Actually you don´t, because the standard EFI box is programmable. You´ll just need to connect it to a laptop with proper software on it (this is usually done at the dealer during other maintenance) and adjust fuel amounts just a little at low rpm on partial throttle openings.

But I´m sure the dealers, who sell Power commander or similar systems would disagree, it is their business afterall!!

For me, it´s FI all the way nowadays, simple as that. I´ve had several carb´d bikes (and cars) during the years, and in FI, both functionality and dependability are just superior, even if/when planning an overland-trip to faraway countries.

I don't think you can just split this carbs and FI. My MZ has one carb with maybe three seals and half a dozen moving parts. It either works or it doesn't, you can tune it with a screwdriver and a metal rule so long as you can count to 5. The pair of things on the Bonneville have dozens or O-rings, linkages, diaphragms and goodness knows what else and require vacuum gauges and some sort of surgical manipulator to tune them. The FI on the Brick is a series of components that can be tested with a multimeter.

I'd ditch the carbs on the Bonneville for FI tomorrow if I could afford the newer bike.

For those terrified of the black box: I worked for the largest manufacturer of truck ABS ECU's in the world for 12 years. I that time, in the UK, I accepted warranty claims on one ECU. I saw dozens of claims a month from dealers who were too stupid or mean to get the right diagnostic kit and had started swapping parts. I saw a few great examples from owners who couldn't read, such as the one with burn marks from the welding set earth. I once travelled 400 miles to change a fuse on a bus the dealer had fitted three ECU's to in the space of a week. There is no shortage to idiots who'll blame what they can't understand, the trick is simply not to deal with them. ECU's never ever fail when compared to plugs, other bits of wiring and petrol soaked O-rings. Given my 1984 BMW has FI, we really should be getting out of this era with FI by now.

Andy

After owning maybe a dozen bikes with carbs, I now own my first bike with EFI. No farting around with a choke, no blipping the throttle when starting the bike, no waiting for a cold engine to warm up, etc. Just push the starter button and it fires right up and runs smoothly. I think it's great!

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

It is in my opnion. A bike with a well-tuned carburettor is as good as a bike with a well-tuned FI system. The statement also applies if you replace the "well" twice with "badly".
FI does have more components which are 'distributed' over the bike and interconnected by wiring - increasing the chance of malfunction. As does the number of components increase the chance of malfunction. That said, FI systems are very very reliable nowadays - almost all the cars you see on the road are fuel injected and how many of them break down due to a fault in the FI system?

For sheer reliability, I'd still choose a carb, as they tend to be very reliable. Interesting for the OP: a CV carb (constant vacuum) does not need altitude adjustment - the adjustment is 'built-in' in it's operating principle.

I did however just change from a carburetted bike to an FI bike - and I like it. Reading through the numerous boards all over the internet I dare say that the amount of expertise shown by those tinkering with carbs and those tinkering with FI is about the same - and would not encourage me to have my bike worked on by the posters.

A

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Auke
http://aukemarieke.blogspot.com

Hi Pecha72,
Whether you use a power commander ,use your own computer with the correct program or go to the dealer to have the fueling altered [ IF he can do it properly ] .The principle is the same .
My point is that you are stepping up the cost and utilising technology that is beyond the brain and screwdriver .
I don't go to dealers ,because they are expensive and in the most part incompetent .

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Most ECU's aren't remappable anyway. Some can be flashed with new firmware but only by maps supplied BY the manufacturer of the bike.

This is exactly why power commanders exist !!

I have to agree with Dodger... 99% of dealers wouldnt know what to do with a rolling road and a power commader but there are websites full of maps with different sets ups that you can download. For that, I really like FI as it's pretty much plug and play.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

It took less than 5 minutes to adjust my Vstrom´s ECU (to fix that running at low revs), so cost isnt an issue here. And I know you can make more precise adjustments with a PC, so if I was building a race bike, then it might make sense. A Vstrom can run just fine without it.

I don´t know about the quality of the dealers in your area, but that adjustment is really very basic.

Complicated technology? Well, maybe, if you compare to a screwdriver, but like pointed out here, FI´s actually been around for ages, it works really well, and has clear advantages compared to what was before.

Shop charges are around $95 to $110 an hour , one hour minimum charge .
I wouldn't trust them with my wheelbarrow !

Ride safe and prosper .

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

I obviously am not fluent with computer stuff and am inept at searching. I was not aware one could search the site using Google.

I joined as a Gold member to support the site, read posts for 10 months trying to learn and find my way around, and get spanked for my third post.

Sorry I irritated you. Anyway, I do appreciate you teaching me how to search. Thank you.

Don't be disgruntled... The search function on the hubb is CR*P and oftens returns no results so there are plenty of questions asked over and over and over (by me too).

Welcome to the Hubb and long may you be a member

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Thank you for your encouragement. It's nice to feel welcomed.