carbeurator versus fuel injection?

[dwcasey]

So in my Motorcycle Safety class, the instructor said he advised us to get FI over Carb engine because of ease of use, starting, fuel, rebuilding motor.  What do ya'll think?

[manofthefield]

Fuel injection is generally easier to use, mostly because you don't need to use a choke when you start it (though a few FI bikes still have a choke/fuel enricher).  Carbs have a bad rep because so many people try to tweak them, when they don't know what they're doing, then the bike doesn't run right.  FI is more complicated, so people don't mess with it unless they add a power commander or similar which you just plug in.

No matter which you have, you need to be careful to properly store the fuel (ie. with fuel stabilizer) when you store the bike like over winter.  If you don't, carbs will need rebuilding and FI will need cleaning.  I'm pretty sure cleaning carbs is simpler and/or less expensive.  But if you always store the bike properly, you'll never have to worry about it.

I don't think my GS would really get any better fuel economy with FI, and one is not better for the engine than the other, IMHO

I don't mind carbs, but it would be nice to not have to worry about having the choke.  I'd prefer FI on my next bike, but it won't be a deal breaker

[nastynate6695]

fuel injection is nice.  But i prefer carb not now.  I know how to properly work on it.  I can easy make any modification myself instead of having to take it to a shop and have them put it on their computer.  but i know my next bike will be Fi.   Im just worried i wont develope a bond with it the way i did with a carb bike

[bobthebiker]

I dont really have a bias toward either one honestly.  FI is better for easy starting and less stuff for the backyard idiot to screw with.  But in that same stroke, I like carbs because they're easy to work on.  If you know what you're doing a carburetor is just as reliable as FI. 

Before long carburetors will be obsolete and FI will replace that in everything,  but for now I think each system is just fine so long as you know how to tune them, and take care of them. 

[ben2go]

FI may give a little better performance,reliability,and engine longivity,but well tuned carbs will do the same thing.FI will give better throttle response than carbs and be more reliable if maintainence is left to chance.A poorly tuned carb set up has the potential to destroy an engine quickly.FI set up for a bike can't get out of adjustment to easy.I plan to tackle an FI project using Micro Squirt.I plan to use GSXR1000 center throttle bodies,99 GSXR600 external fuel pump,and other sensors will be standard GM.Their cheap and reliable.Here's a site that will help explain my plans.The only difference in this guys set up and mine is,I will be doing a twin and he is using Mega Squirt.Micro Squirt was designed for bikes and snow machines.

http://www.hal-pc.org/~dhutch/

[ohgood]

So in my Motorcycle Safety class, the instructor said he advised us to get FI over Carb engine because of ease of use, starting, fuel, rebuilding motor.  What do ya'll think?

EFI, definitely. carbs can be made to work nicely, get decent power, milage, all that stuff. when it comes to atmospheric changes, elevation, seasons, poor quality gas, and junk, i'll go for EFI.

still haven't put my kit together yet. soon as we're settled in b'ham i'll start working on it again

[bucks1605]

FI may give a little better performance,reliability,and engine longivity,but well tuned carbs will do the same thing.FI will give better throttle response than carbs and be more reliable if maintainence is left to chance.A poorly tuned carb set up has the potential to destroy an engine quickly.FI set up for a bike can't get out of adjustment to easy.I plan to tackle an FI project using Micro Squirt.I plan to use GSXR1000 center throttle bodies,99 GSXR600 external fuel pump,and other sensors will be standard GM.Their cheap and reliable.Here's a site that will help explain my plans.The only difference in this guys set up and mine is,I will be doing a twin and he is using Mega Squirt.Micro Squirt was designed for bikes and snow machines.

http://www.hal-pc.org/~dhutch/

That's cool, that guy said he had like $900 into the whole efi and iginition swap. A little pricey, do you think your's will cost that much?

[ben2go]

FI may give a little better performance,reliability,and engine longivity,but well tuned carbs will do the same thing.FI will give better throttle response than carbs and be more reliable if maintainence is left to chance.A poorly tuned carb set up has the potential to destroy an engine quickly.FI set up for a bike can't get out of adjustment to easy.I plan to tackle an FI project using Micro Squirt.I plan to use GSXR1000 center throttle bodies,99 GSXR600 external fuel pump,and other sensors will be standard GM.Their cheap and reliable.Here's a site that will help explain my plans.The only difference in this guys set up and mine is,I will be doing a twin and he is using Mega Squirt.Micro Squirt was designed for bikes and snow machines.

http://www.hal-pc.org/~dhutch/

That's cool, that guy said he had like $900 into the whole efi and iginition swap. A little pricey, do you think your's will cost that much?

