Sorry/ not sorry for the rant!!

[RANT]

As an engineer who has worked in the emissions regulation development space (both noise and environmental) for EURO and ANSI, among others, I can tell you it's ABSOLUTELY NOT in a corporation's scope to deliberately hinder an owner's capacity to maintain their own vehicles. it's simply impossible with the precedent set by a class action against Ford and other actions in the very dim dark past. If it looks like an orange, smells like an orange, it may actually be a mandarin/ Naartjie.

What has changed is the application of new emissions standards, the wording of the same and how it is applied.

In essence, there is simply no need for an owner to modify the fuelling of an engine, whether it be your tractor, highway truck, car or motorcycle. as such that was worded in by the eurocrats into EURO 4 (2005!), the sealing/ anti-tamper requirements of ECU's was done in EURO 5 (most countries in 2015 or so), and with EURO 6 (2021 -on) there was an even further need for post-catalytic converter emissions measurements to allow for wear of components etc. These requirements are for NEW VEHICLES ONLY, remember. In-service laws across the world differ in that they generally cannot apply the new standards unless they have written into them the allowable tolerances for in-service wear (and testing). You can replace your system, after purchase, but it must still fall within the acceptable wear limits of the legislation (see below). The thinking here is that if it is legislated (law) the manufacturers will have to abide, and as such the vehicles available to the end user (you) will be difficult to modify.

New legislation (EURO5 onward) has prioritised drive-by emissions as opposed to stationary emissions (which is a reading made of the standard vehicle once it has passed the drive-by testing). This stationary test is purely for in-service testing by authorities, out on the road or workshop. This is why you see the exhaust valves showing up in most brands, or variable valve timing (121 anyone?)- this allows an ECU to be designed to meet emissions at exactly the right conditions (speed, throttle position). Volkswagen just got smashed with doing this. Hence EURO 6+ all requiring the ECU to be measuring emissions at ALL throttle and speed conditions (second set of O2 sensors post catalytic-converter). However I am grateful to have been able to ensure there is a good amount of "acceptable wear" built into the EURO (and as such, a lot of global) emission standards, being +5dBa over stock stationary testing. And most motorcycle manufacturers like HD are well aware of this, and design their aftermarket (SE) exhaust systems to suit.

Each state of the US and across the world is very different. except the Europeans. HD's sold into the Euro market have a second set of O2 sensors in the mufflers or exhaust system (for tourers) post-catalytic converter as of 2021 to meet this requirement (already compliant with EURO 6 and to eliminate them requires a very specific tuner and HD won't sell one with that capacity). There is a very specific set of wording in the EURO and ANSI requirements for ECU's to be locked and unmodifiable from the factory, or by a dealer for adjustment- hence the locked ECU's. Although Triumph you could break into without a tuner right up until 2021 (!). Caterpillar and Cummins (in fact most diesel engine manufacturers) has been locking ECU's for years, as the industrial and highway truck diesel legislation is way ahead of passenger vehicles.

It's an age old argument, and putting my work hat on, I can't see any way around it. but when I look at my motorcycle, (now a 2-week old FXLRST 2023.5 model), I'd like more noise, so that's going to need a tuner to do it right, and as such there I go breaking into a mandated requirement (Our bikes in Oz are 50-state or non EURO6). It's my choice and I'm all for it, as long as I can still keep bottom end throttle response and a nice torquey midrange (which is part of the reason why we by HD, isn't it?)

But who here has ridden their HD with stock mufflers/ exhaust? I'd be curious to start a poll. I can say with certainty that the (stock) exhaust note of my new bike is WAY better than even a few years ago- I'm curious to see how it beds in, even though I think it'll still be a bit quiet for me. I can see HD is doing a LOT of development work on noise.

So tinfoil hats aside, you have to speak with your local lawmaker, not your dealer, if you want to have your vehicles delivered with ECU's that you can modify or adjust fuelling. I wish you well though, I can't see exhaust law and tailpipe emissions getting looser, in fact you'll see the in-service noise and enviro laws being applied far more stringently as time goes by. When the US 50-states mandate changes to the EURO 6 legislation (brace yourself) the rest of the world will fall like dominoes.

If you're a trainspotter, check out how much the fines are for a dealer when they deliver a new bike with an aftermarket exhaust that isn't compliant. Any country, it's all horrific. Yet you see it all the time. The smart dealers won't modify a bike until first service, or even immediately after delivery, as it then falls into "in-service" use legislation of the state, as opposed to the national legislation. then the fine and cost to remediate is on YOU, not the dealer.

Which is very frustrating, but I can see the legislative logic (if not for me, personally and many of my riding buddies!). Keep your stock systems close at hand, people (Unless you've fitted a EURO-spec aftermarket system or similar). You're gonna need them in the future. One thing I will say is this: Stock systems are way better for power than anyone gives them credit for. For example HD/SE only truly recommend a full system installed with larger headers once you go over Stage 3, or 128ci......

[/ RANT]

 

if Harley lock it's ECU's, you will still be in capacity to swap it with a Thundermax and do what you want on your engine...

 

Exactly. I'm talking about the ability to modify the ECU from the factory. You can reprogram in some cases but once done you're stuck for life with that record on the ECU, and some dealers frown on this for warranty... It's a user choice then, not a manufacturer one. Hence why you can't alter an SE tuner AFR much- if you want to make big changes you need to go aftermarket like Thundermax.

 

Thundermax replaces the ECU, thus no trace of the swap if putting the original back in.

 

The "secure boot" technology already exists in the PC industry to allow HD to make the motorcycle not operate unless you are using equipment containing their cryptographic keys. I would expect the EPA/FTC to allow that behavior to happen, just like they did with emissions related equipment in the in the HD warantee decree.

Personally, I don't want that degree of electronics on our motorcycles. It will be a lot easier for the government to legislate out the ability for companies like Thundermax to update our ECUs. Similar to what they do in California now where tuner companies won't allow updates to customers in California.

 

EPA is going after those aftermarket dealers too. The truck market is drying up with delete ECM's It's only a matter of time before EPA stops it for any engine.

 

When I used a TMax it was only a piggyback? It's a complete ECU now?

 

Maybe EPA can't get at in-line add-on ECU's? I got one on my truck - Edge Pulsar
https://www.edgeproducts.com/product...mi/parts/32454

 

Check out the disclaimer on that part...
"This part is legal under the provisions of EPA’s Tampering Policy dated November 23rd, 2020. The company has reasonable basis (test results) to verify that this product allows the vehicle to operate within legal emissions standards and is therefore legal to be sold for on-street use in all states that accept the legal provisions of the Clean Air Act and the EPA Tampering Policy. This product is NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. Testing with the California Air Resources Board, in order to achieve 50-state compliance, is pending with CARB. Once testing is complete with California, and an E.O. number is issued, this product will be updated to 50-state legal status."

 

Wow - I didn't even remember that it was 49 state EPA legal. I've been worried about selling my truck, as my state (MN) makes it illegal to tamper with emissions control components, you have to declare on the title transfer. No problem for private sale, only if you trade-in.

I know this unit is a milder tune than than the custom tunes like PowerVIsion for bikes and HemiFever for Ram trucks. I'm not interested in racing and max tune, and this unit does increase truck torque for towing to the point you got to be careful not to blow the weak tranny. But Harley M8 powertrain seems built like a rock, so guys aren't that impressed with the SE EPA tune and like me, went with PowerVision and a torque cam. EPA illegal.

Maybe more of an issue for bikes?