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My bike is a 1975 xs500b with keihin cv32 carbs. I started a build thread a while back but never kept it updated. Sorry! anyways, I can't get my bike to start. It has spark, The carbs are clean, and It turns over with good compression. Some modifications I made to the bike that may be causing this starting issue are I'm now using small k&n style cone filters, I'm running new meganphobe style exhausts and where it gets scary is I hacked the stuff out of the wiring harness I didn't need anymore.
Sometimes the bike will start run for about three seconds then turn off. That's the best I've gotten so far. Even with the modifications I made I would still expect the bike to fire without changing the jets to a bigger size. This is starting to become very frustrating and I'm getting tempted to dish out a truckload of money to a shop.
If anyone has any suggestions or can point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. Also, let me know if I've left out any important information.
I would imagine that you would need to up the jetting with the pods and more open exhaust. Are you sure the carbs are getting fuel? Is everything set correctly in the carbs?
Everything should be set right in the carbs and it is getting fuel. I'm going to try some new plugs just to see if it helps. I need to pick up some new jets. I have a feeling those will go a long way.
Does the bike's ignition system run on a points breaker system? You may need to adjust the points; as it sounds like it could be a timing issue.
95% of the problems are usually carb issues though...
-Slice
First thanks for all the replies. I doubled checked for spark and the right side has strong spark. The right side has a very weak spark. And it actually doesn't even spark sometimes while cranking it over. I'm ordering new main jets on Monday so I hope once I diagnose the spark issue and new main jets I'll have a running bike.
I actually don't know squat about the XS's. But if you have a single point on the point plate, then it wouldn't matter. If you have 2 points, then it does matter.
AFAIK, the XS has a single set of points and a dual tower coil, so it's to be expected that both sides would spark almost the same. That assumes that the plugs are new and clean and plug caps are good and HT leads are perfect. Buy a pair of plugs and plug caps and trim 1/4" off the end of the plug wires. Then test for sparks on both sides again.
If teh battery is not new, at least make sure it is fully charged and that the connections are clean.
Firing up and dying sounds like a fuel issue though. Those CV carbs don't respond well to exhaust and filter changes, so i'd start with pilot jets one or two sizes larger just to see what happens - or at least adjust the slow speed mixture screws to a richer setting
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anyways, I can't get my bike to start. It has spark, The carbs are clean, and It turns over with good compression. Some modifications I made to the bike that may be causing this starting issue are I'm now using small k&n style cone filters, I'm running new meganphobe style exhausts and where it gets scary is I hacked the stuff out of the wiring harness I didn't need anymore. 
