How long for PC map at tuning center?

slickwill · 02-12-2007, 11:36 AM

As soon as it warms up I'm going to find an authorized tuning center and have a custom map created for my F4i. Does anyone know how long of a process this is? What do they usually charge? I don't have any centers that are close so I don't want to get ripped off on price.

HondaGalToo · 02-12-2007, 1:24 PM

Usually around $300-350 and it takes a few hours. Look for a Dynojet approved place that has the tuning link software. See if you can talk to anyone else who's had a map done there to make sure the operator knows what he's doing.

slickwill · 02-12-2007, 4:54 PM

That is a little more than I was anticipating. I found an approved center with tuning link that is about an hour away from my house. There is a place locally that is a Harley dealer that doesn't have the tuning link but is an authorized dealer with a dyno and they said they do them all the time for Harleys for about $70. The guy there said that he had never done a sport bike before but that he would be more than willing to make mine the first one for the same price. Am I going to see a difference that justifies an extra $250 dollars when I get a map that was created with an actual tuning link. I realized that the Harley place might not be figuring in the extra 7000rpm that they will be dealing with on my bike but even if they double the price...

What do you think?

analogbear · 02-12-2007, 5:05 PM

Take the Harley palce offer...You have nothing but a rough ride to lose, and they may really do right by you. I think it is always better to do the tuning-link custom map, but check it out. I would also bring the printout from the Harley place to the link-place, and ask for a guarantee that the link place can do better for the extra $. If they are sheepish, walk away. I like Honda G2's advice...Find a previous customer and get an unsolicited testimonial.

analogbear · 02-12-2007, 5:07 PM

I don't consider $350 too much for what a spot-on custom map, with the extra power/smoothness WHERE YOU WANT IT it can produce, will benefit you in the long run. Since good tires can run you $300 a piece, what's up?

belowme51 · 02-12-2007, 5:08 PM

It sounds like they are charging $70 for the dyno. If they dont have the tunning link they wont be able to plug into your Power Commander and build you a map. I spent about 200$ on mine and it took about 4hrs. It is worth the money. Do you have any custom work done? The reason I ask is because Dyno Jet's web site offers a lot of different maps for your bike and they cover a wide variety of set ups, and they are free so you might not need to get a custom map done. I had to get a custom map due to the air-box and exhaust I was running. Good luck.

slickwill · 02-12-2007, 5:19 PM

The only thing that I am adding is a yosh slip on. They are doing a custom TRS with the dual tip outlet of the TRI exhaust that they have for everything but Honda. So technically there isn't a map out there that is an exact match for what I'm planning on running. I don't necessarily consider the extra money excessive if it really makes a difference but I consider myself lucky that my wife let me even buy the bike. Now six months later it is hard to convince her that I need to spend another pile of cash just to make it go faster. I'm a med student with no income and 80 hrs of homework a week and she makes all the money right now so...

slickwill · 02-12-2007, 5:24 PM

There are parts of this process that I don't understand like how they build a map without the tuning link. The guys words were, "we can strap it to the dyno and build you a map." I have the powercommander software on my laptop but I admittedly don't see how you do anything but trial and error without having the tuning link software and exhaust sensors that I hear they use.

analogbear · 02-12-2007, 7:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belowme51

It sounds like they are charging $70 for the dyno. If they dont have the tunning link they wont be able to plug into your Power Commander and build you a map. I spent about 200$ on mine and it took about 4hrs. It is worth the money. Do you have any custom work done? The reason I ask is because Dyno Jet's web site offers a lot of different maps for your bike and they cover a wide variety of set ups, and they are free so you might not need to get a custom map done. I had to get a custom map due to the air-box and exhaust I was running. Good luck.

As these motors are not blueprinted, each one will react just a bit differently to each map. Also, if you want tons of low-end, but don't need or want more than stock upper RPM HP, the standard maps are no good. You can also extend the standard list of matches, though, even if you don't have what they list as available, by measuring the silencer's internal dimensions, and finding one of the same approximate size on the list.

analogbear · 02-12-2007, 8:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickwill

The only thing that I am adding is a yosh slip on. They are doing a custom TRS with the dual tip outlet of the TRI exhaust that they have for everything but Honda. So technically there isn't a map out there that is an exact match for what I'm planning on running. I don't necessarily consider the extra money excessive if it really makes a difference but I consider myself lucky that my wife let me even buy the bike. Now six months later it is hard to convince her that I need to spend another pile of cash just to make it go faster. I'm a med student with no income and 80 hrs of homework a week and she makes all the money right now so...

