Is fuel injection a soul crusher?

[bcj]

My 72 Alfa had mechanical Bosch injection.
I got the car in a very used condition, but the FI had no issues ever.
Had to file the points for the mechanical ignition every month though.
The gym level leg lift clutch was what made it most difficult to live with.

 

[CDONA]

Yep, those 360*, will walk across the garage, up on the center stand.
That creamy bloop bloop, both pistons, up, down, alternate firing.
As they fly together, the vibration, , , starting and stopping.

 

[Das MotorRad]

i've cleaned the carbs on this ttr125 five times at this point. so much crap clogging up the passages...pretty sure a crumbling petcock seal is one of the last things fucking with me. i got it to idle fine but it bogs down when i give it some throttle. i have to eeeasssseee into the throttle, if i crack it 1/8 a turn or so and wait for it to pick up engine speed then i can wack it open the rest of the way. but if i wack it open right away it bogs down and dies. i think the float is sticky which makes it slow to respond to changes in throttle. i'm waiting on a carb rebuild kit to come, then once i get it running okay with stock settings i will be opening up the air box and rejetting.

i've wasted five hours or so on this thing, i don't like carbs. maybe when i'm older with lots of spare time i'll enjoy it again. i used to enjoy them when i had more time. i would buy a $500 ninja that wasn't running, clean the carbs, and then sell it for $2000.

carbs are crushing my soul because i just want to rideeeeee

just a follow up, seems like i was right in thinking that the sticky float was causing me issues. rebuilt the carbs last night with an all balls kit and the throttle now responds as i would expect. if i never have to do this again it would be too soon, however it did give me satisfaction hearing it fire back up.

is this what trauma bonding feels like?

 

[augustiron]

Satisfaction of unf*cking

 

[SFMCjohn]

my ‘73 Tiger had a sticky slide on its single carb. solved that scary issue, wolf style, with a brand new Amal stock replacement carb.

 

[senpai71]

Never had a carbed bike, but many a carbed car over the years. I do not miss them - less because of any 'actual' hassle with tweaking/cleaning carbs and more because I like the simplicity of FI - I haven't even had to think about it for years now...

 

[Caddywumpus]

I must not fuel injection. fuel injection is the mind-killer. fuel injection is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fuel injection. I will permit it to be in my bike

 

[gixxerjeff]

Never had a carbed bike, but many a carbed car over the years. I do not miss them - less because of any 'actual' hassle with tweaking/cleaning carbs and more because I like the simplicity of FI - I haven't even had to think about it for years now...

I think you're on to something here.
Don't get me wrong, I love my FI stuff, but those of us that enjoy tinkering probably have more of an affection for the "primitive mixers".
I know that's the way it is in my case.
As I mentioned earlier, soul can be found in multiple places when speaking of your relationship with a particular vehicle. I simply have a different set of expectations from my shiny new gixxers than I do from my beloved old 1971 Honda CB350.....for example.

 

[Mee]

May as well throw electric start in there also.

 

[gixxerjeff]

May as well throw electric start in there also.

The first bike I bought for my son was a 1994 DR125.
It was the first year for electric start.
He was pissed.
"I missed it by a year. It's not a real motorcycle unless you have to kick it."
I said "Remember your words. We're gonna have this conversation again in a month."
We did....I don't remember exactly what he said, but I vividly recall my response.
"Apology accepted."

 

[ST Guy]

Never had a carbed bike, but many a carbed car over the years. I do not miss them - less because of any 'actual' hassle with tweaking/cleaning carbs and more because I like the simplicity of FI - I haven't even had to think about it for years now...

I never had a fuel injected bike. And I never had any carb problems.

And there’s nothing quite like a pair of 44 Webers on a race prepped 2.0+ liter Porsche engine singing all the way past redline.

 

[Mee]

Only electric start-fi bike I’ve had iswhat I have now. I’m 73

 

[planegray]

Just trying to visualize the dramatic change going from a CB650 to a K1200RS.

I really liked mine, thing was a missile and immune to wind.

+1 for the K1200rs

Best aerodynamics ever....if I could keep my speed up in the rain the windshield air blew the drops off the visor and only my elbows and feet got wet

 

[bcj]

Ergonomic heat venting too. No roasted rump or drumsticks.

 

[Das MotorRad]

just a follow up, seems like i was right in thinking that the sticky float was causing me issues. rebuilt the carbs last night with an all balls kit and the throttle now responds as i would expect. if i never have to do this again it would be too soon, however it did give me satisfaction hearing it fire back up.

is this what trauma bonding feels like?

follow up to the follow up...

i ended up cutting open the airbox and installing washers in the exhaust and installing bigger jets. why? why did i do this? it was running fine...

well now it's running better than ever and i have developed a relationship with this shitbike and won't be able to ever get rid of it...it wheelies with me and two kids on it!

fuel injection may not be a soul crusher but carbs have soul..

 

[Cabrito]

On the flip side carburetor issues can be a real soul sucking nightmare as I try to chase the few drips after riding…. Confirming my life choices of preferred fuel injection bikes…

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Speaking of drips, I'd been putting this off because the leak goes away after a ride, but recently there were a few drips still off with the tank and air box and I'll let it dry out before I run it off and IV bottle to see where the leak is coming from...

 

[senpai71]

I think you're on to something here.
Don't get me wrong, I love my FI stuff, but those of us that enjoy tinkering probably have more of an affection for the "primitive mixers".
I know that's the way it is in my case.

Oh I'm an inveterate tinkerer - I just prefer my tinkering to not include carbs. Plenty of other stuff to tinker with - electrics, bodywork, add-ons, clutch, sprockets & chain, etc.

Plus there's tinkering for fun (maybe 'tinkering' implies fun?) and there's being aware that if you don't pay near-constant attention to it, your bike will stop working and you'll have to deal with gunk.

My carbed cars were an '81 Mini, a '76 MGB GT and a '67 Porsche 912... Forever breaking down because of fuel-related issues. No thanks.

 

[senpai71]

"I missed it by a year. It's not a real motorcycle unless you have to kick it."

I've also never had a bike with a kick start (well, I'm not including my Genuine Buddy scooter, but it also had electric start. Plus, y'know, it was very gentle).

But I've ABSOLUTELY kicked all my bikes at one time or another Sometimes in frustration/rage, sometimes because I hope maybe it will jar something loose...

 

[gixxerjeff]

But I've ABSOLUTELY kicked all my bikes at one time or another Sometimes in frustration/rage, sometimes because I hope maybe it will jar something loose...

These days, when something glitches, the first thing we do is power it down and restart.
Things were different when I was growing up.
It was my job to get up and slap the shit outta the tv when it gliched.
It didn't always fix it, but it always changed things...which fostered at least some level of satisfaction.
So yes...be my guest....kick away. It just might change things.