I'll bite! EEEeek!! Here we come! ;) Thanks for the hint SHR!
Rhodester: Thanks for the input. I always appreciate reading what you have to say.
You say 'head mod.' What did that consist of? I doubt you would consider taking some metal off the mating surface to be a 'head mod,' but I'm asking anyway. If Ron did it, fine. The point is to be sure (like it matters if I'm sure about anything on your bike) it was done right. Ron has said that kdx heads vary a whole lot volume-wise. If yours hasn't been redone right with attention to squish angles/depths and such I'd be wondering about it.
What are you running pilot/main-wise?
There are other kdxr's that find their bikes to be 'off' from what is 'normal.' Just goes to show you the variance between this-that-and the other bikes. Probably a lot to do with individual tweaking styles, too.
The important thing is that it works to suit you. Yup... sounds like you're headed in the right direction for sure.
I went back to a (sorta) baseline 'B' needle (R1174K) last weekend to sort out some new jetting problems of my own, those 'problems' a result of cylinder porting. Once I get back to known territory I'll be back in the 'D's again. Probably try an EEK myself. Looking at JD's plot of an EEK it is exactly what you would expect..leaner longer (throttle advance-wise) due to the sharper taper angle, and for the same reason richer on the top end of the throttle, both of which I'm looking for myself.
BTW..the above needle description not for your benefit (Rhodester) cuz you know it already....but for the casual otherwise-unknowing reader.
You don't say exactly
which 'D' needle, but do say xEx. Using DEK as an example, the needle profiles of the EEK/DEK match a hair past 3/8's throttle which is real close to JD's hint of matching diameters in the 1/4-3/8s area when changing needles.
Forgive my not recalling...but do you have Ron's modification on your carb? I don't recall and won't go looking to see if you've said. You will find that his (Ron's) modification to the pilot circuit is a big help in tuning the area you're dealing with because the airscrew comes so much more into play.
And, if you already have it,
DO look for the #2 sweet spot in the pilot circuit. It's around 2+ turns on the airscrew. Spend the time it takes to find it 'cuz it's worth the effort. That will lean out the
...when not wicking it I'm blubbery rich when first getting onto the taper
and get you a real strong mid-throttle pull that will
...help bring back some of the woods characteristics of the power that I like.
Another BTW..
I need to get that needle farther out of the main jet as soon as possible.
You are getting the needle out LATER with a 'Dxx' and later still with an 'Exx'. Once it starts it progresses faster (compared to a 'Cxx).
That is one point of what you say that I don't unnerstan.