To EFI or not to EFI?

[wheelwobble]

Hey All,

 

So I'm looking into getting a new WR450. I intend on converting the bike to a supermoto, and it will see little/no dirt time. I'm still on the fence as to whether to buy new/used, and whether to buy an older bike that carb'd or buy a newwer one that's EFI. I want a bike that can run at a variety of altitudes well, as some of my rides will take me from Denver up to the continental divide.

 

What I'd do if money was no object:

I'd buy a brand new WR, a set of white plastics from Acerbis, and put on a custom color scheme/decal kit. I'd get a different headlight, taillight, and install some nice blinkers. I'd change the chain/sprocket combo to one that was more supermoto-friendly, and put on some nice sumo wheels, probably some glossy powdercoated ones.

 

But alas, money is an object, so what would you recommend?

[SteveThe Snakes]

Hey All,

 

So I'm looking into getting a new WR450. I intend on converting the bike to a supermoto, and it will see little/no dirt time. I'm still on the fence as to whether to buy new/used, and whether to buy an older bike that carb'd or buy a newwer one that's EFI. I want a bike that can run at a variety of altitudes well, as some of my rides will take me from Denver up to the continental divide.

 

What I'd do if money was no object:

I'd buy a brand new WR, a set of white plastics from Acerbis, and put on a custom color scheme/decal kit. I'd get a different headlight, taillight, and install some nice blinkers. I'd change the chain/sprocket combo to one that was more supermoto-friendly, and put on some nice sumo wheels, probably some glossy powdercoated ones.

 

But alas, money is an object, so what would you recommend?

Personally I wouldn't waste my time with fuel injection. Though they would work well at altitude. However so does a well dialed in carb.

I would consider a six speed fuel injected one but they are not out yet.

The 07-11 are very solid good bikes.

[FORMA MOTO]

Waste of time, for that alone.

The suspension however, makes it worth it to go new.

[wheelwobble]

Waste of time, for that alone.

The suspension however, makes it worth it to go new.

 

How much difference is there in suspension between the EFI years and the non-efi?

 

Like I said, this would be a street-only supermoto...

[FORMA MOTO]

For street only, I would do FI, just because of gas mileage and zero gas spills.

Get it ported, YZ cams, New ECU, and go hooligan your neighbors into moving away.

[AtomicGeo]

IMO, I would get FI with the FMF exhaust.  The quick revving GYTR map:

 

1 1 1   1 3 4

3 2 1   2 2 2

3 3 1   2 1 1

 

has a much better "off a dead stop" throttle response than than the carb'd version bike.  I would also go to a 14-48 gearing for street.

Edited February 5, 2015 by AtomicGeo