k9 EFI conversion?

Which is better... Carburator or EFI?

  • Carburator

    Votes: 23 71.9%
  • EFI

    Votes: 9 28.1%

  • Total voters
    32

zenBD

Active Member
Hello! I'm new to the forum...looking into purchasing a K9. I'd prefer an EFI set up, but they are very hard to find. I'm wondering if it is possible (or realistic) to switch over to an EFI set up after the fact if I go with a carburated bike. Anyone have an idea? Any advice/assistance is much appreciated!

Also, anyone who's got a 08-11 k9 for sale (black or mostly), please contact me.

Thanks!
 

Brew

Troop Supporter
Welcome from Washington State, hope you enjoy the site. Not sure why you're so intrested in EFI but to each their own. You're going to spend some pretty good money by making the transition from carb to EFI. Could you please go here and post up an intro? Thanks and again welcome... :cheers: http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/introductions/
 
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okie_dog

Guest
welcome to the site. when I was buying mine I was also preferring an EFI k-9 but ended up with a carbureted 09 k-9 and I love it. mine gets great fuel mileage, throttle response and no problems starting up cold or hot.
 

zenBD

Active Member
Thanks for the welcome, guys. That's great to here about the carburated k9. That's really what I've been worried about... it has been a while since I have had anything other then a fuel injected bike. The thought of a carb just makes me worry about getting the jetting right for air/exhaust and all that....and having trouble with cold starts. I guess that is just me reflecting on my experiences with old bikes, and my relatively little experience with jetting... Just out of my comfort zone as of late. Looks like I should be open to the carb models anyway. Slim pickins around here. Are there any things I should look out for, by-the-way? Problems with certain years, or anything like that?

I just went out looking for Big Dogs in Daytona Beach today. Went to Carl's Speed Shop, and while they had none to sell, they had three k9s they were doing maintenance on that they let me take a look at. Those things are mean! Really got my blood pumping...dying to pick one up now more then ever.
 

bruce

Active Member
just my opinion but carb. is much better, less computer controls, less electronic sensors, once you have carb. set up right everything is great. also easier to work on, carb. adjustments etc. are not hard. to switch from carb. to EFI would be very expensive, new computer, sensors added, new ehaust, and much more - would make no sense to do at all. i have about 40000 on mine, it is carb. and have that no problems, summer or winter. hope this helps. I work take carb. over EFI anytime
 
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okie_dog

Guest
I bought mine used and it has V&H big radius pipes on it, if they did any carb adjustments to it they were good at doing them cause it runs great. and EFI k-9 seems like they are rare and hard to find. and I know its a long ways from you but Gateway Cycles in St Louis has a few for sale, or they show to be online anyways. or check out the swap meet section on here, believe there are 1 or 2 k-9's for sale.
 

bigdogtech01

Well-Known Member
The change over from Carb to EFI is around $5000 by the time you buy the Intake, throttle body, all electronics, fuel tank, paint fuel tank, exhaust or modify exhaust and weld bungs in for O2 sensors. I believe it was only a $2000 upgrade if you were to order one from BDM new. From all the ones I have ridden, EFI is hands down better than carb as far as running down the road. It's very smooth, great throttle response, and seems to be very reliable...But, do you really want to spend the $5k + labor? If you lived close to me I would help you with install :D
 

seavee

Active Member
( From all the ones I have ridden, EFI is hands down better than carb as far as running down the road. It's very smooth, great throttle response, and seems to be very reliable...But, do you really want to spend the $5k + labor? If you lived close to me I would help you with install ) I agree 100℅ and EFI is not rocket science. Most every thing you drive is EFI anymore. Mine runs great
 

zenBD

Active Member
Wow... Didn't even realize the "chopper" existed. Figured that was in the title just for the sake of the eBay listing. I looked up the 07 lineup. So... Did I find the right info...that in 07 the K9 was a rigid frame only? Does that mean that all pre-08 K9s are rigid frame?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
That article is all kinds of fucked up. Seriously they couldn't even get it right?

K9 is softail

and there were no Big Dog model Chopper made with 250 rear tires after 2005 :loony:
 

StreetHog

Active Member
Yep ALL K9's are softails. I'd go carb'd now that I own one. Thought the same way as you at first just because my Street Glide is EFI. Problem with that is, EFI is dealer tuned and since my Dog is carb'd, I can easily tune it myself. fun too ;-)
 

zenBD

Active Member
Yeah, very good point. I figured I could do a power commander or something like that though. Either way, sounds like the carb models are plenty good
 
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