This is new... Surging

[lucky_1_chris]

I think a lot of the reaction that you formulate ought to relate to the totality of the smell.

Like for instance if the gasoline smells considerably strong and persistent that would be a real concern and need immediate attention.

While on the other hand if the gasoline smell is just occasionally sensed and is wiffy like when you pass a gas station at times, well, then that is a different thing.

I on occasion get a gasoline smell and attribute it to the gas cap and seal which is probably not perfect but there has never been an instance where gasoline has escaped past the cap. So I don't worry about it!

How you approach this dilemma should have input from what you sense is the problem.

If you cannot see any gasoline dripping or leaking, the problem is seemingly, not big time serious, and should not encompass any large mechanical foray.

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I agree. I do smell gas from the fuel cap occasionally, usually on hot days, but this is coming from under the tank. It's not overwhelming, and I haven't seen any liquid gas dripping. After seeing the condition of some of the rubber I'm gonna go ahead and replace it all as a precaution. It's all OE as far as I know... I'll be able see things better with the tank and air box off, and I've got o-rings on the way in case we find any leaks. Hope I won't need them.

[vic]

Recently, I began experiencing many of the symptoms you describe.....surging, idle shooting up at times, smell of gas, and the feeling like something was holding the bike back from fully accelerating.  Mine's a '98 Tourer (California Bike).  I checked every hose and vent cap I could find.  Everything seemed ok until I checked the fuel vent hose running from the gas tank down to my CA emissions cannister. The hose somehow got caught between my RIVCO Centerstand bracket and the bike's crossmember and was squished flat.  I don't know how long the hose had been squished but since I started experiencing the symptoms you describe since mid-summer, I'm assuming that's when the fuel vent hose got smashed.  I replaced the vent hose along the entire run from fuel tank to cannister.

Then I did a carb sync but I couldn't hold a vacuum on the petcock while pinching the #6 hose so I ended up putting a "T" fitting in the #6 vacuum hose and connected the carb sync hose to this "T" fitting on the #6 carb hose when checking it for synchronization.  This seemed to work well and didn't affect the sync readings having that "T" fitting in the #6 vacuum hose.  

After all that, no symptoms of surging, idle revving, or gas smell so far.  I'm still wondering, though, if there was any carbon buildup or other damage because of the fuel tank's vent hose being clogged up for possibly a few months.  Time will tell.