Motorcycles, Snowmobiles, Go-Carts, ATV's and Golf Carts - 1986 Honda INTERCEPTOR 500

Can you help please. I replaced my battery in the fall. I started my bike and everything was fine. I put the gas switch in reserve mode and ran the bike until it stalled in order to drain all of the gas from the carburator(Was this wrong?). I stored it away in my garage for the winter with the tires elevated off the ground. Last night I tried to start it and all I got was the sound of the ignition with the occassional backfire. I removed the gas tank to check the air fiter and to spray gumout into the carburator. I put everything back together and tried to start the bike with the same results. Do you know what the problem could be or where I should check? Could this be the spark plugs? Could this be the choke?

This first thing to do is to make sure the gas is on. I have left it off my self more than one time. Next thing would be to make sure your motor actually getting gas. Next manually squirt fuel in the carburetor. If all that fail get a plug tester, or use the block to test for spark. If it dose fire when you add manually you might need to prime the carb.