I recommend turning off the fuel and draining the bowl if something is going to be sitting for over 6 months or so. This is were most problems occur (in the carb), both from evaporation leaving behind "gunk" and from corrosion.
For equipment where this isn't possible, siphon/pour out as much fuel as possible and let it run dry. O-rings and vi-ton valves don't dry out and today's gasket materials are better able to withstand such.
You may have some sticking issues from evaporation but this usually fixes itself by allowing time for fuel to free things up or tapping on the side of the bowl. This is a whole lot easier than disassembling the carburetor and removing the gunk/corrosion.
Btw, I have a XL250 too. Needs work though (wrecked) lol I also have a Shadow 1100 and like most Hondas, needs a heavy application of choke but NOT TOO much. Grrr.... The Harley requires LOTS of choke and only push it in after you get about a mile down the road.
People’s widely varying experiences and recommendations with fuel storage really show that anything can happen at any time and YMMV.
Yes, stuck floats happen all the time (usually rich and won’t shut off), but generally free themselves quickly.
I guess for any one person, if what you’ve been doing works, keep doing it (as long as the gasoline formulation doesn’t change, etc. LOL).
The XL250 has only 1,600 miles and is like brand new. Going to list it on eBay Motors soon. Did do fairly well listing an equally nice Hawk GT NT650 a few months ago. Sold it to a rich Alaskan lawyer with 30+ bikes who bought it on a trip down.
That's how you get that beautiful Blap, blap, blap................Blapblapblapblap, blat, blap, blap, blap sound, LOL!