Running Lean

[doctorsmudge]

I have just changed the exhaust on my 1200GSA, remus downpipes to akro tail pipe. Junked the non working exhaust valve and fitted a K&N air filter....now the bike is running lean, danger of burning valves out I know. Its booked to go to Hilltop or whatever its called next month. I live about 350 miles from there and I dont know if its a good thing to take it down in its current state all that way running lean.
Is there anything I can add to the petrol or any advice anyone could offer as to how I can do this without the need of a trailer??
Any ideas, advice gratefully accepted.
Cheers in advance

 

[Martyn H]

I have just changed the exhaust on my 1200GSA, remus downpipes to akro tail pipe. Junked the non working exhaust valve and fitted a K&N air filter....now the bike is running lean, danger of burning valves out I know. Its booked to go to Hilltop or whatever its called next month. I live about 350 miles from there and I dont know if its a good thing to take it down in its current state all that way running lean.
Is there anything I can add to the petrol or any advice anyone could offer as to how I can do this without the need of a trailer??
Any ideas, advice gratefully accepted.
Cheers in advance

Personally, I'd put the standard air filter back in. It passes all the air the engine can use, & filters well.

 

[Beemerman59]

I'd put the paper air filter back in and ride it to Hilltop. Would dump the K&N as well for the remap - ask Geoff for his experience. If the air filter is badly clogged get a new one.

 

[doctorsmudge]

Filter

I've spoken to Geoff about the K&N. its ok as long as its well oiled which mine is. Its when they dry out they create problems so the K&N isn#t really the problem.........what I'm concerned about is riding 350 miles to get it remapped while its lean. Is there an additive to richen the fuel or anything like that. What about the additive they used to put in cars that couldn't run on Unleaded when that first came out?

 

[Denz0]

Power Commander

why don't you get the power commander with auto-tune?

 

[Fanum]

Tweak up the TPS a bit.......I don't know what the range is on a 1200 but on an 11xx I'd whack it up to read about .45v if I was worried about it (subject to it running nicely of course)

 

[doctorsmudge]

ah!

Of course......tweak the TPS a bit.....why didn't I think of that.

What the feck and how the feck??

 

[doctorsmudge]

oh

Right....got the Throttle Position Sensor.........but how do you reset its value?

 

[Fanum]

Of course......tweak the TPS a bit.....why didn't I think of that.

What the feck and how the feck??

TPS....Throttle Position Sensor.

That's THIS BIT:

There are many threads on how to set them up, but the first one that turns up is THIS ONE over on Advrider, complete with piccies

EDIT....actually, that's not a good example, having read it, there are much more basic ways of doing it.

 

[doctorsmudge]

Reset

I've seen various threads on resetting them but not to a specific value....... I imagine its just a default value. I'll keep looking. Cheers

 

[duckspeed]

If the oxygen sensor and catalytic convertor are still in place then the ECU software will still be trying the achieve the 14.7-1 air fuel ratio, which the cat needs to work and not be poisoned.
Changing exhausts and air filters will have no effect at all, your thinking would be true with carburretors.

 

[Beemerman59]

If the oxygen sensor and catalytic convertor are still in place then the ECU software will still be trying the achieve the 14.7-1 air fuel ratio, which the cat needs to work and not be poisoned.
Changing exhausts and air filters will have no effect at all, your thinking would be true with carburretors.

Forgetting the fact that BMW run them leaner than optimal, that is true for closed loop but not open loop mode. The OP also stated in post #1 that he's ditched the cat.

 

[duckspeed]

Forgetting the fact that BMW run them leaner than optimal, that is true for closed loop but not open loop mode. The OP also stated in post #1 that he's ditched the cat.

But not the oxygen sensor, and it is only open loop until engine warm then goes closed loop. What use is an engine constantly running on an open loop??

 

[Schtum]

But not the oxygen sensor, and it is only open loop until engine warm then goes closed loop. What use is an engine constantly running on an open loop??

Enough use to propel most of the motorcycles in the land.

The system only runs closed loop at low revs and small throttle openings. More than that and it then runs off the fuel map in the ECU plus the trims from various sensors. The only way to run closed loop all the time is via a wideband lambda sensor...or two.....like the Autotune on a Power Commander V.

 

[Beemerman59]

But not the oxygen sensor, and it is only open loop until engine warm then goes closed loop. What use is an engine constantly running on an open loop??

 

[Bendy toy]

Hilltop told me they can handle any two of these but all three will risk burning exhaust valves.

• fancy headers
• free flow muffler
• fancy air filter.

The best option is to put the old filter back and fit the K&N for the remap. Alternatively, fit a cheap cork it up baffle in the exhaust, fill the tank with posh petrol and take the baffle out for the remap runs.

 

[Martyn H]

I've spoken to Geoff about the K&N. its ok as long as its well oiled which mine is. Its when they dry out they create problems so the K&N isn#t really the problem.........what I'm concerned about is riding 350 miles to get it remapped while its lean. Is there an additive to richen the fuel or anything like that. What about the additive they used to put in cars that couldn't run on Unleaded when that first came out?

Yes, but they require re-oiling. Why bother ? What do you hope to achieve with a K & N, as opposed to an OE filter ?

 

[Schtum]

Yes, but they require re-oiling. Why bother ? What do you hope to achieve with a K & N, as opposed to an OE filter ?

In practice, I think the only thing you'll achieve from fitting a K&N is a slightly lower cost for air filters through time, possibly a more throaty induction roar and poorer filtration of particles in the inlet.....

 

[Fanum]

In practice, I think the only thing you'll achieve from fitting a K&N is a slightly lower cost for air filters through time, possibly a more throaty induction roar and poorer filtration of particles in the inlet.....

100% correct, but you're forgetting the all -important tarty sticker factor that is so important in those whose love of ostentatious farkling outweighs their common sense or taste

 

[Schtum]

100% correct, but you're forgetting the all -important tarty sticker factor that is so important in those whose love of ostentatious farkling outweighs their common sense or taste

Deliberately so, old chap....deliberately so.......