ECU Unleashed Flash. Anyone interested?

Why are you guys putting in so much work convincing other memebers when all you're going to save is $50? Seems like warrenty issues, lack of clear description about the benefits (dyno charts), fear of mailing an ecu to an unknown company and possibly losing it in the mail, unknown turnaround time, and not being reversable / transferable / tuneable are all good reasons not to do this.

 

Well said for a newb. :tongue:

 

Warranty issues? Let's see.....ECUnleashed is very reputable in the sportbike community having flashed thousands of ECU's. It is the new standard for removing all factory restrictions. Gone are the days of clipping a wire, removing a servo, flapper, etc. The mfr's have kicked the restrictions to the ECU instead of mechanical. Warranty? I do not concern myself with this because all the aftermarket company is doing is removing restrictions. They aren't adding 50HP, or increasing the redline 5k rpm's. Factory warranty is a whopping 1 year anyways. If you leave your bike stock then more power to you. I tend to tune mine, removing factory restrictions, installing full systems, and getting the AFR's perfect. I also change suspension, rearsets, clip-ons, a heap of stuff so it's set up for me. I ride hard and want a bike underneath me that is ready for that. Sadly, stock, I've never even been able to set Sag with oem product and rarely been happy with throttle delivery and certainly don't like the mfr nannying up the bike in 1st and 2nd gears. I view it as dangerous because when I need the throttle it isn't there. This 1st/2nd gear restriction is less safe than removing it so aftermarket > Stock.

There is no fear of mailing the ECU. You insure it like you would anything else for the replacement value, and ECUnleashed is well known. Just because you don't know who they are, what they do, etc, doesn't mean that applies to the rest of us. They've already stated when to mail the ECU's as they do their Honda work on X and X day. Turnaround time is nill. A week. You won't see dyno charts until one of us does this service because the bike is low volume. This company spends most of their time on ZX10's, R1's, CBR1000RR's, GSXR1000's, etc, because those are high volume sellers not a niche, small VFR market.

Why? OP is trying to get some people together to do this because this isn't a high volume bike therefore the aftermarket has little interest in it. This is a way for us to get their time to work on our bikes via the ECU to benefit those who wish to have this done. I can't even buy an aftermarket full exhaust system because the sales volume is so low. Not one single leading exhaust mfr. was willing to make a full system for this bike.

As far as being reversible. I'm removing the factory restrictions and optimizing timing, nothing more. Fuel changes I'll do myself on the dyno with a PC5. Therefore if I decided to sell the bike in the future, the benefits I gained by flashing the ECU, will be passed on to the next buyer who will no doubt enjoy a bike decontaminated from the EPA and Honda.

How is this different from Bazzaz's solution? My gear indicator will still work for every gear instead of reading 3rd gear for gears 1-3. This is something I want to work because I will take the vfr1200 on the track and I really like the indicator functioning for this purpose. Prior to these being included with the bike in the cluster, we would buy them aftermarket and mount them. Thanks Honda for including it, but I want it working 100% with the factory nanny restrictions removed. It will also optimize the fueling, and timing, besides the restriction removal, insuring that the throttle to rear tire connection is vastly improved over stock.

Flashing ECU's may be some new thing that this community is scared of but in the sportbike community it has been used for years now and ECUnleashed has a very good reputation, even doing work for AMA race teams. I haven't heard of a single issue with them, in years, nothing but positive results and as Dave mentioned, this isn't new tech, just new tech to the VFR world. A group of 5, and why the OP made this thread, was so we can some solid hours out of them on our ECU's, optimization of them, basically R&D. If you aren't interested, why post in this thread? You obviously have no interest, so as Obi Wan said, move along.

I have flashed my R1's ECU many times, works just like it did when it was new, except that all the factory restriction crap that Yamaha did is gone. I've lowered my fan temps to turn on earlier, which keeps the engine cooler (and better for longevity), I've changed velocity stack opening points to optimize power, I've changed the gear ratio to compensate for my gearing changes so the Speedometer and Odometer stay correct (thus skipping me out of buying a speedohealer), optimized timing, idle, reduced engine braking, and a few other things. I used Flash Tune for this, and they are a competitor to ECUnleashed.

If you are interested, then great, if not, please don't spread misinformation. Here is one article on the subject:

http://www.sportrider.com/gear/146_1105_yamaha_yzf_r1_graves_exhaust_power_commander_ecu_mods/

And another:

http://www.sportrider.com/gear/146_..._rearsets_akrapovic_exhaust_mods/viewall.html

 

"Why? OP is trying to get some people together to do this because this isn't a high volume bike therefore the aftermarket has little interest in it. This is a way for us to get their time to work on our bikes via the ECU to benefit those who wish to have this done."

and from earlier:

"Why would it be a long turnaround? Mail them in when they do bulk and it's done very quick. Should have it back within a week."

If the point of the group buy is to buy their time and attention then it sounds like they haven't done any work on vfr1200s yet. If they already had a custom flash ready to go why would it need any extra work? And if they haven't done any work on vfr1200s how could they produce meaningful improvements without the actual bike there to test a/f mixture, max hp, etc? Also, how can they customize the flash for aftermarket mods like K&N air filter, aftermarket pipe, or more serious modifications without the bike in question being physically there?

