John: i am running a 8 in my rm144 and you will find that most people do. just out of interest, does the bike have a v-force? its made mine run so rich of the bottom, ive had to cut the slide and i still need to take some more off. also, knock yourself out with the needle- althought you said it bogged, i thought mine was lean in the middle also, but it turns out it was loading up- ive now gone from the middle setting to the leanest setting on the next leanest needle.
just out of interest, what carb are you running? i think steve125 built one of these KX's so maybe he can chime in.:)