Get the extra student loan $, don't tell her how much it is, and sock some away for you. I went through Law School with my wife as the breadwinner, too, and boy, was it tough until I got the "secret money" thing...

As per my above post, match the silencer dimensions with one they have listed, and it should work to at least smooth things out, crisp the throttle, and maybe improve a bit of mileage.

slickwill · 02-12-2007, 8:06 PM

Secret money stash, I like it. I'll remember that next semester. Or divert my tax refunds. Just sat down to start those but ended up here instead.

analogbear · 02-12-2007, 8:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickwill

Secret money stash, I like it. I'll remember that next semester. Or divert my tax refunds. Just sat down to start those but ended up here instead.

Well done!

Good luck with med school. I thought about it, but had no aptitude for healing...Too many years of battle and too much philosophy, so I became a modern Sophist instead.

Yeah, I borrowed extra each year, like 5-10K extra per semester, and financed a few nice surprise gifts, a couple of european vacations, LOTS of car and bike parts, and several nice computer upgrades.

CBR929RE · 02-12-2007, 8:46 PM

I paid $150 for my custom map but he was running a special at the time. Took 4 or 5 hours but definetly worth it. the smoothness is worth it. if you talk to the guy who will actually be doing the tuning he can tell you what its all about. and you can ask if you can wait because you're coming from far away.

since you're just running a slip on you don't even really need a PC and new map. the stock engine management system will compensate for the tiny bit of additional exhaust being pulled out.

HondaGalToo · 02-12-2007, 9:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

since you're just running a slip on you don't even really need a PC and new map. the stock engine management system will compensate for the tiny bit of additional exhaust being pulled out.

True. All you'll get with the slip on is a bit better throttle response. When I had a slip on, I used it both with and without a PCIII (with a generic map for the slip on I had) and I didn't really notice a huge difference.

slickwill · 02-13-2007, 12:02 AM

I probably won't ever go farther than a slip on, rearset relocators, and some different control levers. I guess if the bike will be fine w/o a PC then I might not go that far. I'm kinda a tech junkie so the idea of having one fascinates me. The bike is a 2002 F4i that only had 691 miles on it when I bought last July. The guy bought it new in '02 rode it a few hundred miles, got a new job, and parked it in his garage for four years. I feel like I stole it from him. Couldn't find a mark on it and still had the break in oil. I changed the oil, charged the battery, and have added 2K miles to it since I've had it. It is my first street bike but I grew up on dirt bikes alway dreaming of having an F4i. I used my student loan money when I got accepted to med school now it is my stress relief. I would love to add new rearsets, a full system, and a few other things but I feel like it just isn't justified right now so I'll go with slip-on and relocators for the rearsets.

So that is the story. Thanks for the help so far.

Will

analogbear · 02-13-2007, 8:41 AM

Good Luck!

slickwill · 02-13-2007, 2:50 PM

I guess I'd love to upgrade suspension as well. I'd much rather have my bike (and myself) known for cornering ability than straight line speed. It seems like any joker can twist a throttle wide open. To bad every road in Iowa goes in a straight line. I can wait to get back to Idaho so I can ride on a road with some turns again. I get bored on these straight roads and make up for the lack of turns with increased velocity, probably not the best plan.

analogbear · 02-13-2007, 3:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickwill

I guess I'd love to upgrade suspension as well. I'd much rather have my bike (and myself) known for cornering ability than straight line speed. It seems like any joker can twist a throttle wide open. To bad every road in Iowa goes in a straight line. I can wait to get back to Idaho so I can ride on a road with some turns again. I get bored on these straight roads and make up for the lack of turns with increased velocity, probably not the best plan.

Get a dirt bike, and tear-up the crops...

slickwill · 02-13-2007, 9:04 PM

Finally got in touch with the closest place that has the tuning link software. They told me $200 and 2 hours. After hearing 3-5 hours from so many people it makes me wonder how thorough they actually are? Maybe they are just really good. Now I think I definitely need to find someone who has had a map done there to see what they think. Anyone out there from the Des Moines area?

analogbear · 02-13-2007, 10:05 PM

2 and 2 sounds great! Go for it!