carb vs. efi question
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 32
From: Broomfield, CO
The Keihin CV carb is designed to perform at various altitudes without needing adjustment.........provided you have it dialed in. I live at sea level and have traveled over Tioga Pass (9,657 ft) and through the Rockies over Vail Pass (10,666 ft) with no problems with my CV carb.
As the others have said.......easy to tune, simple to fix, and can be adjusted or fixed on the side of the road. I'll be keeping this bike!
As the others have said.......easy to tune, simple to fix, and can be adjusted or fixed on the side of the road. I'll be keeping this bike!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 212
The Keihin CV carb is designed to perform at various altitudes without needing adjustment.........provided you have it dialed in. I live at sea level and have traveled over Tioga Pass (9,657 ft) and through the Rockies over Vail Pass (10,666 ft) with no problems with my CV carb.
As the others have said.......easy to tune, simple to fix, and can be adjusted or fixed on the side of the road. I'll be keeping this bike!
As the others have said.......easy to tune, simple to fix, and can be adjusted or fixed on the side of the road. I'll be keeping this bike!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 263
From: Southern California
Personal preference really.
EFI isn't hard to tune IF you understand the logic behind how all the tables work. IT IS more expensive to tune though since you can probably buy every carb jet known to man and still have about 6 $100 dinners for the cost of the program and laptop used to tune an EFI.
EFI can be push started.
EFI is very reliable. I've never had to do more than soak an injector with EFI. Biggest part of EFI that can fail is the fuel pump. Even then, I have cars with over 200K miles on them and no fuel pump issues. That technology has had the bugs worked out of it years ago. Same with the sensors in the system. Just like when a certain carb problem gives a certain kind of proplem helping you diagnose the issue, so to with a sensor failure with EFI.
Carbs are simpler for most people to work on because they are mechanical. If you have ever worked with wiring and electronics like installing a radio then EFI isn't any more difficult. For some reason wiring tends to throw people for a loop.
Really the benefits to EFI are it runs as it's tuned regardless of weather changes or engine temperatures and it's a bit more efficient. Other than that they both deliver gas to the engine.
EFI isn't hard to tune IF you understand the logic behind how all the tables work. IT IS more expensive to tune though since you can probably buy every carb jet known to man and still have about 6 $100 dinners for the cost of the program and laptop used to tune an EFI.
EFI can be push started.
EFI is very reliable. I've never had to do more than soak an injector with EFI. Biggest part of EFI that can fail is the fuel pump. Even then, I have cars with over 200K miles on them and no fuel pump issues. That technology has had the bugs worked out of it years ago. Same with the sensors in the system. Just like when a certain carb problem gives a certain kind of proplem helping you diagnose the issue, so to with a sensor failure with EFI.
Carbs are simpler for most people to work on because they are mechanical. If you have ever worked with wiring and electronics like installing a radio then EFI isn't any more difficult. For some reason wiring tends to throw people for a loop.
Really the benefits to EFI are it runs as it's tuned regardless of weather changes or engine temperatures and it's a bit more efficient. Other than that they both deliver gas to the engine.
If you are not good with electricity and abstract stuff that can't be seen, the visual thing about of a Carburetor can be comforting; but you'll not get the same power, fuel economy or the dependability. Short of a complete Fuel Pump, ECU or Crank Sensor failure the Harley will keep running. There are many parts in a Carburetor that if they fail will park the bike as well . . . but sometimes it feels better if the broken part can actually be seen.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 33
From: Acworth
I prefer a carb over EFI, simple, easier and far less expensive to tune and maintain, much better "feel" at the throttle grip and I'll pick the throttle cable over that rheostat every day. Technology marches on, carbs no longer available except aftermarket... 1 day, air cooled v twins will be gone too and that will be a sad day.
Last edited by Mikey 1450; Mar 24, 2011 at 10:42 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
Mine is carb'd and tuned for where I live. 5200 feet with fairly low humidity. I routinely go down to near sea level and up to 7500 feet and have never had any issues. Last summer I rode form Florida to Alaska across the U.S. and up the Alcan. ran in a wide variety of climates and elevations and it never missed a beat.
Don't believe all the B.S. you hear from guys that have never owned a bike with a carb. They work just fine. You might get a slight fluctuation in Idle speed at different altitudes and a miniscule loss of power at extremely high ones but not a big deal.
Don't believe all the B.S. you hear from guys that have never owned a bike with a carb. They work just fine. You might get a slight fluctuation in Idle speed at different altitudes and a miniscule loss of power at extremely high ones but not a big deal.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Island, BC
I agree, I have the original Keihin CV carb which I rejetted and tuned. I live at sea level and I have ridden to 10-12,000 ft elevations, and I couldn't notice any difference.
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