Question...

My KZ1100A2 is now up and running after installing new rings and lapping the valves, along with seals and gaskets. However, the exhaust pipes are turning a straw color, possible lean mixture? The carbs on this bike have run flawlessly for 15 years on one of my other bikes and the last 2000 miles on this bike. I have the pilot jets screwed out two turns. The bike has stock air cleaner and exhaust. The pilot screws were open three turns before I did the top end job. I imagine the increased vaccuum is causing me a problem here. Suggestions? Thank you...chris

How does it run?

The spark plugs should tell you if it's running lean.

BTW, chrome pipes turning gold and then blue is pretty much standard unless they are double walled pipes, even with the right mix. Mine are royal blue by now.

Thanks....this bike has 41000 miles on it and the stock pipes never turned color before. Now that you mention it, my Z1 did turn a light straw color on the stock pipes. Geeezzz, that was a long time ago. Two of the cylinders rings had lost tension and compression was pretty low. Plugs look pretty good so far. I have not had it on the highway yet, only 200 miles on the ring job. The bike runs better each day.....chris

Answered my own question. 2 turns out was too lean. I set the pilots at 1.5, like the book says, and it purrs like a well fed cat. No change in pipe color either. With the low compression, it needed to be leaner to run halfway decient but now with the new rings, it has to be set correctly....chris