Tuner Pro, ECMSPY, spark knock/detonation, exhuasts...

[kcander]

Hey all, first post here, though I've lurked on this site for the last couple years since buying my '08 Uly. Lotta good info here, glad to finally register.

Anyways, last few days I've been doing a bit of research on here, BWB, etc, trying to determine the best course of action. There's so much info to sift through and so many differing opinions, my head is spinnin'!

My '08 Uly (no engine mods) tends to want to give me a fair amount of pinging under hard-ish acceleration, and after my last ride of the summer I finally decided I should look into it. So, I've been trying to figure out whether Tuner Pro or ECM SPY would be a good way to address the issue. I'm always running premium fuel, so that's not the problem. I've read that people have tweaked their ECM to fix pinging/knocking, but I'm not exactly sure what the best way to go about it is. I'm certainly not a computer genius, but I'm at least somewhat technically savvy and I'm willing to take the plunge into the Tuner Pro/ECM SPY world if that's what it's going to take. Is this the path I should head down?

I've also been toying around with adding a little noise, most likely something like the Hawk or Special OPS that still uses the original can so I can continue using that as a jack point, and it seems to me that if I'm going to be allowing more air through the system, it'd make sense to also use Tuner Pro and/or ECM SPY to do that as well, no?

I've read that there are/were issues with tweaking the '08 ECM unit, but then I've read other posts saying that's not the case. Can anybody give me a definitive answer there, assuming that is indeed what I should be doing?

On a side note, I've been reading up and I'm leaning toward the Hawk exhaust since there appears to be an only-semi-loud option -- I often take longer multi-day rides and don't want something deafening. I know there's a ton of opinions out there on exhausts, but if anybody has any advice in the sounds-good-but-not-deafening, uses the original can department, I'd love to hear it, since more often that not guys are looking for louder.

So, anyways, any opinions on how I should approach this? If I'm going to buy a new exhaust, should I do that first, THEN do all the tweaking with Tuner Pro/ECM SPY and adress everything all at once? Or, should I try to eliminate the knocking with Tuner Pro/ECMSPY first, then worry about re-doing it for a new exhuast pipe later? Or, am I just barking up the wrong tree trying to solve my pinging issues by tweaking the ECM in the first place?

Any info/opinions are greatly appreciated.

[thumpin1203]

Kcander.. welcome to the forum, officially!

You are asking the same questions that nearly every bueller has asked and pondered throughout their ownership at one time or another.. my response, albeit "knee jerk" is this.. you can play around for "effect and experience" with different combinations of exhausts, intake, ecm programming etc etc to reach your desired goal.. however, if an immediate rideability improvement is desired and your ultimate goal, there exists a higher level of refinement available today in the form of an "over the counter" EBR ecm custom tuned to the exhaust and intake combo of your choice.. there are a number of excellent exhausts produced here in the usa and overseas, check which exhausts the EBR ecm supports, if that is the path you choose.. this "should" be your first purchase decision. Expect to spend a grand or more for the whole package. There is another route to take with an ECM tuning school by "Max" at the "tuniversity" he offers different levels of instruction to teach YOU to custom tune your ECM to your "specific" bike and modifications, (or with "your" datalogging, he will do the work for you..) This is arguably the the best path to rideability perfection, and knowledge of the inner-workings of fuel management. The up and growing "Twin Motorcycles" also offer ECM + exhaust combinations which are plug and play.. they are based in the Netherlands, but now have an aspiring outlet in Texas, so the dreaded shipping expenses should be coming down now & in the near future.

Best of luck with your choice!

[kcander]

Thanks for the reply Thumpin. There's a lot of info there...I guess the one question I'm really trying to find a straight answer to first is:

Can I use Tuner Pro and/or ECMSPY on my stock ecm unit to fix spark knock/pinging/detonation? If not, how should I go about fixing it?

Since the pinging is potentially damaging and scares me from riding the bike in the way it was intended, I think I need a solution to this before I make any other decisions. I'm a little unsure as to whether you're saying an EBR ECM would rectify the pinging specifically, or if you're just saying that it's the way to go once I decide what I want to do with my exhaust/intake setup. I appreciate the advice!

[2hy2ride]

There's a website called xopti that Guy seems well versed in the different tune programs and adapting it to the newest tech. He has a lot of info there too

[2hy2ride]

Ecmspy, tunerpro r full service tuners u can even tweak on the ebr ecm. Download the ecmspy tunerguide original and 2 its a good day or twos reading. Maybe a lifetime to fully comprehend

[kcander]

Wow, yeah...this is going to be a real sunnovabitch, isn't it? Heh. *GULP*

[thumpin1203]

Kcander.. "my" answer to your question is yes, the EBR ecm will solve your "pinging" with the added benefit of overall smoother(and cooler) running with enhanced power delivery.. so will a custom tune from Max, and the same from xopti.. however, I am going to refrain from comment on the modification of your stock ECM as there are many views and opinions on this that are best left to the pros in the field.. they all communicate well, especially Max, shoot off some emails.. you will get answers to what you are looking for!

[2hy2ride]

Its never a bad idea to go ahead and order ecmspy its cheap and easy then atleast you can have an idea of what's going on ebr tune or not. U can tell a lot from very little plus dtc scanning and system testing capabilities. That was well worth $40 to me when I was n ur shoes. Some of those On eBay include all the latest ebr maps for an extra $10.

[kcander]

Gotcha, Thumpin. I just wanted to make sure that the general consensus is that it's an ECM/fuel mapping related issue and not some other cause that I don't know about.

Sounds like my options are to either jump down the dark rabbit hole of ECM modding, or I can simply pony up for the EBR ECM and a Hawk exhaust to go with it and basically solve the pinging problem for about $500. Considering that I'm also looking for a little more noise (and the added performance and cooler running don't hurt), it sounds like that might be the best easy/economical option. I don't have $1000+ to drop on Buell parts, and from the sounds of it the modding stuff might be a little dicey...

[kcander]

So 2hy, what did you end up finally doing when you were in my shoes? You had pinging issues as well? What was your solution?