Power Commander 5

[cammy5477]

I'm thinking of getting one of these Instead of getting a custom map at hilltop as for me its a £500 hit because of location...

For those that own them how do you choose your map you require? My bike is stock with Remus Decat headers and Can so I'm thinking there has to be a map you get with it to suite that?

Can you download Maps from the dynojet site? I looked at buying the auto tune unit for it but that's dearer than the PC5 so that's a no no.

So guys who have them Can you let me know what you think before I drop the money into one of these?

 

[Blackal]

The generic maps from Dynojet are fairly approximate, I believe. You would still require a dyno run to set it up properly.

Sending off your ECU to Hilltop will result in fuelling - closer to perfect I believe.

Al

 

[Schtum]

If you also fit the Autotune module which consists of a wideband lambda sensor or two, depending on model, you can map it in real time on the fly.

 

[cammy5477]

Thanks Guys

I think I might buy the PC5 and run that for a bit before spending £300 on the auto tune

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I just run one of their basemaps for decat and can along with a little tweek by myself. Personally I see this as no better or worse than sending your ecu away. It still isn't going to be a fully dialed in map. You can go to a more local dyno shop and get it fully dialed in if you like.

The generic maps are still run on a dyno with say a decat and can so they are no more generic than a hilltop map that isn't done on your bike.

As said another option is to get a couple of auto tune units for the pcv but that is getting expensive. It might be the ultimate but you will notice plenty of difference with a pcv and apropriate basemap.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

It would be worth the extra to have it dyno'd which will set your bike up to suit your own needs.

I had mine done to produce all the power and torque at fairly low revs and she plus very strongly and smoothly all the way to about 6500 rpm when she runs out of breath. That's how I like my bike.

 

[MWH]

Do power commanders only adjust fuel delivery? Is that all the Hilltop remaps does as well or as the ecu is being flashed is anything else changed?

Where do people put their PC units? I believe the PC V is smaller than the PC 111usb so should be easier to secrete somewhere. I personally would like a Hilltop remap, £70 on top of cost for fuel from Edinburgh so £430 all in. PC V is around £335 and not sure what rate DYNO operators charge round here, been told to avoid my nearest one owing to "creative" manipulation of the machine read outs.

Choice is good..but can lead to confusion!

 

[Delboy777]

I will have it fitted and dyno set by the same guy. He charges a set price and is very good. I've had one fitted to a previous bike and the transformation was astounding.

 

[Blackal]

Do power commanders only adjust fuel delivery? Is that all the Hilltop remaps does as well or as the ecu is being flashed is anything else changed?

Where do people put their PC units? I believe the PC V is smaller than the PC 111usb so should be easier to secrete somewhere. I personally would like a Hilltop remap, £70 on top of cost for fuel from Edinburgh so £430 all in. PC V is around £335 and not sure what rate DYNO operators charge round here, been told to avoid my nearest one owing to "creative" manipulation of the machine read outs.

Choice is good..but can lead to confusion!

I reckon the number of GS that Hilltop have done - he will have a map which is ideal for your bike and whatever can, filter, headers, plenum you have fitted. Plus - ask Geoff if his reflash has an element of "self learning" - I believe that it has.

From what I have heard about generic maps for PCs - they are really basic, requiring large adjustment on the dyno.

I would say that an ecu mapped on its own - would be streets ahead of a downloaded PC map.

Al

 

[robb]

You wouldn't go to this hilltop fella and ask for a generic map so why would you want to do the same with a power commander? Custom map for both is the way to do it. I had my multistrada ecu remapped and have a custom map on a PC on the GS. Same difference in my opinion except I didn't have to travel 200 miles to a dyno jet station and I'll eBay the PC when I've done with it.

 

[DING-DONG]

I've had both pcv and hilltop, if you later sell your bike then you can resell the pcv and get near enough your money back, where as you cannot on the hilltop, downside to the pcv the plugs are shite and they allowed water to get inside, so had to silicon grease em on a regulate basis. The pcv does come with more add on options tho, like plug n play quickshifter option and the pcv is not frowned upon by BMW where as the hilltop flash will void your warranty (only if you tell em) and put a marker on your bike.

 

[ianran]

You wouldn't go to this hilltop fella and ask for a generic map so why would you want to do the same with a power commander? Custom map for both is the way to do it. I had my multistrada ecu remapped and have a custom map on a PC on the GS. Same difference in my opinion except I didn't have to travel 200 miles to a dyno jet station and I'll eBay the PC when I've done with it.

How did you get a custom map? dd you sort it yourself or is the software that good?

 

[robb]

How did you get a custom map? dd you sort it yourself or is the software that good?

I had my unit fitted and the custom mapping done at my local dynojet centre. I asked them to make sure the fuelling was correct right across the Rev range. As a consequence it's smooth as a smooth thing from zero to hero and it has a lot more grunt as an added bonus

 

[diver1]

Hi Rob,
Who did your're Custom Mapping?
Regards,
John

I had my unit fitted and the custom mapping done at my local dynojet centre. I asked them to make sure the fuelling was correct right across the Rev range. As a consequence it's smooth as a smooth thing from zero to hero and it has a lot more grunt as an added bonus

 

[robb]

Hi Rob,
Who did your're Custom Mapping?
Regards,
John

Hammer & Tongs at the back of the Riverside retail park. Www.hammerntongs.co.uk

 

[diver1]

Thank you Rob.
John

 

[Roger 04 RT]

I'm thinking of getting one of these Instead of getting a custom map at hilltop as for me its a £500 hit because of location...

For those that own them how do you choose your map you require? My bike is stock with Remus Decat headers and Can so I'm thinking there has to be a map you get with it to suite that?

Can you download Maps from the dynojet site? I looked at buying the auto tune unit for it but that's dearer than the PC5 so that's a no no.

So guys who have them Can you let me know what you think before I drop the money into one of these?

Your 2009 1200GSA is a great bike with a strong BMSK fueling computer and dual O2 sensors.

Installing a PCV means adding the unreliability of six more connectors, AND disconnecting one of the best things about your 1200, the dual O2s. Without them the BMSK loses a lot of its power.

If you feel like a project, you could add dual LC-2s from Innovate Motorsport or if you want plug and play, dual AF-XIEDs from Nightrider. Either will add fuel AND keep the O2s intact.

A remap of the ECU still leaves the O2s but it also means they can't add fuel to the Closed Loop area of the fuel map which is where you do 90% of your riding.

Here are two long threads on the topic:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749080
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=988513

You will find a lot of 1200 specific info if you work through both threads.

 

[Mistacat]

+ 1 for the AF-XIED`s
Run them for a year now after previously using a PC V mapped with Auto tune and Innovate LC 1.
The AF-XIED`s plug in line with the lambda sensors ( a few minutes to install) then set the air fuel ratio to suit your needs.