Guys help me understand tuning
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 90
From: Charlotte
Guys help me understand tuning
I have a 2012 SG. When I bought it, I had Reinhart mufflers installed and an aircleaner installed..
I'm thinking of switching out the Reinhart mufflers to CFR's.
From what I've read, it's recommended to have a tune, even with mufflers due to the heat, gas, etc., etc., etc.
So, suppose, I buy a Power Vision tuner, I assume that will properly tune the bike. Correct?
Let's assume a year from now, I wanted to install full headers, with the same CFR mufflers. Would I (or my dealership) use the same Power Vision tuner, previously bought for this?
What I'm wondering is, anytime I make a change to my exhaust, the bike must be tuned, correct? For sake of finances, can I do muffler first, then tune. Then, eventually do headers, and tune again, using the same device?
Also, if I ever wanted to do cams, will I have to tune again?
There's so much information out on the web. Some is BS, some is difficult to grasp.
Also, what's teh best and easiest tuning device to use. I'm thinking of something that I don't need to connect to my computer but which is truly auto-play. meaning, I just connect the dots and it does the work, without blowing up my bike.
I'm thinking of switching out the Reinhart mufflers to CFR's.
From what I've read, it's recommended to have a tune, even with mufflers due to the heat, gas, etc., etc., etc.
So, suppose, I buy a Power Vision tuner, I assume that will properly tune the bike. Correct?
Let's assume a year from now, I wanted to install full headers, with the same CFR mufflers. Would I (or my dealership) use the same Power Vision tuner, previously bought for this?
What I'm wondering is, anytime I make a change to my exhaust, the bike must be tuned, correct? For sake of finances, can I do muffler first, then tune. Then, eventually do headers, and tune again, using the same device?
Also, if I ever wanted to do cams, will I have to tune again?
There's so much information out on the web. Some is BS, some is difficult to grasp.
Also, what's teh best and easiest tuning device to use. I'm thinking of something that I don't need to connect to my computer but which is truly auto-play. meaning, I just connect the dots and it does the work, without blowing up my bike.
Last edited by kryingame; Feb 5, 2015 at 05:49 PM.
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Montana
If you get the power vision 5 or a thundermax you can tune it yourself anytime you makes changes. I had a thundermax and it saved me a ton of money not having to bring the bike in to have it tuned when i made exhaust, or efi, cam changes.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 100
From: Pasadena TX
The purpose of a tune is to keep the air/fuel ratio at a targeted value. The tuner achieved this by adding fuel at a given rpm to achieve that ratio. An air cleaner change, or a muffler change usually doesn't require a tuner, but when both are used together it increases airflow, making it run leaner thereby altering the ratio. Some tuners use canned maps programmed for particular parts combinations. Therefore, changing those components sometimes requires downloading a new map. Other tuners like the Thundermax (which replaces the ECM) read the o2 in the exhaust stream and make on the fly corrections.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
Yes you should retune for each change. Yes a powervision can be used for each change and retune. Buying the powervision from someone like Fuelmoto who has maps/tunes/ for many different combinations and offer support is a good idea. You will have to hook any flash tuner (the only ones worth getting) to your computer to download maps/tunes off the web. After downloading a base/canned map/tune for your combo you should run a few "autotune" loads to get it pretty close for your bike. The only way to get it spot on is with a proper dyno tune but many guys are plenty happy with canned maps/tunes. Many folks are happy with Tmax and Xfids? too???
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 90
From: Charlotte
Yes you should retune for each change. Yes a powervision can be used for each change and retune. Buying the powervision from someone like Fuelmoto who has maps/tunes/ for many different combinations and offer support is a good idea. You will have to hook any flash tuner (the only ones worth getting) to your computer to download maps/tunes off the web. After downloading a base/canned map/tune for your combo you should run a few "autotune" loads to get it pretty close for your bike. The only way to get it spot on is with a proper dyno tune but many guys are plenty happy with canned maps/tunes. Many folks are happy with Tmax and Xfids? too???
Now, what I don't understand from what you posted is, "I should run a few autotune loads to get it pretty close to your bike." How would i know what's the proper tune? From the concept of autotune, shouldn't the device know what's the proper autotune?
Forgive me, I'm trying to digest all of the terms and knowledge.
Thank you!
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: West Michigan
Good information here. Man, learning this stuff is like learning a new language. Before I make the investment, I want to ensure that I have a good basic understanding.
Now, what I don't understand from what you posted is, "I should run a few autotune loads to get it pretty close to your bike." How would i know what's the proper tune? From the concept of autotune, shouldn't the device know what's the proper autotune?
Forgive me, I'm trying to digest all of the terms and knowledge.
Thank you!
Now, what I don't understand from what you posted is, "I should run a few autotune loads to get it pretty close to your bike." How would i know what's the proper tune? From the concept of autotune, shouldn't the device know what's the proper autotune?
Forgive me, I'm trying to digest all of the terms and knowledge.
Thank you!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
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From: South Carolina
I like it now that some of them are just calling it fuel management now. clears some of the fog away from the genie in the bottle.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Doghouse... mostly
You can pickup a tuner and get a Map program from the merchant you purchased it from and then you can "Auto-tune" it and that will get you in the neighborhood of what your bike needs, but without a proper tune done by someone familiar with HD's on a Dynamometer it'll never be 100% all it can be.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 6
From: Spokane, WA.
Interesting RE: CFR's - what do you want, top end, or to lose your low and mid torque?
Spoke to an indy bike shop owner today, and they have a dynojet dyno too.
A guy came in to the Indy's shop after having spent full bank on some CFR's for his touring bike, said he like they way they sounded.....
A dyno run after install of the CFR mufflers.... resulted in the low and mid range torque and hp going down, with a couple of hp gained on the right of the power curve.
Indy takes down some used (for sale) vance and hines slip on mufflers, takes off CFR's and puts the V&H on.... gained the low and mid back & the dyno run was way better than the CFRs. Customer bought the V&H slip ons and sold his CFR's on ebay.
Spoke to an indy bike shop owner today, and they have a dynojet dyno too.
A guy came in to the Indy's shop after having spent full bank on some CFR's for his touring bike, said he like they way they sounded.....
A dyno run after install of the CFR mufflers.... resulted in the low and mid range torque and hp going down, with a couple of hp gained on the right of the power curve.
Indy takes down some used (for sale) vance and hines slip on mufflers, takes off CFR's and puts the V&H on.... gained the low and mid back & the dyno run was way better than the CFRs. Customer bought the V&H slip ons and sold his CFR's on ebay.
Last edited by mgmmgm; Feb 5, 2015 at 11:08 PM.