Engine running rough for first 10 minutes or so

I bought an 81 KZ550LTD recently. Bike starts and will idle most times just fine (with a little throttle). Sometimes it will idle briefly and then die. It then takes some grinding of teeth and swearing before it starts again. Once running, if I throttle up, it feels like the engine is bogging down. Does the same thing on the road for about the first 10 minutes of riding. Feels like I am flooding the engine, and it will accelerate and bog, then accelerate and bog, (you can feel the bike lurch forward). After 10-15 minutes, it seems to run fine. Good pickup, nice acceleration. If it sits and cools down a little, it all starts over again. I start the bike and let it warm up with full choke, and have to keep giving it a little throttle to keep it running. I'm not a complete newb mechanically, but I am by no means an expert either.

Any suggestions to try to resolve this problem?

Kawasaki 4 cylinder bikes are terribly cold blooded, at least the 900,1000,1100 bikes I have/had. It takes a good 10 minutes to get up to operating temperature, unless it is above 75 degrees....chris3

My 81 650 takes a little while to warm up and accelerate smooth too - like a couple 3 miles. I start my 1100 on full choke, push it in to first notch in about 10 seconds, throttle at 1500 rpms for about 15-20 seconds then push choke into next notch, pull out the driveway, 3/10 mile to the highway, pull onto the highway and push choke knob in all the way. By the time I get to the gas station a mile away she's smooth as silk through about 3500 rpm. I hold off for another 2 miles before revving higher to really get to normal temp.

Forgot to mention that I recently ran a can of Sea Foam through 3 tanks of gas and things did improve. Still pulling the carbs as soon as I get the rebuild kits though. My experience says check for carb/fuel problems first for rough running. Even add and inline fuel filter.

I have a few of the 550's with the same TK22 carbs that you also have . They are unique to the 80-82 KZ550's and '81 GPz550 . These carbs are definitely fussy during a cold start . They will require a few minutes of warm-up during which you will have to readjust the choke lever (which also lifts the throttle slide). 5 minutes is usually plenty though in normal temps (60-100F). You may need a thorough cleaning of the carbs , ultrasonic works well , as over time you may have accumulated some slight blockage that is causing you to have an extended warm-up . Try running some Seafoam in the gas for a few tanks to see if this helps .

Are you running the stock airbox ?

I have run seafoam through 3 tanks, and it seems to improve the running condition of the bike. My concern now is that the engine will randomly bog down and lose all power. If I give it throttle, it feels like one or more of the cylinders is not running. It bogs down and will eventually kick in resulting in massive acceleration. I have tried to notice when it happens, but it really appears random. Hot or cold, driving 15mph or 75mph. Although I have noticed that once it does this bog and go crap a few times during a ride, it wont do it anymore until I park and then get back on later that day. Sometimes it doesn't do it at all. Carbs were recently cleaned(within last 60 days), I do have an oil leak on the left hand side of the engine, and battery is new - if any of that helps. K&N air filter pods are installed and 4 into 1 exhaust with no baffle. Jets were replaced to compensate for the exhaust and air filters.