| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
I finally got around to installing an IDS race ECM on my 2009-engined 2007 Uly this week. The stock ECM had the old fan logic, and I figured my dealer would flip out if I brought in a 2007 bike with a 2009 engine and asked for the update, so I'd just been living with it. I kept the stock muffler but I did add a K&N filter and I ordered the appropriate ECM for this setup. It's in the mid-90's here this week, and I took the bike out for a ride yesterday afternoon. First off, I fired the bike up and let it idle for a bit. I notice the new ECM maintains a "fast idle" for a good 2 minutes or so. I let the bike idle while I geared up and I also noticed after about 5 minutes, the fan came on on low speed. At that speed, it's barely audible over the engine noise. I took the bike out on a ~5 mile test ride, and hammered it pretty good. The race ECM is definitely an improvement, and the fan control is an improvement as well. I had installed the "comfort kit" (right side scoop, exhaust shield, and under seat air duct) back in 2009. The problem with this setup with the old fan logic is that unless the fan kicks on, the right side scoop "pressurizes" the area around the rear cylinder head. Hot air then blows out through any cracks and onto the rider. I especially noticed this on the right side of the bike at the seat/frame gap. This could roast my right thigh under certain conditions. Well, with the new fan logic, the fan kicks on enough to draw this air out and through the duct under the seat, so no hot air blows out. Even after a "spirited" 5+ mile test ride in 95 degree weather, the fan didn't even come on when I shut the bike off. Pretty impressive. Oh yea, the other thing I did this week was replace the interactive exhaust valve cable. The actual cable in my old one was frayed near the bottom, and had gotten where it would stick open. This results in a noticeable loss of mid-range torque. Replacing the cable is a PITA job, but I worked out a pretty good technique. The cable is routed up through the bowels of the frame behind the engine, and goes between the main wiring harness and the transmission vent tube. I disconnected the old cable and cut the ~90 metal bend off of the end. I took a piece of plastic mesh wire protector and slipped over the bottom end of the old cable and the top end of the new cable and taped them both securely with electrical tape. I also taped over the adjuster wheel on the new cable so it would be a smooth surface. Even with that, I had to pry a plastic pin out of a retainer inside the left rear corner of the frame (just barely accessible behind the rear cylinder on that side). I carefully pulled up on the old cable and the new cable fed in behind it. It took a lot of finagling to get the cable around the wheel on top the muffler, but that wasn't too bad, and then a long screwdriver was required to push the plastic pin back into the frame for the wire retainer. The cool thing I noticed about the new cable is this:  Even at this late date, HD is still re-stocking Buell parts, which is pretty hopeful. I can't wait to try this thing out in the twisties next week. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You're going to just love the new mapping with the functional valve. I'm not too partial to the new fan logic as I can't run the blinders and a heated liner together anymore without a noticeable voltage drop. It does control the temps just dandy though. | ||
| Smorris |
"The stock ECM had the old fan logic" may sound silly but does this mean 2009? or the 2007?. when i installed the comfort kit on my 2006 the instructions suggested that it be reflashed at the dealership, and i did. pretty sure that was in 2007. so fan seems to only run when bike is stopped, or when shut off; unlike the 2006 oem logic that fan ran a lot, always in urban riding. so does the new logic, that you say works best, run the fan while out on the road like it did in 2006 or is it a different logic fashioned for 2009? If for 2009 would you recommend for 2006? thanks. shane | ||
| Froggy |
The fan logic he describes is only for the 2008+ bikes as they use a different ECM. Hugh converted to the newer injection system after swapping the engine, now finally converted to the newer fan logic. Previously it only ran the fan based on temperature and key position, now it uses the speedometer as a factor and below 15mph it won't run the fan as much, if at all. When turning the bike off the fan is not likely to come on. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Oh yea, another BIG plus for the IDS ECM. I had to ride ~35 miles over to the bank this morning (one drawback of living in the boonies). I did a fuel mileage check over a portion of the run. Filled up, rode 30 miles to the bank (US 52 at 60 MPH with a couple of slowdowns for speed trap tiny towns), and 30 miles back, and filled up again. 52.4 MPG. That's the FIRST time I've reached, much less exceeded, 50 MPG since I swapped to the 2009 engine. With the race ECM, you can have your cake AND eat it too! How cool is that? | ||
| Rkc00 |
Hugh What muffler do you have on the bike? stock? I have a 2009 Uly. All stock. Would the new ecm do anything for me? My MPG is around 40 | ||
| Froggy |
Mike, my 08 XT is all stock, but running the same ECM, and I got a similar boost in fuel economy along with it driving better overall (better low RPM manners and such). It is easy to install, and no downsides other than it costs money. Good opportunity to relocate your ECM if it is still in the stock position. | ||
| Hughlysses |
What muffler do you have on the bike? stock? I have a 2009 Uly. All stock. Would the new ecm do anything for me? My MPG is around 40. Mike- Yes, I have the stock muffler with a working interactive exhaust valve. I added a K&N air filter since the IDS description for the ECM says it's calibrated for the stock muffler, K&N air filter, and premium fuel. I think the highest mileage I'd gotten prior to installing the new ECM was ~45 MPG with this 2009 engine, and 40 MPG was more typical. (I used to regularly get right around 50 MPG with the original 2007 engine.) Initial riding impressions show there is a definite improvement in low speed manners and low to mid speed torque. I'll be riding the twisties in western NC for the next two weeks, so I'll follow up on how it feels in that environment. But yea, it seems to be a significant improvement in both fuel economy AND power. How could you go wrong with that? | ||
