TPS adjustment cost

[scott-sts]

I'm toying with buying a Buell race ECM but want to use the stock pipe.  Anyone know how much the dealers charge to adjust the TPS?

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

I would call and ask the shop near you it could vary from shop to shop.

[Rogue]

Scott, why do you want a race ECM for?

Me and another Buell owner are planning on buying our own TPS Reset Tool  I believe it's about $199 + taxes.

I was told that the dealer charges $200 to do this job!  I personally have never asked any dealership to do this so I don't know.  This is just hearsay.

By reading the Service Manual, it doesn't seem to be an overly complex job and doesn't require taking anything apart.  You do need a laptop I think.

If the price above is accurate, hell!  Just buy the tool and do it yourself!  Do it everytime you change your oil!  Heck!  Charge other Buell owners in your area $25 bucks to do it and the tool would paid for itself in no time!

How do you like the CityX so far?

Thinking about an aftermarket exhaust someday?

[scott-sts]

I read about big power improvements for 200 bucks, figured i'd look in to it.  I also read about some problems getting the XB's to run right after installing the ECM so I may pass for now.

How do I like the City X?
Well, too early to tell.  So far, i'm at the point where i'm missing the "Awesome handling" the Buell is supposed to deliver but this is my fault.  I haven't gotten the suspension set up just right.  My initial impression:
It steers quick but has a little headshake and a fair amount of pressure is required to get the bike to turn.  It feels a little bit floaty going in to corners, like it's free-wheeling until you feed in some throttle, then it wants to run wide but only on slower turns.  At speed, it's transparent; just apply pressure to the bars and the bike turns.  I'm using the recommended settings but did dial in more compression all around for my recent visit to CT (lots of hwy and smooth sweepers).  IT FELL APART ON LI!  Man, unridable so I went back to the stock settings and it's ok.  Suspension adjustments, as you know, take 3 seconds to make.
In a nutshell, I have to learn to ride with the engine characteristics (IMO, the way the motor makes power and brakes has an effect on handling) and tweak the suspension a little more.  It was skating over bumps pretty bad.
Right now, I think my XX handles better which is a shame.  The Falco would stomp the Buell in a muddy hole and beat it dry.

[Rogue]

Sounds about right to me--you definitely don't have the suspension set right.

I'm not implying that what worked for me will work for you, but here's what I did.  After I found my weight in the suspension adjustment table, I set my Firebolt's suspension to it.  I then rode it a bit and found the settings too firm for my taste.  Even in my neck of the woods where the roads are almost always glass smooth.  So I dialed the suspension down one level below my weight in the suspension table.  This felt much better.  Then I switched my tires to Pirelli Diablos.  Blam!  The whole thing just gelled.  Not that it didn't with the Dunlops but it just feels best with the Diablos.  

Now, the bike will always feel different from your XX.  It will always require more effort to initiate a turn.  Just like on most Ducati's, this is the case with the XB's.  However, you will notice that due to the short wheelbase, the bike will turn on a dime!  It doesn't need as much lean angle to accomplish the same turn as on your XX either.  It also flicks and settles into a turn much faster.  

The engine characteristics does affect its handling.  The XB's have tall gearing, even in 1st.  So if you want more engine braking and not get the "freewheeling feel" you're experiencing now, then drop down a gear.  In many slow corners, 1st gear may be best on the XB, while on the same corner on your XX, 1st would be too low.  Because of the low end torque, it's possible to use a gear higher than usual to go through a turn.  But you will have litle to no engine braking.

If you're looking for more power and better sound, look into those aftermarket solutions in which they re-use your existing exhaust.  Drummer and  Special-Ops http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,7086.0.html  both do so.  A new race ECM definitely requires a TPS Reset for it to run right.  

[scott-sts]

As always Rogue, thanks for the info.
I assumed the effort required to steer was a result of the short wheelbase and I absolutely agree with your assessment of lean angle.  It's pretty amazing how little time the Buell is banked over while speeding through a corner.
My bike has the Pirelli Scorpions which are a little vague and seem to be a very hard compound.  Again, need to get used to them.  

