| Author | Message | ||
     Grianp |
I have an 09 XB12Ss and have a Drummer that I plan on installing this weekend. Do I need to install an EBR race ECM for the bike to run properly? I know the 08+ bikes are a bit different than the older ones and they can somewhat "learn" if you have a different exhaust installed. A fellow board member told me that it might be a good idea to hold off on getting the Race ECM for right now because he is experiencing issues where his bike runs extremely hot. His headers turn bright red within a minute of cold start with the Drummer and race ECM installed. Has anyone else experienced similar issues? I have an ECM on order through EBR, but I need to know if I should cancel the order if this is not beneficial or truly recommended/required to run with the Drummer pipe. Please respond if you are running the EBR race ECM and Drummer and mention your thoughts and opinion. Anyone else that has any additional thoughts or info on this dilemma, please post as well. Thanks. -Brian | ||
| Glitch |
Brian, one of the best things about the Drummer, is that it's tuned to the bike. Unlike a lot of other pipes that need the bike to be tuned to them. Whether or not an EBR ECM will be beneficial I can't say. I'm confident that you could put the Drummer on, let the bike learn it, and all you have left to do is ride and enjoy! | ||
| Grianp |
Thanks for your insight Glitch, I always respect and value your input. I may just have to cancel my order and see how things go with the stock ECM and the Drummer. I am not looking for performance gains, I just want to hear the bike and get some rumble from it. I have heard nothing but great things about the Drummer. I know that Kevin builds these pipes tuned to the bike just like you mentioned. Worst case scenario, I can always add the EBR race ECM at a later time. | ||
| Boney95 |
With the race ECM, the bike should run cooler - the map adds more fuel. Keep your order with EBR and install the race ECM. | ||
| Boney95 |
Also-Ive been running a stock ECM with K&N and a Drummer for the past 2 years. Bike ran great. I just bought the Race ECM and the bike continues to run great. One of my main reasons for buying the race ECM was to richin up the map so she's not so lean from the Drummer and K&N. Either way you'll be fine. | ||
| Grianp |
Thanks Boney. Have you noticed any real difference since switching ECMs? Has anything noticeably improved or gotten worse? Did you run into any issues with running the stock ECM? | ||
| Boney95 |
No problems with the stock ecm. I've only been out with the race ecm 3 times this year. That being said, I have noticed the power curve is much smoother/linear. With a little more power up top. My MPG has also increased. | ||
| Grianp |
Great, that's the type of info I like to hear. If you can easily notice after only three rides, then it must change things a good bit. I wasn't sure what the new map would do to the MPG. | ||
| Krueger08xb12s |
Brian, I was going to PM you today. To clarify, my headers are glowing very hot very quickly which points to a richer condition (hot headers from unburned fuel but ultimately a cooler engine). For a quick explanation of my findings so far, based on what i feel, hear, and see (no dyno involved), I’ve created a comparison for MY xb12s between the EBR Race ECM and the Stock ECM. Remember that every bike is slightly different and in order to take full advantage of the Race ECM, you need the P&A “Race Muffler” to which it was surely very finely tuned to. My performance mods only include a Standard Drummer Muffler, K&N Airfilter, and Breather reroute. All comparisons were done on the same day, same road, same air temp, and engine fully warmed up and “learned”: * Cold start up Stock ECM: Idle is consistent and headers turn red after about 4 minutes Race ECM: Idle jumps around from 2k down to 800RPM and occasionally dies (yes I did a TPS reset after each ECM swap). Headers glow bright red after approx 45-seconds. Stock ECM-1 / Race ECM-0 *Mid-range power. 1st gear cruising steady at 3k RPM on a flat road and immediately snapping to WOT (no quick decel for spring-loading wheelie): Stock ECM: Immediate wheelie and if held the bike would certainly flip Race ECM: Bike accelerates but will NOT wheelie Stock ECM-2 / Race ECM-0 *Mid-range hesitation: Throttle at 50%-75% thru 4-5k RPM Stock ECM: Slight lack in power but no jolting and comfortable Race ECM: Major hesitation and through this range followed by major jolt in power at 5k Stock ECM-3 / Race ECM-0 *Top End Acceleration: WOT from 5k to Rev Limit Stock ECM: Fast Race ECM: Faster. This is where the Race ECM gains great advantage in Racing but from my findings, not necessarily the best for everyday fun. Stock ECM-3 / Race ECM-1 Again, these are my findings for MY Buell only. All Bikes are different due to different break-in’s, riders, etc… The EBR is a GREAT buy and EBR’s consumer service great. Please don’t be detoured from buying the EBR ECM. For $250 for a plug-and-play ECM it’s we’ll worth it and any may find you bike runs much better with it than mine. With regards to Fuel Economy, the Race should get worse MPG because the goal for top performance is ~10% above stoichiometric which will burn more fuel but at the cost of MPG (opti could better explain). Who cares though your Buell's for fun not for MPG. Factor in the cost for maintained, tires, 93 octane, and you'll find a Prius is best for MP$ !! | ||
| Grianp |
Thanks for posting Kyle. I am still torn as to what to do. It sounds to me like the stock ECM works fine with the mods I plan on doing. But as Krueger said, everyone's bike is different. Let me state this again, I am only looking for more grunt (sound) from my bike, but in turn I still want it to run correctly and not harm the motor. I will only be using the bike on the street. | ||
| Krueger08xb12s |
Stick with stock if u just want the sound and if u want a little extra punch get the EBR Race and tweak it if necessary. | ||
| Grianp |
thanks Kyle. Anyone else have any thoughts, insight, or opinions on this? | ||
| Artic_12_r |
I have also ran the Drummer and KN filter with the stock ECM for about 3000 miles. The bike ran great. I bought the EBR ECM as soon as I could. I talked to Kevin and as mentioned above the pipe is fine to run on a stock bike. If you can I would still get the ECM, but its up to you. | ||
| Grianp |
Artic, thanks for your post. Have you noticed any huge differences since you swapped to the EBR race ECM? Any problems? | ||
| Kds1 |
we ran the stock ecm on our xb9 racebike for 2.5 yrs in WERA on 100 octane fuel and have never burnt anything down, no burnt valves or pistons, just bent valves and pushrods, only because the rpmlimiter is at 8100rpm....we have run the raceecm and a tuned ecm and the laptimes are consistant eitherway....either ecm with the Drummer only!!!! I can't speak for anyother manufacturer, my muffler is different in theory and what I'm doing than anything else, and I will say this, if you can get the EBR ecm, get one, it will run great, no problems.... Kevin www.kdfab.com | ||
| Grianp |
Thanks Kevin for taking time to post. I am really looking forward to putting one of your pipes on my bike. |
