Odds are the carb has been mal-adjusted in the past...could be an exhaust leak also but 99% of the time it is lean at idle...that can be dirt but not likely...if your idle circuit/pilot jet were plugged it would not want to take off well and would back fire and die when you try to take off...
If you don't have an exhaust leak...take the carb out and look to see if it has ever been opened...open it...clean it...inspect it...find the a/f screw...if it is capped that is actually good thing...if no one has ever opened that is even better...in any event...your idle a/f screw should be at least 2.5 turns out from fully seated with the stock pilot jet (40)...