Let me try to answer all the questions at once:
Sheldon,
No offense taken, I know exactly what you mean.
I did have Bill's HSR42s on the bike for about 4 months. yes, they are an outstanding product and superior to the 36mm flat sides due to the extra braces and stuff Bill has designed, however...I do not want to say anything bad about Bill or any or his products - but the 42s, when they first came out I got them, were flooding the cylinders and causing backfiring on WOT. I disabled the accel. pumps, jetted as low as jets were presently available, leanest needle (97s I believe they were) ans still had way too much gas. I tried different pipes per Bills direction but still too much gas. After many tries Bill told me to send them back for a refund which I did. I also knew two other guys that bought them the same time I got mine and to this day they are still too rich, even after the big bore. But I know hear there are new smaller jets available to jet them down even more, right into the correct range I am told.
Now, the newer 36mm carbs are a different animal as well. They do not have the accellerator pumps. They also have several hundred variations o main jets, needles, and pilot lets easily available at every bike shop I have spoken with.
But the big reason was price. I am one cheap, errr, thrifty guy. The 36s each cost me about $135 a few months ago (price has risen a little since then). They have a two into one throttle system where Bills have a custom bracket with dual throttle cables, similar to the stock mechanism, but way different then the 36ers. The 36s are a bit harder to disassemble and jet compared to the 42s as well. But I figure for the price, I can take a risk with them.
I just felt that the $1600 I paid for the polished 42s and having to jet them way down was a little overkill and not the best HP per dollar return, as compared to say the Wiseco kit which is the best money spent so far.
I just finished hanging out with the yute, Matt, and we discussed getting my act together and finishing the carbs this next week. So I will finally try to get the cable cut to the right length and shove the suckers on. I just need to do a little research and talk with Ed some more to try and get the jetting close on the initial install.
As for anyone that is thinking of buying bill's carbs, i say go for them if you have a big bore and the cash. They really are a sweet product and i would use them before I would consider teh FCR39s for sure. Besides, you can buy a set of three FCR39s for the Triumph triples for about $600 from Sudco, a third of what BC is sellinf them for. Make up your own brace and away you go, stalling at the stoplights when you gas them though. I have heard this is the biggest drawback to the FCRs. They are also way too rich in the idle area and take some getting used to.
edit: Oh, and Ed is still a little dot in my mirrors...
