| Author | Message | ||
     Whippetlovr |
THANK YOU!! Holy man. We finally installed my new exhaust (Jardine) and the Erik Buell Racing ECM on my bike yesterday. I am literally FLOORED by the difference the ECM makes on my bike! I can't get over how SMOOTH it runs now. Smoother, cooler, and yeah I definitely had to kiss goodbye to my engine braking, but its a good tradeoff. Its like a brand new bike, my first ride out with the new ECM and I couldn't wipe the grin from my face. Two thumbs up for the ECM... if you haven't purchased one yet, DO it! (I'm pretty happy with the Jardine as well, though it is definitely MUCH louder than I was expecting!) | ||
| Mountainstorm |
You're welcome  | ||
| Syonyk |
I described it to someone as "Feeling like it added another cylinder." Best $250 I've ever spent on a vehicle. | ||
| Finedaddy1 |
Ok, that's it I've heard enough!! I just went and pulled the trigger. Am I going to miss my engine breaking that much? Comments anyone? | ||
| Jules |
No.. BUT You can mail them and ask them to leave the engine braking the same as stock if you like.. Your choice | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Now that I dont have engine braking I wouldnt want it back. I love not having it. I think its smoother in the corners. To the original poster, your welcome! | ||
| Blk09r |
I don't miss the engine braking in the least. You'll love your bike with the new ECM. | ||
| Swalker |
Agreed. ECM is the best money I have spent on a bike, really unleashes it. | ||
| Finedaddy1 |
Great feedback, thank you very much. I had a little "stash" put back and I wanted to spend it wisely. So after reading many posts here and getting a little annoyed at the "rough spots" down low I figured this would be the best way to spend my "stash". | ||
| Sparky |
Let's think about Engine Braking for a moment. With lots of engine braking like stock, I'd imagine the fueling limits itself quite a bit until you open the throttle and then it begins to admit fuel to the point where you need torque from the engine to begin finishing a turn and accelerating down the road. So, from the time you open the throttle and expect to start smoothly accelerating, there's stuttering and stumbling when there should be smooth gradual acceleration but unfortunately that's not happening every time with the stock setup. So, if the E.B.R ECM can provide the slightest bit of fueling over stock to accomplish the transition from closed throttle to open throttle while one is in the middle of a turn, that should eliminate the annoying stuttering and stumbling that happens with the stock setup in these situations. I'd imagine that increased fueling in this situation would keep the engine from winding down quickly (lesser engine braking). So, I'd be glad to know if this mod cures this stuttering & stumbling scenario. Anybody? I hope what I have just posted is accurate. If not, please correct accordingly as I am speaking strictly from the stock perspective with the slightly annoying aforementioned stuttering and stumbling scenario. | ||
| Echo15 |
I put the Erik Buell Racing ECM in my CR (stock pipe) and my engine braking is still there... I feel left out. | ||
| Syonyk |
There's still *some* engine braking... it's just (significantly) less than with the stock ECU. It's not like you close the throttle and maintain speed. I can honestly say that if I didn't have the race ECU, I probably wouldn't still own the bike. It made *that much* of a difference. The big problem I had (in addition to the goofy flat spots in fueling) was heat. My bike ran *hot* in Albuquerque. In the summer, if I was in slower traffic, I'd regularly see coolant temps over 220F, which meant I was going to puke coolant out the overflow on shutdown. I think it's a mix of the temperature and the lower air pressure up here. I also would have *vigorous* fuel boiling - not "a few bubbles here and there," but more "Throw the pasta in." I was only half joking about putting a flare stack on it to deal with the vapors and liquid coming out the overflow. I'm just glad I never parked by any ignition sources. It was really very bad, and I was very unhappy with the bike. I loved riding it, but I hated nearly burning myself through riding gear and leaving multiple puddles wherever I parked when it was hot. If you doubt this, you can dig up some old posts of mine. I was *not* happy with it. A year with the race ECU later... I haven't had ANY coolant overflow issues since I installed it. My coolant temps are lower, don't shoot up at a degree every few seconds at idle, and peak significantly lower than with the stock ECU. The fuel still gets hot, and I'm pretty sure I've boiled it a few times, but nowhere nearly as bad as before, and I no longer vent liquid overboard. Oh, and it runs smoother, stronger, and in every way better. I knew a few other 1125 owners in the area, and if they asked about the race ECU, I'd just have them jump on and start it up. From idle on up, you can feel that it's smoother. Both cylinders work equally, instead of one doing a lot of the work (there were times with the stock ECU it felt more like a thumper than a twin). It really is that awesome. I'm not one to post glowing reviews of things that don't do much, but the race ECU absolutely is worth every single penny. | ||
| Razor1 |
OK,OK, OK, so i just ordered my Erik Buell Racing ECM with the BARKER EXHAUST. Now, what steps do i exactly have to follow for the installation. I know i will get the instructions with, but i am over eager and want to get my facts straight before it arrives. | ||
| Jules |
