NewEnglandHimalayan
Well travelled
- Location
- New England
Hello, wondering if anyone has any experience with the PowerTronics piggy back ECU on their REH that can share his/her opinions here.
Thanks
Thanks
-
NEW USERS: If you haven't received your Confirmation Email: There has been an ongoing issue with the forum's send mail function and many new users haven't received the email to confirm their registration. I've done my best to manually process these, so there's a good chance if you've signed up in the past 30 days that you've already been validated and can proceed with posting on the forum (don't forget to introduce yourself!). If you still can't get in, please use the Contact Us link on the bottom of any page to send me a message and I'll process you manually. Thanks for your patience! ~Jerk
Power Tronic Piggy Back ECU
- Thread starter NewEnglandHimalayan
- Start date
MikeH
Finally made it
- Location
- Stourbridge, UK
Nathan millward here in the UK has used one see his observations on youtube
Hope this helps
CJDougan
Total noob
- Location
- Manila, Philippines
Noraly had one installed when she was in Oman and no real issues, certainly none of the issues Nathan had. However I don't think it generates much more power, maybe a little boost in the mid range though.
Last edited:
MikeH
Finally made it
- Location
- Stourbridge, UK
At some point I would imagine hitchcocks I the UK will do some form of big bore which would be most likely more of an improvement. I don't think the price justifies the cost but it's each to their own. You may get better results with a change in sprockets again I know hitchcocks do variations
NewEnglandHimalayan
Well travelled
- Location
- New England
Thank you all. I had seen Noraly’s report on it but had not seen Nathan’s. I suspect the gains are marginal given the limitations of the engine. I also suspect that as this bike gains followers, Hitchcock will come forward at some point. I have also read of the removal of the emissions gear which may help along with a lighter exhaust. I am at this point learning the limited possibilities and once I ride it I will decide which route to take.
Thank you all again.
Thank you all again.
TN_twowheeladdict
Well travelled
- Location
- Tennessee
If you go with a free flowing exhaust and modify the intake, you will need to get the tuner. I think Noraly's bike was running lean because she was feeling heat from the engine more than she should have. The unit corrected that situation.
If you stick to narrow twisty back roads and off road exploration you will love this bike. If you need to get on the interstates and fast state roads a lot you might want to consider any one of the more powerful adventure bikes out there.
The Himalayan is an amazing bike for the money. I paid $4500 for mine new. If they were selling for $7500 I might have chosen something else.
If you stick to narrow twisty back roads and off road exploration you will love this bike. If you need to get on the interstates and fast state roads a lot you might want to consider any one of the more powerful adventure bikes out there.
The Himalayan is an amazing bike for the money. I paid $4500 for mine new. If they were selling for $7500 I might have chosen something else.
MikeH
Finally made it
- Location
- Stourbridge, UK
Keep us in the loop, Im looking to hold onto my himalayan over 1yr in and I too would like to improve it without breaking the bank.
So far my sensible improvements are thus:-
1. £10 Iridium ngk plug upgrade
2. £35 polisport handguards
3. Freebie osram night racer H4 bulb upgrade
4. £140 Oxford heated grips and optimate usb charger supplied and fitted by cooperb
5. £35 Front and rear pad upgrade ebc double H sintered
5. £8 Royal Enfield himalayan wheel rim stickers
So far no regrets on any of the upgrades. The future plans are a hitchcocks smoked extended screen 6" taller and maybe a vinyl wrap of the tank, beak and rear bodywork?
It's going in on Thursday for its 6.5k miles service and I need a new rear tyre this month maybe a metzler tourance?
So far my sensible improvements are thus:-
1. £10 Iridium ngk plug upgrade
2. £35 polisport handguards
3. Freebie osram night racer H4 bulb upgrade
4. £140 Oxford heated grips and optimate usb charger supplied and fitted by cooperb
5. £35 Front and rear pad upgrade ebc double H sintered
5. £8 Royal Enfield himalayan wheel rim stickers
So far no regrets on any of the upgrades. The future plans are a hitchcocks smoked extended screen 6" taller and maybe a vinyl wrap of the tank, beak and rear bodywork?
