Hitchcocks Forum

Have any of you guys moved from an Electra X to an EFi?



I ask because that's what I've done. The EFi is supposed to be more powerful - it has a higher measured power at the crankshaft, and apparently the unit construction means the transmission between the engine sprocket and gearbox sprocket loses less energy.



Now, with only 300 miles on the clock on my EFi, I KNOW it is very early days to compare things with my Electra X, which had 5000 miles on the clock. However, I can say for sure that the Electra X definitely felt noticeably more torquey and accelerative through the mid-range than the EFi does. Obviously I haven't compared the top end yet, where you measure the power, but in any case the mid-range acceleration is far more important to me.



Obviously the EFi will improve as it runs in and frees up (and probably well after the running period). However, I just wondered what you guys felt when moving from an Electra X to an EFi (or vice versa). What differences did you notice?

At 300 miles from new, the efi engine is nothing, NOTHING, like it is at 1000. Mine improved in power & smoothness up to around 12000 miles. Many many similar reports from new efi riders on the U.S. forum (although these date from 2009/10).
More ridin, less obsessin.... ;-/

er.... that's 1200 miles....

when is there going to be an edit option on this medieval forum...?

Once run-in, you'll get a bit more grunt if you ditch the ludicrous torpedo tube and fit one of Mr H's silencers. Although "silencer" is a bit of a misnomer..
The 18t front sprocket is nice for long cruises too.

Bikerbill - not to mention the weight saving! Could not believe how heavy the original pipe and silencer assembly was on my Electra - sure it will be the same for the EFI.

As i've posted on here on numerous occasions i did this change two years ago and am really glad i did.The EFI is definitely more long legged and modern feeling but in a good way.Everything about about it is better than the Electra and yes get rid of the standard exhaust and silencer for our host's upgrades and gear up one tooth on the engine sprocket which i did a few months ago and i'm really glad i did - you don't lose anything but do gain quite a bit.I also have a K & N filter element in the standard air box.

Martin, how does the ECU cope with both the non-restrictive silencer and K&N filter fitted? Or have you fitted the Power Commander? How's the MPG?

Hey, bikerbill - don't worry about me "obsessin'", having something to fiddle with and an excuse to fiddle it are a big part of the fun for me!



On the subject of alternative silencers, do H's sell any that are no louder, or not much louder, than the standard? I don't want too much noise, nor do I want to irritate the neighbours or other road users. But something less restrictive would obviously be of benefit. Any suggestions?

Hmm.. I think extra noise is the penalty for extra grunt. I tried H's EFI silencer, part 91080, fitted to the stock front pipe, and it's noisy! It comes with a removable baffle, the bolt-on sort with the little tangs which you can bend in or out, and it's loud with it in, and very loud with it out. I currently use the Watsonian goldstar, no longer available alas, still noisy but with a very nice growl on the overrun. I very much like how it looks on the bike, I have it upswept slightly. Both these make a noticeable difference to performance over the stock silencer. Hitchcocks have more silencers available for the EFI bikes than they did when I bought mine, but I think you'll find less restrictive always means more volume. Some folks over on the U.S. forum (a great resource for EFI info) use Harley silencers and various reverse cone types into which silencer wool can be stuffed.
Oh, and... no excuses need for fiddling... I'm on the verge of upgrading with the 535 kit.... )