What carb would you choose for a '03 220?

Questions and Answers about the best carb and Head mods available for the KDX.

What is the best replacement carb for a 2003 KDX220R?

Poll ended at 11:32 am Feb 16 2022

PWK 35 AS (Air Stryker)
4
50%
PWK 33 AS
0
No votes
LECTRON
2
25%
SMART CARB
1
13%
MIKUNI 36
0
No votes
Other
1
13%
 
Total votes: 8

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Chuck78
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Re: What carb would you choose for a '03 220?

Post by Chuck78 »

Speaking on that topic of understanding or not understanding carbs, I am always dumbfounded when the same old opinionated types of guys would throw out the accusation that "Lectrons are for people who don't know how to jet carbs!"
That's a far fetched notion, as a Lectron or SmartCarb needs dialed in nearly the same ways that a traditional jetted PWK etc carb does, but the tuning parts are just a bit different...They are not a self-tuning carb design, although they are both a relatively successful altitude compensating design, particularly the SmartCarb. If one were to NOT adjust the metering rod carb for proper fuel metering, they would be in the same position as not jetting their PWK properly...a poorly running bike or one that is not running anywhere near it's potential.
The fact that you don't have to have an assortment of many pilot and main jets and a few needles, and possibly a slide swap, is a huge bonus, however, as well as not having to adjust them for drastic altitude changes...which is a nuisance to have to bring a few extra jets on a road trip riding outside of your normal altitude range.
There is a guy very near me with a performance car shop who also has a bike dyno, perhaps one of these days when I have less responsibilities on my plate, I will take my RB carb and my Billetron Pro Series and SC3 out to him for a dyno day....
'97 KDX220R - purple/green! - KLX forks, Lectron, Tubliss
'97 KX125/220R hybrid build! - '25 KX450X suspension, titanium hardware, extensive mods purple/green!
'99 KDX220R project - '98/'01 RM125 suspension, Titanium hardware, Lectron Billetron, Tubliss
'77 Suzuki PE250 & '83 PE175 Full Floater - restomod builds
'77 Suzuki GS750-844cc, '77 GS400 & '77 GS550 big bore builds
'62 GMC 1000 Panel Truck
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Re: What carb would you choose for a '03 220?

Post by @greenblood67 »

I installed a new Keihin 35mm carb, upgrade from 33mm. After running it awhile and tinkering with the air screw , i found out that it does need to be rejetted. The company said it was plug and play, it is not. I have smooth mid's only. Lows and highs are bogging. Going into the shop next week, I'll keep you posted.
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Re: What carb would you choose for a '03 220?

Post by Chuck78 »

Where did you get the 35mm carb, and how much did it cost?
Plug & Play in this instance can only mean it's going to fit the bike directly in place of the old carb, and is ready to be tested & tuned/jetted. Elevation, temperature, humidity, fuel used, mix ratio used, engine condition, and engine compression (wear on cylinder and piston rings) and even ignition timing settings can all dictate different jetting requirements.
Best wishes, let us know how you do, and the source/cost of the carb in question.
'97 KDX220R - purple/green! - KLX forks, Lectron, Tubliss
'97 KX125/220R hybrid build! - '25 KX450X suspension, titanium hardware, extensive mods purple/green!
'99 KDX220R project - '98/'01 RM125 suspension, Titanium hardware, Lectron Billetron, Tubliss
'77 Suzuki PE250 & '83 PE175 Full Floater - restomod builds
'77 Suzuki GS750-844cc, '77 GS400 & '77 GS550 big bore builds
'62 GMC 1000 Panel Truck
'88 Suzuki Samurai TDI/Toyota swap
'88 Toyota 4x4 pickup
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Re: What carb would you choose for a '03 220?

Post by colingrigson »

@greenblood67 wrote: 09:07 pm May 20 2026 I installed a new Keihin 35mm carb, upgrade from 33mm. After running it awhile and tinkering with the air screw , i found out that it does need to be rejetted. The company said it was plug and play, it is not. I have smooth mid's only. Lows and highs are bogging. Going into the shop next week, I'll keep you posted.
A plug and play carb is a fallacy. Every carb needs to be jetted to run correctly. There are so many variables that will affect how the bike runs. Just check out the KDX jetting database to see how many combinations of pilot, main, needle position that people are running. I've skimmed through it and I don't think there's anyone running the same setup as anyone else.
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