Goodevening (over here at least),

I've px'ed an 1987 883 4-speed that's running dragpipes.

Bike starts and runs fairly well on the original carb considering dragpipes are **** but I'm nevertheless curious if there's any point to switching carbs on a bike like this?

Not sure what would work on a Sportster, S&S Super E or....???

Not looking to get rid of the pipes as this bike is a looker and not bothered about performance that much either but if there's a worthwhile gain from just a carb I might do it.

'ta!

 

When new that bike will have had a Bendix IIRC. The later Keihin diaphragm carbs are considered much better, so that is one possibility to consider, available secondhand on Ebay and elsewhere. An alternative would indeed be an S&S E, or Mikuni.

 

I've replaced the Keihin with a Mikuni on my '89. The improvement is very immediate!!!!
I've heard the Mikuni referred to as "bolt on power."
Best of luck with whatever you choose mate.

TD

 

S&S Super E gets my vote and good to 100 cubic inches. Not that you would need for a few years but once you get the right jetting for your build, they are so simple they can be completely disassembled with a flat blade screwdriver.

Mikuni HSR is a Constant velocity (CV) carb and the 42 or 45 might be a good replacement. Never purchased 1 but several friends have over the years and they seem to be a good alternative.

 

Thank you gents!

The Keihin sounds good (as in: cheap and an improvement), any idea what type/mm I should look for?

As for the HSR: overkill on this cheap and cheerfull barhopper and NOT a CV carb!

 

"I'm nevertheless curious if there's any point to switching carbs on a bike like this?"

You asked, and I replied. I couldn't see anything specific about cv carbs.

TD

 

Just get a standard Keihin CV40 with the accelerator pump (1990 and later). Should be an easy plug and play install.

EDIT: Need a new manifold to fit CV40 to 1987.

John

 

?

My reply was with regards to someone stating that the HSR is a CV carb, that's all

Thanks for the Keihin advice, will go look for one! Will it fit on the original manifold or does that need changing as well?

 

Ok mate, not an issue.
The main reason that I swapped the Keihin for the Mikuni, was down to it getting iced up in the cold weather. I'm not sure if you get the same cold that we do in the UK.
Where the Keihin sticks out between the cylinders, it opens itself to the extreme weather conditions. In this case, the very cold air makes the fuel ice up in the carb body. There are various additives that can be added to the tank to cure it, but none that made the bike run to my satisfaction.
The Mikuni sits in further so the cold air is not an issue for it, AND it's a better carb anyway.

TD

 

TD, a fellow Keihin owner here, for many years. I never had any icing problems on any of my Harleys, including the previous Bendix, so I'm intrigued that you seem to have. Were you modifying yours a lot?