You dont have to ride it just sit there with it running, I would definetly try all of the things listed above, and I would do it in the order of cheapest fix to the ones that are going to cost you. Sounds like fuel not getting to the carb, and I would bet on the tank vent or the fuel filter on the bottom of the petcock, you have cleaned that out havent you? I had a honda that had a rusty tank and I had to clean that out every time I rode, sounds like the very same thing.
Barry
There are no stupid questions, but there are alot of stupid people out there that ask questions.
None of us are capable of screwing things up as bad as a group of us.
"NON SIBI, SED OMNIBUS"