I'm new to the board, but already I've learned a ton from reading other posts. Let me know if this is not the right place to ask for help.
Here's my situation. Last weekend the wife and I rode to Yellowstone, stayed two nights, and came home in a hard rainstorm. The next day the bike started like normal and I let it idle for a minute with the choke on, no problem. When I let out on the clutch the engine backfired through the carb and died. With the bike warmed up and the choke full off, any movement of the throttle and it backfires and acts like it will die. If I just crank the throttle it will backfire and stall. The engine starts and idles like normal - it just won't go!
It's an 07 roadie with 17k miles. It has a ported manifold, BAK, re-jetted, and hard chrome 3" exhaust. Once in a while it backfires through the carb, but that seems to be normal. The bike runs very well and has never had any problems. While riding in the rain there were a few times that it sputtered, I assume because I didn't stop and put on the BAK's rain guard? Other than that it was running fine when we pulled it into the garage from our trip. Three days later, the bike is totally dry and I'm still looking for the problem. I've checked the fuel filter and fuel pump - seem to be okay. Checked the fuel tank breather - seemed okay, and there's no sucking sound when I remove the filler cap. I removed the BAK and checked the accelerator pump - it's pumping so I guess it's okay. I sprayed wd40 around the carb looking for vacuum leaks - none that I could detect. I drained all the gas out of the tank and replaced with new - that was a waste of time! If I look into the carb and slightly rotate the throttle, as soon as the butterfly begins to open I can see a blue flame behind it (along with the assosciated popping sound). I removed the tank and inspected the carb joint and all clamps - all seemed okay.
Several days prior to leaving for yellowstone I had the dealer do the 16k service which involved replacing the plugs and adjusting the valves. The bike ran spot on for the trip to yellowstone, we traveled about 900 miles during the trip. Any suggestions as to where to look next would be appreciated.
Thanks!

I have the same mods and mine has acted like that after washing it a few times. I believe the BAK filter got saturated with water and she was having a hard time getting air through. It normally takes about 10 minutes of letting it idle before it clears up. I've since put the rain cover on and kept it on all the time and I can now wash it and not have problems. But you said 3 days later the same thing, try running it with the air filter off and see what happens.

I have the air filter off - no change.

My 05 does the same thing everytime I take a long ride in the rain. I clean the air filter and let it dry and I'll rev the bike or let it idle in the driveway for several minutes until it clears up. I think there's a little water in the carb from the rain and it has to run through. This is just a guess so if anyone knows for sure I'd like to know.

Wouldn't hurt to drain the carb.

The slide may be sticking...when the throttle plate opens does the slide start to open also?

Problem resolved!
Turns out there was a small amount of water in the bottom of the bowl. Draining the carb did the trick. I was not even aware that there was a drain on the carb. I'm not too sure how the water got in there, but I guess at 75 MPH in a rain storm water will go where ever it wants. From now on when the rain gear goes on so does the BAK rain guard. Thanks to all that posted your suggestions - this site rocks! I'm whole again! There's three things in my life that keep me whole and when those things are happy I'm happy - First is my bike! Second is my computer! And third is my wife! And when the bike's happy my wife's happy - it's a great life!

From now on when the rain gear goes on so does the BAK rain guard.


I'm glad you got her figured out. I leave my BAK rain cover on all the time and I don't feel any difference in performance. I knew it was water cause mine has done the same thing after washing it, a few minutes just idling and its good to go..

why just yesterday going to work at 0500 in a driving rain everything was ok. that afternoon I started the bike up and went to go and nothing....So I called my son to let him know I need my car NOW. Long story short this looked this problem up on the forum and behold you had the same thing. I drained the carb and now have my baby home Thank You