| Smorris |
so is it a better logic to have the fan running, nearly all the time, as the original logic had it in 2006; or does having the right side scoop change everything. i ask as i just picked up a 2nd 2006. it is 100% original with 4000 miles. my old 2006 with over 10x those miles has the comfort kit with reflash. i installed when the fan started rattling really bad at around 10k. so trying to decide what logic is best for either bike. thanks for any knowledge offered. i just red'c the 2010 wheel, 77 connector to update the new 06, but was considering the comfort kit to save the fan. so, if i install comfort kit do you recommend the reflash? | ||
| Rkc00 |
Thanks guys. And the price of this ECM? | ||
| Rkc00 |
got the price | ||
| Hughlysses |
For the benefit of others, the IDS ECM is $300. | ||
| Rkc00 |
ordered the ecm and the K&N filter | ||
| Tootal |
so is it a better logic to have the fan running, nearly all the time, as the original logic had it in 2006; or does having the right side scoop change everything. i ask as i just picked up a 2nd 2006. it is 100% original with 4000 miles. my old 2006 with over 10x those miles has the comfort kit with reflash. i installed when the fan started rattling really bad at around 10k. so trying to decide what logic is best for either bike. I put the comfort kit my 06 but never heard of a reflash for 06's. The reflash was for 08 and newer. The 06 and 07 don't have the same fan logic that the 08+ have. | ||
| Smorris |
i,ll see if i can locate and scan; found invoice and it is dated may 2011, but i think it was recommended in the installation instructions(maybe it was only for 08-10); the dealership did charged me to do it(0.5 hrs.=("install customer requested com") and the fan logic is way different than the original. | ||
| Readyxb |
The Buell obsolete parts list grows every month, but seeing that 5/9/2017 date is encouraging. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Shane, the installation instructions recommend the reflash, but it can only be applied to 08-up bikes. The fan just acts far differently, even with the old control logic, with the comfort kit installed. As long as you're cruising in the 60-70 MPH range, the right scoop funnels enough air through the rear cylinder head where the fan will usually not come on until you slow for an extended period or shut the bike off. Prior to installing the kit, the fan on my bike would come on regularly, even at cruising speeds. | ||
| Smorris |
hughlysses- thank you. that explains the difference between the fan operation. doesn't explain the .5 hr charge to "install customer requested com" on the old invoice i found.....i need to experiment with ecmspy so i just keep the bikes in my own shop. again thank you. | ||
| Rkc00 |
Got my K&N yesterday and I should have the ECM today. My setup is the same as Hugh's. Stock 2009 with stock muffler. K&N filter. Bought the correct ECM to match. So after the install do you do a tps reset before the first startup? Thanks for the info in advance Michael 2009 XB12XP Red 2006 VRSCR Blue/Silver 1996 S1 Red | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
I have the the same set up 2009 xb12x with only a K&N. What was the part number you ordered from IDS? | ||
| Froggy |
Mike, it is pretty much plug and play. Remove seat, then one or two bolts hold down the ECM, after removing them disconnect the two giant connectors then reverse to install the new ECM. The 08+ bikes are self calibrating so a reset isn't required, but as it only takes a minute to force a reset it doesn't hurt to do.
The idle may seem off at first (either really high or low), but that also is self calibrating and should quickly level itself out. | ||
| Froggy |
http://idspd.com/xcart/buell-XB12-08-09-non-cat-ec m.html | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
Thank You Froggy! I bought an extra muffler to have special ops do his magic but the guy disappeared. So stock muffler is good enough for me. | ||
| Rkc00 |
Thanks Froggy Hope to see you in WV | ||
| Hughlysses |
After a full day of riding the twisties, I fear my initial assessment of the gas mileage with the IDS ECM was overly-optimistic. The low fuel light came on at 140 miles, which is typical of what it did before the ECM change. With the old ECM, the fuel mileage was nearly constant regardless of how the bike was ridden. I'm guessing that the mileage with the new ECM is more sensitive to how hard I'm hammering it. | ||
| Rkc00 |
Got my ECM last night. Hope to install it this week. | ||
| Bosh |
Hmm.. I put an IDS ECM in my bike a few weeks ago. Stock muffler and K&N air filter. My fan logic is the same as my old ECM (06 flashed to 07 spec). Fan only comes on when the engine is hot and stays running for awhile when I turn off the key. Also didn't notice any higher idle when the bike is cold. Bike runs perfectly however.. before the new ECM I was constantly getting TPS direct short to ground engine faults and the engine dying / sputtering. | ||
| Froggy |
The updated fan logic is only on 2008+ models, so putting a new ECM on a 06 isn't going to change how it operates. The 06 doesn't have the additional bits to control the fan the same way. | ||
| Tempest766 |
my 08 xt has the IDS ECM in it. My experience so far is similar to what the OP states: much more responsive to the type of riding you're doing. If I hammer it on the twisties MPG is 40ish. If I "tour" on it I can get 46ish. I'm still using a stock muffler and stock air cleaner. Never got around to buying a K&N since I loathe mail order and no one locally keeps them in stock. This part of PA is also well known for really really crappy gas. If I go 75 miles into Ohio, or into WV or out toward HArrisburg and fill up, then my mileage is always better than the gas supplied in the Pittsburgh area. | ||
| Smorris |
between Froggy, Hugh, and Bosh, i "think" i now understand why so much difference in the fan operation on the different 2006 bikes. one 2006 has original 06 flash the other 2006 got an updated 2007 flash after i installed the comfort kit; that would explain why the dealer charged me. -OR- is the bike with the comfort kit just running that much cooler? -SO- should i install the comfort kit on the bike that does not have it? |
