81 Honda CX500 after carb cleaned, Part 2

Hoping someone can help identify the problem.

[consubandon]

Just from minimal experience with my own CX, I'd suggest check the carb float heights, assuming during your cleaning you've already made certain there's not crud/grit keeping the float needle valves from closing, and that the float needle valve tips are in good shape and their valve seats are clean, as well. She sounds as though there might be excessive fuel pouring into the float bowls, hence the popping and small backfires. As a quick test, you can slide some clear tubing onto each of the bowl drain nipples in turn, open that drain, and loop the tubing upward beside carb to see at what height the fuel flow shuts off. Also, make certain you've got new, clean, correctly-gapped plugs in place as you're doing your testing, just to eliminate any issues, there. Just found a grit wad on the tip of my own right needle valve after a parking knock-over. Was peeing fuel out the overflow intermittently for several days and "running" much like yours. Cheers.