New Katana 1100 carbs installed.

[stevec5000]

My new Suzuki 1100 carbs are finally installed and working pretty well, much better than the old ones. I also installed new rubber carb holders which made a huge difference. For photos and step by step installation check out my website, http://www.arizonasteve.netfirms.com/

[chevy45412001]

can tuna carbs

very good steve thanks for that nice web page. Looks good. I have a set of 1200 fj carbs that are very close to what you've done. At least now you've sparked some interest in me. I'll keep you all posted.

[skids]

nice tech mod

Very good offsite tech-tip!

[stevec5000]

I'm not sure XJ1200 carbs will be any improvement. Except for being 2mm larger they are still the same design. If they are from an '84 they are nearly as old as the originals and likely to also be worn out. Yamaha always uses the cheapest carbs available while Suzuki seems more performance oriented and their carbs are a step up. I used the Katana carbs because they are a newer design and looked almost new.

[strom]

Originally posted by stevec5000
I'm not sure XJ1200 carbs will be any improvement. Except for being 2mm larger they are still the same design. If they are from an '84 they are nearly as old as the originals and likely to also be worn out. Yamaha always uses the cheapest carbs available while Suzuki seems more performance oriented and their carbs are a step up. I used the Katana carbs because they are a newer design and looked almost new.

AFAIK the japanese stuff mostly used either keihin or mikuni carbs. Neither of these companies can afford to make "cheap" carbs.
Next, try finding a nice suzuki katana 1100 in a pristine working condition. OK, any suzuki inline-4 up to 1990. I know of only one GSX 750, and even that one has a half of kawasaki parts installed.
Try the same with any yamaha.
And while you're at it.... polish the insides of your steel carb, adapter pipes. And for goodnessake put some K&Ns on.

LP

[stevec5000]

>>AFAIK the japanese stuff mostly used either keihin or mikuni carbs. Neither of these companies can afford to make "cheap" carbs.

Not true. Mikuni does make some pretty good carbs but Yamaha never used any of them because they are more expensive, only the cheapest ones available. Maybe not cheap in price, just quality.
Also Yamaha used Hitachi carbs, even cheaper and crappier, on a lot of their bikes like the XS750 and Seca 650 and 750 models.
Suzuki and Kawasaki have never stooped that low!

[hollywoodxs11sf]

Cheap parts?

If the Yamaha carbs are inferior, why are there so many more XS11s still around than there are Kawa and Suzuki 1100s?
Are the rest of the parts of the bike better than average? There seems to be a lot of Yamahas here in SoCal, but relatively few Kawas and Suzukis.

[stevec5000]

You got it, for the most part the bike is fine but carbs are crap. Weak points are the electrical system and carbs. I can fix the electrical system but haven't had much luck with carbs and have to pass emissions every year so they had to go.

[Dennyz]

The XS carbs where hi-tech for 1978 and XSs that have been kept in running condition do not have carb problems, typically. Although the carbs are a favorite topic on the forum, there are dozens of XS without carb problems for every one that does. And, many of the problems reported where caused by other situation. Like rusty fuel tanks, bad fuel lines, worn out petcocks, and so on. The carb problems that plague some XS riders are not unique to XSs. Honda, Kawi and Zuk riders of our vintage experience the same frustrations.

It is my opinion that although it may take some serious focus on detail and understanding, the stock carbs are still the best setup for a balance between performance, reliability, and economy.

Don’t get me wrong. Fitting newer parts on these old machines is an important part of the XS/XJ experience. This tread is a great example.

[Shuriken]

Great work, Steve. I'd like to see your work posted here on XS11.com for reference.

My beef is that yes, the stock carbs work decent when everything is set up right and none of the parts are worn out. But the problem will be replacing parts. I've never tried to replace jet needles, but I had trouble when I was originally trying to find new OEM diaphragms.

If one can install a new set of carbs and see the same or better performance, maybe that's a good route. I'd love more modern carbs with lots of parts options. But all that custom work is beyond me right now.

Ben

[stevec5000]

I just added some more info to the website.
http://www.arizonasteve.netfirms.com/

[scalded dog]

I must have missed something, "mikuni carbs were never used by Yamaha" I have three xs 11s, every one has mikuni carbs, one of which was a one owner, with 12,000 miles on it when I bought it. it also has mikuni carbs. Later 'Dog

[stevec5000]

Of course Mikunis were used on the more expensive Yamaha models but the cheapest Mikunis, not the better ones that were available at the time.
Even cheaper Hitachis were used on most of the other models. You should start reading whole sentences. Both of my 750 Secas have Hitachis and they are a nightmare.

[snowdog51]

carbs

have about 60,000 miles carbs never rebuilt bike runs good.i just drain the gas out of the carbs each year.
as ever bill

[pggg]

http://www.arizonasteve.netfirms.com/XS1100Carbs/

Just saw steve5000's carb swap links, looks like those katana carbs were a wee bit tricky to install, but he got an end result. Snow, the XS carbs are still perfectly ok, I never had troubles with mine once they're cleaned up and set good. Those modern carbs give more power and are quite smooth and refined when jetted right, here's some pics of my setup.

Those modern ZRX carbs are more compact than the earlier suzuki carbs, they were quite easy to fit by comparison, their spacing did match the XS manifolds and airbox, just had to elongate the airbox bolt holes to slide the airbox forward a few mm's




Rigged a XS choke lever in place of a handlebar lever on the l/h carb.


Tons of room for the fuel taps.