99 750 starts on choke, then dies - DEAD DUC, PLEASE HELP!

[MostroNYC]

So I bought  this bike.

It had sat in all weather for the better part of the year after being parked with STABIL in the tank. After getting her home, I topped off the oil and changed the plugs and batt, she started right up with a little squirt of ether and idled fine.

I did not have plates, so I couldn't take her out and had to leave town for a few weeks. I got my plates today and, after pulling and replacing the throttle twist grip to lube the throttle cable (could this have messed something up?), started her on choke with another little squirt, getting ready to take her out for a fresh tank o' gas.

She ran on choke for a 10 seconds or so and then sputtered and died. Would start back up, but only run for a few seconds and die. Thinking it was a fuel flow issue, I replaced the filter, but the problem has not abated. I got a clear filter to verify that gas was getting into the filter (the gas did not have any visible crud in it).

FACTS:

It DID idle fine a few weeks ago.

The gas IS old, and probably not great - however, draining it and disposing are not easy to do in NYC (I don't have a car), so because it was idling ok before, I wanted to just dilute the old stuff and burn it off.

Plugs are new.

Air filter is crap (want to go to pods after getting her up and running, so I haven't replaced the crap one).

Battery is low (lots of start then sputters), but strong. I really don't have any way of charging it short of pulling it and taking to a shop. As long as it turns over, I wouldn't think this should matter.

Ideas, guys? I DO NOT want to drop this on a shop, I cannot afford the probable $1000 that a NYC moto shop charges for carb clean.

I have basic hand tools and have experience (from before moving to the city) with doing most basic moto mechanical stuff, but not a lot of experience inside carbs.

Thanks in advance.

(If there are any desmo geniuses in the area who can help, I'd be glad to buy you a beer!)

[Speeddog]

Probably has plugged up idle jets, so a carb cleanout would be in order.
Replace the air filter as well.

Perhaps the fuel filter is plugged or gummed up.

[MostroNYC]

It's running a brand new fuel filter as of yesterday, with no luck.... It also will not stay lit with throttle, so I'm wondering if the idle jet is the only problem. I really don't want to have to pull off the carbs. (Here in the city, doing any work means doing it on the street in the cold, I can't really bring anything gassy into my apartment.

Probably has plugged up idle jets, so a carb cleanout would be in order.
Replace the air filter as well.

Perhaps the fuel filter is plugged or gummed up.

[Speeddog]

Do you know someone with a garage or shop space you could borrow?

[Speeddog]

Perhaps someone in your local group would be willing to help out:

NYMMC

[krista]

Probably has plugged up idle jets, so a carb cleanout would be in order.

+1

The pilot jets are likely clogged. They're a mo-fo to clean and there is an industry tool just for that. A fold out set of carb jet wires. Lets you poke out the gunk from the smallest jets.

Chris