol tank?

That, or you've got water in the tank. Maybe from condensation. Check for orange mud in the float bowls.

You can check the manofolds by pushing the carbs forward with the engine running. If the engine picks up, you have a split. You can also do this by spraying Damp Start on the manifolds (if any gets sucked into the engine, you'll hear it burn) You could also ID the bad carb by selectively disconnecting the HT leads.
(CADmonkey rollllllllled another one, just like the other one, Thu 11 Nov 2010, 8:30, closed)