I have a 1999 FLSTC with the carbed EVO engine. It's a bit on the cold blooded side. On a cold start, it will fire up on the 2nd or 3rd try usually, but the last 2 days, the first firing of the day will have it crank 2 or 3 times, and then all of a sudden it makes a screeching noise like how you crank a car when the engine is already on. Subsequent cranks will fire the bike up no problems.

The other thing is that while it idles when cold, it will run strong for a while on the stand, then start slowing down as the spring pressure returns the choke, then it dies. Then it takes forever to start again. Usually requiring a few on/off cycles with the switch, then priming, then cranking, then crank again with partial throttle, then it starts and idles so low you have to hold the throttle open partially to keep it idling. Applying the choke will kill the engine and choke doesn't stay on either, it's like the choke knows the engine is warm or something.

Anyway, the bike has 14,500 miles on it. Fresh gas. Does it sound about right for an 11 year old carbureted bike?