any catalyst inside 99-07 bandit 1200 exhaust can

[Junkie]

Don't understand?

Your bike has a catalyst so it will meet emission standards. The carbs are tuned to work in conjunction with the cat; in many cases the engine must be run somewhat rich to get the cat to properly light off. Somewhat counter intuitive but that's how it is.

Actually, I don't have an '08 EX250 - I had an 89, but not anymore. Not "my bike". Also, what you said contradicts what he said - I'm not sure who's right, but it can't be both of you.

Probably not. Your carburation is not going to be spot on like fuel injection and the rich mixture will likely kill the cat in short order. Cats need very accurate mixture control to work properly and there is no way a carb will make it and keep the bike driveable.

[Mark M]

Actually, I don't have an '08 EX250 - I had an 89, but not anymore. Not "my bike". Also, what you said contradicts what he said - I'm not sure who's right, but it can't be both of you.

That may be for a cold start. One of the biggest problems faced by car makers is the initial start of the EPA test. The test starts cold and then immediately starts driving. This means that much of the emissions produced occur right at the start before the engine and exhaust system have come up to temp and the catalyst has fired off. Auto makers have been investigating electric heaters and other ways to bring the cat up to temp faster to help with the cold start problem.

Once warm and operating, a rich mixture will kill a cat much faster than a stroichiometric or lean mixture. I would expect a bike with carbs and a cat to either have a fairly short cat life or very lean jetting that compromises drivability. Emissions are the major reason that cars are fuel injected today. As bikes need to meet lower emissions standards, EFI will become the standard there as well. It is getting close, we will probably be there in the next 5 years or so.

Mark

[Addy Leung]

As bikes need to meet lower emissions standards, EFI will become the standard there as well. It is getting close, we will probably be there in the next 5 years or so.

Quoted by Mark



Yes, all the new big bike of suzuki in 2008 are EFI. like the 2007 bandit 1200, now it is 1250 with EFI.

What other things to do on the bike with carbs will help in passing these testing? especially our old bike.

[rkubik]

catalyst thiefs

not much help in your tuning, but a funny story: thives here have now started stealing catalytic converters from car dealers' new vehicles on the lot. I guess they can sell the platinum. It's not for parts resale, as they just cut them out with now no concern for rebolting in.

Andy, I have a hunch you and I better start saving for new emissions-complaint bikes, put the old 'uns out for parts.

[Junkie]

That may be for a cold start. One of the biggest problems faced by car makers is the initial start of the EPA test. The test starts cold and then immediately starts driving. This means that much of the emissions produced occur right at the start before the engine and exhaust system have come up to temp and the catalyst has fired off. Auto makers have been investigating electric heaters and other ways to bring the cat up to temp faster to help with the cold start problem.

Once warm and operating, a rich mixture will kill a cat much faster than a stroichiometric or lean mixture. I would expect a bike with carbs and a cat to either have a fairly short cat life or very lean jetting that compromises drivability. Emissions are the major reason that cars are fuel injected today. As bikes need to meet lower emissions standards, EFI will become the standard there as well. It is getting close, we will probably be there in the next 5 years or so.

Mark

even before '08 when there wasn't a cat in the exhaust it was jetted awfully lean from the factory. of course, that's true of just about any bike.

my recollection is that for 08 all US bikes >400cc or so have to be EFI, I don't remember where I read that though.

[Mark M]

Yes, all the new big bike of suzuki in 2008 are EFI. like the 2007 bandit 1200, now it is 1250 with EFI.

What other things to do on the bike with carbs will help in passing these testing? especially our old bike.

Depending on the testing, there may be little you can do beyond buying a new bike, sorry to say. Without a grandfather clause for older vehicles, it is very difficult to make non-compliant vehicles pass the test. From your description, it would be WAY easier to just put the 1100 engine back in and rebuild it as necessary to work properly. It doesn't cost that much to do a full rebuild compared to trying to get a cat equipped exhaust to work properly. Depending on how tough the test is, there will be no way to get the bike through without a cat and you say the test must be done with the original exhaust system. That is probably a deal breaker on your part.

Mark