Our customers, on the whole, love their bikes (which is why they bring ’em to us…) and are also a literate bunch! Which is useful, because feedback – good or bad – is useful. What follows is a small selection of owners’ collective thoughts on their Ducati Scrambler, KTM 990 Adventure, Triumph Bonnie and Suzuki GSX-R750 post-ECU remap.
Many Scrambler owners complain of an awful bottom end power delivery, so our first job is to disconnect the lambda sensor, fit one of our BSD lambda bungs and switch it off in the ECU. We can then set about mapping it; the engine is very short of fuel low down – all for emissions, thus the snatchiness – which was easily rectified. Pete emailed his reaction…
—–Original Message—–
Sent: 19 December 2015 15:01
To: info@bsd.uk.com
Subject: Scrambler Remap
Hi Gill
You were away on holiday when Mark did the remap on my Ducati Scrambler but I promised I’d send some thoughts on how it was running.
I’ve been down in Wales for the last 2 weeks and away from a computer but I have done about 800 miles, mostly on wet muddy roads and am very happy with the changes.
Much smoother at low speeds, and much more predictable feeding in power coming out of corners and roundabouts. No more popping and banging on the overrun but it still has a useful amount of engine braking at higher speed. To anyone experiencing the same problems this was money well spent on bring out the best of the bike.
Happy Christmas,
Pete
They’re a bit snatchy low down – lean running is the problem, cured with an ECU remap.
Steve Kilbey bought his Bonnie in for an ECU remap and was dropped us the report he’d written for the Triumph Owners (Peterborough) website, which he’s chairman of…
—–Original Message—–
You have been contacted via BSD Performance – their message is as follows.
Name: Steve Kilbey
Subject: Support
Comments: Please see below the report I have put on the Peterborough TOMCC website. Please feel free to use all or any part for your website. Many thanks, Steve (Chairman, TOMCC Peterborough).
After reading the article in the last edition of Nacelle about tuning ECUs (engine control units) and remapping I decided to take my standard 2014 Triumph T100 along to BSD in Eye to see if anything could be done regarding the abrupt throttle reaction that made the throttle more like an on/off switch and the backfiring on overrun.
The bike was put on the dyno and the readings for the standard settings taken before BSD performed their “tweaks” on the ECU, after which Mark explained the before and after results and showed the differences on the computer. The whole process took about two and a half hours.
On the short ride home I could feel that the bike performed differently, but heavy rain and greasy roads meant I wasn’t able to really test the bike. However, last week I was able to go for a long run and assess the differences made after tuning.
The jerky, sudden reaction of the throttle from closed to open has gone, the bike has much more torque through the rev range and the torque curve is flatter. There is no more popping and backfiring on overrun. The engine is much more responsive and I now feel I am in control of the engine rather than a computer.
The bike now performs like the machine I wanted to buy. Although the fix is not cheap, I feel it was excellent value for money when compared to some of the “bolt-ons” that can be purchased. At the moment BSD are offering a 20% discount on the service and the good news is that the modification does not affect the Triumph warranty, but, if you have it done, remember to inform the workshop when you take your bike in for a service.
If you want to know more, I’m at the Talbot on most Club nights.
Ride safe
Steve
Steve’s Bonnie – sorted!
It’s a funny old thing… the amount of 990 Adventure owners who bring their fuel-injected bike in and say “Can you make it feel like the old 950’s carbs? Please…?”
And the truth is we can. By dealing with the lambda and secondary air, remapping the Manifold Air Pressure (MAP) map, secondary butterflies ignition and fuelling tables the 990 becomes just like the 950. And maybe even a bit better! Nigel Squire delivered an email after we remapped his Adventure, but we haven’t got a pic of his bike (sorry):
From: N Squire
Sent: 13 October 2014 10:45
To: BSD
Subject: Ktm 990 adv feedback.
Hi Gill.
Not Nigel’s KTM but one of the many we’ve remapped earlier…
Many thanks for the dyno sheet. The bike on the way back was much as I had hoped for, smoother low down and more like my old 950 carb model! The harshness/vibration I complained of is also much improved.
It was nice to call down and enjoy efficient friendly service from people who care. Unfortunately, rare these days. Mark has interpreted my requirements well, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend BSD to anyone requiring a similar service.
Hope to see you again sometime.
Regards Nigel.
Alex Milne is a development engineer for Bentley – so it’s fair to say he’s got a better grasp than most on all things technical! He brought his Suzuki GSX-R750 in for an ECU remap, and when he got back took the time to put fingers to keyboard and record his experience.
Alex’s GSX-R – remapped!
Dear Mark and the team at BSD,
I can’t speak highly enough of you and how happy I am with my bike, what a fantastic and professional team you lot are! I would like to write about my whole experience, not just the re-map, as I thoroughly enjoyed coming down to you for an excellent job well done and fantastic company and service. So I have taken the time to write a review. So here goes:
After a very miserable, wet and windy 200 mile ride two’s up from Manchester, Unfortunately me and my brother rocked up an hour late and nearly missed our slot! But not to worry you made the time and fitted us in any way!
As we entered the reception, wet and cold, we were met by a lovely lady, who straight away offered us a cup of coffee and made us feel right at home. Looking around the reception, I knew I was in good hands, not only from the previous reviews I had read, but to see the years of motorcycle memorabilia, trophies, articles about BSD and specifically Mark, further eased my apprehension about my baby being played with. I needn’t have worried as you only need to speak to them to know their exuberance comes with years of passion and time served knowledge.
Now, as an engineer in the automotive industry myself and having dealt with systems such as Motec, PI, Aim, Bazzaz and having spent years spannering cars and reading telemetry data for race teams. I knew I had a good grasp of what was about to be done to my bike and why, but let me tell you, what mark did far exceeded my expectations.
