ECU Reflashing

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

After doing some reading on t'internet there seems to be some pretty bold claims from people offering to flash the ECUs of bikes.

There's also an army or satisfied customers claiming more power, better power delivery, smoothness etc.

Some people are claiming to have up to 30% higher BHP and torque figures after having their bikes set up on the dyno. I know the Euro 3 regs strangle bikes to some degree but 30% increases? Is this possible or can a dyno operator inflate the results?

I'd be interested to hear the opinions of those in the know.

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

Yes it is possible to retune an engine.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

https://i.imgur.com/MnxmW0N.jpg

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I've had my Street Triple custom mapped, and the gain is not mainly at the top end. I did get about 10bhp on a 100bhp bike, but really the main thing is that the power delivery is so precise with no hesitation and creamily smooth. The bottom end is fatter and you can ride the bike at low RPM without jerking along.

I do have a full Arrow system on my bike too, so remapping alone probably won't do much, but with a decent exhaust a custom map can remarkably improve the rideability of the bike.

30% though? No way. You'd barely get that on a turbo car, let alone a NA bike.
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temeluchus · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

With no other changes I would suspect 3% would be closer to the level of gains.

Dynos can be fiddled in various ways, but whether any particular dyno can be is another question. Tyre pressures can be fiddled with, rear brake dragged, or just not using full throttle for the before run. Some even have a manually entered correction factor.

All the best

Katy
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Cosmik de Bris · Derestricted Danger Joined: 28 Apr 2016 Karma :

In many cases the maximum power will not increase that much as the engines are fairly high spec to start with, this all depends on make and model of course. Often what remapping does is make the bike more ridable by taking out the lean spots that are there to meet emissions regulations.

What you need to be aware of is that in many countries you may be breaking the law by tampering with the fuelling. That is why many ECUs display "race" on the dash after re-mapping.

See Volkswagen for details.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Albigularis · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2014 Karma :

What bike do you have, OP?

Gains are massively dependant on the bike you have. On something like an S1000RR, I expect you'd see very little peak power gain, but a lot throughout the rev range. Due to emissions though, two cylinder engines (looking at you Ducati) often run like crap from the factory. Realistically, a stock Multistrada 1200 will get 120 at the wheel. Good reflash and decat, you're looking at 135-140. Including removing flat-spots, that's a damn good deal. On your average sportsbike, the 5-6k rpm flat spot will be gone, that's usually where the biggest power difference is.
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..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

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Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

It's all about unlocking the ECU code isn't it? Thinking

Rather than installing a Power Commander fuelling unit, if you can 're-flash' the existing ECU then they effectively remap the fuelling to remove any nasty EU dips due to emissions regs.

I know when my GSXR was done they could only raise or lower the fuelling map, not adjust the map profile itself. Mine was done because with an open exhaust and no SET valve I was worried about lean running..

Bleugh, sorry. May have this all wrong. Neutral

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..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

No Kris, I think you have it spot on. Once the ECU is unlocked someone with the right know how can change all sorts of parameters such as fuelling, ignition advance, remove speed limiters, increase/decrease engine braking, opening secondary butterflies at different times....

Back in my day, it was a case of fitting a power commander and piggy backing the ECU, it seems things have moved on.

Doovy · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Karma :

Titot has done it on his R1, and Connor (who was at the RWYB last week) had it done on his MT-09. He said it made it feel like a different bike, with it having adjusted the power delivery and not so snatchy at lower speeds.
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The Tot · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Karma :

Joe,

What bike is it firstly? I know yamaha bikes post 2007 have had their ECU parameters adjusted to comply with Euro 3; noise and emissions. Coincidentally, I had my flatspot between 3-5k rpm.

I believe since most of these bikes run closed loop fuelling based on the lambda sensor, I didn't really "bother" taking it to a dyno to refine the base map once the ECU was remapped.

Parameters they adjusted were

Removal of ignition timing retardation

Removal of fly by wire throttle restriction in the first 3 gears - Basically, WOT would not necessarily translate to a 100% demand at the fuel injectors. So on that basis, a 2004 model R1 would pull much stronger than my 07 model. It was a way of making the bike feel it had a top end rush. When that was removed, it drove a lot harder in the first 3 gears.

Base mapping - in conjunction with the above, it plugged in the midrange hole.

