Would it be worth an effort to try and use a 36mm flatside carb that I have from my 1990 CR125 parts bike on my 89 Pilot? Stock Pilot is 32mm if I'm reading correctly..... That would give me the option of using the air box boot from that bike to try and start making my own custom airbox. I think I'm gonna try to get something with a good amount of volume then top it off with a huge K&N similar to what I saw on afastcar's and his friends machines...

Try it out, that looks like a PJ carb. should work better than stock, its actually a 34mm(I use the same one on my 250) but measures 35mm, not sure why they call it a 34mm. they only came in 34mm and 38mm. Mine is from a cr125 as well. jet it slightly richer than the jets in the stock carb and go from there. the main jet is the same but the pilot is different.

Do you know if it would work with the fuel pump or would this carb let to much fuel in that way and just dump it out of the over flow? Use the stock Pilot jet or the stock CR jetting? I believe the # is a good bit bigger for the CR????

I used the stock cr pilot, it ended up being fine for my application but yours could be different. I had to adjust the float level a little but the fuel pump doesnt seem to be a problem.

THE PILOT'S STOCK CARB IS 32MM

Maybe, but I thought it was the other way around had 32 was 34???

Well I finally have a airbox and the box to carb tube on the way... Gonna see if it changes the way the Pilot runs, and only try this carb if it still doesn't feel right....

I started to use the carb from my son's first bike, a 1996 cr124r and I changed my mind when I seen the idle speed was on the choke pull knob... I put it in for giggles and got it to run and idle but never drove it. I wanted to be able to use the choke from within the seatbelt...

That's one of the things I think is great about that carb... By messin with the clicker of the choke knob, it messes with the mixture, not the valve opening.... Like fine tuning of the air screw. Used to use it all the time to keep the bike running as crisp as possible. Temps around here can vary 40 degrees in a days ride, that quick adjustment came in handy many times. Also, these carbs are very easy to change the needle clip, done that many times out on the trail with no tools as well.

Not being able to use the choke from the seat doesn't bother me at all. Once I'm runnin it's not cooling down enough to need it again. And I always start it from out of the seat the first time.

I just hope I'm able to get that airbox fitted in some way as I believe the open air filter to be my main running issue right now...