Well there is many choices and options here, including the JRC/PKW carb which MIGHT suit your needs even better, simpler and less cost.
#1 question is, keep a Monobloc if you wish to appear stock and of the trophy hunter/bike show sort.
#2 If you value easy starts, better fuel economy, slight increase in power then,& just ride the damn thing by all means replace the amal.
**Important note, I despise the concentric amals, but kind of appreciate and like the monoblocs, but on my RIDERS I love me a Mikuni or the flat slide PKW/JRC carbs.
Second part of this, Some pillow biter will whinge endlessly about putting "japanese crap" on your BI, Nonsense.
Mikuni has been buying and using AMAL designs since the 1920s, and the VM carb was one of those. Designed as a logical replacement the bean counters and gin soaked pea brains at Norton-BSA-Triumph REFUSED to use them, so left with a great product and no market it was sold on to Mikuni. The later versions Mk2 Amal share many of the original design elements of the VM carb, and were forced by US import laws, not common sense or logic.**
There is a wealth of info for jetting Mikunis for your application as its no different than any other 650cc 4 stroke twin. I can send you or post a variety of links to them. (perhaps late tonight but certainly by this weekend)
So, heres a few random thoughts that might or might not help.
A) You CAN locate used or other application Mikunis for cheap, but some are for 2 stroke applications and as noted, can add up purchasing correct slide, jets & needles. Not that I have not done so, but I have a huge stash of parts, and access to service parts so no big deal to me. If I see Mikunis at swap meets/Autojumbles or on the net at a good price I snap them up.
B) Its not a choke or start lever, Its a ENRICHENER, totally different setup, and works well,. Occasionally with shit gas they clog but easy fix, use the 10 or 12 mm wrench and remove the brass plunger and squirt some carb cleaner thru and some compressed air and Robert is a close relative.
C) Slides and springs. Me?? I LOVE the heavy chromed brass slides on these and a decent spring, Some use a light weight alloy slide,, IMHO spring for the good Brass one with the plating plus they DONT wear, (I have some with 30 years service and no discernable wear)
D) SUDCO is the distributor here in the US and their manual is excellent and covers the gamut of Mikuni applications, When ordering in Mikuni kits for shop customers I ask and they include on for free,,, but its not a LOT of money for the excellent info and wealth of knowledge.
See:
http://www.sudco.com/mikuni_manual.htmlSome of the info is online, and perhaps you can see what you need by looking,
See:
http://www.sudco.com/jetting_assistance.htmlE) No offence to SRM, but usually their prices tend to be rather high. There is a variety of sellers on FeeBay who offer kits at much more reasonable numbers. Some are so cheap the kits are often at or below my wholesale costs. "Sportingforless" was a seller who used to rule that market, dont know if they still do.
I only order kits anymore as a favor as I dont make anything on them.
F) I agree about the angle fitting for the cables for the slide.. On many bikes its a wear point or can cause sticking of the slide when the cable cocks,, On some bikes I use a spiral wrap and sealed in shrink tube to keep the cable run clean.
G) The Yamaha XS twin crowd are HUGE consumers of these kits because the CV carbs stock are crap and expensive.. so the Mikuni and JRC/PKW carbs are big sellers to them, MikesXS is kind of the Mecca for Yammie guys. For some ideas
See:
https://www.mikesxs.net/fuel-system/mikuni-aftermarket-vm-roundslide-carbs-and-parts.htmlSee:
https://www.mikesxs.net/fuel-system/xs-pwk-performance-carbs-and-parts.htmlH) The Mikuni roundslide VM carbs are awesome, but some feel a bit dated as some of the new versions with the flat slides are better, I have not done side by side testing, but it would appear there might be some validity to it. In general the VM satisfies everything I need, But I will be looking into the newer versions
TM? Flat slides with the accy pumps, I hear great things. I have a version of one of these going on my Buell this spring.
**BUT** Here is the thing, The Monobloc is dead nuts simple and easy. Most BI owners want just that and dont need anything more. So, thats why my friend Bill started making the PKW/JRC carbs to suit that market. The Mikunis VM roundslide is a very adjustable-tuneable and flexible instrument vastly improved and superior to those marzak pot metal door stops that came on our bikes. However I liken them to Holley 4 barrel. For the guy who wants to dial in perfectly and every adjustment possible they are great. But not everyone wants that level of sophistication.
I) Mikuni typically runs opposite other carbs in jet and slide numbers, If an amal goes a bigger number thats richer. Mikuni means its more air, thus leaner. People get sideways with that all the time.
