Wow !! Been reading the posts on this thread and I'm convinced that my GL1100I needs a single carb mod. Just ordered a re-man Motorcraft 5740 (740 ) progressive two-barrel that I will eventually install, along with a sheet steel home brew manifold that I have designed.
Now for my blurb : I'm new here and also have a ST1100 w/ CV carbs. I believe MODERN CV carbs can't be beat. I double a single carb would work any better on my ST1100 than the stock CV carbs. Certainly worse. Why ? Because it's impossible to give a bike w/CV carbs too much throttle. CV stands for "constant velocity". It's basically a variable venturi carb. Small at low RPM's and bigger at higher RPM's. The venturi size is variable - it depends on the position of the slide. Perfect set-up for the optimum throttle response. So what is the problem with the CV carb set-up on the old Wings ? Those CV carbs are a poor design because they don't use the rubber diaphragms above the slides like the modern CV carbs use. I believe that's the reason why the single carb set-up is a big improvement on the old Wings.
After doing a calculation for what size CFM carb the 1,100 c.c. motor would need at 7,800 RPM and assuming 100% volumetric efficiency, I came up with 152 CFM. That's just about the CFM a 1,600 c.c. engine @ 6,000 RPM would need. So that's why the 740 carb that was used on the 1.6 L Escort & Lynx should work just fine. I was first thinking of using a 30 PICT-1 single barrel, but decided on the 740 because the primary bore is even smaller than 30 mm. That should result in better low speed response and maybe better gas mileage. And it will have more than enough flow using both barrels - about 185 CFM.
For the manifold, the runners will be 1.25" , about 80% of the intake valve diameter. And the plenum box will be 5.5" x 4" x 3.25" ( high). That will give me a volume of 71.5 C.I.( 1,164 c.c. ) , a little more than 1,100 c.c. And the runners won't be flush with the inside of the plenum wall. They will protrude about a half inch inside the plenum and I'll weld some rings to the end of the runners inside the plenum to help airflow. And the runners won't be up close to the sides of the plenum walls, either. I'll try to keep the bottom of the plenum as close to the engine as possible, to keep it warm.
Now, to find time to do the job, after I install new timing belts & idler pulleys and install a set of RaceTech emulators and a set of Sonic springs in the front forks that I have on hand, after :blush: I remodel the kitchen for the Boss.
BTW, before I do the single carb mod, I think I will do some testing with the stock set-up by timing a half dozen 40 mph to 80 mph pulls, in 4th & 5th gears. Then I can compare the performance difference with the single carb.