So, I've noticed many bikes are going to FI. Supposedly, this is more efficient, and thus better for the environment (though I question how much more efficient it really is on the scale of a 250 cc bike).

My thoughts are this: is fuel injection really a step up for quarter liter bikes? Are they not significantly more difficult to work on, particularly if you're out on the trail and something with the CPU craps out?

I guess I'm not sure the increased efficiency of fuel delivery is worth the more complicated electrical systems (with the CPU and sensors).

Any thoughts?

 

I admit, I'm a carb guy. I like mechanical things I can disassemble, reassemble, and make them go. (I like mechanical watches, too, but that's a whole different animal.) I am not a fan of FI because of the electronic metering of the fuel, and giz-mology that requires a circuit board. Having said that, injection has come light years from the erratic and unreliable stuff it once was; that's progress. In some ways, FI is more simple, much more efficient, and more consistent over time. However, ain't nothing like a well-tuned carb (or a whole rack of them!! Ever tune a CBX??) I can't tell you the number of times I've tweeked the carb on the ol Husky in the middle of a field, given the starter a kick, and off I go. But, carbs are for gearheads. FI is for consistent fuel delivery that doesn't really require much fiddling. Some guys like it that way.

 

FI is nice cause you have no choke, and when you go up in elevation the computer compensates. They also do better with emissions compared to a carb. FI is way more complicated in that you got all those wires and computer stuff. I personally like FI cause dont really have to fiddle with it.

 

fI is still new to me, and I have played with some fi tuning but still am comfy with carbs because of my time using carbs over fi. fi has proven itself to me and I am learning the curves of time because of the benefits and success. Now I need a dedicated laptop and knowledge.

 

I have always done my own carb work, and loved the old fashion carburators. But since I have owned my 14, and can remap in 30 minutes or less with a laptop computor, I like FI more everytime I retune.
But yeah, for a dirt bike, I would prefer a carb!

 

I can't see how carbs are better on any engine. my friend does love constantly screwing with all 4 carbs on his ancient yamaha, tho. FI has been an option for years, maybe not all models