Right now the Micro Squirt is $400 + shipping,the throttle bodies I can get for $50,and the other sensors I can get from a friend that scraps cars.I'm thinking $600 max,but I've been scraping some stuff myself,so it'll end up cheaper.All the custom stuff that guy did,doesn't have to be done to the GS.The ignition control on the GS is spot on for the conversion.The only thing that has to be addressed is the fuel injection.Also he built a mega squirt system that's designed for an automobile.The micro squirt(designed for motorcycles) comes with a wiring harness and ready to drop in and tune.Just need a few sensors to make it work.Here's the info if you wanna look at it.
http://microsquirt.com/

[augustin87r]

What are you trying to say here? You can take the carb out from GS500 and replace it with FI ?

[ben2go]

What are you trying to say here? You can take the carb out from GS500 and replace it with FI ?

With some work,yes.It takes a sound understanding of how EFI works and knowledge of parts.It's not a simple bolt and go application.It takes some fabrication.

[augustin87r]

i thought it's like a kit sold by suzuki

[ben2go]

i thought it's like a kit sold by suzuki

There are no conversion kits sold by Suzuki only replacement system's parts.If there were conversions we would have a section on the forum dedicated to it.

[lowcountrygs]

Everybody gets real scared when it comes to EFI. I am in the process of converting my jeep with parts all taken from the junkyard. Total cost will be under $400. The largest cost saving comes from finding an engine of close displacement and using that harness and computer then tweaking the programing to fit my engine. While i don't claim to be a master of motorcycles I am sure this same concept can be applied to the GS.

[bucks1605]

FI may give a little better performance,reliability,and engine longivity,but well tuned carbs will do the same thing.FI will give better throttle response than carbs and be more reliable if maintainence is left to chance.A poorly tuned carb set up has the potential to destroy an engine quickly.FI set up for a bike can't get out of adjustment to easy.I plan to tackle an FI project using Micro Squirt.I plan to use GSXR1000 center throttle bodies,99 GSXR600 external fuel pump,and other sensors will be standard GM.Their cheap and reliable.Here's a site that will help explain my plans.The only difference in this guys set up and mine is,I will be doing a twin and he is using Mega Squirt.Micro Squirt was designed for bikes and snow machines.

http://www.hal-pc.org/~dhutch/

That's cool, that guy said he had like $900 into the whole efi and iginition swap. A little pricey, do you think your's will cost that much?

Right now the Micro Squirt is $400 + shipping,the throttle bodies I can get for $50,and the other sensors I can get from a friend that scraps cars.I'm thinking $600 max,but I've been scraping some stuff myself,so it'll end up cheaper.All the custom stuff that guy did,doesn't have to be done to the GS.The ignition control on the GS is spot on for the conversion.The only thing that has to be addressed is the fuel injection.Also he built a mega squirt system that's designed for an automobile.The micro squirt(designed for motorcycles) comes with a wiring harness and ready to drop in and tune.Just need a few sensors to make it work.Here's the info if you wanna look at it.
http://microsquirt.com/

Way over my head, but very interesting. Which of your bikes are you planning on using this for?

[ben2go]

Everybody gets real scared when it comes to EFI. I am in the process of converting my jeep with parts all taken from the junkyard. Total cost will be under $400. The largest cost saving comes from finding an engine of close displacement and using that harness and computer then tweaking the programing to fit my engine. While i don't claim to be a master of motorcycles I am sure this same concept can be applied to the GS.

This works for autos.Not so easy on MCs.The only thing close to GS is an 02+ SV 650.The SV has been done but takes some real work to get it running.

FI may give a little better performance,reliability,and engine longivity,but well tuned carbs will do the same thing.FI will give better throttle response than carbs and be more reliable if maintainence is left to chance.A poorly tuned carb set up has the potential to destroy an engine quickly.FI set up for a bike can't get out of adjustment to easy.I plan to tackle an FI project using Micro Squirt.I plan to use GSXR1000 center throttle bodies,99 GSXR600 external fuel pump,and other sensors will be standard GM.Their cheap and reliable.Here's a site that will help explain my plans.The only difference in this guys set up and mine is,I will be doing a twin and he is using Mega Squirt.Micro Squirt was designed for bikes and snow machines.

http://www.hal-pc.org/~dhutch/

That's cool, that guy said he had like $900 into the whole efi and iginition swap. A little pricey, do you think your's will cost that much?

Right now the Micro Squirt is $400 + shipping,the throttle bodies I can get for $50,and the other sensors I can get from a friend that scraps cars.I'm thinking $600 max,but I've been scraping some stuff myself,so it'll end up cheaper.All the custom stuff that guy did,doesn't have to be done to the GS.The ignition control on the GS is spot on for the conversion.The only thing that has to be addressed is the fuel injection.Also he built a mega squirt system that's designed for an automobile.The micro squirt(designed for motorcycles) comes with a wiring harness and ready to drop in and tune.Just need a few sensors to make it work.Here's the info if you wanna look at it.
http://microsquirt.com/

Way over my head, but very interesting. Which of your bikes are you planning on using this for?

Prolly go on Project Lite Wait,a 90 GS.I plan to do it when every thing is coming apart for paint.I hope to start on it in fall or early winter.I'm shooting for Thanks Giving week.

[cd]

ninja 650