One point I would like to raise which hasn't had a mention in this thread---a major reason people seem to go away from amals Mk1 concentrics they say, is that they won't stay in sync. Yes, a single carb of any type will cure that, or the FCN Keihins with their integrated linkage. Any other dual carb setup using the original cable setup, or even twin pulls, as these all seem to be , will eventually have the same issue. How can they not? They use the same theaded adjuster type in the top of the carb...if the "sync" issue is fixed by mechanical adjustment, the JS moto setup will need the same amount of attention, will it not? And every time the subject of replacing" unsatisfactory" amals with whatever comes up, posters will say just how brilliant the replacement is : you cannot compare a set of possibly thirty or forty year old, badly worn carbs,most likely with contaminated idle circuit passages, with something brand new. Simply not a valid comparison.
I was leaning towards replacing my 932's, which I had fitted new when I first bought the bike, with a mikuni or something else. But, as I've gained competence in tuning them, learnt a few simple tricks, looked at people having to come up with convoluted fuel systems and fiddly air cleaner setups,replaced an analogue boyer and twin lucas coils with a Tri-spark and CNW coil (which helps a stable idle no end, don't blame the carbs), I've come to terms with them, quite happy. And no, they don't wear out in 10,000 miles, mine have done 12, 000 with no problems, and, if I had to replace them now, it would be with the premier version of the same thing. I like the look of my standard aircleaner with a stainless front plate, don't like pods (been there, done that), the standard fuel line setup bolts up easily and neatly (and includes a fine screen, why do you need an inline filter addition?), and they already have the spigot to attach vacuum gauges. And synchronisation becomes much easier when you don't need to remove the aircleaner to stick something under the slides, and far more accurate, IMO.
To sum it up, if I had someone new to british bikes in general, and commando's in particular, come to me with their new ride, and complain about the stalling, hard starting, etc, I'd probably point them at a Mikuni kit. Then, as their nous grew, and they wanted all thier performance back, they could flog their mikuni kit to the next noob that comes along, and i'd help them fit a new set of amals, which would cost about what the mikuni kit, manifold and all, was worth secondhand. I'm glad my mentor in this didn't encourage me to take the easy route.
TH, ML and fullauto may disagree :mrgreen:
