ECU Reflash, issue???

[Lumberjack]

I wonder how many others are experiencing pining that don't have BAK's? 3 instances could be attributed to other variables such as bad fuel or temp as you mentioned. I am wondering how many more have constant pinging?

Originally Posted by VulcanD

I had the reflash about 3000 miles ago, and my1700 Nomad is otherwise stock except for Ray's throttle mod. I've had thee instances of pinging while accelerating hard in 5th. Two occurred with 93 octane.

I'm still very happy I did the flash, as the bike runs better in many ways. However, it is not perfect. I'm keeping my eye on this. Could be I need a bit more fuel when accelerating really hard when hot.

I will say that the flash generated a LARGE increase in power, even with stock air and pipes. LARGE.

The bike is a little herky jerky after the flash with the throttle mod. I find I need to be very smooth on the throttle (both accelalerating and decelerating) to avoid jerks. If I had to do it again, I might skip the throttle mod given the reflash.

[Ken Vega]

Originally Posted by Lumberjack

I must ask if in any gear? Do you have BAK?

Yes, you can see all my mods in my signature. I have the Chuckster BAK

[CaptKurt]

[QUOTE=VulcanD;667118The bike is a little herky jerky after the flash with the throttle mod. I find I need to be very smooth on the throttle (both accelalerating and decelerating) to avoid jerks. If I had to do it again, I might skip the throttle mod given the reflash.[/QUOTE]

I find the same issue, especially at low speeds....like parking lots. Not bad just something that you need to get used to.

[Snake Ranch]

Originally Posted by Allen D

Thanks all. I am not sure if I put premium in this last fill up or not. I'll top it off with premium and see if that helps.

I certainly get needing to downshift from higher gears but at over 70mph it never used to have any "extra" noise. Here's to hoping it's just a fuel issue.

Next question...

This really only pertains to those with Ivan's ECU flash and ALSO Ray' throttle mod...

When idling and you give a quick short twist of the throttle, do you have any lag in motor response? It's my understanding that these two things together were to really reduce that issue if not eliminate it all together. Mine still has a slight hesitation.

I'm running the stock air filter and have the V&H slash cuts.

One thing I would check is the throttle cable adjustment. If the cables are loose that can cause one problem. The other question is how loose is the throttle grip on the handlebar itself? The reason I ask this is my grip was like a sock on a rooster and each time I hit a small bump it would move up or down pulling on the cables that had been adjusted so there was no slack in them, causing a change in fuel delivery.

I removed the grip and used my mics to measure the outside diameter of the handlebar and the inside diameter of the grip.

I found there was .030" clearance which is a lot considering it is attached to the computer so to speak. It sees this movement as input and adjusts the throttle plates accordingly.

To correct this I took some black electrical tape and wrapped it around the handle bar and made two layers spaced apart so there was not a lot of surface area and this took care of the movement.

A NOTE ON SAFETY: this was a little sticky at first and I put a few drops of ATF fluid to lubricate the joint. I never had a problem.

[Framer]

Originally Posted by CaptKurt

I find the same issue, especially at low speeds....like parking lots. Not bad just something that you need to get used to.

Mine was the same way so I took the mod off. It's just a metal band and 3 screw. Now it's smooth as silk

[hlknvlcn60]

I have the flash, Roaring Toyz bak now and 2-1 exhaust. I run mostly ethanol free premium in mine but last week, out in the boonies had to put some 87 in the tank. It mad no difference in the running with the bike. I can be on the road in 6th at 2,000 rpm, open 'er up and she pulls like a bear with no glitches, no shaking, nothing just hard pulling acceleration clean and strong, no issues. We pay more at the pump, but we do get great gas out here in Oregon wherever it comes from.

[philippe721]

I removed my comment....I have no skin in the game anyway since I leave my motorcycles stock.
I just find it amusing to read that people do mod this and mod that on their bikes, then get on forums and ask why their motorcycle don't run properly.
You'all enjoy!!

[captj3]

Originally Posted by philippe721

No they do not.

They say to use Octane rating 90
In the U.S. the ratings are as follow:
87 Regular
89 Mid-grade or Plus
92 Premium
Therefore mid-grade is perfectly acceptable IMO

Mid grade may be acceptable to you, but you are giving the wrong information out. If the minimum octane rating Kawasaki says to use is 90 then you should use premium and not down grade to 89. Premium fuel in the U.S. has a octane rating of 91-93 just to be clear about your information. Best not to give the wrong information out and confuse people with opinion not fact.

[philippe721]

No time for debate here ....too busy riding!!

[hayes]

By your own statement philippe, your statement was wrong. If mid is 89 and Kawasaki recommends a minimum of 90, then 89 mid grade would not meet the minimum requirement.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[captj3]

Originally Posted by philippe721

Yes I can see by your comment that you would be an easily confused individual and quite forceful in your "opinion" as well.

Confused?? Not by a long shot. But I don't give miss information out either. This place is here to help one another. Yes some may be a little confused by you "opinion " which is still wrong. My statement may be a little forceful to those with thin skin, but I didn't hear you I was wrong. At least if you're going to give information out you should know what you are saying. I'm done this just isn't worth anymore time.

[redjay]

When I had my Voyager 1700 I had a Cobra Powrpro and Chucksters BAK and ran 87 octane and I never had any pinging.

[hlknvlcn60]

Redjay that may be because you had the ecu on stock settings, where the ignition timing was set a little more retarded at lower rpm's then as the motor spins up the timing becomes more advanced. The Ivan flash resets the ignition timing to a more advanced level all throughout the rev range to make more bottom end power and less backfiring thus requiring higher octane fueling. It sure is worth it though for all the performance increases. 91 and higher octane fuel should be available just about everywhere on main roads all over the country.

[Allen D]

Update:

Since the original post I haven't had any pinging that I can hear after topping off with different fuel. I think I either put lower octane fuel in or just got lesser quality fuel with the fill up just before my post. Now she will drop the hammer again, even in 6th gear, and only make the famous Kawasaki motor sounds, LOL.

I do still think there's a little throttle lag even with both mods but I may just have extremely high and unrealistic expectations of this combination.

Before I did the throttle mod it was nearly impossible to roll in and out of the throttle smoothly regardless of speed. After the mod it was better for sure. Now with the re-flash and the mod I do feel like it's a little jerky but I'm wondering if my throttle cables need adjustment after the rebuild...

I'm sure it would take a very specific and very detailed program update for the throttle in the ECU to get the nearly instantaneous feel we'd all love. What's even more is I'm sure it would very much a bike to bike basis as well. Maybe someday...

[JD Hog]

Originally Posted by Allen D

Update:

Since the original post I haven't had any pinging that I can hear after topping off with different fuel. I think I either put lower octane fuel in or just got lesser quality fuel with the fill up just before my post. Now she will drop the hammer again, even in 6th gear, and only make the famous Kawasaki motor sounds, LOL.

I do still think there's a little throttle lag even with both mods but I may just have extremely high and unrealistic expectations of this combination.

Before I did the throttle mod it was nearly impossible to roll in and out of the throttle smoothly regardless of speed. After the mod it was better for sure. Now with the re-flash and the mod I do feel like it's a little jerky but I'm wondering if my throttle cables need adjustment after the rebuild...

I'm sure it would take a very specific and very detailed program update for the throttle in the ECU to get the nearly instantaneous feel we'd all love. What's even more is I'm sure it would very much a bike to bike basis as well. Maybe someday...

As others have mentioned above, take the throttle mod off and you will get a smoother low speed response. I did this to my Voyager and it runs better at low speed roll ons and roll offs. Mine was very easy to do as I just had to slip it off and put back together and adjust the throttle cables.