Carb vs. Fuel Injection - in regards to altitude - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

PhotoJoe · 09-21-2007, 10:20 PM

I'm from L.A., altitude basically 0 feet above sea level. I was in Reno on Tuesday and had some time to kill, so I went into the bike shops. One guy was telling me that I should definitely consider a fuel injected bike if I wanted to go to say...Tahoe, otherwise, I could burn a whole in my pistons. Hogwash? Something to consider? He was encouraging me to look at the Vulcan 900 over some of his bigger bikes because of it. It's not like the FI was an upgrade over a smaller bike.

I know the Vstar 1100 is carbs and 1300 is FI.

Opinions?

Thanks...as always.

(One of these days I'll surprise everyone and actually BUY a bike!!

)

texrider · 09-21-2007, 11:04 PM

Your pal has it backwards... Increasing altitude=less oxygen in air, so you need leaner mixtures to avoid bogging and poor fuel mileage. Not going to hole a piston with too much fuel, only without enough.

I would not even consider a bike without fuel injection. No other system can compensate as well for all conditions, especially altitude

dcstrng · 09-24-2007, 01:57 PM

Texrider is correct on the mixture, but modern CV carbs are fairly good at compesating for altitude -- assuming they're in tune to begin with...

Time4me2ride · 09-24-2007, 03:47 PM

All I know is that my M50 is fuel injected, and I have been over Hoosier pass 11,800 ft and to Cedar Breaks Utah at 10,500 ft and I have never had any issues with performance and only slight difference in fuel mileage. I would expect that with FI, but I have not tried the same trips with a carbs so I can not compare.

tbsS50 · 09-24-2007, 05:37 PM

My '06 Suzuki S50 is carbureted. I, just like Time4me2ride, have been over Hoosier Pass plus several other mountain passes in Colorado, with no performance problems at all. Something to keep in mind, however, is that cold starting the bike is different with carbs than with fuel injection. With motorcycle carbs, just like with older cars, you need to "pump" the accelerator 3-4 times, then press the starter, while giving it a little "gas." This technique, while using the choke, works every time. Once the engine is warm, which takes very little time, it starts right up the rest of the day.

09-21-2007, 10:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
PhotoJoe Third gear and cruising Joined: Mar 2007 Bike: Looking for my first bike Location: Santa Clarita, CA Posts: 505	Carb vs. Fuel Injection - in regards to altitude I'm from L.A., altitude basically 0 feet above sea level. I was in Reno on Tuesday and had some time to kill, so I went into the bike shops. One guy was telling me that I should definitely consider a fuel injected bike if I wanted to go to say...Tahoe, otherwise, I could burn a whole in my pistons. Hogwash? Something to consider? He was encouraging me to look at the Vulcan 900 over some of his bigger bikes because of it. It's not like the FI was an upgrade over a smaller bike. I know the Vstar 1100 is carbs and 1300 is FI. Opinions? Thanks...as always. (One of these days I'll surprise everyone and actually BUY a bike!! ) __________________

09-21-2007, 11:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
texrider Sprocket Pilot Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: '04 Vulcan 2000, '05 VTX1800 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 854	Your pal has it backwards... Increasing altitude=less oxygen in air, so you need leaner mixtures to avoid bogging and poor fuel mileage. Not going to hole a piston with too much fuel, only without enough. I would not even consider a bike without fuel injection. No other system can compensate as well for all conditions, especially altitude __________________ "Sprocket to me, baby!"

09-24-2007, 01:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
dcstrng Ditch Magnet Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: `99 Nomad`96 FLHT Location: Colonial Beach, VA Posts: 181	Texrider is correct on the mixture, but modern CV carbs are fairly good at compesating for altitude -- assuming they're in tune to begin with... __________________ Larry VROC -- IBA Milwaukee & Metric Last edited by dcstrng; 09-25-2007 at 07:54 AM.

09-24-2007, 03:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Time4me2ride Sprocket Pilot Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: Silver/Grey VStar1300 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 846	All I know is that my M50 is fuel injected, and I have been over Hoosier pass 11,800 ft and to Cedar Breaks Utah at 10,500 ft and I have never had any issues with performance and only slight difference in fuel mileage. I would expect that with FI, but I have not tried the same trips with a carbs so I can not compare. __________________ Carpe equus ferrum

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09-24-2007, 05:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
tbsS50 Where Am I ? Joined: Sep 2007 Bike: 2008 V-Star 1300T Location: Castle Pines North, CO Posts: 46	My '06 Suzuki S50 is carbureted. I, just like Time4me2ride, have been over Hoosier Pass plus several other mountain passes in Colorado, with no performance problems at all. Something to keep in mind, however, is that cold starting the bike is different with carbs than with fuel injection. With motorcycle carbs, just like with older cars, you need to "pump" the accelerator 3-4 times, then press the starter, while giving it a little "gas." This technique, while using the choke, works every time. Once the engine is warm, which takes very little time, it starts right up the rest of the day.

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