From time to time I see that question posted and I can now offer my first hand experience and confirm that the Buell Race ECM works very well with the stock pipe. Low RPM drivability is far superior to the stock ECM and going right from an HMF Slip On to the Stock Can I was not missing any zip or zoom...just the bang and boom.
If anything running the bike up to redline is perhaps easier, or at least less nerve wracking. With the HMF running up to red line is a sonic event.
I'd bet, using my SOTP Dyno, that the stock can is not making any less power than the HMF.
I concur. Just tried it today as a matter of fact. It seems to wind up without all the dramatics of the stock ECM. With the stocker, maybe the vibes or the frantic sound of the engine--or a combination of both--bothered me. Preliminarily, it seems alot calmer in the upper rev ranges and it also seems to more freely rev in the high RPM range. I won't know CONCLUSIVELY until tomorrow afternoon when I take her out to my favorite set of twisties.
Does the race ECM help smooth the engine out? Some of the time mine is relatively smooth, other times it feels like it's "hammering" a bit - more vibration than usual, and it feels like one cylinder is putting out more work than the other.
It's the best mod I've made to the bike. The Race ECM makes the 1125r run like it should.
When you order the ECM tell them the year, any modifications to the intake or exhaust and if you want to use the Bank Angle Sensor (in the US) or the Side Stand Switch (Euro) let them know so they can reroute the GP shifter switch accordingly.
I did this to my 08 Saturday. I bought the ECM in February with the intent of buying an aftermarket exhaust. Can't afford one right now so I just decided to pop in the pump gas race ecm and see what happens. BEST IDEA EVER! This thing rocks. Put on about 200 miles since and the bike never ran so good. Cooler and smoother all around. Great upgrade. Thank you Erik Buell Racing.
I think the stock pipe makes more power than the HMF. If its less, it sure isnt much. I like the noise and the look of the HMF, but I put it on knowing it wasnt cheap HP.
Erik Buell Racing ECM FTW here too. Got mine in March & I have stock pipe with K&N filter. Smoothed the operation everywhere, definitely a great must-do mod and for a great price IMHO.
Syonyk, Try the "Throttle Position Sensor" reset. Search for it here,, you can do it before start-up, you can ride it 3 or 4mi and reset it or get the bike good and hot and reset, You will see the throttling and engine attitude will change quite a bit. If I'm going on a long trip I will reset it after 3 or 4mi,, it has a smoothness to the engines attitude. Cold start reset gives an aggressive torque pull to it, the difference is quite surprising.
Any body tried this on a dyno yet ? would like to see a graph.
Also anybody in the UK with a stock modified (TUBBS) exhaust tried it, and if i were to buy one do i tell Erik Buell Racing its a standard, or stock modified exhaust im running.
And as to the idle speed, i would like to loose the engine braking but what does the bike sound like with the higher idle speed, someone must have a video clip.
Notes from my ride on a very familiar road with the Erik Buell Racing ECM/stock pipe combo.
1) Engine braking. MUCH reduced. I had some slight "oh wow" moments when the engine braking I was expecting coming off the stock ECM was no longer--as you might expect it was approaching a corner and missing the engine braking part of the braking equation. After a few minutes of this at the beginning, I adjusted. But it's super noticeable coming off the stock ECM.
2) High RPM operation. Much more fun to play from 8K on up. As I mentioned before, I would usually shift at this point with the stock ECM as I wasn't crazy about how the motor felt/sounded. Today I found myself holding at up to 9,000 RPM between corners when I would have ordinarily for sure shifted up, then down as the corner approached. Very cool as i was less busy at the shifter, which allowed me to just enjoy the ride that much more. The motor is just much happier from 8,000RPM on and it's awesome.
3)SOTP dyno. More power. I was pulling small power wheelies over crests which I didn't before. On crests I was accustomed to pulling power wheelies I found myself having to dial it back a notch--whereas before it was pretty much WOT. The fastest straight on the "course" I usually see about 104 for a second. today I saw 108. Maybe it was a better drive onto the straight or just more power up top or maybe a combo of both. Dunno. But it's got more stink now alhtough I am not sure exactly where in the power curve
Interesting side note to end this post: On the way home, I made your typical 90 degree right turn at a green light (moving). Thinking I was in first gear, I dumped the clutch. turns out I was in second gear. Now with the stock ECM there would be some hesitation from dumping the clutch at such a low RPM. I would immediately know that I screwed up and exactly the manner in which I screwed up. With the Erik Buell Racing ECM there was just smooth power, no bogging or hesitation. Prior to this it would definitely take some feathering to achieve this drive from such low RPM in second gear. This was another great "surprise" from the Erik Buell Racing ECM.
So I guess you can say the Erik Buell Racing ECM has it down low too!
Fresnobuell, with regards to the engine braking, can you describe the difference?
Well, with the stock ECM when you downshift you feel the engine help slow the bike and also the front end will dip as weight is transfered to the front...with the race ECM when you downshift you don't get that same feeling of the engine slowing the bike down--more of a "freewheeling" sensation.
I like it cause I would rather modulate my speed using the front brake. As mentioned, engine braking will also shift weight to the front, which will upset the cha}ssis--not good if it happens at the wrong time (ie corner entry.)
Peter > From my understanding, showing what gear you're in is an instrument cluster feature for 09's and above. I have the same thing and I didn't have to set it up or anything.
Also I've been looking at the race ECM as well.. anyone if there's a good reason Erik Buell Racing says not to use it for a streetbike? So far from everyone's experiences, it seems like it provides better rideability all around.
The Erik Buell Racing ecm I have fitted to my 09 1125R has the sidestand switch enabled, Erik Buell Racing also revised the IAC control to reduce rear wheel hop on rapid braking/downshifting which has really stabilised the bike on corner entry, the byproduct of this is reduced engine braking which makes the bike act like a two stroke which I am quite happy with. The idle speed is a bit lower. I put the OEM ECM back on last Saturday when I took the bike back to the dealer for the wiring harness mod and to be honest I was happy to refit the Erik Buell Racing ECM as soon as I could, the bike is so much better with the Erik Buell Racing ECM - .