Just bought a 1994 Shadow 1100.Bike was sitting for a while Got it running but wont idle,and Back fires .Would this be a carb.problem or something else?

Failure to idle (or even start/ run) without the choke is indicative of dirty carb(s), partially clogged slow jet. Leaving a bike to sit with un-stabilized fuel is inviting problems, ethanol is the culprit.

On the left side, between cylinders (top level) on the left side of the carb is a black button, turn it in or out to adjust idle, bike must be running.

Hi, I can send you a Service Manual over your email.
Any how, you will have to take off the engine if you want to check timing and set it right.
But, are you sure the timing is off, maybe you just need to sync the carbs. When I change the pipes, there was a lot of backfire and I had to change the jets and sync the carbs.

Clean the carbs, check the 2 rubber membranes, clean jets and air passages with thin wire and SYNC the carbs - with this, you will give the engine cylinders the same amount of fuel/air and the bike will run smoother.

clean the carbs. If you change the exhoust, - sync the carbs, if you cant sync them, change the jets

bike is 10yrs--carbs are varnished and dirty-clean the high speed jets-u need a clymer manual

Your carbs are dirty and need to be cleaned. A tank of bad gas or old gas can gel up the jets. You buy gas, drive home, and when you get there the bike stops idling. Light gelling can be fixed by draining the carbs (screw on bottom of bowl), pulling the fuel line off the tank, and squirting some motorcycle carburetor cleaner down the fuel line. Plug the fuel line back in turn on the gas and start up the bike. If that doesn't work, using the same procedure buy some Chevron Techron fuels system cleaner, pour directly into the carbs and let sit over night (also drain tank and heavily treat one gallon of gas and put in tank) Fire up bike and let run ,idle, slow drive for 5 to ten minutes. This will usually get cycle idling without disassembling carbs. If it still wont idle you will have to take off the carbs, disassemble and clean blowing through the jets and jet passageways.

Check and see if it is running rich by pulling the plugs and see if they are black. If they are than you have carb problems or timing issue's.

your idle jet's is blocked

read my tip post on cleaning carbs.

edbiggs