To Carb or Not to Carb (EFI), That is the ?
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Stage IV
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
To Carb or Not to Carb (EFI), That is the ?
Hi Gang,
My last bike was a 95 Fatboy and having put her to rest 6 years ago I am looking to pick up a Dyna in the near future. Here's the question?
I have never owned a EFI bike, always carbureted. What is the general feeling looking at a 03-05 carbureted versus an EFI 06 or later?
Besides price (newer vs. older) does anyone feel they have given anything up with the EFI or are you totally ok with it?
Your input is appreciated!
Thanks
My last bike was a 95 Fatboy and having put her to rest 6 years ago I am looking to pick up a Dyna in the near future. Here's the question?
I have never owned a EFI bike, always carbureted. What is the general feeling looking at a 03-05 carbureted versus an EFI 06 or later?
Besides price (newer vs. older) does anyone feel they have given anything up with the EFI or are you totally ok with it?
Your input is appreciated!
Thanks
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 5
From: Templeton California
Depends on what you're comfortable with and how much you intend to modify you're bike. It took me allot of time and hundreds of dollars to get my FI dialed in after a simple intake and exhaust change. On the other hand once it's done there's no need to mess with it ever again. I would rather have a carb, any fool including myself can dial in one carburetor, the most expensive jet kit I ever bought was $250 and it came with two air cleaners. You can't even get an FI tuner for $250.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 0
From: Brunswick, OH
I'm very happy with my EFI. My engine is stock, stock pipes and intake, and the FI is flawless. I originally wanted an FXDXT, but I passed because I wanted FI. I've had carbed bikes in the past, and they're fine, but FI is just easier to live with, IMO.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 0
From: Carroll County, Maryland
I much prefer a carb. Classic. Easy and cheap to tune. And I rather enjoy toying with it. My opinion is that if EFI was so superior, why don't race cars use it? Maybe some foreign race cars do but I've never seen it.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 586
Likes: 48
From: Saint Augustine, FL
I too "like" a carb'd bike - just feels more "traditional" and non-technical to me - however, I will take (and have had 2) EFI bikes any day of the week.
Someone mentioned the tuning process for an EFI when you do an intake & exhaust change. My experience with these has been a cakewalk. All you do is find the pipes you want & the air cleaner setup you want - and then shop for the best EFI tuner that has preprogrammed maps for the exact same bike/year/instake/exhaust setup - and presto - you plug it all in & go. It's literally been that easy for most of the bikes I've seen/worked on with only 1 exception.
The second thing is, my neighbors sure do appreciate me having an EFI bike. I don't have to do the whole warm up routine as needed with a carb'd bike. I simply turn the switch - listen to the little "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeow" noise for a couple seconds, hit start & pretty much away I go. The EFI takes care of everything, no matter what the air is like outside that day or how hot/cold the motor is.
I'll say this much - rarely have I ever heard folks on EFI bikes say "I wish my bike had a carb"; instead, I constantly hear carb folks say "Man, that fuel injection sure is nice..."
Just my 2 cents.
Someone mentioned the tuning process for an EFI when you do an intake & exhaust change. My experience with these has been a cakewalk. All you do is find the pipes you want & the air cleaner setup you want - and then shop for the best EFI tuner that has preprogrammed maps for the exact same bike/year/instake/exhaust setup - and presto - you plug it all in & go. It's literally been that easy for most of the bikes I've seen/worked on with only 1 exception.
The second thing is, my neighbors sure do appreciate me having an EFI bike. I don't have to do the whole warm up routine as needed with a carb'd bike. I simply turn the switch - listen to the little "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeow" noise for a couple seconds, hit start & pretty much away I go. The EFI takes care of everything, no matter what the air is like outside that day or how hot/cold the motor is.
I'll say this much - rarely have I ever heard folks on EFI bikes say "I wish my bike had a carb"; instead, I constantly hear carb folks say "Man, that fuel injection sure is nice..."
Just my 2 cents.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: ohio
I too "like" a carb'd bike - just feels more "traditional" and non-technical to me - however, I will take (and have had 2) EFI bikes any day of the week.
Someone mentioned the tuning process for an EFI when you do an intake & exhaust change. My experience with these has been a cakewalk. All you do is find the pipes you want & the air cleaner setup you want - and then shop for the best EFI tuner that has preprogrammed maps for the exact same bike/year/instake/exhaust setup - and presto - you plug it all in & go. It's literally been that easy for most of the bikes I've seen/worked on with only 1 exception.
The second thing is, my neighbors sure do appreciate me having an EFI bike. I don't have to do the whole warm up routine as needed with a carb'd bike. I simply turn the switch - listen to the little "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeow" noise for a couple seconds, hit start & pretty much away I go. The EFI takes care of everything, no matter what the air is like outside that day or how hot/cold the motor is.
I'll say this much - rarely have I ever heard folks on EFI bikes say "I wish my bike had a carb"; instead, I constantly hear carb folks say "Man, that fuel injection sure is nice..."
Just my 2 cents.
Someone mentioned the tuning process for an EFI when you do an intake & exhaust change. My experience with these has been a cakewalk. All you do is find the pipes you want & the air cleaner setup you want - and then shop for the best EFI tuner that has preprogrammed maps for the exact same bike/year/instake/exhaust setup - and presto - you plug it all in & go. It's literally been that easy for most of the bikes I've seen/worked on with only 1 exception.
The second thing is, my neighbors sure do appreciate me having an EFI bike. I don't have to do the whole warm up routine as needed with a carb'd bike. I simply turn the switch - listen to the little "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeow" noise for a couple seconds, hit start & pretty much away I go. The EFI takes care of everything, no matter what the air is like outside that day or how hot/cold the motor is.
I'll say this much - rarely have I ever heard folks on EFI bikes say "I wish my bike had a carb"; instead, I constantly hear carb folks say "Man, that fuel injection sure is nice..."
Just my 2 cents.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Fleetwood, Pa
I wish my bike had a carb........HE HE....
Idle sucks with efi, and I never had issues with any of my carbs after a change in jets.
no efi, no controller, no fuel pump, no tuner needed...
just my couple of cents....
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 586
Likes: 48
From: Saint Augustine, FL
http://www.stockcarracing.com/techar...ion/index.html