[LicknOutaTheCatsDish]

I noticed there is more posts regarding EFI's...are they faster than carb models, I realize it could go anywhere if you start adding the performance parts, but generally speaking on new sleds with maybe just clutch kits?  I got what I feel was a  great deal with extras on a carb 600, but after reading all the posts regarding EFI's I'm wondering if that's why I got such a deal was because it was a carb versus an EFI.  I sure would like to here some feedback regarding this topic from those who have had both.  I have a 580 efi and it seems pretty snappy, but I don't get the 600 carb till later today and don't know how soon it will be before I'll be able to ride it, due to the lack of snow.
Thanks in advance to all who reply.

 

[SNOWBLOWN]

I have been riding Cats for 15 years now and have had a lot of them. I have done all kinds of things to them looking for performance and well I guess I've grown out of all that. I got off of the big Iron T-Cat 2 years ago and bought a ZR500 EFI.
Let me say that I love that machine. The EFI runs in -30 below or 55 above without even having to wonder about it. In fact the EFI will out perform the others when it is real warm out. This year I went to the 800 EFI CCE. WOW!!!

 

 Any how I think the carb machines will perform a little better if you are the person who needs to be tweeking and keep the performance on the edge all the time BUT if you want good consistant performance without having to re-jet 3 times a day and just fill up the oil and gas, The EFI is the way to go. I know that I will never own another carburated machine again.

 

[sled-head]

I agree with you but I think that the 800EFI has more power out of the box. acording to D&D racing they dynoed a stoker carb and an efi and the fuelie made more power out of the  box. I have the 800 EFI and am very happy with the hassle free riding that I get day after day. The 800's are mapped so close to the edge that you would have to jet 3 times a day to keep up with the EFI. Cat has a good system.

 

[ACRulz33]

Well put snowblown, amen.  Its a tossup, if u like to mod yer sled then u have to pretty much go carb. I you like what ya got and enjoy consistent performance, EFI.  The only problem with an efi i had was the box had to be replace in the 580 i had.  More gadgets more problems.

 

[SNOWBLOWN]

Ya the 02 800 EFI is really close to right on. The 00 500 EFI was pretty rich but still ran strong. This 800 EFI is nice. 1200 miles and pulled the plugs for the first time just to see and nice tan color. A little bit rich but much better that the 500. Those plugs came out black black black. I just wish we had more snow so I could ride this weekend. Ice fishing is boring.

 

[fastcat02]

While all my buddies are worrying about jetting and how warm or cold it is gonna be, I just pull the rope and go. I have never owned a carburated machine and I probably never will. I love the convienence, the easy starting , and the throttle response. I wish I could tinker but I won't sacrafice all the good things about efi. I love my 800 efi.Stock out of the box the 02 800 efi made more power than the carburated version. But you also have the choice to tweak with the carbs.

 

[zr580s rule]

in general if you take two sleds out of the box the EFI should  be faster because the carbs tend to be jetted fat from the factory

but there are some engines that cat has had that i think have worked a lot better with carbs and other ones that have worked better with the EFI

a buddy of mine had a 98 ZR 500 and a 99 ZR 500 EFI and the carb ran so much better it was unbelievable

but the dinosaur 580's always ran faster with the EFI than the carbs ran the 580 carbs have that low end bog which the EFI hardly even has a hint of and i have found that the EFI's would pull a couple more grams of weight than the carbs

 

[LicknOutaTheCatsDish]

Looks like EFI might have been the way to go, but hopefully I won't encounter to many problems once I get through the learning curve of the carb version, either way I still "Bleed Green" ...thanks for all the input!