It's going in on Thursday for its 6.5k miles service and I need a new rear tyre this month maybe a metzler tourance?
NewEnglandHimalayan
Well travelled
- Location
- New England
Yeah. I have no intentions on doing much highway stuff. Mainly commuting through backroads and the ocassional off road adventure. I was considering the XR650L but I could not find one in stock and was quite concerned with its comfort. Not to mention that it is a very common bike. I like the rareness of the REH and have little concern about aftermarket stuff at this time. Maybe, at some point they will release a 650 version but this one checks all the boxes for me at this time.
NewEnglandHimalayan
Well travelled
- Location
- New England
That is a nice list of upgrades. Depending on how much off road I end up doing, Id like to install brackets for the jerry gas cans. I also plan on replacing the rear shock or its spring with a more adjustable one and also investigate an upgrade for the front ones. Lighting and USB ports are also high on my list. Wonder if someone will come up with a higher capacity stator for it as well. I will also consider replacing the muffler with a lighter one but I want to avoid it getting to be too loud. And if course, the seat concepts saddle is a must.
MikeH
Finally made it
- Location
- Stourbridge, UK
Yes I'm looking to maybe change to a lighter exhaust next year maybe a lextek or delkevic both reasonable priced and meet EU regs. On the rear suspension I'd me more than happy to pay to upgrade to an easily adjustable premium rear shock as my wife regularly joins my in the bike I think that would be a great investmentthe concept seats look great but if I did upgrade I'd most likely go to custom seats in Coventry UK as they are local to me and do gel inserts as well. In the grand scheme of things not expensive investments if you are looking to hang on to the bike for a few years.
NewEnglandHimalayan
Well travelled
- Location
- New England
Very nice. Thanks
I installed a PowerTronic a few weeks ago when I installed my Delkevic full exhaust. I have to say at this point, after several weeks working with their engineers trying to get it working properly, I agree with Nathan’s assessment. Currently I’m on the third map set sent from them to resolve issues. Experienced issues have been erratic idle, stalling on decel, and fuel mileage. Things got better with the last map they sent recently but I didn’t have time to fully test before going on vacation. At this point I’m skeptical whether the PowerTronic on the Himalayan is worth the cost and effort but I’ll give it a bit more effort before a final conclusion when I return home in a week and have more time to evaluate the latest map. I’ve held off on a more thorough critique/review trying to give the engineers a chance to come up with solutions to my issues maybe because I really want this thing to meet my expectations.
Last edited:
NewEnglandHimalayan
Well travelled
- Location
- New England
Thank you for the report on this. Seems that the PowerTRONIC is one of those things that is a crap shoot. The reports are one way or the other all over the internet about it. I don't know how old it is. It reminds me of the days of power commanders on the rice rockets Ive had in the past. Time will tell, its price also keeps coming down. We will see. Maybe the maps only work on bikes with all of their original equipment and not take into account mods and things like that. Anyways, thanks again for the report and hopefully those engineers will have it all set for you soon.
MikeH
Finally made it
- Location
- Stourbridge, UK
Again thanks for the update on this. Looking at it maybe a k&n air flter aftermarket can and evap deletion kit might get the better results I know some have done this. But I guess it's early days for the bike as its an all new model I'm hoping sensible mods will start filtering through soon
I removed the air injection and EVAP first thing after getting the bike. K&Ns don’t filter well enough for off-road use so I’ve never used them on dual purpose bikes. After contacting Race Dynamics initially with poor results using the default installed maps (each map actually has 2 maps available with ability to switch between them) they said the default map was applicable for ‘light modifications such as intake and exhaust’. Later after 2 additional maps they sent, and reporting a 29% decrease in fuel economy, the same support guy said guy said maybe it was due to my exhaust as the maps are meant for stock exhaust. So I’ve gotten conflicting information from them.
