Well, I decided I'd had enough of the Kinlon's unreliable and unstable running at idle and low speed. From a seat of the pants feeling it really felt as though the stock CV carb was jetted very lean right across the rev range. After some web research I bit the bullet and bought an 'OKO' flatslide carb. Main differences are the OEM is a 28mm, and the flatslide is 26mm but it still fitted the original rubber inlet OK, just meant tightening the clamp a little further.

Biggest issue was the throttle cable, the OEM one was different completely and the supplied one that came with the carb kit fitted the throttle tube end OK[screwed straight in]but the inner cable was too long overall once fitted to the carb. The only way I could get it to work satisfactorily was by clamping the cable outer to the frame's spine where it runs under the fuel tank. I put two stainless steel hose clamps around and tightened them up after the cable was in the right spot. That left about 50mm of exposed inner cable at the carb end, so I just put a clutch cable adjuster over it and pushed it over the tube that came out of the carb top. Because the carb top outlet is angled to almost the same angle as the cable where it's clamped to the frame tube there is no chance of the cable getting snagged anywhere. I'll just keep it lubricated with some WD-40.

I replaced the fuel lines with some clear reinforced tube and fitted an in-line filter. At initial start-up the engine fired instantly even without choke from cold, there was no way it would ever start cold without choke before so that was a good sign I ended up getting a smooth idle with the pilot screw at about one and a quarter turns out. A free flow foam filter was also supplied with the kit, but so far I've retained the OEM airbox as it fitted up to the flatslide carb with a bit of fiddling

I packed some tools[just in case]and went for a ride! Even though the engine has only done 700km and is probably still a little tight the difference was immediately noticableespecially the transition from idle speed or slow running onto an opening throttle. Because the engine is still new I didn't run it hard through the gears but from what I did do it feels like the top end is better too. Mostly though, it's the first 2/3rds of throttle where I noticed the most difference. Tootling around in first gear, like when offroad the motor feels much stronger and pick-up from low revs is instant and clean. I'll post some pics soon. All in all, AUD$130 well spent