Carburated bike: Worth the hassle?

Question

I'm considering trades on my 97 Honda Prelude for a sports bike. I received an offer for a 1990 Honda CBR 600, but it's "carbed over". I'm a FI guy, never fooled with carbs. I hear people complain about cleaning them, jetting them, etc.

Is it worth the hassle? It's a nice bike, I just prefer FI.

Answer 1

Anything is easy when you know what you are doing. Don't care to go up against the learning curve? Stupidity is bliss they say.

Answer 2

Depends on the condition they were kept. The worse thing is if fuel was left in them and the fuel turns to varnish. The second is their age, gaskets and seals do rot over time.



The best argument over FI is how simple Carbs are and how much FI cost when problems do arise.



It all starts in the tank, fresh clean fuel and far less issues. As a general rule, Regular Unleaded has a shelf life of 30 days, Mid Grade 60 days, Premium 90 days plus. FI fuel systems are better vented then carbed and can extend the average life of a grade of fuel. Introduce bad fuel and then you have issues that make a carb setup far easier to fix when it comes to doing it yourself and part cost.



If it's not broke don't fix it is the best advice there is when it comes to a fuel system, any fuel system.



Some people might say, "just run some cleaner (any type they prefer) through it"



I say, "if it isn't right then it's broke". It means there is tainted fuel or the residue of tainted fuel in the system and no cleaner poured into the tank is a complete cure or complete fix. Point is this, it's either working correctly or it's not and if it's not? Walk away unless total consideration is granted over that issue and is suitable to you?



FI is costly for repair issues but a lazy mans dream. If people are cleaning carbs frequently then they have past unresolved issues and/or are using bad gas or old gas far too much. Quality brands of gas have cleaning agents and are good enough alone to never require additives. If you need or require them then something is being missed, neglected, or is not understood.



With fuels today alcohol is an issue because it is like a magnet that attracts water, even from high humidity. There is only one true way to purge excess H2O from a fuel system, it has to be flushed with straight gasoline. Adding alcohol additives is a mask and ultimately an addiction to solve a current issue that does not eliminate the whole entire issue. So in this sense a sealed fuel system like an FI one has is better protection as well.



Tweakers and practicality types prefer carbs.



Lazy guys like FI, sometimes money isn't a factor and sometimes crossing your fingers is, so use good fuel for the least issues?

Answer 3

for my cars, I prefer FI, but for my motorcycles, I prefer carbs. All of my bikes right now have carbs (I've had a few FI bikes, and long siince sold them) and I don't have any problems with it. There isn't any 'hassle' any more than anything else. Jetting them is usually only if the carb needs a rebuild or if you make drastic changes in altitude (though you don't always have to rejet them anyway). Cleaning them again is only if the bike sits for years on end without being ridden. Throw a can of seafoam in the gas tank, and you'll be good to go 90% of the time. I have no complaints with carbs.

Answer 4

Carbs' main deficits are that it won't compensate well for altitude changes, which won't bother you at all if you're not in the Rockies or Sierras. Also, the bike is harder to start in cold weather with carburetors.



Any bike that is allowed to sit for extended periods will have require attention, especially if it's parked outside. Carbs do require more frequent tuning than EFI, but FI does need synchronizing occasionally just like multiple carbs, so that's a bit of a wash.



Also, tuning/rejetting carbs requires actual dismantling, not just plug-n-play like with a Power Commander.

Answer 5

If you start with a clean bank of carbs and ride often, using good quality clean fuel, winterize your bike properly when necessary, you shouldn't have to fool with the carbs at all.



You do need to synchronize the carbs, but you have to do that with multiple throttle bodies on FI systems too.



Nothing wrong with carbs unless you let them sit too long with gas in them.

Answer 6

Older bikes are in a continuous state of "needing the carbs cleaned" and I vastly prefer FI. Unless your Prelude is junky or that guy is throwing some cash or something on top, Id pass.

Answer 7

all of my bikes have carbs and none of them are ever a problem.