Anyway, part of my testing is fuel economy over the same exact 95 mile route at same exact speeds etc. My bike has the Delkevic open exhaust, no EVAP or air injection, and panniers installed. Stock ECU w/O2 sensor used (closed loop) mileage was 66.7mpg. PowerTronic does not use the O2 sensor (open loop) it uses a bypass cable for it. The first map they sent trying to resolve issues was at 47.1mpg and the last map is at 59.2mpg. Both of them made the bike feel more ‘peppy’ than stock ECU fuel/ignition mapping (both fuel and ignition are affected by PowerTronic mapping). Last I heard from engineer about these last 2 maps was the exhaust temps were 20-60% less for the first one they sent and 5-30% less for second (last) one, indicating the additional fuel being applied in each, which also correlates to my mpg results testing for each.
One thing I haven’t seen on any PowerTronic reviews yet is accurate before/after mileage testing. The affected range of the bike for this modification is a big consideration, for an adventure bike in particular, in my opinion.
Anyway, part of my testing is fuel economy over the same exact 95 mile route at same exact speeds etc. My bike has the Delkevic open exhaust, no EVAP or air injection, and panniers installed. Stock ECU w/O2 sensor used (closed loop) mileage was 66.7mpg. PowerTronic does not use the O2 sensor (open loop) it uses a bypass cable for it. The first map they sent trying to resolve issues was at 47.1mpg and the last map is at 59.2mpg. Both of them made the bike feel more ‘peppy’ than stock ECU fuel/ignition mapping (both fuel and ignition are affected by PowerTronic mapping). Last I heard from engineer about these last 2 maps was the exhaust temps were 20-60% less for the first one they sent and 5-30% less for second (last) one, indicating the additional fuel being applied in each, which also correlates to my mpg results testing for each.
One thing I haven’t seen on any PowerTronic reviews yet is accurate before/after mileage testing. The affected range of the bike for this modification is a big consideration, for an adventure bike in particular, in my opinion.
Last edited:
MikeH
Finally made it
- Location
- Stourbridge, UK
Yes mpgs is a big consideration I'm averaging 78mpg so can easily get 200 miles a tank. I'm a lazy rider and on a long trip don't want to keep stopping to refuel. Keep us up to date with you're progress I'm hoping after all the tweeking you will get it running just as u want it
TN_twowheeladdict
Well travelled
- Location
- Tennessee
With several reporting fueling issues with the stock bikes, it makes me wonder if the Powertronic unit ends up exacerbating the issues.
I personally have never heard of a downstream unit ever improving fuel economy. Most people that buy them are looking for more power and therefore are willing to give up fuel economy.
I personally have never heard of a downstream unit ever improving fuel economy. Most people that buy them are looking for more power and therefore are willing to give up fuel economy.
Yeah some fuel economy trade off is ok if the bike is actually more rideable and fun IMO. A 29% decrease in economy like previous map had for me is WAY too much, decreasing the range of the bike by about 80 miles in my case. It may be in the end that it’s just not worth it on this bike for me.
- Location
- The Pacific Nothwet
Yup. Hitchcock's posted a while back on the book of faces that they're testing their 465 big bore kit. That makes for some fun possibilities. Add a Delkevic exhaust and a Powerronic tuner and things could get really interesting.
http://hpwizard.com/engine-horsepower-calculator.html
Free flow mods to intake and exhaust typically result in leaner running conditions, and generally need enriching of mixture, but not necessarily everywhere in the rpm range.
Power improvement to a completely stock bike by using a fuel controller can only go as far as overcoming sub-optimal factory settings. Typically a very small amount.
However, when a fuel controller is used in conjunction with in/ex free flow mods, hp improvement of 20%-25% is possible when things are done right.
Having some programmer in a foreign country guessing at what your particular map should look like, with your specific mods and your specific conditions constitutes a "crap shoot" with very low likelihood of success.
Ideally, you want a controller that you can map with a laptop while running on a dyno, such as the way a Power Commander does.
Power improvement to a completely stock bike by using a fuel controller can only go as far as overcoming sub-optimal factory settings. Typically a very small amount.
However, when a fuel controller is used in conjunction with in/ex free flow mods, hp improvement of 20%-25% is possible when things are done right.
Having some programmer in a foreign country guessing at what your particular map should look like, with your specific mods and your specific conditions constitutes a "crap shoot" with very low likelihood of success.
Ideally, you want a controller that you can map with a laptop while running on a dyno, such as the way a Power Commander does.