Hornet starting after a long stand

[phil.fuse]

Hi there,

my Honda Hornet (98 model) has been stood for 5 months now and i can't get it to run.

Battery seems fine (tho charged it anyway) as i can start it on full choke (which is usual) and it starts but sounds really rough and after a few minutes it cuts out and won't turn over again for some time.

any advice would be great else i'm going to have to get it picked up and taken to a garage

[alun111]

I'd give the spark plugs a clean and maybe resort to cleaning the carbs. Start with spark plugs though - If cleaning doesn't sort it out then purchase and fit some new ones.
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Summer: '00 Honda CB600F Hornet
Winter: '93 Suzuki GSF 400 Bandit VP Variable Valve
Past Bikes: Lifan LF100-5 Lifan LF125-A Honda C70

[el_oso]

check your airbox for crap (and mice)
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Davo]

In addition to the above

I'd be tempted to at least drain the float bowls, then chuck some fresh petrol in as well.

[Paxovasa]

I would chuck some fresh fuel in the tank and maybe some redex

Edit: I do mean do the above after cleaning the plugs or replacing them with new ones
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Cigaro]

I would still suspect the battery even though you said you have "charged it just to make sure".

Could always try jump-starting from a car. Worth doing before you start messing with other stuff.

[phil.fuse]

thanks all...

re the battery - it does start - it just dies after a few mins of running rough then some nasty chugging - and it did bump down the very slight hill i live on (tho getting it back up was a nightmare)...

i've just drained the tank with the plan to stick some new petrol in once i've disposed of the old...

air box - check...
will look at the plugs whilst i've got the tank off.
took a lil while to get it off and turned out the tube was slightly corroded at the top so it split the last 3/4 inch bah...

mention of cleaning the carbs as well - i'm a newb on maintenance - i have a haynes manual but is this sumit i'm likely to screw up if i try it myself?