tck : Thanks for the benefit of your experience with the VM Mikuni carb. I would imagine you got more stick from the V.O.C than you did on here! You are, of course, absolutely right - if I change the carbs I won't be chucking the originals out. When I bought the Douglas, it came with a headlight painted blue, sprung saddle and pillion seat, both of which are new, and in order to enable me to ride the bike, which is really too small for me, I have had to fit a dual seat, so I won't be winning any prizes for originality! Hopefully, though, I will have a bike I can use, as opposed to one sitting in the garage.