Zippers Thunder Max ECM
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 48
From: WI
Been there, done that. Won't go back. Just Sayin!!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 48
From: WI
All excellent reasons to seriously consider the Rev Per EMS. Its the perfect closed-loop EMS. Why would anyone want to replace the stock ecm and lose the knock retard and other engine safety features? Makes little sense to go with any other product once you do the research.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 6
From: Livingston, Texas
I had a TM on a build 103 motor on a 07 bike. Had to get the right map. Which in 07 is drive by cables. More maps out there cause Zippers had more time to get more maps out to use.
It ran good and got good fuel milage.
Have a TBW model on my 2011 Limited. Bike starts good, idles good and I get about 38 mpg.
TM has set in their program the Program Thunder-Max Support where you crank the bike let it idle than do 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm while its collecting data and email it to them for them to look at.
It will ask you what kind of bike you have the engine size , and anything you might of done to it.
Zippers wants everybody to please use this function so they can help you get your bike running good. They can't figure out what your bike is doing over the phone.
You need to run the data support, collect data and email it to them. Give them a couple days to send you a new map or call you. If not you can call them for free.
Zippers has engineers that work for them and can help with your base map and firmware if you communicate with them.
If you spent 1000.00 Like I said you didn't do your homework, cause there are a super lot of folks that sell it cheaper
But if you are not gonna use Data support and call Thunder-Max support you are probably gonna be on here crying cause your bike don't run like you want it to.
It ran good and got good fuel milage.
Have a TBW model on my 2011 Limited. Bike starts good, idles good and I get about 38 mpg.
TM has set in their program the Program Thunder-Max Support where you crank the bike let it idle than do 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm while its collecting data and email it to them for them to look at.
It will ask you what kind of bike you have the engine size , and anything you might of done to it.
Zippers wants everybody to please use this function so they can help you get your bike running good. They can't figure out what your bike is doing over the phone.
You need to run the data support, collect data and email it to them. Give them a couple days to send you a new map or call you. If not you can call them for free.
Zippers has engineers that work for them and can help with your base map and firmware if you communicate with them.
If you spent 1000.00 Like I said you didn't do your homework, cause there are a super lot of folks that sell it cheaper
But if you are not gonna use Data support and call Thunder-Max support you are probably gonna be on here crying cause your bike don't run like you want it to.
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
Wife and I were on her 2012 Triglide out west a few month's ago. Riding through Jerome AZ. stopped in a parking lot. Met a young man and his Gf. Started a conversation about his and our ride. Found out he was in school training to be a Harley Tech. Ask him about Tuner's. He said they were working with the Zipper's Thundermax and highly recommended it. Talked like it was the cat's meoow.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
While I haven't had the best luck with the ThunderMax, obviously from the posts there are some that really like the way it works.
Here's the best parts of Zipper's ThunderMax: Randy & Robbie in technical customer support. I think a lot of my negativiity towards the ThunderMax was from having to deal with a FORMER customer support person. Since I have spoken with Randy & Robbie, it has been a very helpful and supportive experience trying to get it right.
Having said all that, Id only recommend the product if you have EXACTLY the configuration listed on their current MAPs (and there is over 200 of them). Otherwise the system, because of the way it is designed, depends absolutely on the integrity of the intake (no leaks) and especially the way your exhaust interacts with the O2 sensors and or locations.
If you are going to pretty much leave the bike stock with the usual Stage 1 mod's (hi-flo intake, new exhaust (so it sounds like a Harley! :>); and maybe a mild cam change) then I'd personally rather just gone with a Power Commander V ($400) and the dyno time ($200-300). I think this will give you great performance pretty much everywhere.
The Achilles Heal to this, and really all auto-tuners is the O2 sensors and again the integrity (no leaks) for the intake and exhaust. Because once things go bad they don't get better. Kind'a the computer analogy of garbage in — garbage out. And even worse, the auto tuners keeps trying to fix the problem (which it can't, because it is getting bad data), but in actuality just keeps making it worse and worse. You see that same scenario in a lot of postings reference the auto tuners that all the problems go away once they re-load the original base MAP.
Yep, I wish I was this dang smart about BEFORE I bought one! :>)!
Safe travels to all and thank you to all that gave me a good direction or another thought about this problem.
Here's the best parts of Zipper's ThunderMax: Randy & Robbie in technical customer support. I think a lot of my negativiity towards the ThunderMax was from having to deal with a FORMER customer support person. Since I have spoken with Randy & Robbie, it has been a very helpful and supportive experience trying to get it right.
