82 KZ1000 Fuel Mileage

I'm am getting 30mpg city and 35mpg highway (65 mph) riding my stock 1982 KZ1000 LTD with stock pipes and K&N pod air filters.

Carbs are stock except for going up one size on the pilots to 20 from 17.5. I shimmed the needles with a very small washer that fit inside the carb slide. The needle and clip seat firmly down in the bottom of the slide. Needle screws are out 2 turns.

The bike is fairly cold-natured (I live in Florida) and takes a fair amount of choke to get it started and warm up. It needs full choke to start and I cut to half choke (the detent on the choke actuator) after 15 seconds and it idles this way for 30 seconds before I can ride it. It's still cold natured for the first 2 minutes or so.

I was thinking of going up one size on the pilots and taking out the shims. I'd appreciate any and all suggestions on gas mileage and tuning on this bike.

David

Personally I think it's an odd combination to have pods with stock exhaust. I did it 25 years ago and it never ran quite right. Once I put on my Kerker and jetted it, it ran great. I would think you need to go up on your main jets also. The exhaust is not getting out any faster but you are adding a lot more air? Ever thought about putting a 4/1 pipe on that bad boy?

I thought of it quite a lot and know it would run great! I had one on a 1980 KZ1000 LTD and it was a blast to ride and got mid 30's to 40 mpg on fuel.

Kerker's are so

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expensive now I was looking at the MAC's for $249 to $299 in chrome. they are the canister type versus the megaphone. Still, if I had a stock air box it would work also.