Twin Amals or Single Mikuni?

Unclviny · Feb 3, 2013

Personally I would never even consider anything but dual Amal's on a Commando. Do they require a little "fiddling" to get them (and keep them) right?, yes but if you want a "no maintenance vehicle" get a Bus-pass!

The big attraction to British-bikes for me is that they "need me", just putting gas in something/pushing the button and going-away bores me silly!!

Amal Concentrics are disgustingly simple, but properly set-up Amals are a wonderful thing.

It's not Rocket-Science folks!!

Vince

Nortiboy · Feb 3, 2013

worntorn said:
As far as starting goes, I've had the opposite experience with Amals and Mikunis. I have four machines with Amal Mk1 Concentrics and all four are very easy starters, often one kick from cold and almost always one kick hot

+1

batrider · Feb 3, 2013

Like putting a Briggs and Stratton carb on a Ferrari.

mikegray660 · Feb 3, 2013

twin mikunis require special manifolds for a norton - they're easily available from sudco and they are an excellent setup for those wishing to try a twin mik vs single mik or vs amals

concours said:
72westie said:

Why not dual Mikuni's?

Click to expand...

Fat ass? The float bowl width will be close? Anyone know the center-to-center distance of Commando intake ports? I'd had this thought before...

The VM Miks are 3.283" wide at the bowl flange, if the port spacing is 3-1/2" or more, it should be a comfortable fit. Avaialable with left and right idle mixture screws for convenient twin mounting.

petejohno · Feb 3, 2013

As many people have told me, the two best things you can do to make yourself a reliable, sweet-running Commando are put an electronic ignition and a single Mikuni carb on it.

agree 100%

johno

cmessenk · Feb 3, 2013

batrider said:
Like putting a Briggs and Stratton carb on a Ferrari.

Try "fiddling" with your Ferrari's stock carbs in your garage... :roll: I know this is getting old, but I went TM34 flat slide 4.5 years ago and haven't "fiddled" since...not once...kick once and go. BTW, despite my single Mik setup I NEVER see my dual-Amal Norton friends' taillights during weekend blasts...not a boast, just the facts.

JRD · Feb 3, 2013

What "s the speed limit in Florida?
On a twisty road in the Alps, I 'm sure you 'll see a difference , not on a straight highway riding 55mph.

Hobot · Feb 3, 2013

my 2 cents is Miki 34 carb can spank the duals if the rest of bike set up for the flow advantage, otherwise if not trying for best top end then the male pair of rounded sacks down there is more pleasing for smaller 32 grunt down low and as fast as practical for untammed isolastics. If lazy go with the Mike and a UFO kit, if more traditional go with the Amals. About main thing I noticed going back and forth a few time Miki to Amals was had to screw throttle open more on MIki for similar grunt sense in lower gears but the Miki pulled rather better than Amals to top end. My experience is opposite of everyone else's so may not apply to anyone else. Its takes so so much to get a Commando beyond mere innate quaint antique performance then its a dangerous handler once some power potential, so its makes more sense to me just to stick with factory and just enjoy its non modern but oh so pleasing nature.

cmessenk · Feb 3, 2013

JRD said:
What "s the speed limit in Florida?
On a twisty road in the Alps, I 'm sure you 'll see a difference , not on a straight highway riding 55mph.

Jeeze, you're thinking Sammy Hagar back in the 80's, dude. Speed limit on I-75 up to the central Florida twisties is 75 mph...and we're going 10 - 15 mph over that, left lane flashing high-beams at cages crawling at 80 mph. Once in the hills of central FL (yes, there are real hills in Florida), it's WOT with Nortons, Triumphs, Ducs, and Jap boys all trying to out-do each other. Like I said before, its not a matter of dual carb Amal top end performance over Mik TM...it's how big are your cahoonas??

batrider · Feb 3, 2013

Have not "fiddled" with my resleeved Amals in a few years. Had both a single and then dual Miks on my bike years ago. The Amals are the best for overall performance which is what these bikes (750s anyway) are about.

cmessenk · Feb 3, 2013

batrider said:
Have not "fiddled" with my resleeved Amals in a few years. Had both a single and then dual Miks on my bike years ago. The Amals are the best for overall performance which is what these bikes (750s anyway) are about.

No disrespect intended, but gauging by the number of "problem w/ my Amals" threads I've read on this Forum over the past few years, you, Sir, are in the minority w/ respect to no "fiddling".

