re: My 2012 Ninja 650. The all-rounder AFR PCV and other TLA's
Again, I could have left it at that, but hey, in for a penny, in for a pound. So with an exhaust that breathes and sounds better, the stock ECU needs a little help in adjusting the AFR, as the new exhaust will in all probability make the bike run leaner than it should. Which is not a bad thing in the higher rev band, where I believe the stock ECU map is extremely rich, but not so good for the sub 5k rpm's where the stock map is already lean. Which is where devices like the Power Commander, Auto Tune etc come in. There are a whole host of juice boxes, flash tunes etc available to support this, but the community prefers Dynojet Research's PCV, and so shall I. I'm no expert at tuning modern motorcycles, so I will attempt my best to lay out the meat and bones of the matter. The Autotune module uses a wide band O2 sensor in the exhaust to monitor the fuel mixture, based on which it provides readings to help tweak the fuel map, called trims. The fueling for each level of throttle input, in each gear can be adjusted, and used to build/tweak a map that can be uploaded to the PCV which, as it is plugged inline with the FI system, alters the AFR as per the new fuel table. So you can have a go at a pre-existing map for the setup on your bike, or start with one and tweak it either manually or using the Autotune's trims to build custom maps. Without a dyno to accurately measure and calibrate all this, you're basically using the seat of your pants method to arrive at a map that works for your bike, aided by the autotune's sensor and brain of course. In theory, you will arrive at a map that helps getting rid of any flat spots in the rev range, keeps the throttle response crisp, and improves the bike's power delivery across the rev range. You will gain some power with the right aftermarket exhaust, but without the right map, none of that power will arrive when you want it, or worse, it will surge in some places and be flat at others. None of the fueling changes made by the PCV are permanent though. Removing it will revert everything back to the stock settings, which is useful when you want to sell the bike without the aftermarket bits. Installing the PCV and autotune is not for the technically or mechanically challenged among us. There are a bunch of sensors, harnesses, connectors and bits and pieces that if improperly installed, will wreak havoc on any tuning exercise you attempt. There are a lot of documents and tutorials to help out though, and even custom maps made by people who are kind enough to upload them. Plugging the pair valve is also useful to keep the O2 sensor reading accurate, and eliminate any popping/crackling when you roll off the throttle, although some riders like the popping, I cannot stand it. It reeks of an incomplete job, and ruins an otherwise crisp exhaust note. Once all these bits are properly installed you'll need to find a route that is free from traffic, has nice long straights and gentle bends to iteratively tweak your maps and test. You'll be carrying around a Windows laptop (android/iOS apps with bluetooth/wifi connectivity to the PCV module are still unavailable) to periodically accept trims and upload them. Quite a leap from the old carburettor jetting/air filter/sprocketing mods most of us are familiar with on our yesteryear bikes. The results justify the effort, I guess. And if it means many hundreds of kms and a few used up O2 sensors for testing/mapping/retesting, then so be it. After all, your bike deserves it, and so do you.
I have yet to install the PC5 and Autotune, but should receive them in a week or so, and have them installed and in use by the end of the month. Thanks for reading, I'll figure out a way to shrink the larger jpegs and upload them soon. A sound clip of the exhaust should also be up in a few days.
A shoutout to the India Kawasaki Ninja Owners group on facebook for all the group buys, knowledge etc.
Another shoutout to the boys at Seventh Gear customs in Mumbai for helping customize my bike.
Sriku
Last edited by sriku : 16th April 2013 at 16:11.
|