Do I need to remap.

[Toddmeister]

I fitted Remus headers to my LC (with Akra can) and ran the bike for about a month (around 1000 miles) before taking it to Hilltop. Before any tweaking the bike was running pretty lean (AFR over 15 for entire rev range). There was a noticeable improvement after Geoff remapped it.
About a year after I had been to Hilltop I was in a dealership local to me who do Dynojet work and they have their own dyno facility so had it tested by them. They did a number of dyno runs then the technician came over and said " don't know what you've had done to that bike but the fuelling is spot on! There's nothing I can do to improve on it!"

So IMHO and based on my personal experience I would say a remap is worthy of consideration if you're fitting a full system.

Everyone's different though and 700 miles is a long way to go if you're not sure you need anything doing. Perhaps you could get it tested to find out how it's running somewhere more local to you?

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

All I'm concerned about is this....will I do the engine damage if I'm running decat headers without getting it remapped ? Smooth running is great, extra bhp is great, am I bothered about that, not really, am I bothered about damaging my engine, yes.

 

[Toddmeister]

All I'm concerned about is this....will I do the engine damage if I'm running decat headers without getting it remapped ? Smooth running is great, extra bhp is great, am I bothered about that, not really, am I bothered about damaging my engine, yes.

I doubt that anyone can tell you for certain that your engine will be damaged just by fitting headers. It will depend on how you ride it, how hot it's running and how hot the external temperature is, plus a whole host of other factors.

What is probably true is that it's running lean and therefore hotter so you may well have an increased chance of damage. If that bothers you enough either get it remapped or swap back to standard headers with the Cat back in place for peace of mind!

 

[comberjohn]

All I'm concerned about is this....will I do the engine damage if I'm running decat headers without getting it remapped ? Smooth running is great, extra bhp is great, am I bothered about that, not really, am I bothered about damaging my engine, yes.

Then leave it alone. Your de cat headers won't do any harm. The ECU has probably already compensated for them and it's running as hot as a stock engine.

 

[Toddmeister]

The ECU has probably already compensated for them and it's running as hot as a stock engine.

Are you sure about that?

Mine didn't seem to as my AFR was up above the mid 15s across the rev range, which I would say is lean.
Unless of course you reckon a stock bike runs at that?

 

[comberjohn]

Of course not. No more than you know how hot your own really runs at.
But, despite their many perceived faults and screw ups, I feel that BMW do know what works and what doesn't work.
The fact they can make it run at all, despite the restrictive emission controls, takes a massive amount of R & D.
Saint Geoff does a very good job of making this engine run as it should, but even he could not make it run that well and be able to pass those restrictions. His sidekick, 'Hilltop' recently made this very same statement.
There is much hysteria about how your engine, particulary your exhaust valves, are going to explode if you change your exhaust or headers.
Despite this engine being one of the biggest sellers in the last 13 years, can anyone actually quote a case where this has happened? I've certainly not seen an example on this forum. FD's yes, but not burnt out valves.
You're giving this guy a complex that his engine will self distruct unless he gets it re mapped, just because he has changed the exhaust in some minor way. It won't.
Will it run better with a re map or AF XiED units? Maybe. But it won't blow up without them.
Or maybe it's a case of trying to justify spending the money to yourself.

 

[Nutty]

After seeing the difference a remap has made to the fuel consumption on my bike with Akra headers, I'd say DEFINITELY get the bike remapped if you have aftermarket headers.

 

[wileeeeeey]

After seeing the difference a remap has made to the fuel consumption on my bike with Akra headers, I'd say DEFINITELY get the bike remapped if you have aftermarket headers.

We talking regular mapping or hilltop too?

 

[Toddmeister]

You're giving this guy a complex that his engine will self distruct unless he gets it re mapped, just because he has changed the exhaust in some minor way. It won't.
Will it run better with a re map or AF XiED units? Maybe. But it won't blow up without them.
Or maybe it's a case of trying to justify spending the money to yourself.

Read post 23 fella! I'm not trying to give the guy a complex at all, just sharing my personal experiences having been in the same situation myself. Isn't that what the OP wanted us to do when he posed the question?

I chose to have a remap and was very pleased I did, ultimately he has to make his own decision based on his personal circumstances.

As for the dig about me needing to justify spending my money - you didn't need to put that bit in to make your point and it makes you look a bit pathetic!

 

[Nutty]

We talking regular mapping or hilltop too?

Hilltop. My fuel light comes on much later since having the remap done, and the bike runs so much better. That's good enough for me.

