Fuel Injection or Carburetor?

Dunno if this has been asked before (I've searched) but in your mind, which is better and what are the main differences?

Depends if you like pointy or curvy bike

In general FI is easier to look after as you don't need to clean / rebuild carbs periodically. Having said that, carbs aren't really that bad if you know what you are doing. People always bang on about carb icing being an issue, but I've never had too may problems. you can stick a bit of additive in the tank (or white spirit) if you ride in cold damp conditions. i just keep the carb heaters in good order and have never needed to.

On the flip side, carbs tend to give a smoother throttle response, or did do - modern FI has probably come on a long way sice the 03 bike that I rode. I didn't like the throttle response at all coming from a silky smooth carbed bike. I have 3 bikes, all with carbs and don't really want to go down the FI route yet.


EDIT - so to answer your question, neither is "better" as such. they both have advantages. FI is better for the environment as it can run leaner than a carburetor (carbs as a compromise essentailly), so less unburnt hydrocarbon is chucked out the back.

Carb'd SV's are not ugly, injected ones are.
I've always thought that injection systems have far mare to go wrong, more expensively, than carby jobbies.

And on a massive derail, philbut really can you use white spirit? I dont know why not, but I dont know why either

Originally Posted by captainsmelly

And on a massive derail, philbut really can you use white spirit? I dont know why not, but I dont know why either

So I believe. I've never tried it mind - never needed to. I think if you look at a bottle of Silkoline FST or similar, the main ingredient is alcohol based. i don't know the quantity you need however, but I guess similar to that of any similar branded additive.

[yorkie_chris]

It's isopropanol. You can use that alone to stop carb icing, way cheaper than pro FST.


I like carbs, you can fix if they go wrong.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I like carbs, you can fix if they go wrong.

You can fix FI as well

You asked for main differences.

With FI the engine gets exactly the right amount of fuel. so when waming up it idles a bit lower and then adjusts itself. It's all automatic.

With carbs you have to do this by hand by keep on pushing the choke in. Gives you more of a bond with your bike tho. Don't know if you have to turn the fuel tap off every day on an SV but that's another difference.

FI is better for the environment. Emission requirements have led to all new bikes being FI nowadays, only v recently tho.

Originally Posted by wow

Don't know if you have to turn the fuel tap off every day on an SV but that's another difference.

SV has a vaccum operated fuel tap, so no. TBH, I never turn my fuel taps off on my bikes unles the tank is coming off.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by lukemillar

You can fix FI as well

With much more faffing about. Ever tried to find a broken wire in an FI loom?

Originally Posted by wow

FI is better for the environment. Emission requirements have led to all new bikes being FI nowadays, only v recently tho.

Bah. Screw the environment, get some snorting great carbs big enough to loose a child down!

having had both I would go with FI every time - its smoother to ride in my experience and more reponsive in throttle on/off in the high revs e.g similar speed corners that require holding the same gear.