the beauty of FI

[Paul_E_D]

No winterization. Didn't even put the battery on the tender. KTM 690 fires up on the first crank.

[01xj]

Did the same with mine. Threw it on the center stand with a full tank of gas and covered it.

[R7]

Same thing with my R1, fired up instantly!

However, my fuel injected quad starts instantly and runs flawlessly but the enjector has some buildup of bad fuel and is causing it to stick open just a bit. If the fuel pump has pressure and the engine is not running, it drips fuel and flows into the motor. I found out the other day when i changed the oil and it reeked of gas. When I called the dealer, they said it's becoming more and more common with fuel injection.

[Paul_E_D]

Mmmm, yeah, that's not fun. Will likely run some seafoam in my last tank next year.

[caddydaddy]

If the fuel pump has pressure and the engine is not running, it drips fuel and flows into the motor. I found out the other day when i changed the oil and it reeked of gas.

I guess that's better than staying inside the cylinder and hydraulically locking and bending a rod!

[KingCast 650R]

No winterization. Didn't even put the battery on the tender. KTM 690 fires up on the first crank.

Yah man unless it is a vintage something or other I just won't own another carbed' bike. There is an easier, softer way that frees up your time for other stuff.

[Slyder]

Same with my bike yesterday. I never removed, charged, or put the battery on a tender like I usually do. Hit the starter and it was happily growling away, with the "I love FI" thoughts running through my head. If it was a carbed bike, I'd had to have jumped it, guaranteed.

[RandyO]

can't speak to letting a carbed bike set cause I ride at least once a week all winter but I can say I'd rather have a reliable carb & choke rather than the unsophisticated FI thats on my V-strom, sure, it fires right up, but so did my carbed SV, and with the carb, set the choke , with the FI on the V-strom I have to babysit the throttle when temps are below freezing

[CBR929RE]

can't speak to letting a carbed bike set cause I ride at least once a week all winter but I can say I'd rather have a reliable carb & choke rather than the unsophisticated FI thats on my V-strom, sure, it fires right up, but so did my carbed SV, and with the carb, set the choke , with the FI on the V-strom I have to babysit the throttle when temps are below freezing

get a bike that has decent FI and you'll change your mind.

I charge my battery over the winter to prolong its life.

[breakdirt916]

uhh, wut does fuel injection have to do with leaving your battery off the tender?

the only thing I can think of, is that carbed bikes need to turn over more to get started in the spring, almost to the point that it drains a battery that has decreased shelf life to begin with. But I started my carb'd 95 FZR600 after the winter with the first engine revolution (+ choke when it was in the 40's range). Now it starts 50+ without any choke at all (but I would have to hold the throttle to keep it running).

[KingCast 650R]

uhh, wut does fuel injection have to do with leaving your battery off the tender?

the only thing I can think of, is that carbed bikes need to turn over more to get started in the spring, almost to the point that it drains a battery that has decreased shelf life to begin with. But I started my carb'd 95 FZR600 after the winter with the first engine revolution (+ choke when it was in the 40's range). Now it starts 50+ without any choke at all (but I would have to hold the throttle to keep it running).

I said it because I ride all year and it's so nice not to have to deal with selecting the best jets, fussing with a choke in the cold mornings, etc. etc. etc.

[RandyO]

get a bike that has decent FI and you'll change your mind.

.

first I'd have to be convinced that the FI is reliable at the temps I ride, unfortunalty no one could convince me now until the middle of next winter

Like I said, I'll take proven reliable carb over the primitive FI that suzuki puts on its budget bikes, if I was buying an adventure bike today, it wouldn't be a V-strom with what I know now, prolly a Super Tenere

[TheIglu]

KLR fired up with one push on old gas and no Stabil. No FI, just keep it in a semi-warm basement all year.

[RandyO]

I said it because I ride all year and it's so nice not to have to deal with selecting the best jets, fussing with a choke in the cold mornings, etc. etc. etc.

hmmm never had to fuss with anything on mySV650, always had instantanious starts down to -25°F, stock jets 100% dealer service per schedule in OM, can't say that for my V-strom anything below freezing I have to fuss with throttle

[gregp]

In late fall, I start adding sea foam or techron to every tank of fuel. At that point, you never know which ride will be your last one of the year.
I seem to be forever working on my neighbors small engines - every one needs a good carb cleaning by the time I get to them. After seeing some of the green crusty crud, I can not imagine that FI systems are immune at all. In fact, the repairs may be more complex and costly than on carbed motors.
JMO.

[TheIglu]

Had my ZRX since what, 2005? Still have yet to open the carbs on it. Never drain them for the winter. No Stabil last two years.

Try keepin your babies warm in the winter (or at least consistent temp). My basement is about 40 degrees in the winter. Chainsaw, weedwacker, lawn mower, log splitter, 4 wheeler, KLR, 125 smoker, ZRX, two EX500's. No Stabil, pump gas. Every single one fired up without an issue......

Something tells me if you keep runnin into issues with carb'd bikes, you are doing something wrong.

[Paul_E_D]

That's BS Clayton! With ethanol fuel, I have had issues with plugged pilot jets on a host of carbed bikes that sit as little as one month. It doesn't always happen, but it does happen.

My Duc was hard to wake up after a winter's nap. I had to make sure I charged the battery, and had perfectly clear pilot jets. It also had carb icing issues at around 38 degrees. Now, that may be bike specific, but carbs were definitely at play.

The FI bike just starts quickly no matter what. That was my point. Not that carbs suck. I still like my carbed bikes.

[obsolete]

Carla's 250 clogged the pilot jets in 2.5 weeks in the summer.

[Kurlon]

The pilot circuit on my snowblower does NOT like current gas.

[TheIglu]

I dunno.....I'm not makin this up. As soon as I started storing my bikes in a temperature moderated location, I haven't had an issue since.

[Paul_E_D]

I don't have that particular luxury...

[KingCast 650R]

In late fall, I start adding sea foam or techron to every tank of fuel. At that point, you never know which ride will be your last one of the year.
I seem to be forever working on my neighbors small engines - every one needs a good carb cleaning by the time I get to them. After seeing some of the green crusty crud, I can not imagine that FI systems are immune at all. In fact, the repairs may be more complex and costly than on carbed motors.
JMO.

I do run Techron, can't ignore the fact that fuel is fuel, FI or carb.

[Paul_E_D]

As if to mock me my carbed SX started up on the second kick today and ran like a champ after the same negligence...