Not trying to bash you or kill the thread but I'm sure others are asking these questions as well.

 

No just you are asking, when you aren't even interested. I provided enough data. Tired of talking to a troll.

 

I'm sorry you think I'm a troll. I've been visting this site for quite a while but never joined. I was "forced" to join when the site switched to only members being able to view pics. As they say "this thread is worthless without pics"!

Also, I do have a 2010 (non DCT) so I am a potential "group buyer". I'm just trying to wrap my head around how they can produce meaninful gains without having a VFR (preferably MY VFR) in their shop. I've seriously never heard of that.

I guess you're sick of me though so I'll call them myself at some point and post the info here for other's benefit. As I said, I'm interested but skeptical. Frankly, you seem really excited about this but aren't including a lot of substantial information about how ECU Unleashed could accomplish what you (they?) claim. Sorry if that makes me a troll!

 

Ya know, I'm just as guilty as the next guy of occasionally thinking one thing is CLEARLY better than another, and wondering why the other guy can't see that the way I like is so much better. A hint of that shows up in most every thread because we all have our own set of wants and desires. This is no exception. I bought a three year extended warranty when I bought my bike, so I have more than one year to think about. I believe Tortoise is talking about Honda warranty and not ECU Unleashed warranty (if there is any). I am a mechanic by trade, a motorhead by nature, and a knee dragger by choice. So like you, I want the bike to perform the way I want it to perform. That's why I've made so much noise about the stock suspension, but that's a whole other issue. There's scarcely a part on my Tacoma that I haven't modified. But I'm just funny about mods that I can't reverse if I so choose. This is one of those. Tortoise makes an awful lot of good points. A 10% discount seldom makes me jump up and down (unless I'm spending several thousand), and definitely doesn't make me jump headlong into something that does arguably have its drawbacks.

So you're spending $450 (if you get the group discount...$500 if you don't) to do what a $69 Z-bomb will do so you can still have correct gear indication in 1st and 2nd gears. Like I said, I've lived without a gear indicator for 30 years, I think I can still manage.

This is an expensive and PERMANENT modification, unless you go buy a new and even more expensive ECM. And you still need a fuel manager to really make it right. If you've done this to other bikes of yours and think it's worth it, go for it. Just don't be so surprised that everyone else doesn't share your vision here. Aside from maybe the 'fear of mailing an ECM to an unknown company', I don't really see Tortoise spreading any misinformation. And even the fear of mailing is a reality. I just had the USPS lose a package in spite of the local postmaster assuring me that the USPS doesn't lose packages. That was a couple months ago. It hasn't surfaced yet. When you ship your ECM, do you insure it for the full price of a new one, or do you put a little insurance on it assuming it will all be ok?? ECU Unleashed may be a perfectly reputable company, but that doesn't really change most of the concerns that have been stated here.

 

Perhaps I worded something incorrectly.

They have already had a VFR (F) in there on the dyno to see where the restrictions are, and have a file, but not a DCT. They are interested in doing the DCT also but need a test bike and/or ECU. Getting 5 of us means we get a discount and they will take the time to adjust fueling if you have changed anything such as air filter, exhaust, etc. IE, get you set up individually bike by bike and at a discount.

I don't need more information than what they have provided because I trust them. Again, having some experience with this stuff prior, and talking to many people, as well as research like the links I posted above, I have 0 fear have been down this road before, and currently as I'm going to flash my ECU yet again this summer for timing changes. Again, they are a well established company and the reason you won't get more pre-information out of them is because the 1200 is a low volume bike therefore I doubt they are going to spend the time explaining this like they would for a liter supersport bike that actually sells.

 

I do understand your concerns but shipping simply isn't one of them, not for me. Over the years I've shipped OEM forks, Ohlins forks, recently shipped an Ohlins TTX back to Ohlins for a spring change, shipped a set of OZ wheels to my paint/clearcoat guy up in WA state last year as well. I've shipped firearms worth well more than any ECU. I just figured it was a given that you'd insure your package for actual value or replacement. I've shipped the ECU on my R1 three times so far IIRC, arrived each time, and even it hadn't, it was insured for replacement should the carrier lose it. Not something I lost sleep over, or even worried about because I've never shipped anything or had anything shipped to me without insurance. I don't ride a bike without insurance, drive a car without it, and certainly wouldn't mail anything without it.

As far as the other points. They will optimize that flash to not only remove restrictions but optimize the fuel tables, the ignition, etc. For any other bike I've seen them do this service for they find added power as well, always a HP increase, a healthy one. I'd have them do this for a decatted version (basically full exhaust) but as I mentioned prior if I ever have to sell the bike I want the flash to work 100% with the stock exhaust for the next buyer as I would remove mods and sell if that day ever came so I'll fine tune the AFR myself. ECUnleashed will optimize everything for the stock exhaust if you tell them that is what you have and I'll alter what I need to. I'd also expect the connection from the throttle to the rear tire to be more direct, linear, and tighter because that is what they do for every other bike they flash. On the R1 that I own ECUnleashed's flash gets rid of the nasty engine braking that Yamaha put on US versions to the EPA. Here is a link to what is accomplished on the R1. Imagine what it will do for the VFR1200.

