Fuel injection (aka FI) has pros and cons, IMO.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with carbs. Many riders (especially, uh, "experienced" ones) prefer well dialed-in carbureted bikes to newer fuel injected machines. Carbs and their mixes can be changed and/or adjusted, whereas with fuel injection you have to buy something like a Power Commander or get custom "maps" to change the fuel delivery rate. Both forms of fuel delivery can perform equally well - or equally bad. It just depends on how they're set up.
Carb'd bikes can have very smooth off-throttle response, whereas some FI'd bikes are a little (or a lot) "jumpy". The fuel delivery and power can be very sudden and even a little scary. Ask anyone who owns a stock '06 Yamaha FZ1, a bike notorious for a snappy throttle due to a nasty FI issue.
Warm-up on a carb'd bike usually means adjusting the choke lever as the bike warms up after you start it the first time that day, and after it's been sitting awhile while you're at work, etc. Not a pain, but a minor annoyance if you're in a hurry. FI bikes, on the other hand, you can start up and ride away on the spot, though even FI bikes should be warmed up a bit before you ride off. A well tuned carb'd bike should start easily, as should any FI bike.
Maintenance: Carbs are supposed to be drained (Is that the right term?) during winterization of a bike. They have to be cleaned from time to time, but from what I know it's not rocket science.
By comparison, FI bikes don't need as much TLC, nor do fuel injectors need special treatment during winterization.
As for reliability, carbs have been used for a long, long time and are still being used in many bikes, even brand new ones on the showroom floor. FI is also very reliable and its use is increasing in new models every year.
FI is here to stay. Even many cruisers (including Harleys) now feature FI. Manufacturers are getting better at simulating the smoothness of carb'd bikes using modern FI, but some people still prefer the carbs.
All that being said, I really wanted fuel injection on my current bike. I'm not the most mechanically inclined person, so the lower maintenance aspect of FI appealed to me, plus I like modern/techno wizardry stuff.
(My apologies if I've erred on any facts in this post. Feel free to correct me if necessary.)
There is absolutely nothing wrong with carbs. Many riders (especially, uh, "experienced" ones) prefer well dialed-in carbureted bikes to newer fuel injected machines. Carbs and their mixes can be changed and/or adjusted, whereas with fuel injection you have to buy something like a Power Commander or get custom "maps" to change the fuel delivery rate. Both forms of fuel delivery can perform equally well - or equally bad. It just depends on how they're set up.
Carb'd bikes can have very smooth off-throttle response, whereas some FI'd bikes are a little (or a lot) "jumpy". The fuel delivery and power can be very sudden and even a little scary. Ask anyone who owns a stock '06 Yamaha FZ1, a bike notorious for a snappy throttle due to a nasty FI issue.
Warm-up on a carb'd bike usually means adjusting the choke lever as the bike warms up after you start it the first time that day, and after it's been sitting awhile while you're at work, etc. Not a pain, but a minor annoyance if you're in a hurry. FI bikes, on the other hand, you can start up and ride away on the spot, though even FI bikes should be warmed up a bit before you ride off. A well tuned carb'd bike should start easily, as should any FI bike.
Maintenance: Carbs are supposed to be drained (Is that the right term?) during winterization of a bike. They have to be cleaned from time to time, but from what I know it's not rocket science.
By comparison, FI bikes don't need as much TLC, nor do fuel injectors need special treatment during winterization.
As for reliability, carbs have been used for a long, long time and are still being used in many bikes, even brand new ones on the showroom floor. FI is also very reliable and its use is increasing in new models every year.
FI is here to stay. Even many cruisers (including Harleys) now feature FI. Manufacturers are getting better at simulating the smoothness of carb'd bikes using modern FI, but some people still prefer the carbs.
All that being said, I really wanted fuel injection on my current bike. I'm not the most mechanically inclined person, so the lower maintenance aspect of FI appealed to me, plus I like modern/techno wizardry stuff.
(My apologies if I've erred on any facts in this post. Feel free to correct me if necessary.)
like a gerbil trying to drink some water, or a 40psi precision spray nozzle soleniod triggered to fire ultra atomized highly combustible fuel at the precise moment of opimum performance? I just can't wait 'til direct injection becomes the standard.
