Is EFI a must?
contingencyplan
Posts: 3,639 Member
Looking to sell my SV650 and upgrade to something with more of an edge to it. I have a few potential bikes picked out, but one thing I'm on the fence about is whether or not EFI is a "must have." I've never owned an EFI bike, but I have experienced some fuel delivery issues when it wasn't "warmed up" yet and the weather wasn't "just right." I also expect to see substantial elevation changes.
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Replies
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It is not a must, but it will be more effective at altitude changes and warm up. The EFI will adjust air/fuel for temperature and altitude/pressure. The MAP sensor detects barometric pressure and sends that information to the EFI. You may still have some of those features in a carbureted version, but the jets have some limitation if I am not mistaken. To get the best benefit from the EFI, if you change pipes or a significant change in your air intake, it will need to be programmed. If not an inline that captures and "adjusts" the signals, it will need to have the computer reprogrammed. I had mine dynoed and programmed when I put new pipes on it.
I didn't have a lot of experience with it on a bike, but my 64 Ford used vacuum to adjust and it was never enough. I would have to stop in New Mexico when traveling from the Gulf Coast to Colorado to adjust my timing at least because of the altitude change. No way I was going to change jets, but it is what it is.
Hope that helps.0 -
No, EFI isn't a must. I don't have it on my current bike, and it's got a lot of miles. What jeolds mentions is about it. EFI is computer adjustable with a few minutes on a Dyno can bet sorted out. Carbs take more effort like pulling them, changing jets, adjusting fuel/air screws and all to get the right mix.
I wouldn't base my decision on a bike based on whether it was carbed or FI.
JM0 -
Can"t add much to this.
My current ride is an EFI bike, have had a couple others, no problems.0 -
It might be important to you that EFI is more of a pain to work on. More complexity isn't always good when you need to fix something in your driveway. Or, when it truly has to go to a shop. We have a great mechanic friend who does a lot of our work but he won't touch EFI cr@p.
But EFI is really sweet out West when you are going over the 10,000 foot passes.0 -
It might be important to you that EFI is more of a pain to work on. More complexity isn't always good when you need to fix something in your driveway. Or, when it truly has to go to a shop. We have a great mechanic friend who does a lot of our work but he won't touch EFI cr@p.
But EFI is really sweet out West when you are going over the 10,000 foot passes.
If I had the diagnostic equipment I could do it all myself.
I was already looking at a building a unit with a Bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the HD port and sends data to a phone app. I'm a geek, what can I say. LOL 0 -
It might be important to you that EFI is more of a pain to work on. More complexity isn't always good when you need to fix something in your driveway. Or, when it truly has to go to a shop. We have a great mechanic friend who does a lot of our work but he won't touch EFI cr@p.
But EFI is really sweet out West when you are going over the 10,000 foot passes.
If I had the diagnostic equipment I could do it all myself. I was already looking at a building a unit with a Bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the HD port and sends data to a phone app. I'm a geek, what can I say. LOL
Being a techie and being mechanically inclined are things that have to go hand-in-hand with the way modern bikes are built
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