I've found the best way tune a carb is to buy a set of ten main and ten idle jets, and go up or down by two to five thousandths. The other way is to use drill bits to slowly increase your jet size. Sometimes going from (for example) a 117 to a 120 is enough to put it too rich. It's a balancing process between the idle and the main jet. You get one where you think it's good, then adjust the other until it's just right; then adjust your air fuel mixture and get your idle screw set. Often after you get your main somewhere good, then change your idle, you'll realize your main needs more work. Keep track of each move, and eventually it will work out. Plus there's the needle which can be leaned or richened.
You can definitely increase top speed on a Gy6, and yes RPMs are important, but it's all about getting these engines to breathe.
You need only to jet and adjust to tune a carb. Any popping indicates you're running too lean, or if you go wide open and it feels like a complete loss of power. Avoid running lean at all costs. Hesitations in acceleration indicates it being too rich.