The bike will start and run as long as i give it gas...it won't sit there and idle without dying.

Sounds like you have a float sticking in your carburetor, is this a single carb or a duel carb? , also gas can go stale and your bike will run like **** if it also has been subjected to tank condensation and water in your gas, that also maybe your problem, I would drain the tank and drain the carb or carbs, and start off with fresh gas and would use 89 octane or better, also pickup some StarTron Enzyme gas treatment, it will stabilize your gas for up to 2 years, and remove the ethanol from your gas, that is a bad for your motor, try it you will never go without it. Good luck, Rick.

It sounds like you need a tune-up & you need your timing set.And also you can adjust your idle on your carburetor so it wont die..

try turning the idle up and when you do it give it a little bit of gas

i'd start with removing the carbs and giving them a thorough cleaning as when bikes sit for so long, the carbs begin to get gummy/varnished from the old gas.

check for blocked holes in the pilot jet & main jet and look for "hard & dried up" gas in passages. be careful of the float bowl gasket as to not tear it or you will need a replacement.

I HAD THIS PROBLEM. BIKE WOULD START AND IDLE NO PROBLEM. WOULD GET UP TO SPEED AND DIE. WOULD START AFTER SITTING. BIKE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A PERIOD.

FIX:: REPLACED FUEL FILTER FIXED THE PROBLEM.

LOCATION::: TUCKED UP ABOVE VOLTAGE REGULATER RECTIFIER IN FRONT OF REAR TIRE LOOKING UP.

I am having a similiar problem. bmw r 1100 s will only start with full choke and will die if I cut off choke or give it any throttle. This is my first bike and it has been sitting in a garage for 2 years. I took out the carbs, cleaned them and rebuilt them. I didn't find any residual in the carbs and they were very clean. Today, I was able to get the bike running and took it down the neighborhood but after the bike warms up it idles at 6K! Man... If I can't find any answers from this forum, I will probably drop it off at the motorcycle shop just down the hill from me. Any suggestions anyone? I think I will try to drain the fuel and give it new gas. But still....

Sounds likes a Idle Air Control valve IAC problem.