Does anyone know of alternatives to the stock carbs? I have several '99 EX bikes and am sick and tired of stripping/rebuilding the carbs on them. Seems to me they are incredibly fussy re setup and therefore very prone to developing faults. It seems to have got worse in the last few years with modern fuel containing a lot of ethanol.
Anyway, aparently most of the aircooled Suzukis and Kawasakis of this era had the same intake spacing, so I am looking for alternative options. Used to have a '81 Katana 1100 with smoothbore Mikuni slides. (Two of those most likely would've fitted.) Anyhoo, any information/advice most welcome!
Check out MikuniOz (https://mikunioz.com/?v=13b249c5dfa9)
For street-able carbs you need to have the same/correct slide cut-away, as it's critical for part-throttle
where you spend most of your time. That's why the Mikuni VM33 smoothbores had different set-ups for different bikes--it was more than just spacing.(I had the Honda A4 set)
I had EFI working for a bit, you can find the thread; but I bailed over pump issues. I would need to punch a hole in the tank for a return line, in order to use a more reliable, conventional pump and I've already got one bike that I've modded past the point of saleability so I'm holding off for now :D
Thanks. Will check out MikuniOz and the EFI thread. Jeez, I would dearly love if EFI was possible for these bikes. I currently have three GS500Es, all with carb issues. They all have developed issues with the pilot circuit. I am 58, had bikes for more than 40 years, and never had so much hassle with carburettors in my life. I think that the Mikunis fitted to the GS500 are a real PIA. Perhaps it's partially the modern fuel, but I am so sick of stripping them now. I primarily use them in the city through the winter as I have a couple of bigger bikes for summer touring. I would dearly love to fit EFI as I am kinda done messing around with these things!
Anyhoo, thanks for your help. 👍🏼
No problem, the EFI is do-able, but tricky to tune. When I pulled the EFI off, I left the computer and sensors hooked up and did a full range data-capture of my low-mile carbed bike running through its paces to about 9000rpm. This info can be fed back though software as an AFR target table, and should make EFI tuning a comparative breeze. I should actually have done this before proceeding to throttle-bodies.
Good condition standard carbs should be faultless. Has someone messed with your carbs?
No. Both bikes with current idle cylinder drop have stock carbs. Unmollested and ran fine. Ethanol content in the modern fuel appears to be causing problems. Happening as I sometimes leave the bike for several weeks and then they drop a cylinder. Giving up for now as I have other bikes. Thanks for the help tho... 👍🏼