As he rolled my bike into the workshop to be prepped for the re-map, a young apprentice took the reins and prepped my bike. After the prep work had been done it was onto the dyno to be live mapped by utilising Woolich Racing’s Log box Pro. Now I knew, this was just the software needed to get into the ECU, the talent lies with what Mark can do with it! So I left him to work his magic and after which he called me in and explained fully what he had done.
Now, my understanding was that Suzuki engines are built for the best they can possibly do, before emissions get hold of it and strangle its neck, so by removing the emissions restrictions, you are actually enabling the engine to perform as Suzuki intended.
I was not disappointed! In the prep work the secondary air had been blanked off, (which is a system to bleed more air into the exhaust to trick the emissions test at certain RPM) so this was a good start! Then Mark explained what he’d actually done any why, and why choosing this route far exceeds anything a piggy back system, like a Power Commander can do.
From the software Mark was able to adjust the following and to suit my bike, live as it ran on the dyno – he can adjust a hell of a lot more than what I have listed with the software, but for road use he stuck with the following:
- IAP Fuel Maps (Inlet Air pressure)
- TPS Fuel Maps (Throttle Position Sensor)
- Ignition Timing Maps
- Secondary Throttle Plate (STP) Opening Maps
- Adjust RPM Limiters
- Disable Top Speed Limiter
- Disable Stock O2 Sensor
By adjusting all these parameters and amalgamating my fuel maps and gear maps, of which I have 1 for each cylinder and 1 for each gear, again for emissions, he simplified what was going on in the ECU. Taking away all the unnecessary rubbish that’s needed for emissions such as Lambda input and focusing on rideability.
He eliminated the snatchy throttle, that plagues Suzukis from idle and setting off. He adjusted the fuelling to suit the lack of catalytic converter, K&N race filter and open pipe that was now on, adding more where it was needed and taking some away where it wasn’t. He adjusted the IAP and TPS maps along with enabling the secondary butterflies to open sooner give really smooth progressive power curve and eliminate the 6000-8000rmp bog that again is mapped in for emissions.
He also disabled the top speed limiter 😉 and adjusted the idle RMP so that it aided the hunting that Suzukis do once a pipe is fitted. This meant a true 133bhp at the rear wheel was achieved on the dyno.
Now I came expecting bigger numbers that that to be honest and it didn’t really impress me just looking at a number, but I quickly realised how wrong I was and that it’s not ‘Pub talk’ BHP that matters, it’s how it rides and how you can actually use it on the road…!
Well I was ecstatic to ride it back and what a pleasure it was. The bike just sounded so crisp and proper, I could tell the fuelling was sorted! The exhaust note had changed from a boggy ‘burrrrrrrr’ with clearly too much air going in and the ECU struggling to sort it with in it’s parameters.
It was also lean backfiring all over the place, It changed to a crisp and angelic ‘whaaaaaaaaaaa.’ Not only that but with the butterflies opening sooner, it made it so much more progressive and useable to ride, enabling you to roll on in a higher gear without having to downshift and giving you more usability of the power generated.
And when you do use that power and take it to the redline and click into the next gear, it chirps with the shift sound you only expect to hear on a race track. Just to clarify, that is not because it’s running lean, it isn’t, Race bikes sit about 13.6-13.9 AFRs so crack as they change gear as fuel in banged out the exhaust. For road mine was sitting at 13.2, perfect for road use and day to day! And just gave a lovely sounding chirp as I changed gear.
Well I was over the moon with the transformation, it was like riding a new bike, sorted, sounding great and pulling like a train! Fantastic! To summarise why I’m writing this review, is to tell fellow bikers who read it, my experience from a customer point of view and to tell you, if you are considering it, just get it done, it’ll be the best money you’ll spend and you won’t regret it.
Mark and his team are bikers to the core with enthusiasm that’s infectious and gives you that feel good feeling just being in their company, and for the ones who genuinely understand all the techy stuff and mind boggling numbers and for the ones who don’t, you will both come away having learnt something as I’m sure Mark will take the time to explain, as he did in detail to me.
What a fantastic place! Well worth the ride anytime come rain, snow or shine!.
I wish you all the best and I will definitely be seeing you again soon!
Alex
Huw Convery rode all the way from Wales to get his KTM Adventure ECU remapped…
—–Original Message—–
From: Huw Convery
Sent: 05 August 2015 21:03
To: info@bsd.uk.com
Subject: 990 Adventure
Guys,
It was great to meet you both and I can’t help but praise the organisation you have there, it is pretty unique. I got back without any drama, and I have to say what a pleasant ride it was too.
The erratic throttle response has been solved and allowed me to cope with the 30mph traffic in the rain without feeling that at any point I could be on the Tarmac. The fuel economy has improved by around 25 miles out of a tank which is an added bonus. The bike now responds as I want it too with power delivery governed by my throttle control.
Just one thing I have experienced though, going though the gears there is slightly more vibration up to 7,000 rpm than before, I haven’t reached W.O.T. but it certainly buzzes up to that point, any suggestions?
Regards,
Huw Convery BSc Hons
Huw and his KTM!
And Gill, as ever at the centre of BSD mission control, made sure that an answer was forthcoming…
On 6 Aug 2015, at 07:58, BSD <info@bsd.uk.com> wrote:
Good morning Huw, and thank you for the email. I have spoken to Mark about the vibration and he says that is caused because he has taken out some of the ignition from the back end so it takes longer for the engine to slow down – it does not have that immediate urgency it had when you brought it in.
I hope this helps and that it will not spoil your enjoyment.
Best wishes,
Gill.