Having said all that, Id only recommend the product if you have EXACTLY the configuration listed on their current MAPs (and there is over 200 of them). Otherwise the system, because of the way it is designed, depends absolutely on the integrity of the intake (no leaks) and especially the way your exhaust interacts with the O2 sensors and or locations.
If you are going to pretty much leave the bike stock with the usual Stage 1 mod's (hi-flo intake, new exhaust (so it sounds like a Harley! :>); and maybe a mild cam change) then I'd personally rather just gone with a Power Commander V ($400) and the dyno time ($200-300). I think this will give you great performance pretty much everywhere.
The Achilles Heal to this, and really all auto-tuners is the O2 sensors and again the integrity (no leaks) for the intake and exhaust. Because once things go bad they don't get better. Kind'a the computer analogy of garbage in — garbage out. And even worse, the auto tuners keeps trying to fix the problem (which it can't, because it is getting bad data), but in actuality just keeps making it worse and worse. You see that same scenario in a lot of postings reference the auto tuners that all the problems go away once they re-load the original base MAP.
Yep, I wish I was this dang smart about BEFORE I bought one! :>)!
Safe travels to all and thank you to all that gave me a good direction or another thought about this problem.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I will say the tech support from Zippers has been very good. We (them & I) have given up and I had to remove the O2 sensors and module to send back to Zippers for their engineers to analysis.
Clear by the pictures the rear cylinder is running leaner than the front.
However the real tale for the pictures is the burn patterns. The front is exactly how it is suppose to be. The rear is only maybe 50% involved and when you look at the downstream side you can note that there is very little flow and or even separation going on.
The rear, due to clearances issues and the installation instructions, is installed via a 45 degree bung; which is different than the front inserted via a 90 degree.
I think that this is the issue. Will wait and see what Zippers tells me. I'll be sure to post what happens and the fixes.
jhp
Clear by the pictures the rear cylinder is running leaner than the front.
However the real tale for the pictures is the burn patterns. The front is exactly how it is suppose to be. The rear is only maybe 50% involved and when you look at the downstream side you can note that there is very little flow and or even separation going on.
The rear, due to clearances issues and the installation instructions, is installed via a 45 degree bung; which is different than the front inserted via a 90 degree.
I think that this is the issue. Will wait and see what Zippers tells me. I'll be sure to post what happens and the fixes.
jhp
Last edited by jethelopilot; Jan 10, 2012 at 09:17 PM.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I will say the tech support from Zippers has been very good. We (them & I) have given up and I had to remove the O2 sensors and module to send back to Zippers for their engineers to analysis.
Clear by the pictures the rear cylinder is running leaner than the front.
However the real tale for the pictures is the burn patterns. The front is exactly how it is suppose to be. The rear is only maybe 50% involved and when you look at the downstream side you can note that there is very little flow and or even separation going on.
The rear, due to clearances issues and the installation instructions, is installed via a 45 degree bung; which is different than the front inserted via a 90 degree.
I think that this is the issue. Will wait and see what Zippers tells me. I'll be sure to post what happens and the fixes.
jhp
Clear by the pictures the rear cylinder is running leaner than the front.
However the real tale for the pictures is the burn patterns. The front is exactly how it is suppose to be. The rear is only maybe 50% involved and when you look at the downstream side you can note that there is very little flow and or even separation going on.
The rear, due to clearances issues and the installation instructions, is installed via a 45 degree bung; which is different than the front inserted via a 90 degree.
I think that this is the issue. Will wait and see what Zippers tells me. I'll be sure to post what happens and the fixes.
jhp
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5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Deuuuce, thanks for input. Maybe just that 1 in 10,000 that just doesn't work! 
Or in fact have some other defect I haven't pinned down yet.
No word back from Zipper's.
Luckily I have a V-Rod like runs like a sewing machine--nice to get out and ride that to forget about the issues with the big bike. :>)
jhp
Or in fact have some other defect I haven't pinned down yet.
No word back from Zipper's.
Luckily I have a V-Rod like runs like a sewing machine--nice to get out and ride that to forget about the issues with the big bike. :>)
jhp
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 16
From: Roseville, CA
Certainly possible. The mounting is pretty universal on the '09 headpipes I'm guessing. My V&H Dresser Duals are like how you describe. Any datalogging?