| Author | Message | ||
     Robd |
I picked up a 2009 XB12X (all stock) with 3k miles late last summer and I now want to get the EBR ECM and the Comfort Kit but can't swing them both at the same time. Which one do you recommend I install first? It gets pretty hot here mid-summer in Chicagoland. Thanks for your input! | ||
| Uly_man |
How does the bike run at the moment? | ||
| Froggy |
ECM first, it is the single best mod you can do. After that pick up a comfort kit. | ||
| Robd |
Bike runs fine...aside from a hot right thigh on a hot day in traffic. | ||
| Terrycoxusa |
I just installed the comfort kit, the fan hardly runs at all while moving, and heat to my right leg is greatly reduced. However, the front of my seat and the airbox cover seem to be hotter than they were. I just bought some aluminized heat shielding to try to address that situation. I had a Thunderbolt before the Uly, and the right leg heat was much worse on it. | ||
| Trevd |
ECM is great to have, but it won't help your blistering thigh much. Comfort kit will. | ||
| Ourdee |
ECM first. You're in Chicago. It doesn't get hot up here. | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
Go for the ECM first. Best thing I did for the bike as it included the new fan logic and eliminated the 'hunting' (surging due to lean condition) that occurred when steady state cruising. As for the little blast furnace on the right thigh... add a strip of weatherstripping along the top of the frame where the seat meets it. Let the lower edge of the seat press directly into/onto it. That was the biggest bang for the buck. The comfort kit helped, insulating the frame/tank on that side helped some and wrapping the pipes from flange to 'Y' helped a little. That 6" bit of rubber made the biggest difference! The 'runs all the time over 15mph' fan logic definitely helps a lot to keep the overall temps down, so you're not toasting as soon as traffic slows. | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Tiltcylinder, Can you post a picture of the weather stripping? Sounds like a good idea. Big island rider | ||
| Ourdee |
I used some aluminum or foil tape, Piece of kevlar cloth, and plain electrical tape. Header leaves the rear cylinder back there and will let you have over 600 degrees sitting down there. Just need to stop that air from migrating to your thigh.    | ||
| Marc |
EBR race ECM is best Uly upgrade! | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I live North of Chicago and I wouldn't ever put a comfort kit on my Uly as long as I continue to ride it up here. It gets too cool in the evenings and early mornings here. I am thinking of getting the comfort lot because I might be moving to the Phoenix area some day and it would be nice to have it there! With your motorcycle so new what is wrong with the ECM on your bike? | ||
| Robd |
Nothing wrong with the stock ECM. I just would like the benefits of the EBR race ECM. And I figure the comfort kit will provide an extra margin of safety for keeping the engine cooler...even though it doesn't get extremely hot in Chicago in comparison to the Southern states. | ||
| Pdento |
Why don't you just take your bike to the dealer. and have them reflash your ECM. They should be able to do it where it has the new fan logic on it. They did mine. | ||
| Robd |
From my understanding the EBR Race ECM has different parameters than a reflash. The reflash adjusts the fan logic where the race ECM adjusts the fan logic as well as fuel delivery, spark, etc. Is this correct? | ||
| Djohnk |
If I was you, I would do what Ourdee did above, and get the EBR ECM. You basically get both things, one on the cheap. If need be you can get the comfort kit later when you can swing it. You also might be able to sell your old ECM to mitigate costs. | ||
| Froggy |
This answer varies depending on what calibration your stock ECM has. There were a handful of updates for 08+ bikes over the years to iron out some kinks in the new fuel injection system. If your bike had original programming of an early 2008 model, there will be quite a few changes to the ECM beyond the fan operation. Later ECM calibrations had all the previous tweaks, so you would not be likely to notice a difference other than fan operation. The Race ECM changes many things that can't legally be changed in the EPA compliant stock ECM, it becomes a whole new bike. | ||
| Robd |
The Race ECM (and its unique parameters) is what I'm after. I am looking for more than an updated stock ECM. I guess I should have been more clear in stating that I wanted the hard parts of the comfort kit to improve air flow. I realize now that the full comfort kit includes the updated ECM parameters in a reflash. I ordered the comfort kit plastics and they are on backorder until mid-June. But I am going to EBR tomorrow for the homecoming and might have found some extra loose change in my sock drawer to pick up a Race ECM. I hope to test it out on the ride home. | ||
| Smac |
Froggy, Like Rob, I too have been contemplating purchasing the EBR Race ECM for my '08 Uly. I still have the stock exhaust & don't plan on changing it out...would I still gain all of the benefits of the EBR ECM or does the stock exhaust need to be replaced with a more free-flowing exhaust for the "whole new bike" feel? Also, am I to assume that the new ECM would be better off relocated for protection? | ||
| Froggy |
I run stock exhaust on my 08, the huge difference is regardless of what exhaust you are running. Your ECM should be relocated or otherwise shielded regardless of what ECM you have, it is just asking for trouble in the original spot. | ||
| Smac |
Froggy, My stock ECM on my '08 does have the plastic post/standoff to protect it...not sure if that is good enough or not. Haven't had any ECM issues that I'm aware of in over 33K miles. Thanks for the info & tips! | ||
| Froggy |
The plastic standoff is better than nothing, but it is not enough in my opinion, especially if you are on the larger side. | ||
| Gp81 |
I put a couple of washers between the ecm and the plastic block on my 06 and haven't seen any wear on mine, but I am barely tipping the scales at 175 lbs, at the start of the suspension settings lol. |
