SERT upgrade to ThunderMax
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 32
From: usa
SERT upgrade to ThunderMax
I bought 04 heritage.
In 05 PO had massive upgrades to motor. Totaling some 4800$.
All parts were S and S etc..top quality parts
Except he used SERT and it sucks..
All it does is loads maps--doesn't auto-tune and the like..
Which, they say, I would have to take to the dealer to change
Now I find out that my exhaust didn't even have O2 sensors..
Another expense to take care of that...
Telling me what a waste the SERT is
glad it wasn't me who paid for it...
Even tho I wasn't prepared for the expense, I bought ThunderMax..
Gonna pick up bike with it installed tomorrow..
One reason I choose TM is I can hook up laptop and auto tune etc myself..
Of course my indie doubts I could do this..
I am a computer guy of course I can do it..
I am tired of putting in shop and waiting on things for sure..
Btw, I do get tired of everybody doubting everybody else about everything..
Guy who built my cruise control doubted my mechanics ability..
Mechanic doubted cruise control on multi levels..
Cruise control guy said I couldn't get the indicators on the Speedo
to work or the Shotgun Shock to play nice
On and on and on..
In the end I'm the one who had confidence in all the players..
Jeez just do it already..stop complaining..
And it all worked together just fine..
So maybe this post is a waste..
Maybe someone else knows what I'm talking about
In 05 PO had massive upgrades to motor. Totaling some 4800$.
All parts were S and S etc..top quality parts
Except he used SERT and it sucks..
All it does is loads maps--doesn't auto-tune and the like..
Which, they say, I would have to take to the dealer to change
Now I find out that my exhaust didn't even have O2 sensors..
Another expense to take care of that...
Telling me what a waste the SERT is
glad it wasn't me who paid for it...
Even tho I wasn't prepared for the expense, I bought ThunderMax..
Gonna pick up bike with it installed tomorrow..
One reason I choose TM is I can hook up laptop and auto tune etc myself..
Of course my indie doubts I could do this..
I am a computer guy of course I can do it..
I am tired of putting in shop and waiting on things for sure..
Btw, I do get tired of everybody doubting everybody else about everything..
Guy who built my cruise control doubted my mechanics ability..
Mechanic doubted cruise control on multi levels..
Cruise control guy said I couldn't get the indicators on the Speedo
to work or the Shotgun Shock to play nice
On and on and on..
In the end I'm the one who had confidence in all the players..
Jeez just do it already..stop complaining..
And it all worked together just fine..
So maybe this post is a waste..
Maybe someone else knows what I'm talking about
Last edited by amkaos; Apr 21, 2015 at 08:54 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,427
Likes: 164
From: Home
I am using the ThunderMax on a rebuilt motor.
The first couple hundred miles are going to be making you question your decision because it will be learning. This is avoided if you have an exact build of the parts that were used when they made the base map. Once you have gone through all the rpm ranges - I've used real world riding, not a dyno - save the map to your computer and then tell the TM to apply the changes. Rinse, repeat every couple thousand miles.
You can always have 0˛ bungs welded to your existing pipes for the fraction of the cost of new pipes.
SERT is only as good as the person making the map. That is why it is hit & miss.
The first couple hundred miles are going to be making you question your decision because it will be learning. This is avoided if you have an exact build of the parts that were used when they made the base map. Once you have gone through all the rpm ranges - I've used real world riding, not a dyno - save the map to your computer and then tell the TM to apply the changes. Rinse, repeat every couple thousand miles.
You can always have 0˛ bungs welded to your existing pipes for the fraction of the cost of new pipes.
SERT is only as good as the person making the map. That is why it is hit & miss.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,824
Likes: 603
From: Myrtle Beach SC
I would NOT blame SERT for the poor tuning ability of the tuner. It is NOT a power commander and canned maps are not the only recourse. As for Thundermax, I know several friends that put it in then removed it because it did not operate as they hoped. Id suggest you do more research before spending $1000 on a Thundermax.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 32
From: usa
have 0˛ bungs welded to my existing pipes and the Tm is already paid for..
the deal is done..
i hope it all works out..
really, i cant imagine why ppl would take it off.. its a computer controller..
i dont see how that can not be good
the deal is done..
i hope it all works out..
really, i cant imagine why ppl would take it off.. its a computer controller..
i dont see how that can not be good
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
I would NOT blame SERT for the poor tuning ability of the tuner. It is NOT a power commander and canned maps are not the only recourse. As for Thundermax, I know several friends that put it in then removed it because it did not operate as they hoped. Id suggest you do more research before spending $1000 on a Thundermax.
Dealers cannot tune SERTs out of the required range of the EPA's requirements... if they want to avoid problems with the government at least.
C#
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 180
Likes: 4
From: Pittsburgh
You will get a bunch of different answers and suggestions as you go along, I hope it all works out for you. As long as your satisfied is all that matters. I was gonna go with thundermax as well but did some reading and research and went with TTS. I talked with different builders and tuners and to go the direction I wanted they all recommended locating a reputable tuner and use whatever they get the best results with. I am extremely satisfied with my curent setup and plan on cams and headwork next winter.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 596
From: Columbus, OH
I don't care what brand tuner you use, it's only as good as the person operating it. It takes experience to be able to take real world data (sounds,heat, smells, feel) and compare that to what is being displayed on a computer screen. Just because someone is good with a computer does not necessarily mean they know what a good tune is. Systems with "auto tune" features still need to have the base map set up right to start with. There is only a certain amount of ability these systems have, for example: you can't take a stock ECM and expect it to run an engine that has radical mods such as increased displacement, radical cams, headwork, etc long enough for the auto tune to figure out what is going on. I wish you luck, but your naivety scares the hell out of me.
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Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Back in 07 when I bought my bike, SERT was one of the Best tuners available..
IMO --Its still one of the Best, Cept if/when major changes are made it does have to be re dynoed.to get top performance. They are Unlike several of the better Self tuners you can buy now and tune it yourself or by itself.
My cost was $365 for the SERT in 07 and 3hrs of dyno was $180 back then
Thing is, I haven't had to spend a Penny or touch it since 07 and I still have a Great tune. Its been totally trouble free for 8yrs and almost 52k MILES..
For me, I don't/won't, want to mess with Tweaking the tune all the time, I just wanted a good tune and hopefully one that I Never had to touch again once dynoed...
(For Me) the SERT fully meet my Wants and Needs and thats why I still love my SERT tuner and I am fully 100% satisfied with it.
,
IMO --Its still one of the Best, Cept if/when major changes are made it does have to be re dynoed.to get top performance. They are Unlike several of the better Self tuners you can buy now and tune it yourself or by itself.
My cost was $365 for the SERT in 07 and 3hrs of dyno was $180 back then
Thing is, I haven't had to spend a Penny or touch it since 07 and I still have a Great tune. Its been totally trouble free for 8yrs and almost 52k MILES..
For me, I don't/won't, want to mess with Tweaking the tune all the time, I just wanted a good tune and hopefully one that I Never had to touch again once dynoed...
(For Me) the SERT fully meet my Wants and Needs and thats why I still love my SERT tuner and I am fully 100% satisfied with it.
,
Last edited by oct1949; Apr 22, 2015 at 03:50 PM.