EXUP delete - my exup valve is wired open. Flashtune has a setting to compensate for a non-functioning or total removal of exhaust butterfly valves.

Engine braking adjust - I left that as stock

Secondary air injection disabled - no more pops or bangs on the overrun. Again, this is an emissions thing which stifles pickup. All that lurchiness on throttle transients were removed.

Fan temperature adjust - got my fan to kick in at 100 degC instead of 110.

All in all, the seat of my pants dyno would suggest I gained a respectable amount in the midrange. Power delivery feels more linear and the bike is more liable to crest its front wheel in the first 2-3 gears when giving it some... especially on track.

If you can find a dyno that does flashtune (it's a darn sight chaeaper than a PCIII/PCV) and actually refine the map, it's well worth it.

Flash tune claims that it offers 80% of the adjustment as a YEC ECU with the benefits of not requiring a total race kit. I paid £130 for mine. For base settings, it more than met my satisfaction. Thumbs Up

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chickenstrip · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :

Groove · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Karma :

Watching this thread.

Since removing the exhaust butterfly's and fitting the (non road legal) micron my fueling is lumpy especially down low. It also doesn't seem to power up as easily in 3rd Laughing

£130 seems reasonable although I would like to see before and after dyno charts.

Anyone know if the 2005/2006 gsxr 1000 ecu's allow this?
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The Tot · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Karma :

Guys, FYI

See if Velox Racing offers flash tune for your bike - you send your ECU off to Mark and he'll send it back within 3 days
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The Tot · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

woo · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

i had a 2007 R1 (4C8 model)

I bought the flash tune kit and uploaded a custom map into my ecu.
I lowered the temp for when the fans kick in and also used the speedo healer function.

to be honest i did notice a difference mainly top end wise otherwise i though the whole thing was MEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it cost me around £430 for the DIY whole kit and i didnt think it was worth the time and money i spent doing it, as it didnt do what i actually wanted it to do which was improve torque in the lower RPM range.

if your racing on the track then yes its great as every little thing makes a difference

its good if you wanna make changes and is great you can load a custom map into the ECU

if i could have done it all again i would have stayed with my power commander and saved a lot of time and money meh............
(bearing in mind PC cost me £150, custom map cost me £165, then flashtune kit cost me £430, but before that trips to and from norfolk cost me £40 in petrol plus the £120 for the first flash before i decided to buy the DIY kit)

Steve Jordan motorcycles can flash ECUs so can Track Electronics in Norfolk,

Type flash tune into ebay as i think theres more people that do

Ive gone back to a 01 Yamaha R1 which has all the torque i could ever want in the lower rpm and have my honda msx 125 when i wanna doodle about

And yep the internet has very very bold claims as my 07 R1 did not feel like a different bike with oozzes of torque............that pissed me off cos thats what i was expecting.

I proper researched and learnt how to use the flash tune software and what does what to find out in the end that those bold claims were nothing but bold claims or simply placebo effects.

There is a difference but not a big huge difference.
i dont know how this is on other bikes as i have only experienced this with the 07 R1

try it see how it is for
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The Tot · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Karma :

Woo,

Did you have a boggy pick-up at low end? And was your exhaust largely stock (bar end cans).

Only reason why I used the flash tune was it was cheaper than a PCIII for the mail order. I didn't know what I was doing, so I have it to chap who did. It seemed spot on to me.

Saying that, my fuelling was all over the shop. <2k in 1st the bike would cut out. Sometimes going on slow speed corners with the clutch in. All manner of things were causing me to not enjoy the bike.

But it ironed out the creases, so for me, it did its job. Definitely able to exploit the bike a lot more. In terms of all out power? Well, I don't spend my time on WOT on the road so I wouldn't know or care. The difference good fuelling makes is like night and day, so I'm not too fussed about bhp here or there!

Oh, i raised my idle by 250rpm too!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
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bikertomm · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jul 2010 Karma :

I must admit, I'm kind of toying with the idea of getting my car mapped (330 dirty D)

And often wonder if it's pure sales guff that it can improve the economy, I can understand why it would, but not to the figures they suggest (15% etc) I'm already getting 650-700 miles a tank rinsing the MPG, I genuinely can't see it going up, guess I'll find out!
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