Hi all, going to be buying a 2004 Softail Deuce just after the first of the year, this will be my first HD, and I wanted to get some opinions on weather I sould get the fuel injected model, or the carborated one. Any help would be great, I am planning on doing some custom work to the bike, shortly after I get it, and don't know if either choice would make a difference.

Thanks
Jeff

 

troiano

If you are planing on going to Knoxville or down around Chattanooga very often the EFI might be the best choice. With the changing of altitude that you would go through from Nashville to the mountains a carburetor would be prone to run rich. The carburetor jetting that works great on 2nd avenue would probably not be great in the mountains. The EFI should regulate its self as needed and give you less trouble in that aspect. I am not sure what the performance or dependability differences are between the two set-ups. Hopefully someone that has owned both can chime in and give you some first hand experience.

Stay Safe and Take Care

 

DILLIGAF has it nailed down. Only thing with the carb model is the Vacuum throttle for the 2000 and up Harleys is a neat arrangement. It adjust for the high altitude and low altitude but not as well as the Injected, but lots better than the old carbs. One other thing. Injected models are better computer controlled and handle a hot motor by richening up the fuel mix. This keeps the motor cooler.

Let us know when you get your new ride and send pictures.

Rapido

 

I just bought a 04 Road King. Do yourself a favor go with the EFI. It is so much easier when you start adding aftermarket parts.

 

I have an 2001 fat boy that is injected. I did not want it when I got it, I would never go back now. Don't let the guys tell you that a efi bike will not be fast. I have a friend with an 02 injected fat boy that will run hi ten's. you need to see how upset sport bikes get when a fat boy a$$ whoops'em.

 

I hope you took a picture of that look on their faces 'cuz it probably doesn't happen very often... high tens?... a new 600 (124 crank hp) will run sub 10's off the showroom floor with no mods. A new liter-class sportbike will leave your buddy wallowing in shock waves.

 

my next harley will be EFI just for the plain reason of warming the bike up, I don't want to have to do that especially when I leave for work around 7am and the bike will be running for 10-15 minutes outside. EFI = no warming up = no neighbors complaining!

 

ya! that would be nice. I am so jealous of my bud's bikes sittin' there purring like kittens while they put on their gloves and get ready to go and I'm trying to keep mine running when it's cold out. fuelies rule when it comes to cold weather.

 

>>>I have a friend with an 02 injected fat boy that will run hi ten's. you need to see how upset sport bikes get when a fat boy a$$ whoops'em.


BFD, that will not even beat a mid-range sport bike now days.

I had a drag HD that ran 9.85 in 1985 & even that would have trouble beating a lot of sport bikes now days.

-John

 

troiano:
not sure how helpful this will be but I had a carburated Sportster that ran great and now I have a fuel injected Road King and it runs great. I don't miss playing with the enricher on the Sportster and even in cold weather the fuel injection runs smooth. Not sure what mods you will make. I just had the stage 1 installed on the Road King and so far it runs just fine. Hope this helps a little.

 

Mikuni is the only way for me. Runs when its cold and the throtle response is awsome less expensive when it breaks and can tune it however I want to. CV sucks.

 

CV sucks?? I don't agree with that at all. I just switched from a CV to a Mikuni HSR 42(because I got it REAL cheap) on my HTCC 95 & I see very little difference between the two. It runs great with the Mik, but it ran great with the CV also. A properly set up CV runs awesome up to around 100HP.

I do prefer a carb to FI although I work on FI bikes all the time & some of my buddies have them.

-John

 

Put them up against each other on the dyno youll see the difference

 

I saw a dyno comparison recently between a re-jetted CV & a Mik HSR 42 on a 95" motor, the maximum HP was almost identical(I think the Mik MAY have had 2HP more tops)

-John

 

We get at least 5hp out of each one we install.

 

Go look at the numbers Bob Woods gets from CV carbs, he uses them over the Mik for a reason. I like the HSR 42, but I will be trying a Woods carb later this week, I will post the results.

-John