Bugger.
So today I pulled the carbies off, cleaned the bowls, cleaned the slow jets and got it all back together by lunchtime.
Started the bike, adjusted the idle and got it sitting there just purring away.
Then it died.
And then it would not start unless it had full throttle and was roaring - any less and it just dies.
So - I will check fuel flow (again) even though both petcock lines were running freely when I drained the tank.
I will pull the plugs and pop in new ones - other than that I think it is time to send it off to the professionals.