gold is from idling too long with the choke on. the oem exhaust is double wall, so to cause discoloration is not easy except with abuse.
"really u have nothing to do, except ride it after using all of the correct fluids and maybe a new OEM air filter only. only use regular gasoline. check your plugs, maybe change them out. then ride 2-3k miles keeping tabs on mpg 33-37, normal range on avg."
I can't say what the PO did as to idle, don't know about air filter, but I run only regular, plugs were supposedly changed at 45,000mi. If I recall, my mileage is a little less--maybe 30-35.
"Duz it idle on It's own when fully warmed up? When warmed up and go to throttle W F O duz it miss? In 2nd or 3d gear stay W F O til you hit the chip. Did it miss while held W F O? Has the air filter ever been changed to your knowledge? How long did it sit before you got her? Others WILL chime in but we are in fact-Curious!" -Vaquero (aka 98valk & CA)
Idles ok except has a "lope" it DOES run GREAT WFO! Don't know about the a.f. or how long it sat (but in talking to the PO it MIGHT have sat a year). I have two other "big bikes", a DL1000 and a KTM 990 Adventure and considering this is 300+ lbs more weight, I have to say I'm impressed!
"much better modern fuel additives (using PEA technology) and lower cost, than sf avail today, to keep the carbs and intake valves clean. sf uses pale oil a low temp oil which gums up the back of the intake valves."-Falconbrother
OK, so you guys are saying I don't need to re-build the carbs? I want to clean the pipes and shine them up but would like to be sure the discoloration doesn't come back first. I looked at a pic which, on the starbord side, the fore and aft pipes look gold and the center one is blue. (any ideas why?) See pic
I DID run a bottle of the Cheveron stuff (Techron)?? BTW, I just bought another Tourer about 3 weeks ago. It too runs great but the pipes are pretty. OEM except was told the piggys were cut and has "3 into 3 tips".
