99 XC 500 reeds?

[XCR440]

Ok, last year I dropped the needles a notch, and it kind of cleaned up the mid range, but it is still loading up. Could it be just a bad reed in one of the cylinders? Or both? 5500-7000rpms is the issue, which is where 90% of trail riding is done. I need to order a set ASAP if that's the case, and get this thing cleaned up in the mid range.

Once it cleans itself out, pinned to the bar, runs like a champ. In the 14-18" on unplowed forest roads we got in the past week, it slows down pretty good, but ran 5 miles (Speedometer miles that is) pinned to the bar without as much as a hickup, swishing and swaying like a dream......

Any thoughts on this one again?

[2doo]

Run it for about a mile if u can at that loading up rpm, then without changing throttle position hit the kill switch and check the plugs. If they are wet or black-black, I would drop the needles another notch. This is assuming your compression is where it needs to be. I did that last year and gained bout 3 mpg and with the push water costin so much, its a win win sitcheation.
Just an idea.

[XCR440]

update: I may just go the route of needle drop, though it doesn't seem rightl Mid to upper throttle it loads up bad, and clears up at full throttle. I am going to change it, because it isn't right.