We’re seeing it more often; more and more bikes both big and small are switching to it. It is a dreaded word among the old faithful, the old school, and those who hate change. Manufacturers are embracing it. The government loves it. Geeks are excited about it. The longer we reject it, the harder it will be to accept the fact. We have to and it is coming, rather we like it or not. Fuel Injection, it’s here and get used to it.
The Yamaha Zuma 125 and the new Zuma 50F both use it. The overseas Ruckus, the Zoomer, uses it and the new Metropolitan that uses the same engine as the Ruckus uses it, too. However, when it comes to the scooters like the Zuma and the Ruckus why would we need fuel injection? I mean, the carburetor is designed to have maximum efficiency at a certain RPM. That is perfect for a scooter with the CVT transmission as it also is designed to have maximum efficiency at a certain RPM. The carburetor and the CVT transmission really do fit together like coffee and cream. Well, only if you like cream with your coffee.
Turns out, there are people who don’t. They are mostly the manufacturers, overly efficient people, and the government. No, I don’t mean they don’t like cream in their coffee; they all are pushing for the most fuel efficient vehicles. The manufacturers are hearing it from both sides. Customers demand their scooters get even better fuel economy. Government puts laws that vehicles need to be more fuel efficient. The manufacturers also see it as a way to ensure their vehicle stays stock so that they can stay in compliance with CAFE and CARB. That was until the nerds started tinkering.
You’ll never stop a speed nut from finding ways to go faster or a horsepower freak from making more power. That’s true even with fuel injection and computer controls. These guys are the same ones who have been working on their cars that have had fuel injection for years and have “tuned” on them. Really, when you think about it, fuel injection isn’t that much more removed from carburetors. You still have to put in the right amount of fuel to help make the spark go bang. A carburetor just wasn’t as efficient at doing it as now you can time the injection at and hold it open for the right millisecond. If you get a sophisticated enough fuel injector computer, it can figure that out on its own if you tell it to.
So, fuel injection is here and, really, it is going to make life a little easier if you are willing to embrace it. Initially, it will seem like a pain. However, once you see that it is just a new way of thinking it will make sense and you’ll love it. Cars guys have loved it and look at the power they are making!