Further, I would debate the "best for overall performance" claim anytime, but that might just take a matchup b/w a group of us to finally put to rest...hey...come to think of it, that's not a bad idea. :shock:

1up3down · Feb 3, 2013

well, after 40 years of twin amals, single mikunis.....

by far, my twin PWK flat slides are the best for "overall performance" , never going back

thanks Jim Schmidt for making these available and sorting out all the jeting

worntorn · Feb 3, 2013

(750s anyway)
Bump the compression on the 32mm carbed 850 with a skimpy headgasket and you have a bored out and ported 750 with bigger carbs and a revvier bore/stroke ratio, same everything else except fortified in the bottom end.
Sounds sporty and is!

I don't think the original makers of various twin and single carb bikes had it wrong, twin carbs on a parallel twin will give higher performance, that is why they were used on the SS Dommies, various high output Triumphs and BSA twins.
In the case of a Commando, the twin carb setup doesn't seem to be missing anything in the middle either.
But a new single carb is probably a big improvement over knackered twin carbs.

Glen

tpeever · Feb 3, 2013

Unclviny said:
The big attraction to British-bikes for me is that they "need me", just putting gas in something/pushing the button and going-away bores me silly!!

Agreed!! And there are plenty of maintenance requirements on a Commando in addition to farting with carbureters to keep me feeling the love!!

donmeek · Feb 6, 2013

Quite aware that my opinions don't count for much with the Norton gurus, I post this only for the benefit of anyone new to the Norton who is looking for as much info as possible. I have to agree with cmessenk on this one. One person posted that the mik he was testing ran out gas at 4500-5000. Sorry, but that carb is not set up properly. I normally cruise at 4-5k . You shouldn't see any noticable difference until you hit the 6200-7000 range. The mik is a much easier set up to live with on a day to day basis. If going to Bonneville or the drag strip on a daily basis, then stick with the amals. Give Sonny Angel in National City CA a call and ask him what he thinks if in doubt

mikegray660 · Feb 6, 2013

the only thing this thread has proven, like the 16 other pages of single mikuni vs Amal pages if one were to actually use the search function, is there are those that like amals and those that like mikuni's (similar to a spark-plug or "best oil" thread) :shock:

cmessenk · Feb 6, 2013

mikegray660 said:
the only thing this thread has proven, like the 16 other pages of single mikuni vs Amal pages if one were to actually use the search function, is there are those that like amals and those that like mikuni's (similar to a spark-plug or "best oil" thread) :shock:

Quite right, Mike...however you forgot to mention some other conclusions: those with Amals will continue to fettle and those with Miks won't. I might also add that those with single Miks will get more riding time each season....and not stall at red lights...and not have poor idles...and get better gas mileage...and will still keep up...and will spend less $$ on aspirin / advil....and generally be happier.

pete.v · Feb 6, 2013

I like them all and appreciate what each has to offer. There's no wrong way, there's no one way, there's only your way what ever that may be. Single, double, Miks, Amal, flat, round, and pumper. Let's just call it my (our) flavor of the day.

I love my 40mm pumper set up but I just gotta try the new Premiers. I owe it to myself. I love this stuff.

What's next for me? Stay tuned, so to spreak.

1up3down · Feb 6, 2013

I might also add that those with single Miks will get more riding time each season....and not stall at red lights...and not have poor idles...and get better gas mileage...and will still keep up...and will spend less $$ on aspirin / advil....and generally be happier.

and I might add that my dual PWK flatsides give me all the above plus better rip from mid to redline

I ain't going back to amals or single mikuni

bwolfie · Feb 6, 2013

pvisseriii said:
I like them all and appreciate what each has to offer. There's no wrong way, there's no one way, there's only your way what ever that may be. Single, double, Miks, Amal, flat, round, and pumper. Let's just call it my (our) flavor of the day.

I love my 40mm pumper set up but I just gotta try the new Premiers. I owe it to myself. I love this stuff.

What's next for me? Stay tuned, so to spreak.

Have you purchased a Micro squirt and brewed your own EFI yet? Back when I was doing an EFI conversion on my truck,
I was very close to getting a Mega Squirt. But at the time just the ECU was $300, and I got a stock ECU and wiring harness for $50.
I think I might have to start looking back into these.
http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/micr ... p-381.html

Twin Amals or Single Mikuni?

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