Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge EFI model worth waiting for???

Folks,

As stated before, I will be buying a Triumph upon my return from Iraq. I have two questions that I would greatly appreciate an assist on. When will the fuel injected TBA and SM be available in the states? I am also curious if anyone thinks it will be worth holding off purchase of my bike until I am able to get one with the EFI setup? I will be using my bike to travel nearly an hour to work every day. Fuel economy will be a very important consideration due to the fact that everyone at home in the states is paying nearly $3 (or more) for a gallon of gas. The F150 4x4 will remain parked and only driven to work when the weather worsens next winter. I would greatly appreciate any and all input.

Thanks,
Jason

The beer is for the Michelob that I will have in hand in a little under two months!!!!!!

Hello Jason,

Congratulation on your decision to purchase a Triumph. I bought a 07 and loving it. Mine has the carburator setup and gets about 42-44 mpg with conservative driving (very hard to accomplish). I can imagine you could get a few more miles out of the EFI model. But no matter what you decide, you'll increase the fun and lower the gas mileage on your commute.

I haven't heard of anyone here that actually test rode or owns one with the EFI, yet. I just cannot imagine it being a bad ride. Having said that, the TBA with EFI gets a A+ for technical and a B- for styling (it's the tank, brother).


Good luck!

It doesn't seem that anyone here has had reliability concerns or mileage woes with carbs and with EFI still an unknown quantity it's hard to offer advice. You will save as much on a wise purchase of a used America or Speedmaster than you'll save in mileage improvements for many years so it's really up to you.

I think either bike will do you well. Its hard for any of us to really comment on the EFI TBA as none of us have ridden them yet. The carb bikes that we have are simply brilliant. So if the EFI is as good or better then it will be the bees knees as they say.

The tank does create a lot of interest. Some like it, some dont. I like it, but not everyone does.

EFI is not new to Triumph, they have been running EFI on their multi cyclinder sport bikes for quite some time so i believe this twin EFI model should hopefully be right straight out of the box.

Either way you have made a wise choice. Good luck, stay safe, thank you for what you are doing and come home soon.

My "brand X" bike is fuel injected. The advantages and disadvantages are about equal with a carburetted engine. Injection is less fuss to operate and is noticeably smoother. On the other hand "rejetting", a home job costing maybe $10 with carbs requires a new software download that will cost 10 or 20 times that.
So, if you like tinkering with your bike, buy now. If you want less bother, wait.

I would agree with these folks. I was thinking of holding out for EFI, but decided that modern carb technology is just fine and I can tinker with it, which I cannot do with EFI.

Thanks for your service to our country! Glad to hear you are coming home soon. My wife's ex, who is also a friend of mine bought a Harley over in Iraq and had it waiting for him when he came home last september. I showed him my Triumph, and he basically told me that he probably should have held off on the harley, and considered the triumph more! Especially since he blew his entire re-enlistment bonus on his Dyna FXD. He could have bought a triumph, and some accessories for what he paid for that Dyna. He wasnt too happy about that.

I wasn't clear on my first comment; not that EFI will be dodgy only that it hasn't been available to try out.

That said, you'd have to get some major improvement in mileage to make the dollar return a consideration (if it's dollars and not consumption that you're keying upon).

For instance, if you're lucky enough to put 20K on the bike you'd have to up the current average mileage to over 60mpg to save $400 and IMO it's unlikely EFI will show that marked an improvement.

Personally, I would have preferred that Triumph had kept the carbs and progressed to belt drive instead, but that's a moot point.

I have a 2003 SM, and I love it. I have no reason at all to want a bigger or newer bike except 'just to have a newer bike.' (Exception being made for the Can-Am Spyder.)

Depending on your budget, it wouldn't matter either way as long as you get a Triumph.

Stay safe and hurry back soon. (I was at Victory in '04, and you can imagine how much I DON'T miss being over there.) I'll have a tall cold one(s) this weekend while watching the Super Bowl, and I'll think of you. NA beer just doesn't cut it!

i can get 50mpg with mine if i am good to it which is rarely, but i never get under 40. i think your safe with either one so just get what you like

Frank

I prefer the carburated. I've had fuel injection and carburated bikes. Mileage doesn't seem to vary all that much between the two. If you make any changes or modifications, air filters, air boxes, AI, etc. you can adjust the carb jetting yourself rather than spending $150 - $300, a pop, for the dealer to re-map your ECM. Been there, done that with HD. It was an expensive lesson and they never could get the mapping right. You're totally at the mercy of the dealer. HD's answer was..."they all do that."

EFI starts better in cold weather than carbs,I have one bike thats EFI one not and there is a big difference...

Get the carbs, plus the new tank sucks

I never have any trouble starting my carbureted bike in cold weather. Of course I don't think I've ever started it below 40°.

I'll just reiterate what others said previously, get the carbs. If you like working on your bike easily, carbs are the only way to go. Plus, the old take looks way better IMHO.

The dealer I use told me he charges $20 to remap the EFI as I am considering going to the off road tune on my Tiger. The nice thing about EFI is it starts immediately in the cold weather without fooling with a choke. I saw the '08 TBA at the dealer and have to say the new tank is fuggly. So if I were you I would wait until you get back and judge for yourself. Buying a used TBA or SM is the way to go if you want carburators.

EFI with the old tank would be fine with me

Frank

Quote:

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B- for styling (it's the tank, brother).

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and lets not forget the "fake" carbs with EFI. Don't wait--ya been thru "h3ll"--enjoy a little heaven, now

I'm surprised you guys haven't been hassling Tuneboy - http://www.tuneboy.com.au/TuneDownloads/Tunes.html - to sort out some tunes for the EFI versions.

I've got a EFI Triumph (not a BA or SM) and it's really simple to upload new maps with the Tuneboy. Initial cost is about £200 ($400) so not cheap. but you'll never have to pay a dealer to upload a new map again - or buy new jets

I'm sure the EFI will be every bit as good as carbs and possibly better in that more detailed adjustments are possible. I guess I like my carbs because part of the reason I bought my TBA was the classic roots of it. I initially was interested in a Bonnie or T-100, but fell in love with the America. It still had all the classic features like carbs, chain, and wire wheels.

I got 50+ highway MPG on my 06 TBA hauling my 300+lbs and gear running 75-80. My setup was: modified stock pipe, 42 primary jet, 118 main jet, stock needles, dynojet springs, K&N filter(replacement for stock paper), snorkel in, 19 tooth front sprocket. I get 45+ MPG for everyday driving. Less if I'm into it a lot. Recently changed main jets to 126 with thruxton needles and snorkel out. Haven't checked the mileage since the changes but I'm confident that it'll still do close to 50MPG on the highway. My biggest problem with the bike is the cost of tires. The improved gas mileage of a bike doesn't offset the cost of tires.

I think we are seeing a bygone era with the Triumph twins. Ugly gas tanks, 1500-1700cc models that don't look like the traditional twins, and EFI. I'm gonna hang on to my TBA. Maybe add a Rocket III later.

tuneboy is very nice product, have it for my dads rocket and it is a great tool. does much more then just change tunes and wayne is a great guy also

Frank