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Thread: Backfire and Engine Light

  1. #1
    While riding my '00 X1, the engine backfired a couple of times on separate occasions and each time the engine light came on momentarily. Otherwise the bike ran just fine. The bike is stock with the exception of a V&H slip-on exhaust. I was wondering what could be causing this...
    Does the ECM require tweaking with a V&H slip-on? Not sure if the pevious owner did aanything with the ECM after he put the V&H on the bike.
    Thanks in advance for your help.

  2. #2
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    since when does the bike have the problem?
    does it occur when the engine is warm, cold, both?
    any other mods except for the v&h?

  3. #3
    LeFox,
    Thanks for the reply. The backfire/engine light combo only happened two or three times and all during a single ride and it wasn't a real loud backfire - just a louder then usual popping sound. The motor was warm at the time. I do get a little popping at decceleration when the motor is cold but it goes away once warmed up. That must be normal.
    As for other engine related mods, I am not aware of any. I did put in a measured amount of Techron FI cleaner when I filled up after my ride (which had the backfire) and I rode it this morning. It runs perfectly now. As it does 99.9% of the time. My only concern is if the backfire could somehow result in the motor to stall and get stranded somewhere. Does changing to the V&H slip-on require ECM tweaking? Not sure if the revious owner did that. Thanks again.
    May be I should just put the stock exhaust back on..
    Just as an aside, does sthe V&H add anything other than the throaty note, i.e., perfornamce gain, etc.?

  4. #4
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    ok, now we're talking.

    the backfire is most likely a result the ecm learning, ignition timing, which most likely resulted in a early burn or a bit of fuel pre-igniting in the intake.

    aslong as you don't add an better airfilter you could get away with the slip-on, but you will be running a tad on the lean side.
    i would recommend ecm tweaking...maybe browse ebay for an race ecm or remap your current. it not only gives you a richer mixture, it also gets your redline up to about 6800rpm
    the x1 race ecm goes around 350€ new :o

    without other tweaks, a slip-on will give you about a 2hp gain...nothing major, but the sound :D

  5. #5
    LeFox,

    Thanks for taking the time to reply.
    To be honest, the bike in stock form has more power/torque than I would ever fully use so I am really not after much performance improvements. I do like the V&H sound but if is going to make the bike "unhappy" I will put the stock exhaust back on. Before I do that, could the choice of the spark plug (or plug gap) help in making the mixture a little richer?
    Thanks again.

  6. #6
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    well tweaking the engine is actually a look for performance, but it's letter your engine run smooth & healthy...added performance is a bonus result of that smoother, healthier engine ;)

    no, the sparkplug isn't something that will make your mixture richer, it will make the 'explosion' better.

    what i would suggest is leave the v&h on, go for a ecm reset (not expensive) and make sure you run in closed loop for about 15 minutes @ about 3000rpm ;)

  7. #7
    Thanks again.
    Is this ECM reset something done by the dealer?
    So now if I switch back to stock exhaust will A/F go back to normal/factory settings and everything will be OK or the ECM has to "relearn" the factory settings?
    Appreciate it.

  8. #8
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    Just wanted to piggyback on your topic.

    Okay, so today I was doing the no-no with a cbr600 and by no-no i mean rippin' it hard. Well going from 1st to 2nd my bike backfired through the airbox, startled me for sure, never had that happen before...any ideas? Oh and I ride 'aggressively' all the time, so the bike is used to it...

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by kalali
    Thanks again.
    Is this ECM reset something done by the dealer?
    So now if I switch back to stock exhaust will A/F go back to normal/factory settings and everything will be OK or the ECM has to "relearn" the factory settings?
    Appreciate it.
    you, it's done by the dealer, or if you have direct-link or ecmspy, you can do it yourself.
    settings are stored, so if you're just switch without a reset in between you should be fine. if you experience trouble, unsmooth accel, etc...that is when you're in need of a reset.

    Quote Originally Posted by FIDOSOL
    Just wanted to piggyback on your topic.

    Okay, so today I was doing the no-no with a cbr600 and by no-no i mean rippin' it hard. Well going from 1st to 2nd my bike backfired through the airbox, startled me for sure, never had that happen before...any ideas? Oh and I ride 'aggressively' all the time, so the bike is used to it...
    tuber-part of the forum, fido ;)
    was the bike cold, warm, hot?
    outside temp?
    mileage?

  10. #10
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    hmm....bike was already warmed up, it's like 90 degrees outside, and i have around 2300 miles on it.



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