Having trouble starting my 1996 bike. Not used since last November

typically that would be gummed up carbs from old gas sitting. Your pilot jet and choke pickup tube are probably clogged. Best I can say from in internet diagnosis. The thing to check would be to make sure fuel is getting to the carbs. If fuel is getting to the carbs, then carb removal and cleaning is probably required. Sometimes mechanic in a can like seafoam will get it "running" again but she probably won't run her best without a proper cleaning.

 

There is a digital copy available for download (I don't have the link). The manual would make it look more complicated than just following the thread provided above. Even if you got it to "hold on", that doesn't mean she'd even be running on all 4 cylinders.

Like I said, step 1 is to make sure you are getting fuel to the carbs. If the carbs are getting fuel, you're certainly welcome to throwing some seafoam in there, let it set, and try again.

Being extra thorough on your troubleshooting, you'd check for spark on all four cylinders before going thru the work to remove carbs.

A sparks problem is unlikely but strange stuff does happen on occasion and not having a cylinder or two firing "could" cause the same symptom. Pulling carbs isn't my favorite thing to do so I'd probably be extra sure that's where the problem was before diving in head first.

If I was a betting man, I'd say you have gummy carbs and even if you got it to run by running some mechanic in a can thru it, you won't be happy with the performance for long without doing a thorough carburetor cleaning.

 

good call dizzy. another simple thing to try before getting carried away and tearing crap apart.