Upgrades for better performance?
I had a PC III that I thought made the bike run great, but I did not care for the piggyback add-on crap, so I did lots of research and to me the best choice was the Thundermax with autotune.
I installed the TMax with a canned map and made no other changes.
Previously with the PC III my best 0-60 time was 4.4 (I have a dakota digital that has this function)
My very first run with the TMAx was 4.2 so I would say the difference was pretty substantial.
Bottom line, if you want performance get the TMax with autotune, with the autotune feature you get the best performance without the need for a dyno tune everytime you just want to swap a couple parts.
Plus since it replaces the stock ECM you don't have to fight the crap under your seat. It is a very simple install and works like a champ.
Of course, I'm not using all the features of the PC-V yet. I have an auto-tune module here, just waiting to be installed. The PC-V also has a feature which allows switching maps on the fly, so you can have one tune for power, another for fuel economy (though there's no reason you can't have both on a properly tuned system).
2-2 pipes, like the ones you have, tend to do very little to improve performance. A free-flowing air cleaner would have been better, but everyone likes the cool looks and sounds, and that's OK.
Basically, though, for bolt-on performance mods, you're pretty much limited to air cleaner and exhaust unless you want to dig into the cam chest. You need some sort of tune to optimize the changes to breathing, whether that's a download from the dealer (which gets unfavorable reviews), or a tuner of some sort.
I really like my PC-V, with the map that Fuel Moto put in there for me. I've ridden in the rain and had zero issues with the PC-V. Moisture seems to be a problem for some, with the PC-V, so that's something you should consider. The installation instructions don't mention using dielectric grease, but I've yet to read a report of anyone having moisture problems after applying dielectric grease to their connectors.
Once again, without opening the engine, you're limited to air cleaner, exhaust, and a tuner upgrade. It's up to you to do the research on the tuners and mods that will best work for your riding needs. You'll likely get the best results if you can find a nearby professional who can tune your bike on a dyno.
My main recommendation is that you get a tuner that can be easily upgraded when you decide to change parts again. We all say, "I'm only gonna do this much, and that's it", but then most of us still want more. Even changing to a different style of pipes will require changes to the fuel map, so make sure you can do that without having to pay an arm and a leg every time.
I had a PC III that I thought made the bike run great, but I did not care for the piggyback add-on crap, so I did lots of research and to me the best choice was the Thundermax with autotune.
I installed the TMax with a canned map and made no other changes.
Previously with the PC III my best 0-60 time was 4.4 (I have a dakota digital that has this function)
My very first run with the TMAx was 4.2 so I would say the difference was pretty substantial.
Bottom line, if you want performance get the TMax with autotune, with the autotune feature you get the best performance without the need for a dyno tune everytime you just want to swap a couple parts.
Plus since it replaces the stock ECM you don't have to fight the crap under your seat. It is a very simple install and works like a champ.