 

[Nutty]

As for the dig about me needing to justify spending my money - you didn't need to put that bit in to make your point and it makes you look a bit pathetic!

That's the line that anyone that doesn't agree with remapping normally spout.

 

[wileeeeeey]

Hilltop. My fuel light comes on much later since having the remap done, and the bike runs so much better. That's good enough for me.

Sorry for the 100 questions. I had hilltop done with stock headers and akra slip on and you said ecu would auto correct after headers but then that last comment had me paranoid for a moment.

 

[CPJS]

To the OP, Will your engine go bang? NO.
Question, why did you put the headers on in the first place? If it was for more performance, you won't have have got any, more noise, yes.
A remap gets you what you were probably after in the first place. Sell the headers, use the money for a remap, and you will have a better running bike.
And a couple of extra mpg thrown in for free.
Thinking about it, the extra mpg over time makes it a cost effective exercise. There you go! Get it remapped for free ( eventually).

 

[comberjohn]

That's the line that anyone that doesn't agree with remapping normally spout.

Why is there always this hysteria about getting your bike Hilltopped?
If you read my post again, you'll see that I have nothing against getting a bike Hilltopped. Frankly, it would be the only place I would trust to do it.
I did consider getting it done myself, but the logistics of getting over to have it done, made it an expensive choice. For me, travel time, ferry costs and at least one night staying over.
I use AF XiED's and am happy with them. Pretty much the same cost, but easily fitted.
My point, re map or AF XiED's, it's that it's not compulsory to have either to keep your engine intact.
And, of course, if you're spending a noticeable amount of cash on an improvement, you do have to justify it to yourself.
Just getting fed up reading that it MUST be re mapped.
Which, if you go back to the original post, it's all the guy was asking in the first place.

 

[Nutty]

Sorry for the 100 questions. I had hilltop done with stock headers and akra slip on and you said ecu would auto correct after headers but then that last comment had me paranoid for a moment.

Personally, I'd always get a remap after fitting new headers, not before.

 

[Nutty]

Why is there always this hysteria about getting your bike Hilltopped?
If you read my post again, you'll see that I have nothing against getting a bike Hilltopped. Frankly, it would be the only place I would trust to do it.
I did consider getting it done myself, but the logistics of getting over to have it done, made it an expensive choice. For me, travel time, ferry costs and at least one night staying over.
I use AF XiED's and am happy with them. Pretty much the same cost, but easily fitted.
My point, re map or AF XiED's, it's that it's not compulsory to have either to keep your engine intact.
And, of course, if you're spending a noticeable amount of cash on an improvement, you do have to justify it to yourself.
Just getting fed up reading that it MUST be re mapped.
Which, if you go back to the original post, it's all the guy was asking in the first place.

There's no hysteria, it's just frustrating reading advice from people that have never been to Hilltop.

Did you know that you can send them your ecu to be flashed, without actually going there with the bike? IIRC, a few bods from the US have done exactly that.

 

[Mr Bean]

As the LC's are newer and more likely to be under warranty, would fitting AF XiED units give BMW more wriggle room when any potential warranty work was needed - related to the drive line, whereas a remap is supposedly undetectable?

 

[wileeeeeey]

As the LC's are newer and more likely to be under warranty, would fitting AF XiED units give BMW more wriggle room when any potential warranty work was needed - related to the drive line, whereas a remap is supposedly undetectable?

This plus not having a power commander etc under the back seat is why I went with hilltop. Insurance and BMW none the wiser.

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

All I'm concerned about is this....will I do the engine damage if I'm running decat headers without getting it remapped,

The risk exists due to the laws of chemistry and physics. Fact. However, whether it is a risk for you personally is an entirely different matter. The "danger zone" is running at high rpms for prolonged periods or repeatedly.
Say pinning the throttle wide open and running flat out is the sort of behaviour that could trigger damage. I would say spirited riding in the mid range is unlikely to cause an issue. If you have had them fitted a while the ECU has probably reverted to stock AFR by now.

But whether you have a remap or fit an xied or what ever the richer mixture gives a more pleasant ride in the lower and mid ranger precisely where the average GS will spend most of it time.

 

[Arsey]

Giles sums it up nicely. I've just taken the Rallye to be remapped today, and it now runs perfectly, has no flat spots or vibrations.And then I took the KTM out and I realised it was just a giant flat spot....

Money wasted as I'll be selling it soon through lack of use.

Fixed it for you,Nutster.