getting bike on the road again - where do I start?

I've had my 82 Magna V45 in the carport for a couple of years and like a fool I didn't start it regularly. Now, of course, it's gonna need some work to get it on the road again. Where do I start? When I did run it last summer (briefly and unsuccessfully) it was burning VERY rich so I'm thinking maybe overhaul the carbs. Input?

I've tinkered in the past (with the help of my Hanes manual and a fair amount of general knowledge) but now have some time on my hands and wouldn't mind trying something a bit more major - and I don't want to shell out the dough to have someone else do it for me.

Thanks!

 

First thing I'd do is get a carb rebuild kit, and soak the carbs and replace
the gaskets in the carbs at least.

I'd also change the oil, check all the rubber lines, inspect the tires, and
check the brake fluid for contamination. If the brake lines look suspect
at all, replace them and change the brake fluid.

This should all be pretty simple, you should be able to get it on the road
in no time since there shouldn't be anything too seriously wrong with it.
Running rich is probably varnish in the the carbs, which isn't too serious.
I'd run some fuel system cleaner or Marvel Mystery oil through the first
couple of tanks of gas.

It wouldn't hurt to run it by a mechanic after you get it running. Some
shops have a spring check-up service where they check the bike for road
worthiness (pull the wheels off, check the bearings, check the
transmission, brakes, ect...).

Good luck.

 

yeah, it seems that I'm gonna have to rebuild the carbs, which is not that much of a problem (I had dual carbs in my Austin Mini and rebuilt and resynced them several times) but it seems that I will have to drop the engine right off the bike to do it. ugh.
First thing I'd do is get a carb rebuild kit, and soak the carbs and replace
the gaskets in the carbs at least.

I'd also change the oil, check all the rubber lines, inspect the tires, and
check the brake fluid for contamination. If the brake lines look suspect
at all, replace them and change the brake fluid.

This should all be pretty simple, you should be able to get it on the road
in no time since there shouldn't be anything too seriously wrong with it.
Running rich is probably varnish in the the carbs, which isn't too serious.
I'd run some fuel system cleaner or Marvel Mystery oil through the first
couple of tanks of gas.

It wouldn't hurt to run it by a mechanic after you get it running. Some
shops have a spring check-up service where they check the bike for road
worthiness (pull the wheels off, check the bearings, check the
transmission, brakes, ect...).

Good luck.