Pegasus EFI on '98 S3?

[California Pushrod]

Hi everyone,

My first post here.

I have a 98 S3T that's running nicely, except the carb. Like all carb engines, it has some flat spots, it backfires or coughs sometimes, etc. It just doesn't have the nice running qualities of an EFI engine.

I found that there is a Pegasus EFI kit designed for older Harleys. They say it works on a Buell. It's a very simple EFI: it has throttle position and RPM sensors and nothing more. This means that it doesn't have temperature, pressure, air mass and all the other stuff modern automotive EFIs have, so you still need to use a manual choke switch, do a manual process to prime the cylinders for startup, and make a manual adjustment at higher altitudes. I get all that... that's fine, and cool even to have some manual control over it. But it should also let me have the engine running cooler, idling more smoothly, and using less fuel. It should probably increase power also, although my main desire is for smoother and better running.

What do you all think of this? The kit is about 2k. It is not hard to install, although I would have it done by a pro who has done it a few times before. I know it's not worth it financially. It costs 2k and adds $0 to resale value, but I want a bike that's fun to ride, and if my S3T had more modern engine running qualities, it would be the best bike ever.

On that topic, I must say, Buells are great. That is a fantastic engine and a great motorcycle. It's better than any modern bike out there that I have looked at, except I wish it had a smoother EFI style engine.

Thanks!

 

[buellxb9rs]

not worth 2k, just use that and buy a used xb

 

[California Pushrod]

I know it's not worth the money, but I don't want to get a different back. Anyone have experience with it?

 

[Cosworth]

Wonder if the intake from a xb will fit a tuber engine? You could easily and fairly cheaply run a megasquirt EFI

nevermind wasnt thinking about the throttle body going straight up...

But if a efi sporster throttle body would fit then you'd have something. For megasquirt you just need the throttle body with injectors and the computer has the map sensor inegrated so its fairly simple. Im running it on a 70GTO right now. But it can and will work on a motorcycle.

 

[California Pushrod]

Fitting parts from an XB is more difficult than buying the Pegasus system, which is designed for retrofitting on Sportster engines. I also looked at Megasquirt. It looks interesting but complicated.

The Pegasus system is open loop. There's no O2 sensor. This means it won't be as precise but it's also easier to get configured.

I'm going to go over to their shop and try out some bikes that have it installed. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

 

[buellxb9rs]

no, o2 which is how efi works, no temp sensor, no sensor of any kind really. garbage, complete garbage. it sounds like a fuel injected carb. All you can do it change the mapping like changing the jets on the carb. yes it will run a little better but it can't take into account cold start ups, any weather changes etc. that's a huge waste of money

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Wont get you what you want. Unless throwing money away and blowing up your bike is what you want.

Carbs work great, you probably just need yours setup and tubed properly.

 

[California Pushrod]

Yup, an open loop EFI is the most primitive kind, basically the same as an electronic carb.

I think I will try it out.

All you can do it change the mapping like changing the jets on the carb. yes it will run a little better

And that's exactly what I want.

but it can't take into account cold start ups, any weather changes etc.

Right, obviously. It's open loop. It doesn't even have a temp sensor. There is a knob on it which is a choke, and there's also a way to shift the mapping to leaner / richer, for use when changing altitudes. Also there's away to get it to squirt in a little fuel for a cold start. It's an EFI that requires manual adjustments. It's a primitive EFI. That's what I want!

that's a huge waste of money

That's also possible, but I certainly won't be the first to waste money on a motorcycle, and $2k is not much money compared to some of the insane wastage of money out there on bikes.

For example:

That guy must have spent well over $50k on that, and is trying to sell it for $40k, and will probably get $10k.

As I said in my first post, I know it doesn't make financial sense. I'm not looking for financial advice. Spending money on motorcycles doesn't make financial sense any way you look at it. It's all for fun.

 

[buellxb9rs]

Is just a waste for no real good output at all.

 

[California Pushrod]

I don't really want more horsepower. I want it to run more smoothly. I was riding around last night and it works pretty well most of the time but there are some annoyingly large flat spots, it coughs sometimes, etc. I think even a simple open loop efi could correct those things.

 

[buellxb9rs]

but an open loop efi is basically what you have, your carb just needs to be rejetted. Even the guys with xbs have flat spots and I bet some of them even cough sometimes and they are using a full blown efi system. If you want to blow money then just do it. We are all telling you that it is a waste and really no better than what you have.

 

[California Pushrod]

Ok, I'm going to waste my money and will report on how it goes!

 

[NewmanS3]

Starting in 99 until 2002, both the X1 and S3 were fuel injected, try finding a used system on here or Badweb.
There are lots of guys parting those out on both sites as well.
Gotta be less money and best of all, were specifically designed for your X1 engine.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[NewmanS3]

Sorry, your S3 engine.

 

[mart7]

Just because it's carbed doesn't mean it's going to run like crap. I have both a 08 xb and a 98 s3 and s3 seems to be a smoother running bike and coughs less than the xb. Why not try and figure out the problem and fix it?

 

[California Pushrod]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm going to go over to their shop and try out some Harleys with this system installed and I'll post my impressions of it. I know it's a waste of money, I know I could fix the carbs, but this is all about fun, not about being reasonable. I saw on Youtube some guy put a turbocharger on a Buell Blast. Now that's crazy.