The reason they don't have all this stuff available for you to look at on some site has more to do with the low sales. I would expect if we got 5 folks to do this, and showed some effort, they would.

The misinformation I was talking about was referring to stating that they are unknown. This is completely false. google is your friend. You'll find links to many forums, much-o information. They've been written up in various REPUTABLE magazines such as Sport Rider and IIRC motorcyclist. Correct me if I'm wrong but I didn't see any bad reviews only praise for increased performance and the removal of factory restrictions. They have been vetted. If those magazines and user reviews aren't enough then I don't know what to tell you. And losing ECU's........ As I pointed out, insure anything you post.

Forgive my tone but shooting something down, and generally poo-pooing it when you haven't done any research or anything else, well, what do you expect? Stop in the thread, say "Too much" or something to that effect and move on to the next thread. No need to shoot it down or discourage others. In the OP, the company was stated. You can google them, read reviews, call the company and ask, etc. "Convince me", not going to spend any more time doing that. I just figured if not interested you wouldn't slander what we are trying to do.

I'm doing this because the restrictions were put in place in the ECU, not in an add on device therefore I don't want the Bazzaz product on my bike. Since the correction will be made in the ECU itself, nothing extra to add on the bike, and no possibility of failure unless the ECU fries for some other reason, certainly not the flash. I don't like the price either but I am at least happy that one of the ECU companies was willing to take this on. The same cannot be said for the suspension or a full exhaust. I'm going to have to do both myself. The suspension, Dan Kyle is going to make me an Ohlins Cartridge kit since Ohlins doesn't offer it (low sales). I'm thinking the CBR Ohlins carts will work but will require modfication. The exhaust I'm going to have get welded. I'm just happy that ECUnleashed is even offering this service for the bike as I wouldn't have expected them to do so. Low sales = little to no development. So I'm getting this done anyways but I'd like to save $50 and put that towards the suspension or exhaust. I would think they want to get some income and some interest for them to publish full details. A "hey we'll do this for you guys, but we want to recoup some $ for the R&D we've done first". As far as being irreversible, well, not worried about that. I'm putting "stock exhaust" on mine as I mentioned prior. Some kind of possible, future, fantasyland problem in the future, at worst, I can borrow an ECU from somebody, and ride up to the dealer. But there are thousands and thousands of people have flashed ECU's on bikes now and I haven't heard of a single instance where this was a necessity. That is enough of a record and history for me, perhaps not for you. Going forward, flashing ECU's on motorcycles will become commonplace, as each new model is introduced, with factory restrictions, alterations of fuel and air, as well as ignition, to meet EPA specs that the mfr's would rather fix with 0's and 1's than costlier mechanical fixes.

 

Just checking in to see if any of you manual fella's went through with it and can tell us what a restriction free VFR 1200 is like.

 

Not yet. Just bought all the luggage (used) so my funds are tied up for the time being. I will flash mine when I have the Leo Factory R, PC5, and autotune sitting at home. Need to cut the cat off and reweld some new SS. Gonna send mine off when the bike is apart.

 

I am interested if this is still happening.

 

It would be nice to see the before and after dyno sheets on the ECU changes.

 

I still plan on getting this done... Just need to wait for some spare cash...

 

It's warmed up lately and I've become pretty sure spring will eventually arrive so I contacted the nearest ECU Unleashed franchise (NY) to see if they have the ability to de-restrict the 1200 DCT and they told me that it's the same procedure as the non-DCT version and they'd be happy to for $499 US.
This seems to contradict previous info on this site and I'm additionally concerned because the guy who returned my email wasn't familiar with the DCT model but later said he confirmed things with his tech's. So can anyone here say "don't worry, it's the same programming for both models?" I'd really love to improve the lower end in the first 2 gears.

 

Please do let us know if can confirm the fix for us DCTers. Sounds . . . too good to be true perhaps.

 

I would not use ECU unleashed for this, i've had some contradicting stories from them. There are a couple of us who have sent our ECU's to Don Guhl Racing and he is working on a Flash for both the manual and DCT models. I know of some disasters from some VFR 1200 owners from Europe that had ECU unleashed flash theirs.
Here are the links from our sister site.

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/76750-ecu-flash-may-be-possible-need-your-input/

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/76615-ecu-re-flash/

Read both of these threads and when Don Guhl is ready, we will post up the details.

 

Thanks for the update Brother and for pursuing this. Count me in as well, I'll be patient and wait until your source has things figured out. Look forward to hearing from you.

 

Guy's we are getting close. Don Guhl has flashed one ECU from my friend's DCT and he is taken it in for Dyno testing on Monday. Another member has sent his ECU in to be flashed then Dyno tested, after we have the results then it will be available to all.
Will update as info comes in.:smile-new:

 

Check out the latest info:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/77583-who-is-interested-in-getting-your-vfr-1200-ecu-flashed/#entry941370