i have a 2006 z400 and i love it. i bought mine from a friend who never rode it, it sat probably 6 months before i got it. i couldnt get mine started when i first got it either, check your oil make sure its full. also mine was running like crap as well i had a friend tell me he runs his on reserve all the time, i tried that and it has started and ran perfect ever since. i never drained the gas in it when i got it, i just filled it up with fresh gas and i have went thru several tanks of gas since i got it without another problem. try running with your fuel switch on reserve it worked for me. hope that helps