That's because they come with FI. FI has a low warming light so you know when to refill the tank. Carbs have petcocks with reserve so you just switch over to reserve when you run out of fuel. You can also burn a fuel pump if you run on low gas constantly.

 

Carb or EFI is a matter of preference these days. Harley makes a very nice reliable carb in the '06 Sportsters. I have an '05 w/ a carb and I do not have any of the problems that I often read about that carbs have. My bike always starts right up on the first try with the enrichener **** pulled halfway out. I let it warm for about a min and I'm off. With FI, you don't have a **** to pull nor do you have to let it warm from what I've heard.A min of my time isn't really that big of a deal and even if I had FI, I'd still let it warm because Im usually strapping on my helmet, putting my gloves on and getting situated as its warming anyway.

If you can save some serious money, I'd go for the '06. Unless it's dire to you that you must have FI, I would hold off on the '07. As I said, you must be able to save a lot of money or it won't be worth it to go for the '06. Don'tlet the dealers fool you cause you can get a discount on an '07. Maybe not much but it's there. Keep in mind on an '06, it's already depreciated a bit so you need to get the dealer as close to book value as possible. Good luck....

 

Looked like $2350 w/o gold card, and about $2100+ w/gold card.

 

go for FI, has totally transformed the sportsters. Especially the 883
Cheers.

 

Carb or FI, wow. It's really a matter of opinion. My sporty is a Carb, gotta do the choke thing, warm up a bit and remember to put it in... Big whoop. After that it's the same as FI.

How do i know? my Ultra is a FI, just start thing thing, put gloves on and go, no need to remember anything else.

6th speed on a sporty? well it depends how the MOCO does it. If it's like my Ultra, don't really bother with it. 6th speed isn't really useful unless your doing 75 plus on a the Freeway for any significant length of time. Otherwise around town, or going up a hill the thing is in 5th, period. You'll be lugging the heck out of it otherwise.

Now if you wanna lower your RPM's and do 80 without thinking about it, 6th is sweet. That thing is so quiet!

My sporty is perfect with the 5 speeds, but i generally cruise at just above 70. Anything greater and I'm fighting her to be comfortable, YMMV.