Carburetors & Accessories

What Is a Carburetor and Why Does It Matter?

The carburetor is one of the most fundamental components in any gasoline-powered engine. Its job is deceptively simple: blend air and fuel in precisely the right ratio before delivering that mixture to the combustion chamber. Get that ratio wrong — too rich or too lean — and the engine stumbles, surges, runs hot, or refuses to start altogether. Whether you're tuning a high-performance V-twin motorcycle, rebuilding a lawn mower, or restoring a vintage machine, the carburetor sits at the heart of how that engine breathes and runs.

Modern fuel injection has replaced carburetors in most new vehicles, but carburetors remain the preferred or required fuel delivery method across a huge range of applications: classic and custom motorcycles, small outdoor power equipment, powersports vehicles, marine engines, and vintage restorations. Understanding what to look for — and choosing the right brand — makes all the difference between a smooth-running machine and a frustrating project.

What to Consider When Shopping Carburetors & Accessories

• Application fit: Carburetors are not one-size-fits-all. Engine displacement, cylinder count, intended RPM range, and whether the engine is stock or modified all affect which carburetor is correct. Always verify compatibility before ordering.
• Carburetor type: Common designs include float-style, diaphragm-style, and slide-style carburetors. Each suits different engine configurations and operating conditions.
• Jets, needles, and tuning: Swapping main jets, needle position, and air/fuel screws allows you to fine-tune fuel delivery for altitude, temperature, or performance upgrades. Many enthusiasts purchase jet kits or rebuild kits as part of a broader engine tune.
• Accessories matter: Intake manifolds, velocity stacks, throttle cables, choke assemblies, gasket kits, and carb cleaner are all part of keeping your fuel system in top shape. A new carburetor is only as good as the components around it.
• OEM vs. performance: Replacement carburetors aim to restore factory performance; performance carburetors are engineered to exceed it. Know your goal before choosing.

Top Brands in Carburetors & Accessories

S&S Cycle is the dominant name in this category, and for good reason. Founded in 1958, S&S has spent decades engineering carburetors specifically for Harley-Davidson and American V-twin engines. Their Super E and Super G carburetors are legendary among custom builders and performance riders for delivering strong throttle response, tunability, and reliability that stock units simply can't match. If you're building or upgrading a big-twin, S&S is the benchmark.

Briggs & Stratton brings the same engineering rigor it applies to its engines to its OEM carburetor lineup. A Briggs & Stratton carburetor is a small engine fuel system component that controls the air and fuel mixture needed for starting, idling, and running under load. Their carburetors are used in lawn mower engines, push mowers, walk-behind mowers, riding mowers, and other outdoor power equipment. For anyone maintaining Briggs-powered equipment, using genuine OEM replacement carburetors ensures proper fit and preserves engine integrity.

Mikuni has been a global leader in carburetor technology for decades, with roots in precision manufacturing that made them a staple across Japanese motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and personal watercraft. Mikuni's VM round-slide and BST constant-velocity carburetors are favorites among tuners for their smooth power delivery and extensive availability of jets, needles, and rebuild components — making them one of the most serviceable carburetors on the market.