| Author | Message | ||
     Swordsman |
Quick question: how far do you have to go back to find bikes without fuel injection? I know that's going to vary by brand, but in general, what were the final years of medium-large displacement carbed bikes? ~SM | ||
| Dalton_gang |
I had a `99 and `00 HD that were both carb then a `03 that was injected. | ||
| Froggy |
Not far back enough.... | ||
| Hughlysses |
2002 was the last year for Buell, with the M2. | ||
| Swordsman |
Froggy, was that tech-snob remark?  ~SM | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
the kawi zx9r was ran carbs until 03 when it was replaced by the zx10r in 04. | ||
| Glitch |
Froggy, was that tech-snob remark? Probably not. If you've never had the privilege of starting a cold natured bike with a choke, you'd not ask... | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I must say I was reluctant to switch over to injected bikes but now that I have I am not so sure I ever want to own another carb bike again. I like that I can just jump on my xb and start it up. Both my m2 and my zx9r were pains in the but on cold mornings. | ||
| Froggy |
 Kinda snob, but not entirely. I've had enough frustrations in life with my carb bikes, that the thought of ever acquiring another one makes me cringe. But it is your money, knock yourself out.  (Done thread crapping ) | ||
| Xl1200r |
Sportsters didn't get FI until 2007, I think they were among the last hold outs. Oh yeah, that Fischer sport bike thing is Carb'd. | ||
| Glitch |
If you're going carbed, might as well do points as well! | ||
| Fahren |
Heh-HEM! Buell's last year for carb'ed bikes was 2010. Even if they ended up cubed. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
yes but he was asking for medium-large displacement bikes. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
The "modern classic" line of Triumphs (Bonnies, thruxton, scrambler etc) had carbs thru 2008. The fuel injection system on the 2009 and up bikes is made to look like the carbs since the carbs were such an important factor in the look of the bike. FI system--  | ||
| Aesquire |
might as well do points as well! I could, and have fixed points by the side of the road. Once after I let my Boss ride my GS750, and he dropped it at a standstill in a parking lot, puncturing the points cover with a rock, and bending the &*^# out of the points. Now that I think about it, you HAD to be able to fix points by the side of the road. So I'm only mildly nostalgic. Carbs are as arcane to tune as Fuel injection. Just the tools and supplies are different. | ||
| Froggy |
Ok, I don't want to derail anymore than I previously have, but what are these points? I can do my own research, but I need to figure out what to search for. Typing "points" into Bing is a bit vague. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Points were the contact points inside a distributor or magneto that told which plug to fire before electronic ignition. | ||
| Teeps |
1980 for Honda; CX500 Turbo Kawasaki GPz 900 around 1980~82 | ||
| Birdy |
The 650 KLR is still made with a CV 40. My 2009 has one that needs to be cleaned. Looks like I'll be doing that this week end as the main's plugged and I can't get the silly bike over 60. Carbs are neat BUT a well done FI is th way to go. | ||
| Slaughter |
Carbs are cool... but so is communicating using the written word by using pointed sticks and pressing into moist clay. You can DO it - but there are better ways. | ||
| Blake |
A good motorcycle carburetor is an analog thing of beauty. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Yea, I didn't think carbs were so bad. Points ignitions on the other hand, were just as mysterious as solid state systems but not NEARLY as reliable. Bad condensers, bad coils, etc. Adjust and/or replace every ~10k miles. What a PITA. I remember a cartoon in the back of Popular Hot Rodding in the last 60's or early 70's. It showed some grizzled mechanic under the hood of a car, covered in grease, sweating, looking like he was at his wit's end. This little lady is standing next to the car holding her purse and says "Maybe the points need sharpening."  Of course, if you don't know about points, you'll have no clue about the joke. (Message edited by Hughlysses on March 10, 2011) | ||
| Two_seasons |
My Buells are the first FI bikes I've owned. Sure alot more simplistic. And way less to go wrong (all those sensors) (Message edited by two_seasons on March 10, 2011) | ||
| Ratbuell |
My carb Buells start just as easily as my EFI Buells. Tune 'em right, treat 'em right...and they return the favor tenfold. Basic? Sure...but still totally viable. | ||
| Ulyranger |
Aw c'mon. Carbs ain't that bad. My dirt squirters are carbed and I can dial them in just fine with minor hand tools in seconds. I run my carbed Ktoom all winter long (starts fine to 0*). My Uly is also a fine machine, FI and I can't do squat with it. If it starts crapping out on me someday, and no one has come out with tuning equipment for the consumer......it's going to suck. So tell me how great this all is after what meager H-D support there is dries up?? Not that I'm about to give them any of my hard earned dollars. There is one place I find a fine running carbed bike beats the crap out of any FI I've run, slow speed off road situations. Maybe someday someone will produce a FI system that doesn't operate like a light switch, but considering EPA is in the engineer's driving seat....I'm not holding my breath. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Ok, I don't want to derail anymore than I previously have, but what are these points? I can do my own research, but I need to figure out what to search for. Typing "points" into Bing is a bit vague. Ahhh, youths. | ||
| Glitch |
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/ignition-system4.htm | ||
| Slaughter |
My first "big" bike was my '66 441 BSA "Victim." Points were always closing. Fold a piece of paper in half, use to set the gap, good to go. | ||
| Reepicheep |
My 1971 Kawasaki Bison, after sitting siezed in a barn for possibly 30 years, uses points... and fired up beautifully on the second kick after I rebuilt the engine. And it has a carb, under a side cover on the motor! | ||
| Just_ziptab |
DP-12,DC-13A....installed several a day,30 years ago. (Motocraft points and condensor) | ||
| Britchri10 |
We used to set points on old Brit' bikes by using razorblades to measure the gap. I ride an FI X1,I own a Carbed Blast &, so long as I treat them both right, I have no trouble with either. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Ah, the Bison. Rotary valve 2 smoke...I cut a lot of valve discs for those...cut the disc, add a pipe, cut the head down a bit, spend an hour with the jet kit and holy smokes those things were fast. Points made me a lot of money...worn out points retarded the timing on a 2 smoke...they don't much like that . | ||
| Reepicheep |
The thing does pull a lot harder than I expected! Those motors were pretty advanced for their day. (brakes, suspension, and weight... not so much! ) (Message edited by reepicheep on March 14, 2011) |
