My brother has a 2003 Road King with a few mods done to it. Don't know them off hand. He is asking what carb would be a better choice, a 42mm Mikuni or the S&S Super E.? Any opinions or experiences with either will be passed along to him. Thanks in advance.

 

I have the HSR42 on my 95 Electra Glide. It's a very good carb, but not the easiest to dial in the right jets, etc. Requires some trial and error if you're tuning it yourself. There is some good documentation and I've heard Mikuni support is very good, although not a lot of contact info at their websites. There are phone numbers floating around this and other forums, but I've never contacted them. No experience with the S&S.

 

I had a s&s super e my 1989 FLHS easy to dial in and nothing like super e really. The newer S&S carburetors have a Third Circuit, An air bleed that is adjustable that makes it an even better carburetor.

 

neither of his choices will self compensate for changes in elevation...tune for sea level and go to 4000' and you have a foul-mannered slug.

the stock keihin CV carb does self-compensate for changes in elevation and is easily tuned and modded...and cheap!

go to nightrider.com
biketech
cv carb

1 section on modding, 1 on tuning


my Pal with the HSR45 and $20,000 110HP twin cam tuned for 1400', couldn't stay close to my stage 1 ( tuned) 80" evo at 7000'




Mike

 

Mukuni 42mm all the way mine runs.likes it's efi

 

Another vote for the CV carb. Hard to beat.

Head

 

Mikuni.

Just bolt it on and run with it...

 

I have a 52mm Cv on both my 99 flt and the 2002 dyna as well my old Evo had a 42 cv, set them and go.

 

Mikuni Flat Silde. Easiest carb to tune.

Stock carb went in a box with original exhaust air filter and cams.

 

As we've seen, all the popular brands have their champions! It would be much more helpful for your brother to come on here himself, so we can learn more about his bike and get more info. As it is there are at least three choices and a stock c/v carb is capable of delivering around 100HP, so he shouldn't be having any problems with using one. If he is, then he will probably have problems with whatever he puts on it!