I wonder how much of this is down to the newer bikes having to meet stringent emission laws? What's the betting it could be 'cured' very easily were the factory able to enrich the mixture without falling foul of the rules. I've a 888 with twin injectors/high-compression/high-lift etc., and I don't have to deal with these 'issues'. Is it mere coincedence that the 888 was built in an era when 'combustion pollution' wasn't such an issue?