Optimising power on new BEC??

[JT71]

Hi,

I've recently had a new ZX10R engine fitted into my Westfield. In bike form it's meant to kick out 187BHP (however this uses the RAM air principle which I guess you couldn't replicatre with a car). How do I ensure that I optimise the power, and ensure it's tuned to my particular set up and exhaust etc?

Cheers!

[Jubal]

You can look at the obvious things. Airbox, power commander, exhaust. It's a pretty new engine choice for BECs but I'm sure you can get good advice from someone like Andy Bates (www.abperformance.co.uk).

[Tim.C]

Go and see one of these two:
TTS
PDQ

[LocoBlade]

Yep the only real way to do it is get it on a rolling road that understand the engine. PDQ in Slough are probably one of the closest and are especially good if you're using a Powercommander (which I assume you probably are?)

[JT71]

I'm not using a Power Commander - should I be?

[Furyous]

I would have expected any of the current crop of injected superbikes to need at least a powercommander to run right, and also the oe airbox assembly and a similar exhaust set up (In turns of pipe lengths).

Def speak to PDQ, they also have a car rr.

[Snake the Sniper]

JT71 said:

I'm not using a Power Commander - should I be?

Quite probably. In case you're unaware of what they are, it's basically a level 1 chip for a bike. Designed to take most of the faffing out of fitting a better exhaust/can and air filter to a bike. They tend to be plug and play too. If you had carbs then things would be different, but I'm pretty sure you should have FI.

[LocoBlade]

Unlike most chip conversions though, that simply replace the base map in the original ECU, the Powercommander piggybacks the original ECU modifying (but still using) the stock ECU fuelling map. The other thing is that they're programmable by the end user as well as a tuner, which isn't generally the case with a chip.

Anyway, as to whether you need one or not, its quite likely with a free-er flowing exhaust and filter, the engine will be running a bit leaner on its stock map, which will hinder outright performance any may even cause damage if its too far out. Id certainly get it on a rolling road as an absolute minimum so the lambda (mixture) can be checked to ensure its not running excessively lean at high load. If its not running lean, and it pulls well with no flatspots then you may be OK without, but I suspect you'll probably end up needing one.