Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods FREAK Installed.

After deciding not to go the way of the 904cc. (Not yet anyway) I decided to get a Freak kit.

Before the Freak I was running 135 mains, 45 pilots, stock needles, all snorkels removed & Staintuned exhausts.

The bike ran great, just not enough power.

Took the bike for a run this morning (Rain has stopped after 18 days) and the pods were a massive improvement over the airbox. The only thing I noticed was that the bike accelerated real hard up to 6000 rpm. then started to run out of steam.

My carby set up is 150 mains, 45 pilots and stock needles and no shims.

Am I right in thinking I will have to increase the main jet size. The only other mains I have are the 160's that came with the kit.

Not wanting to spend $100 on a Dyno run untill I think I am near the correct setting.

I pulled a plug after a hard ride and it was dark grey on the outside and light grey in the middle.

You will probably find the 160 to be too big. I run 48 pilots and 155 mains with the Freak and open pipes.My bike doesn't run out of steam until I slam into the rev limiter.

Hi Ian, Seeing that you have a lot more experience than me I will go with your suggestion.

I am going into town on Thursday, I will get some 155's.

If I do try the 160's what will be the signs that they are to big.

you will lose performance and watch the inside of your pipes, they will soot up if too rich. You also may see some smoke from your exhaust if rich.Best thing to do is get it as close as you can then finish on a dyno.

Thanks Ian, I will let you know how I go.

Hi Frank. I'll be interested to see how you go actually cos we both have staintunes (restrictors out) and now K&N pods. It's funny cos I've been tossing up whether to actually reduce my mains and you're talking about increasing yours.

Of course I've got the Thruxton needles which changes things a fair bit but if you go to the dyno results table you'll notice my numbers aren't that shabby.

My only concern was the air fuel ratio was a tad rich which could be the thruxton needles but I'm not sure. I do know I'm reluctant to change them as they have appeared to really make a big difference to me.

We'll Have to compare notes to see how effective each go.

I've also noticed my fuel economy was just a bit lower and like you mine seemed to run out of puff at higher revs.

Of course this could also be due to more fuel than necessary giving a rich mixture and an imperfect burn.

So actually I was going try 135 mains just for the he*l of it and see what happens. I can't remember whether you have a 790cc model

You see, as per below I've got 42 pilots, thruxton needles and 145 mains. Now I did have a dyno and if and mine wad a tad ruc

Hi Stacka, I wasn't sure whether I was lean or rich untill I pulled a plug. Being from the old school and dynos weren't around all of our tuning in the 60's was done by seat of the pants and plug colour. When I saw that the plug was dark grey on the outside and light grey on the middle I assumed that it must be lean. Many years ago I have seen motors seize that had plugs that were slightly lighter in colour than the one I pulled.

I was going into town on Thursday but I am now going into town tomorrow to see if my local dealer has a pair of 155's.

I have a pair of 160's, but I think they could be a tad to big.

I will keep you in the picture.

If you are thinking of trying 135's let me know if you need the jets as I have a pair that I have just taken out of my bike. I can post them down to you.

By the way I have a 2004 Speedmaster - 790cc.

As an after thought I believe some other makes of bikes used the same carbies as the Bonneville range.

Can anybody tell me which? We have all the main Japanese dealers in town. They might have the jets even if my dealer hasn't.

It is 11pm here and it will save me a search, which I am not much good at.

I always get answers, but never the right one.

Don't forget your elevation above sea level (may) be drastically different. (air density).

Frank, when you are climbing above 6000 rpm, if you back off on the throttle slightly, does the bike seem to accelerate a bit better or not? If it does, you are probably still lean, slows down a bit and you are probably still rich. Nothing and you are right on.

Not perfect but better than nothing.

Don't count on gray being lean with modern fuels. There isn't lead in fuel like there used to be (at least here in the US)and you don't get the same deposits as you used to. Might be closer than you think.

Thanks Greg and Ian. I will give it another ride later today when it stops raining.

How I love this sub-tropical weather.

After doing what you suggested Greg, I came to the conclusion I was running lean.

I put in some 155 mains this morning and went for a 30 Klm. run to see how they performed. After nearly being caught by one highway patrol car and dodging two others I finally got to open her up.

I hit the rev limiter in first, second and third, then decided to back off as hitting it in fourth would have put me at 160 KPH. On a 100 KPH speed limit I didn't think the boys in blue would be very happy.

My conclusion is, the bike has never run so well. No hiccups, no flat spots, just a lot more power than I used to have.

Thanks guys for the help and suggestions.

Anybody want to buy some spare jets.

Sounds like another happy Freaked out customer.