Sportster Backfires Thru Carb

My (totally) stock 2001 XLH 1200 backfires through the carb repeatedly when
cold. Putting a slight load on it, like starting to release the clutch, is
what does it. It does it frequently when it is cold, 5-10 times in the
first minute, with the choke all of the way out. Continues to do it with
the chock half way in, and then with it all of the way in until it gets hot.
After it is hot, it still does it from time to time, like once every couple
of minutes. Even when I have been riding it for an hour, it still will do
it infrequently.

The bike has only 3500 miles on it. Otherwise it runs very strong.

Can anyone help?

Sounds like it's running lean. Could be a leaking
manifold. Or it could just be that your bike is extra
lean to begin with from the factory. ANy way you look
at it, you may want to get the carb jetted, get the
Air Cleaner, and throw a set of pipes on the bike.

In other words, do the stage one mods, and you may
be able to cure it.

Stretch

"Doug Mellman" wrote in message

 > My (totally) stock 2001 XLH 1200 backfires through the carb repeatedly
when
 > cold. Putting a slight load on it, like starting to release the clutch,
is
 > what does it. It does it frequently when it is cold, 5-10 times in the
 > first minute, with the choke all of the way out. Continues to do it with
 > the chock half way in, and then with it all of the way in until it gets
hot.
 > After it is hot, it still does it from time to time, like once every
couple
 > of minutes. Even when I have been riding it for an hour, it still will do
 > it infrequently.
 >
 > The bike has only 3500 miles on it. Otherwise it runs very strong.
 >
 > Can anyone help?
 >
 >