Fuel Injection or Carb?
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 16
From: Fort Myers, Fl.
Fuel Injection or Carb?
It seems there is a lot of people here that have bikes with EFI and I see the problems with re mapping to compensate for mods . Mine has a carb as all my previous bikes have had, and I prefer it that way. I know there are advantages and disadvantages to both, but what's the consensus here?
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 155
Likes: 3
From: Adirondack Mtns., NY
I too am a carb guy. I prefer carbs to EFI mostly because you can't seem to make any changes/ performance upgrades without having to take it in to a dealer to have them remap the thing. Carbs are so much easier. My 2 cents.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 83
Likes: 1
From: Darlington, England
injection for ease of starting, my 2003 sportster could take 3 or 4 firm hits on the button if she wasn't ridden for a week or so and in wintercarb icing was a problem, My 2007 883R has been left unused in the garage for 4 months both of the last 2 years and come spring she's started on the 1st touch of the button
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 16
From: Fort Myers, Fl.
My carb is tuned as close as I can get it, and I can start the bike and take off immediately, albeit with the choke on slightly. To me, a lot easier to work on or fix if you're on the side of the road somewhere. Not bashing the newer models, but the more you add to complicate an engine, the more chance of something going wrong. Plus, I have a reserve and no fuel pump.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 38
From: Landrum, SC , elevation 986'
I modify and tune all my motors to the "T". I'll never own a FI bike. There is a reason they still don't compete well at the track.......
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 2
From: Saint Johns, FL
This Sportster is the first of 17 motorcycles I've had that is EFI, and while I never had any problems dealing with carbs, I like the EFI. The stock module works fine for most people.
As far as being complicated and more likely to break, bikes have had ECUs controlling the ignition since the 70s. Cars have had EFI since the 80s. Matter of fact, I don't know of any new car that still has a carb. You can't tell me new cars are not dependable.
The electronics to control the injectors is no more complicated or less dependable then what is controlling the ignition.
As far as the problems people have with mods, electronics is more expensive than just buying jets, you can't just build it yourself,
And, go ahead and admit it, most people try to buy the cheapest piece of electronics they can get away with for their mods.
As far as being complicated and more likely to break, bikes have had ECUs controlling the ignition since the 70s. Cars have had EFI since the 80s. Matter of fact, I don't know of any new car that still has a carb. You can't tell me new cars are not dependable.
The electronics to control the injectors is no more complicated or less dependable then what is controlling the ignition.
As far as the problems people have with mods, electronics is more expensive than just buying jets, you can't just build it yourself,
And, go ahead and admit it, most people try to buy the cheapest piece of electronics they can get away with for their mods.
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I have had many many many carbed harleys, triumphs, dirtbikes, ricers and other things. I bought my 2001 Fatboy (injected) a couple months ago and I absolutely despise it. With a carb, the only thing you need, to change how your bike runs (lean or rich) is a $3.00 screw driver.
I just had to change out the fuel pump assembly, fuel filter, bunch of gaskets, and still had to buy a $300 box to plug into it and it doesnt even do it by itself. You have to pull it off, plug it into a computer, and hope you know what the f*** you are looking at, just to get your bike to run right... I will NEVER buy an EFI bike again.
I just had to change out the fuel pump assembly, fuel filter, bunch of gaskets, and still had to buy a $300 box to plug into it and it doesnt even do it by itself. You have to pull it off, plug it into a computer, and hope you know what the f*** you are looking at, just to get your bike to run right... I will NEVER buy an EFI bike again.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
In addition to the ease and inexpensive cost of tuning a carb, the carbed Sporties don't come with the lousy new rocker gaskets that are a chronic source of leaks on 07up models.