The ECM swap is easy.. Remove the L/H Pod cover, unscrew the single scew holding it and unplug the stock ECM.. Plug the new ECM in, do up the screw (carefully - don't overtighten) replace the pod cover and you're there... I'd do a TPS reset but it's not always required... it takes next to no time so it's worth checking anyway.. Ignore any historic error codes you might have initially, they will go away after 50 cycles.. The Barker install is easy too.... Undo the header clamps, remove the 4 bolts from the stock pipe, ease it off. Sliding the (lovely) muffler clamp onto the Barker needs to be done carefully (or you'll scratch it) but open it up a little first and go careful and you'll be fine. Slide the muffler onto the header pipes (no gasket needed), line up the muffler clamp and bolt it up, then do the header clamps up... Start the bike and enjoy :-) Really, easy to do and a GREAT improvement.. IF you have any issues with the bike stalling on fiirst startup then just gently blip the throttle once before riding off.. Mine does that every time but I've got into thehabit now and it's just natural for me - not all of them do the same | ||
| Razor1 |
Thank you very much, Jules. I think i will be able to do that. How do i do a TPS? | ||
| Nukeblue |
well now i need one too! | ||
| 01_turbowolf |
with the barker dont forget to check the clearance between the top of the can and the case mine was rubbing against it when i first threw it on. | ||
| Terp_bueller |
Barker's Exhaust = $400 Erik Buell Racing ECM = $250 Taming the Tail of the Dragon...priceless. Best $650 spent on the bike...so far. | ||
| Bigevildoer |
Had to put my original ECM in again earlier today 'cause I'm taking my bike in for some service on Friday. Throwing fuell pressure and low fuel codes with the E B R ECM installed, so I figure I'd give myself some riding time to ensure the same codes pop up on the original ECM. Wow.... The stock ECM programming REALLY stinks. Doesn't seem like any pull at all until you reach 7-8K rpm. Blah... One of the codes popped up so far, hoping the other will tomorrow on the way to/from work. | ||
| Nattyx1 |
Yep, it's a pretty amazing piece of equipment. Very few people have seen the inside of course... but I have. The secret ingredient that makes it so effective? It's not just smart science and good electrical engineering (although there's plenty of that). It's not just knowing how to give these engines exactly what they need when they need to squeeze max performance out (although they have that knowledge and apply it very well, obviously). No, it's something far more special that the competition will have a very difficult time emulating... It's.... Burger grease from Gus's down the street. Shhh! You didn't hear it from me!  | ||
| Zac4mac |
Thanks Steve, now I'm gonna jones for broasted chicken breast and triple-chocolate shakes... | ||
| Syonyk |
Burger grease? I thought it was the magic blue smoke... It's vitally important to keep that inside the electronics. | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
If there's a better way to spend $250 for a plug-and-play improvement like this on an 1125, I've not found it. Worth every penny and then some ... Mike (Message edited by milleniumx1 on May 11, 2011) | ||
| Nattyx1 |
There is nothing that improves these bikes as dramatically and as easily as this one device. Just tell em what other stuff you have or don't have on the bike (air filter [not much diff at all in performance btwn stock and K&N], stock or aftermarket exhaust system, what kind of gas you're running, whether it's for street or track, etc). They'll sort out the right amount of "grease" and voila, instant fabulousness. | ||
| Terp_bueller |
Check out Erik Buell Racing Parts page... "The Erik Buell Racing parts store will be shut down for the rest of the month of May for inventory reasons and to meet 1190RS production demands" for the 1190RS... for those that want a Race ECM. | ||
| Jcjohnson33 |
OK question on ECM's I have a K&N air filter, powerizer commander, Saron exhaust. I checked with Erik Buell Racing and they told me that they tried the Saron exhaust when the 1125's first came out but couldn't get a consistant program for an ECM (cuz the exhaust was "strange") anyone have an idea what i should do. Or should I just get an exhaust that they already have a program for | ||
| Finedaddy1 |
My stash seems to have paid off well. Just received my Erik Buell Racing ECM & Air Filter today in the mail and got it on in time for a nice afternoon ride. Yes it was worth the money, I CAN tell a difference, much smoother and no more "herkey jerkey" down low. | ||
| Levor |
If you'll excuse a bit of vanity, I'm curious if the ECM affects the sound of the exhaust, what with the smoother running. | ||
| Finedaddy1 |
I.M.O. I think it did, the "grunt" is a little more noticeable to me than before. | ||
| Blake |
I noticed the same thing after having ingested some bean burritos. | ||
| Finedaddy1 |
Well.....I did have left overs the night before I went out on my ride. hmmmm. Maybe it was just my exhaust valve hanging open. | ||
| Zac4mac |
All kidding aside, Loretta has NEVER run as smooth and strong as she does now. I only have a generic open intake/exhaust, can't wait to feel a Drummer specific tune later this year. In a month or two I will send the ECM back for a reflash - THEN I will dyno her and compare to stock. Never got this one dyno'd, felt much smoother, not much stronger, but it was a very early attempt. Z | ||
| Mountainstorm |
@Levor yes it does effect the sound of the exhaust. The tone will be lower and richer than with the stock ECM regardless of what exhaust you run. I have used it with the HMF, Barker and with the stock can. |
