1985 Honda XL350R. Stock engine, stock air filter, air intake snorkel pulled and only performance is a super trapp muffler. The 85 XL has a dual carb, dual intake single cylinder 350cc engine.

I believe I am currently running rich. The bike runs decently, low end is a little weak, but that could be normal 4 stroke eng, but my super trapp muffler disk and the whole end has a moderate amount of soot on it. Sometimes I have some idle issues and some sluggish accel issues from low throttle opening...but other than those two issues, the bike does run good. Starts good when cold...but it is hard to start when hot. 3-5 kicks is not uncommon before it fires, sometimes more.

My valves are in spec, clean air filter, gaped plug, fresh fuel.
Bike currently has a 112 main and 42 slow in the primary carb, and a 110 main in the secondary carb. (secondary carb has no slow jet, main only.) The tuning instructions in my jet kit are to run a 120 main in primary and 115 in secondary. They are also suggesting I raise the needle.

By going to a larger main, and by raising the needle won't it cause the eng to run richer? I'd rather run slightly rich than lean. but to rich isn't good either..

Its a pain to strip the bike, pull the carbs out, make changes, re assemble, over and over again....hopefully, with some learned input, I can get it right in one or two attempts.

How about the ignition? Have you just inspected your plug? Having a dual carb is not so easy to tune.