[Rogue]

Scott, I think the Lightnings will always have some vagueness in them.  My guess is due to the sitting position--more of your weight sits on your butt than your upper body/front of bike.  Not having weight up front reduces front end feel.  Although it should be similar to your Falco.  

I rode a fellow Bueller's Lightning Long and the I remember the front end of that bike felt vague to me too.  Although that bike wasn't set up for my weight either.  Of course, I don't have this issue of vagueness on my Firebolt because I'm guessing it has the sportbike position.  I just get that planted feel to it that is hard to match.  

Of course, I'm not a professional rider so I'm just theorizing.

[Kootenanny]

...I don't have this issue of vagueness on my Firebolt because I'm guessing it has the sportbike position.  I just get that planted feel to it that is hard to match.

Yes, the Firebolt riding position places more of the rider's weight on the front tire (over 50% of the total weight is carried on the front).  The steering does feel a bit heavy, but it has incredible feedback.  However, the suspension does have to be set up correctly...

As for the TPS reset, when I had mine done (once, two years ago) the shop was only going to bill me for a half hour of labour, about $35.  However, since there was a little bit of (unrelated) warranty work needed for which I had to bring the bike back, they didn't charge me then.  When I finally got back a year later (the dealership is an 8 hour ride away, but of course I take the scenic route which takes 2 days), they told me not to worry about the bill for the TPS reset, so I got it for free!

[Rogue]

Look what I found at American Sportbike:

http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/9305.html

[Mac]

Here I am thinking this thread deals with the dam TPS report cover letter change.

[scott-sts]

Here I am thinking this thread deals with the dam TPS report cover letter change.

Didn't you get the memo?

[Prubert]

...mmmm, yea....Scott...did ya get the posting.....I am gonna need ya to go riding on....sat-ur-day.

could ya do that for me....k?

P.S.  I will be joining the growing Buller ranks tomorrow.  Picking up a Uly....more later.

[Rogue]

 

Classic!

[Kootenanny]

P.S.  I will be joining the growing Buller ranks tomorrow.  Picking up a Uly....more later.

Congratsy!

[Rogue]

Congrats Prubert.

Remember, it doesn't exist without pics!

Here in the Buell Forum, good pics are the minimum.  

1)  Big ones so the whole bike is visible.  None of that pic inside the garage of the bike's faux gas tank!
2)  Pics of different positions of bike.
3)  Nice background would be good, along with good lighting.  No overexposed or out of focus pics.  Those don't count!
4)  Pic of you on the bike would be even better.

 
 

[naustin]

I have the "tool" and reset the TPS myself in my garage in less than 5 minutes (Once I finished setting up my PC in the garage - that is.   )

[Bueller]

Sounds like you had the handling gremlins I had at first with my Firebolt.
 - Floating and running wide in sweeping corners, just couldn't tuck in tighter
 - Bike sat up in a low speed corners.
 - Steering wanted to turn in to the corner automatically
 - Front end had a severe dive under firm braking.
 - Bike always perpendicular to the road instead of being upright
 - Back wheel moved around bumps instead of tracking though or over.

My main problem was tire pressure.  (The bike came standard with Diablos.)  They need 37 psi in the back to prevent a flat bottom on the tire.  This flat causes the bike to run wide, float and sit up in corners.  33 psi seems good in the front.  The suspension is fussy, but not as much as the tires.  I have a preload of 4 on the front, and 6 on the rear.  I weigh 94 kg, and this works well for me.  You could try setting the rebound and damping shown in the manual for your weight.  Make sure that you allow a little bit of dive in the front, otherwise the back wheel lifts off the ground under hard braking.

My Firebolt is now handling the way I like it.  There is still a touch of a tendency for the bike to want to do the steering at low speed, but I am sure that this comes from a difference in the widths of the tires.  There is only a hint of this and it isn't a problem except it probably chews front tyres a bit faster.

[basco]

Here I am thinking this thread deals with the dam TPS report cover letter change.

Dam, you beat me to it.  

[Bueller]

Dam, you beat me to it.  

Sorry officer,

I thought I was replying to Scott and Rogue.  What is the correct protocol on these occasions?