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.

I personally do not mind EFI at all. However, newer bikes with EFI tend to also have a lot of other electronics, which make (IMHO) service during a trip harder. Things like electronic ABS, FI dependent on catalyst readings, gear sensors, sensors for this, sensors for that.

While there is nothing _wrong_ with it, I do not know how to diagnose elaborate electronics issues in the field.

Hence I, personally, would rather take my '93 TransAlp on a big trip than a GS800.

Then again, YMMV...

Yeah.. That is a problem on many, but not all bikes !!!

I agree with your choice of travel bike though..... Electrics scare me too lol

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

Missed this thread completely when it was current. I originally trained in Electronic Engineering (used to work with military radio equipment) and although completely out of date the same principles can still be applied.

EFI wins hands down on the moving parts argument and with intelligent design is going to be much better in water (no float chaber or breather pipes). The problem lies in the engine management unit that controls the FI using input from various sensors and also controls ignition timing based on a stored algorithm. The algorithm can be altered on some bikes allowing better operation with low grade fuel for example. Electronics can fail for no good reason although apart from 'infant failures' most failures are agrevated by heat or water. Electronics are very light and cost very little to make especially if made in quantity and can also be made extremely rugged at virtually no extra cost. Unfortunately, the same is not true of the sensors and the connections to the sensors. For an ideal travel bike it seems to me that a manufacturer could easily make the electronics 100% redundant at very little extra cost to the end user. The same could be done for the sensors and the wiring although it may cost more. Redundancy would add nothing to the weight. Better on board diagnostics would be a useful facility so that when a failure does occur and your bike is running on the back up system you can order a replacement part to get the bike back to 100% as soon as possible.