Just noticed Honda finally caught up . . .

Message

HYPERR · #11 Post by **HYPERR** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:18 am

High_Side wrote:The irony is that as manufacturers are squeezed in to using EFI they usually set them up so lean that they do not work as well as the previous carbed model in my experience. It's easier to map in a big old lean hole in the mid-range to pass emmisions tests with EFI so that's what seems to happen. Modern motorcycle carbs work so well if you look after them they should really not be a deterent to buying any bike....and in some cases you could be better off.

Hey High Side, did you do anything to your wife's Monster? Fat Duc or the Race ECU?

High_Side · #12 Post by **High_Side** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:05 pm

HYPERR wrote:
High_Side wrote:The irony is that as manufacturers are squeezed in to using EFI they usually set them up so lean that they do not work as well as the previous carbed model in my experience. It's easier to map in a big old lean hole in the mid-range to pass emmisions tests with EFI so that's what seems to happen. Modern motorcycle carbs work so well if you look after them they should really not be a deterent to buying any bike....and in some cases you could be better off.
Hey High Side, did you do anything to your wife's Monster? Fat Duc or the Race ECU?

The Monster was actually not all that bad, and light years ahead of the flatulent sputtering GT1000 that I have long since unloaded. I did end up putting on a set of Carbon Fresco cans and a straight mid-pipe to replace the cat converter, mostly for better sound and ground clearance and the bike still runs pretty decently without a change in ECU. It could be a little better but it's at a point that I can live with it

HYPERR · #13 Post by **HYPERR** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:49 pm

High_Side wrote:
HYPERR wrote:
High_Side wrote:The irony is that as manufacturers are squeezed in to using EFI they usually set them up so lean that they do not work as well as the previous carbed model in my experience. It's easier to map in a big old lean hole in the mid-range to pass emmisions tests with EFI so that's what seems to happen. Modern motorcycle carbs work so well if you look after them they should really not be a deterent to buying any bike....and in some cases you could be better off.
Hey High Side, did you do anything to your wife's Monster? Fat Duc or the Race ECU?
The Monster was actually not all that bad, and light years ahead of the flatulent sputtering GT1000 that I have long since unloaded. I did end up putting on a set of Carbon Fresco cans and a straight mid-pipe to replace the cat converter, mostly for better sound and ground clearance and the bike still runs pretty decently without a change in ECU. It could be a little better but it's at a point that I can live with it

Yeah the GT1000 and the sports classics are supposed to be the worst of the bunch. The guy that makes the fat duc manipulator started making them initially for the sports classic. The surging on the Hypermotard is somewhat annoying but not that bad. I have the Leo Vince cat eliminator which actually seemed to smooth it out a little bit. I think I'm going to get the fat duc manipulator. Helluva lot cheaper than the criminally expensive Ducati race ECU.

High_Side · #14 Post by **High_Side** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 1:59 am

I wish that I would have known about the Fat Duc Manipulator when I had the GT, but then I would likely still have the bike. Then I would have never unloaded it and spent a boat-load of cash trying to fix the suspension.

As it turns out, getting rid of that was one of the best moves that I made. I took quite a while just riding the old VFR waiting for something good to come along and I found it in the Superduke. What an awesome bike, right out of the box without any mods. If all GT owners could ride a Superduke there would be a flood of old Sportclassics on the market!

HYPERR · #15 Post by **HYPERR** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:34 am

High_Side wrote:I wish that I would have known about the Fat Duc Manipulator when I had the GT, but then I would likely still have the bike. Then I would have never unloaded it and spent a boat-load of cash trying to fix the suspension. As it turns out, getting rid of that was one of the best moves that I made. I took quite a while just riding the old VFR waiting for something good to come along and I found it in the Superduke. What an awesome bike, right out of the box without any mods. If all GT owners could ride a Superduke there would be a flood of old Sportclassics on the market!

Katoom! Super Duke is a better bike than the GT in every way except for maybe looks. This is subjective of course. I actually love the looks of the Super Duke. To my eyes, it is a great looking bike in a mfugly but totally cool bad azz sort of way. Also you know it is a Katoom! and nothing else. So personally I prefer the looks of the Katoom! over the much cleaner and timeless design of the Duc GT.
Where it matters most is the fun factor. I would bet this is where the Katoom! spanks the Duc GT beyond belief.
I have always wanted a Duke ever since the first 620(really a 609) came out in the mid 1990s. That was the one that looked like a cartoon character with buckteeth. Now that was a bike that was ahead of its time!

paul246 · #16 Post by **paul246** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:27 pm

For what it's worth, Honda was one of the first manufacturers, back in the early 80's, to offer fuel injected motorcycles.

Fuel injection isn't necessarily the be-all end-all item either, there are pros and cons to both FI and carbs.

Thankfully, my XR650L still came with a carb when I bought it. Has worked flawlessly ( I re-jetted to get rid of the factory lean setting), the bike has never skipped a beat. Gravity is so reliable.

Too bad for one of my buds when his EFI fuel pump packed in, leaving him stranded on the trail.

Amdonim · #17 Post by **Amdonim** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:44 pm

I agree. I honestly don't even notice having carbs anymore. My old Suzuki was one thing, but the Shadow's carbs work flawlessly. It starts every time, even in the teens or lower. Not saying FI is bad, but I don't really see a drawback to having carbs either, at least for my purposes.