I had my bike fully serviced two years ago but didn't ride it since and it sat covered but outside. I changed the battery today and tried to fire it up. After pulling the choke, I pushing start and the engine turned but no full start so I turned the throttle a bit but the engine still just turned over and over. I tried this for maybe 10 seconds and when I stopped, I realized gas was spilling/dripping rapidly from somewhere under my tank and onto the ground. Probably lost a few cups of gas, but it stopped eventually. It didn't help that it was getting dark outside so I couldn't tell where the leak originated and I know next to nothing about this stuff so I'm already about to just send it to a shop but if it isn't a big deal, I'd like to try and fix it myself.
any idea why this would happen?
thanks!

 

It's easy to loosen the tank and lift it up a little to see if one the gas lines at the rear of the tank has popped off the petcock. Two bolts at the front of the tank and one bolt crossways at the back.

 

Thanks John O, I'll start there.

 

Solid advice. Try to get the tank propped up a bit and if you can, take some pics and share. We might be able to help if we can see how the hoses are attached.

 

Before I pulled the tank, I tried to starting the bike again, this time with less throttle. (I thought maybe too much throttle and pulling the choke open flooded the carb?) The engine turned like before but no gas leak this time. The engine would turn fast at first but slow gradually until nothing. I waited a few minutes then tried again but same thing. Then I waited an hour but got the same result.
The gas leak seems to no longer be a problem but now I'm wondering why it won't start completely.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and thank you to everyone who's responded.

 

Until nothing... your battery is going dead?